At a Glance
-
Warm and sunny
-
Good time to see the sights
-
Easy to get around
-
No Crowds
Travel Agent
Classic Collection Holidays We have been to the island many times over the years but without doubt this particular tour agent topped them all. We travelled by British Airways scheduled aircraft at very acceptable times; mid-morning out and mid-afternoon return. To add to this style of travel we were ferried to and from our hotel by taxi no less! We felt much pampered, so you can see why we recommend Classic Collection Holidays and without doubt we will be travelling with them again.
Travelogue
Fancy
an early spring holiday? My wife and I spent a week at Illetas towards
the end of February and were blessed with both good weather and an excellent
hotel, all without the crowds.Sure, it wasn’t ‘burn your feet on the blistering sand’ type weather but none the less, it was about 65f (old money) with blue skies all the way. Obviously the later you go the warmer it’s bound to be. Having said that, if, like us, you are intending to ‘do the sights’, then the mid sixties are plenty warm enough.
The beauty of a holiday at this time of year is the free and easy way getting around without the crowds. Illetas is only a few miles from Palma and with frequent (uncrowded) buses passing through it only takes about fifteen minutes to arrive at the city centre. As many will know, all roads, buses and trains head out from Palma, the islands capital.
It
was a last minute decision to take a holiday at this time of year but
as it was my wife's birthday we thought we would take a chance; and
what a winner it turned out to be!
Illetas is a quiet spot off a spur road from the main Palma-Magalluf highway. It’s a backwater that time has passed by, with little in the way of ‘night life’. Having said that, Palma is only a short ride away and no doubt this fact was not lost on the ‘village son’, no less than Errol Flynn! Yes, Errol and his wife Patricia Wymore had a house built in Illetas; long since gone I fear.
The coastal area around here is unspoilt with plenty of swimming opportunities.
There is also a very impressive marina nearby on the way to Magalluf, where it is said that ‘young starlets’ are to be seen (and want to be seen)…..when we were there we only saw some of the ships crews, much to my disappointment.
There is also a golf course nearby.
Accommodation Hotel Bon Sol
Excellent
is all I can say and don’t just take my word for it as yes, Errol
Flynn stayed here before he had his house built, (although I couldn’t
see any chandelier worth swinging on) no doubt it was the only hotel in
Illetas at the time! Little has changed as there are only a few hotels
in Illetas even now.
There
is no question about it; the Bon Sol is a refreshing experience. It is
a lovely hotel which oozes character. It is a family run hotel and not
part of any large chain of hotels, where the staff could not be more helpful.
The food and
waiter service is very good with a breakfast table that can’t but
help set you up for the day. The evening meals are excellent and served
in a beautiful restaurant with bags of atmosphere.
Add to this two outdoor swimming pools and a small sea cove leading from
the gardens, gives you plenty of opportunities for swimming or simply
just lazing around.
I
should point out that we made great use of the heated pool that is held
at a very comfortable 87F; bearing in mind the time of year we were there;
you could see the pool steaming in the morning light like a sauna (the
hotel also has a sauna).
We found our room to be very comfortable and quiet (perhaps there was no one next door) and the general ambiance of the antique decorated public rooms to be amazing.
The object of the holiday was to have a really restful holiday and an opportunity to ‘do the sights. The positioning of the Bon Sol in relation to Palma was ideal, particularly when you consider that all forms of transport sets out from Palma.
Palma: a beautiful city, particularly without the crowds or the summer heat to contend with. Plenty of shops of high standing and any amount of inviting café to take a morning/afternoon break with a cuppa chino and a sticky bun.The guide books will give you all the details of the cathedral but to see it in all its splendour without the crowds is something else.
A trip to Soller by train is well worth the visit. Situated on the eastern coast of the island you can travel via an ancient tram that is said to have been imported from San Francisco many years ago. Please note that the seats are wooden so the only thing that will bounce will be you! We took the train to Soller and returned by bus via Valldemossa with all its history and Andraitx with all its schooners and starlets!
Eating Out There are any amount of places to eat in Palma but we found that the Hotel Bon Sol was the best for evening meals, particularly as they are included in the holiday price.
Shopping Palma has it all so go no further. There are also outdoor markets but you need to check the Tourist Information Office in Palma for full details, although the hotel will know of the local events.
-
accommodation options for all - from pretty pensiones to palatial paradors
-
savvy entertainment reviews show you where to sip sangria or dance till dawn
-
the best of Spanish culture from Picasso and Dali to the Alhambra
-
handy language guide to Castilian, Basque, Catalan and Galician Spanish
-
more than 146 detailed maps