Villa Plus Blog

Le Tour de Majorca – A trip to Puerto Pollensa, Majorca

January 21, 2015March 12, 2019

Having recently enjoyed a more traditional package holiday on the South Coast of Majorca, when I was offered the chance to take a trip to the beautiful town of Puerto Pollenca on my first day at Villa Plus, I couldn’t turn it down.

Majorca is popular with the Brits for its diverse landscape, beautiful beaches and fantastic weather. The short flight time also makes it a popular choice for families, as well as for people wanting to make the most of their time away.

Getting there

We stayed at Villa Carla near Puerto Pollensa, a 40 minute drive away from Palma Airport. Before you go, the friendly Villa Plus team send you directions to find the villa which are very clear and easy to navigate. If you’re travelling with kids, you won’t hear “are we nearly there yet?” as the landmark roundabouts on the way will make the journey time go even faster. We spotted a Cockerel and an Aeroplane amongst others along the way.

There are many ways to reach your villa. We hired a car, but you can just as easily book a transfer from the airport. If you are planning on exploring the area, I’d recommend hiring a car, as it leaves you free to explore the delights that Majorca has to offer.

Our Villa

Villa Carla is a spacious 5 bedroom villa, full of character and plenty of space for the family. If you, like me, are a photography fan, you will be pleased to know the villa is surrounded by picturesque countryside and hills. There are huge gardens filled with fruit trees (the oranges were delicious!) and a spacious sun terrace with a table tennis and pool table, perfect for a competitive game of pool or table tennis with friends. There is so much to explore in the area, we didn’t even find time to finish one game while we were there. There is a large swimming pool, ideal for cooling off in the heat. The villa is private, safe and secure with its own gated driveway and pool fences can be installed if you are travelling with little ones. More importantly, it’s pristine inside and lots of care has been taken with little touches that make it a home from home, check out the garden gnomes! There are lots of restaurants nearby, however if you want to cook, you will find a spacious kitchen and, one for the men in the group, an outdoor barbecue and pizza oven.

Inside the villa, I was pleased to find a piano, and entertained (or maybe deafened) my two colleagues, Justine and Mark, several times during our stay. We also included a Starter Pack with all the essentials, meaning after a long day’s travelling we were able to relax and enjoy a much needed cuppa!

This villa is perfect if you want to get away from it all and relax in the Majorcan countryside.

Puerto Pollensa (picture of promenade and beach)

About a 5 minute drive from our villa is the traditional seaside port of Puerto Pollensa. This is a traditional town with bars, shops and restaurants to cater for everyone. If you like seafood, you’ll be spoilt for choice with the range of fresh fish at Brisamarina and Ca’n Josep restaurants. A great restaurant for all the family is El Bistro, with its bright décor and wide range of dishes from hamburgers to the more traditional tapas (the chicken croquets and patatas bravas were yummy!)

Whether you fancy a relaxing stroll along the promenade, a spot of shopping, sunbathing on the sandy beach, a paddle in the sea or something more active like canoeing or cycling, you can try it in Puerto Pollensa. In fact, on the day we left there was a cycling rally along the promenade.

If you want to explore inland Majorca and take a walk off the beaten track, there are plenty of walks for you to try. The Cala San Vincente and Beca Valley Walks take you out into the mountains and beautiful countryside and to explore some more of the hidden treasures of this beautiful island.

Pollensa

About a 5-10 minute drive from the villa is the historic (and hilly) town of Pollensa. Its windy streets, beautiful architecture, shops, bars and restaurants make it a must see on any Majorcan bucket list. Don’t forget to pack good walking shoes as there are lots of landmarks you can enjoy exploring the town on foot. The beautiful market square becomes a bustling centre on Wednesdays and Sundays where you will find a traditional Majorcan market. You can climb 365 steps up to Calvary church from which the views across the town are spectacular.

Alcudia

If sightseeing and historic towns aren’t your thing, you will still find plenty of things to do in Alcudia (about a 20 minute drive away.) Here you can let off steam by trying your hand at Go-Karting or spend a few hours at the Waterpark. There are lots of shops, bars and restaurants and the area is perfect if you are looking for a more active lifestyle with the family. The beautiful and historical Port D’Alcudia also offers a more relaxed pace of life with bars, shops and a market as well as a lovely bay which you can walk across and enjoy some fresh sea air.

Would I go back?

Without a doubt yes, and I’m not just saying that because I work for Villa Plus. With life in the UK getting busier and busier, it’s lovely to spend a few days getting away from it all, that’s what holidays are for! As a new employee to Villa Plus, the team and reps are on hand 24/7 and their expert local knowledge will help you explore a whole new side to Majorca you never knew existed. If you have any problems (which we didn’t experience) you can call them and they are always happy to help. The villas are well-equipped and looked after. The Majorcan countryside is stunning and offers the perfect contrast and antidote to UK city life. It’s clear to say I loved it. *checks diary* Now, when can I book my return trip?

If you’ve visited Majorca and have any tips or places to see, we’d love to hear them. Just comment below to let us know what you thought of your stay.

Travel Tips – Booking Early #ABTAearlybird

January 16, 2015November 18, 2018

As full ABTA members, we wanted to share the latest promotion from the UKs largest travel association and let everyone know about the benefits of booking your holiday early!

Booking early, particularly in January and February has many advantages:

– Cheaper prices – it’s no secret that at this time of year, there are fantastic flight and travel deals available, all helping to reduce the total cost of your holiday

– Lots of choice – the earlier you book, the less likely it is that somebody will book the villa that is right for you! More importantly, if you have to travel during certain dates, it is crucial to book sooner rather than later…

– Supply & demand – remember that it isn’t just the UK market looking at travelling. There is competitive pressure on booking villas and flights, with only a limited number available

– Buy now, pay later – you do not have to pay the full amount right now. In fact, at Villa Plus the full amount isn’t due until 12 weeks before you travel, making it easy to schedule and plan your finances

– Pre-book flight seats – we know how important it is for families and friends travelling together, wanting to sit together. By booking early, you have the opportunity to pre-book seats and ensure that you are sat with your loved ones.

