Majorca. Ruled proudly from the mainland of Spain, this gorgeous island of varied scenery - from sun soaked beaches and remote bays to impressive sea rock faces and dramatic jagged mountains, hidden gorges with ancient olive verandas, almond groves and fruit orchards, and the charming little villages with great restaurants and bars.

There's no shortage of party nightlife within the larger cities, but if you're in need of peace and tranquillity, there are plenty of rural hideaways. For those wanting more than a beautiful coastline, there are plenty of opportunities for sailing, golf, bird watching, hiking and even painting and dancing classes in most tourist areas.

Many of the local hotels either host or organise these activities, and they are usually very fairly priced. Enjoy a lesson in traditional Spanish dancing or have a go at painting within inspirational floral and the beautiful architecture of the Spanish buildings.

If you are looking for a good party atmosphere, Palma is perfect for you. With countless night clubs, bars, restaurants, boutiques, malls and designer stores it is like any modern western city but with beautiful weather. Palma does a wonderful job of conserving it's striking medieval buildings and incorporating them into the modern design of today. The result is a city like no other in the world.

The island offers so many fantastic accommodation options that rival most of the rest of the med, ranging from old world stone fincas (farmhouses) and traditional village villas to the most modern and cosmopolitan of hotels. You will be able to find something that suits your needs and an additional bit of pampering if you wish in the right area for you. Mallorca has done a very good job of supplying plenty of facilities for holiday makers without losing the countrified traditional landscapes on this beautiful island.

Mallorca is an affordable place to take your family. The food and drinks in most parts of the island are very reasonable and you won't likely be taken advantage of because of you being a tourist. Many companies fly to the island several times a day and tickets on budget airlines are extremely cheap if booked in advance. These aspects make the island of Mallorca a perfect destination for all; short breaks, family holidays and romantic trips away.

The food on offer is centred much more on the islands farming than it's fishing, surprisingly the majority of fish processed in Majorca is exported to neighbouring countries. You will find pork is a very common sight on the island and can be found in the form of cured legs of pork, sausage (Specifically Chorizo) hams, roasts and more. If you are a vegetarian you should try Tumbet, a ratatouille of aubergines, potatoes, olive oil and peppers.

Of course, if you are on holiday with your younger children you can be safe in the knowledge that, in most places, there will be plenty of chips, egg and pizza etc available!