Sun, Sand, Sea, Sangria, and Sunday Roasts!! (Cala Millor)

Member Name: Wee_Jackie_163

Product:	Cala Millor
Date:	14/10/09 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See review

Disadvantages: None for me

My recent holiday to Spain was on the island of Majorca. Having not been to this part of the island before, I thought it might be helpful to share some of our experiences with you.

Situated on the east side of the Spanish island of Majorca is Cala Millor, which is a small resort when compared to other, perhaps more popular holiday destinations on the island such as Magaluf.

Arriving at Palma airport, following a fairly pleasant flight (travel time from the UK of approximately four hours or so) it was the middle of the night and we were plunged into a sort of mayhem as we found our holiday rep and made our way to the appropriate coach which would take us to our accommodation.

Once on board the coach, the journey from Palma airport to Cala Millor took around an hour and a half. As it was the early hours of the morning, there wasn't much that could be seen from the coach windows as we neared our destination... And of course, the pouring rain didn't help!

After arriving at our apartments and checking in, it was a case of a 'quick unpack' then we just kind of fell into bed and grabbed a few hours kip. We were somewhat relieved to discover that the rain was off when we awoke. The sky looked to be very overcast and it was quite windy outside but hey-ho, at least it was dry.

Setting out to explore our surroundings, the first thing that struck us as we wandered around the streets in the close nearby area was that there was clearly a fairly big German influence on this small resort. This was evident first and foremost by the amount of German bars that we noticed whilst walking around.

Stopping to read a few menus in restaurants dotted along the main pedestrianised area proved that these too were catering for German palates... Most of the menus were also in German.

After grabbing a bit of breakfast, we wandered to one of the many supermarkets that were nearby to stock up on some essentials like food and water. There are several 'Spar' mini-markets that stock a wide variety of both British and Spanish (and of course German) produce, so if you take a sudden hankering for a tin of Heinz Baked Beans or Batchelor's Super Noodles or something similar, you shouldn't be too hard pushed to find such items.

We were happy to buy local produce from such stores, and so we paid a cheaper price for it. Be aware that imported British food will cost you much more than what you would pay for it in Britain.

Eating out was very pleasant in the resort, and even the fussiest of eaters would be hard pushed to find nothing suitable for them. Most restaurants that we ate at had a very varied menu and catered for all tastes and cultures. For example, one restaurant that we ate at a couple of times offered everything from steaks or chicken with chips, Spanish specialities such as Paella and Tapas, and more 'snacky' foods like hamburgers or pizzas... This meant that every member of our party could find something that they wanted.

There are plenty of places to eat in the resort with the tourist in mind! These range from take-aways and kebab houses to burger joints and, believe it or not a KFC! I personally enjoy having something a bit different than the norm when I am away on holiday, but it might be worth noting if you have young kids with you.

If you look hard enough, however, you will stumble across the more 'traditional' side of eating out in the resort. Tapas bars can be found both in the main pedestrian area and further back towards the top of the town. Be aware though, that this little resort gave the impression of catering for Tourists first, and offered a more traditional Spanish side as a sort of afterthought.

When it comes to beaches, Cala Millor is second to none in terms of excellence. Golden sands lined the front of the little town and I had no complaints when it comes to the cleanliness of the beach or the sea water. Parasols and sun beds are available to hire if required, and cost around eight euros per day for two beds and an umbrella. I would suggest that if you go to the resort at the height of the season you are quick to arrive at the beach in the morning and claim your bed, as we struggled once or twice and we were there in September!

In terms of nightlife, I would say that Cala Millor really does have something for everybody. Whether you are looking for a "Pub Quiz" night, or a bit of entertainment such as Karaoke or Bingo or whether you want to sit in a quiet bar and watch the world go by, you won't have difficulty in finding somewhere suitable. I thought that this mix of entertainment and night life made it a brilliant resort for couples or families alike.

Furthermore, for those of you with a party attitude, the resort boasts several night clubs. There is 'Karasell' which is on the "Front" at the beach, or further up the town there is a club called "Havana". The nightclubs seem to be dotted around the resort, rather than stuck together in a little town square like some other resorts, so you may be better off to research where they are before you set off if this is what you are looking for. I remember also seeing a club called "LollyPop" or something similar down on the front, so there is definitely night life there in the resort... You might just have to look a bit harder for it than in other Spanish holiday destinations.

