Majorca. Palma, the island's capital, has a population of approximately 300,000, which is practically half of the entire population of the island. Its main source of income comes from tourism and, consequently, leisure activities of all kinds are more than well catered for here. There are restaurants, cafeterias, pubs, concert halls, discotheques, a bull-ring, and all types of shows, offering the visitor entertainment and amusement at all times. Tourism had already become an important aspect of life on the island of Majorca back in the early 1920's, although on a much smaller scale than today, of course. It was a select, mainly winter tourism which grew up steadily until the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. The later 'discovery' of Ibiza and Menorca did not occur until well alter the Civil War. At that time Majorca was full of artists, who established what was, to all intents and purposes, a colony in and around Pollenca and its port. One of the most famous of them all was Anglada Camarassa. That conglomeration of artists and poets at Pollenca was to bring about something previously unheard of in island tourism - the construction in 1929 of the Hotel Formentor. It was promoted by the Argentinian entrepreneur Adan Dihel, who even suffered personal hardship in his determination to build the finest hotel on the Mediterranean, near a beach which was not really considered the most adequate place for rest and relaxation. The Hotel Formentor brought about a previously unimaginable change in the island's tourist industry, and was soon imitated by the Hotel Cala Dor and the Gran Hotel Camp de Mar. These new hotels successfully joined forces with the already-existing Hotel Victoria, Gran Hotel de Palma and the Hotel Principe Alfonso.

Minorca is charming, surprisingly green and dotted with ancient historic monuments. Visit the former capital Cuidadela; old and pretty with whitewashed Moorish buildings, and Mahon; elegantly curving around one of the world’s deepest natural harbours.! Nightlife is relatively low key, with just a handful of late night bars and discos, in most resorts. Although if you take a taxi to Cuidadela or Mahon you’ll find a more varied choice, especially along the quay sides. Gourmets love Minorca. They look forward to tucking into some splendid seafood menus, especially in Fornells, a picturesque village on the northern coast, where the lobsters are particularly delicious. Perhaps Minorca’s main culinary influence on the rest of the world is mayonnaise, which originated in the island’s capital, Mahon!

Ibiza. The nightlife on Ibiza is legendary, but there is much more to the island than the clubs and bars that centre on San Antonio. The capital, Ibiza Town, has long been renowned for its style which attracts the rich and famous, and the island, encircled by wonderful beaches, is wonderful for families and ensures you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to relaxing. And as Ibiza is only 45x25km, you’re never more than an hour’s drive away from any part of the island! Las Salinas The salt fields are one of Ibiza’s most famous landmarks. On the southernmost tip of the island, they have been in use for over 2000 years, once by the Carthaginians who constructed them, and now to evaporate salt from the seawater. During the summer months the water evaporates and a sparkling layer of pure salt is left at the bottom of the lakes, making for an unforgettable photo opportunity. Ibiza is home to one of the world’s most impressive museums of Roman and Punic remains. Located in Ibiza's old town, this museum in a former arsenal contains pottery and other artefacts from prehistoric sites in Formentera
and Ibiza, and Punic terra-cotta figurines and other items from the sanctuaries of Illa Plana (7th-5th c. B.C.) and Cuieram (4th-2nd c. B.C.). It charts the history of the island from pre-historic times to the Islamic period (ending in 13th century) and also displays 14th-16th century ceramics.