There is plenty of entertainment to be found in some of the pubs in the resort however, if that is more your thing. "Cheers" bar is again a little further back in the resort, away from the beach but it is very well signposted. The bar has a very British theme and I believe you can order a Sunday roast with all the trimmings for around seven euros. I do also believe that Cheers bar holds regular quizzes and karaoke, and it seems to be a popular choice.

The British Bulldog is (obviously) another British bar. Offering an extensive menu, the food is available from breakfast until fairly late on at night (around 10pm from memory) and offers a wide variety of snacks and main meals. The bar has a wide selection of beers and spirits, and there is a pool table towards the back of the bar. The bar runs nightly Karaoke and regular pub quizzes, although we personally didn't experience either.

This type of entertainment is not everyone's cup of tea of course, and for those of us who prefer something a bit more subdued or mellow from time to time, there are plenty of little bars with tables and chairs on the pavements where one can sip a cold beer or cocktail and watch the world go by.

On a Saturday evening there is a fairly small local market that runs up the pedestrian streets. Local produce such as jewellery and crafts can be found, as well as some clothes and leather goods. This market is very small, however, but I would recommend having a peek if you like handmade items or are looking for a few souvenirs.

If you walk down to the beach front and head left, you will come across a lot of little shops and boutiques. From here too, you can continue along the beachfront and you will eventually come into Cala Bona, which is the resort which lies next door to Cala Millor. There is no real way to tell when you have left one resort and entered another, but both are pretty and have similar features.

On the beach front too is where you will find the tour operators who run little boat trips, some of which are available on glass bottom boats. We personally didn't do this so I can't tell you how much it would cost etc, but if this is something that appeals to you, you shouldn't be too hard pushed in Cala Millor to find a booking office for it.

It is also worth noting that in the resort there are several advertisements for tourist attractions elsewhere in the island of Majorca. The most popular of these was for a water park and a sort of safari park or Animal Park. I would point out that the Safari Park doesn't have a good reputation, but as I haven't experienced it myself I cannot comment on this too much. There is plenty to do elsewhere in the island, and you shouldn't be too hard pushed to find a booking office to make these arrangements for you. Alternatively, your holiday representative should be able to help you with this.

The shopping in Cala Millor offers a variety of goods, everything from sporting goods to leather handbags and shoes, and hand-made crafts such as pottery and wooden items. I found quite a few pretty little souvenirs and presents. There are also a generous handful of perfume shops, each with cheaper goods than the one before, so whatever you do, shop around! Do NOT buy your perfume on the first day as my friend did, and subsequently paid around an extra eight euro... for nothing!

Tobacco shops are available every couple of blocks on average, so if you are looking to take advantage of the duty-free prices, you won't need to look too far. Similarly, most of the supermarkets and mini-markets seemed to stock a wide variety of spirits and wines.

Toy shops and "tourist tat" shops probably made up the rest of the shopping if I remember correctly. By tourist tat I mean things like airbeds, beach towels, fridge magnets and bucket/spade combos. Most of these were pleasant to use and well-stocked.

The locals in the resort seemed for the most part, to be friendly and welcoming. Don't be surprised to stumble across a few different accents when speaking to your barman or waitress however... Some of the staff we got talking to in bars and cafes were either English, German or Australian!

After the first day, the weather (luckily for us) settled down a little and the temperature got a little hotter. Our holiday was from the 21st September, and so I would suggest that if you are an avid sun-worshipper, you may want to travel to Majorca a little earlier in the season.

It is worth making a bit of an effort to go down to the beachfront on a Sunday evening, as there is a bit of a local firework display put on each week. The fireworks are set off from around the little 'pier' area in Cala Millor, which is near the KFC. The display doesn't last long - perhaps around 20 minutes or so, but if you are out and about it is definitely worth making the effort to go along and have a peek. I think it kicks off around 9.30 - 10pm and it did prove to be a nice addition to our evening.

All in all, we had a great time in this little resort and it catered for our needs perfectly. If you are looking for a really lively night life or are a die-hard clubber, then this may not be the best place for you.

On the other hand though, if you have kids or are looking for a relaxed atmosphere, rather than a party one, this might just be right up your street!

I would award it five out of five because I cannot really fault it at all and I had a great time there. I would go back in a second and I do highly recommend it! Top marks! :-D

Summary: A great holiday destination... Something for everyone!