– Something to look forward to! – Last, but by no means least, one of the best ways to beat the winter blues is to start dreaming about your upcoming summer holiday!

For more information, head to the ABTA website and check out more on the #ABTAearlybird campaign.

Villa Plus – As Seen On TV!

January 1, 2015November 18, 2018

We are guessing that many of you would have seen our latest TV advert over the past week or so. If you haven’t, then your TV must be broken!

You can view our latest advert below, please let us know what you think of the advert and make sure you visit the website and find out more about Villa Plus holidays.

PS. The villa in the video is Villa Sandra in the Algarve. http://www.villaplus.com/algarve/villas/falesia-acoteias/villa-sandra

Introducing Norwegian Airlines

December 2, 2014November 18, 2018

We have added Norwegian Air to our list of flight providers and thought we would give you a bit of information on our latest carrier.

Did you know…

Norwegian is now the third largest low-cost airline in Europe?

It is the second largest airline in Scandinavia.

Has over 4,500 employees and operates 416 routes, with 126 destinations in Europe!

In 2013, more than 20 million passengers flew Norwegian.

74 out of 76 of their planes have high-speed WiFi available

Here’s our tick list of things to do before you leave…

November 1, 2014November 18, 2018

Travel documents

Make sure you have your travel documents. At Villa Plus we send out the information 10-14 days before you travel. Taking your documents will ensure that when you arrive, you can start your holiday as smoothly as possible, especially if you have extras such as car hire.

Holiday insurance

Holiday insurance is so important when travelling, we hope you never have to use it, but it is a nice comfort to know that you’ve got it. Whether you have taken the ‘Villa Plus’ holiday insurance or not, if you or a member of your party have a pre-existing medical condition, then you MUST advise your insurance company straight away. Failure to do so may invalidate your insurance.

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to access state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or sometimes free of charge. The card is free of charge and, in addition to your travel insurance, we recommend you sign up. Register online at www.ehic.org.uk

Money

Whilst MasterCard and Visa cards are widely accepted, and most resorts have ATM’s, we recommend that you get some local currency before you go. Please note: travellers cheques are no longer used in Spain.

Towels

Packing can be a nightmare, especially with airlines having such strict luggage allowances. It’s always best to check to see if your accommodation has towels or not, this can help save a lot of valuable packing room! In our villas we do provide towels, but we advise that you’ll need to bring your own beach and pool towels with you.

Travel adaptor/s

We are taking more and more technology on holiday with us these days, as such it is important to make sure that you pack suitable travel adaptors. Otherwise your smartphone and laptop will be out of action for the whole trip!

Passport details

You must give your Advance Passenger Information (API, sometimes called APIS) details to your airline before you fly.

Baggage allowance

Baggage allowance, normally 20 kilos per person, can depend on who you’re flying with and will be specified on your itinerary. Collapsible wheelchairs, car seats for infants, pushchairs and carrycots may be carried as hand luggage in excess of the baggage allowance and can usually be taken to the final departure gate to be stored in the hold during the flight. Many charter airlines now charge for excess baggage and equipment such as golf clubs.

Dangerous goods

Please refer to the security policy of the airline you’re travelling with.

Resort Guide – The White Coast of Costa Blanca

October 31, 2014November 12, 2018

Our Contact Manager Mark recently returned from a holiday in Costa Blanca, read his views on the resorts and his comparison with Dubai!

Exploring the White Coast – Costa Blanca

It’s been a long time since I’ve been to mainland Spain for my holiday. Spain has seen a bit of a revival of late and many people have come back to the resorts that they were familiar with many years ago.

The Costa Blanca has been a popular resort with the British since the early 1960’s. It was part of the beginning of the package holiday revolution. For someone like me who is part of this great travel industry, it’s great to see where it all began.

Did you know that before the package travel boom, Costa Blanca didn’t really exist as a place? Costa Blanca was a made up name by an advertising department of a British tour operator!

Getting to the Villa

I stayed at the villa Eucalipto in Javea. It’s an easy 60 minute drive from Alicante airport. There is a toll road, so make sure you have some euros available, as they are unattended booths. It costs about €7 on the toll road which speeds up the journey and makes driving easy. The driving directions provided are easy to follow and it’s well worth getting a hire car to explore the area.

The villa Eucalipto

Villa Eucalipto is a very spacious 4 bedroom villa. The pool is large for the villa and has plenty of space outside for younger ones to run around. As with all Villa Plus villas, the pool and table tennis table are great fun and even if it’s not something you would normally do, you will end up trying to declare yourself as ‘villa champion’ of pool or table tennis. Albeit, my fiancée managed to take both the pool and table tennis trophy home. : (

My fiancée and I packed some nice evening attire as I thought I would treat her to the nearby Michelin starred restaurant, Bon Amb. (Bon Amb is only 5 minutes away). However, we never made it. After picking up some super fresh seafood at the local fish market in Javea, we found ourselves using the barbecue every night. The food was great – even though my cooking skills are limited. Fish grilled on the barbecue along with fresh salad and potatoes… even I couldn’t go wrong. My fiancée may have the pool trophy, but I will give myself a Michelin star.

Javea

Javea is a town of two parts. You have the seafront with good quality restaurants and bars. Nothing too rowdy can be found here, it’s all about peace and relaxation. A glass of wine facing the sea along with some fresh olives is idyllic.

In the old town of Javea, you will find the narrow alleyways of old. The surroundings are stunning and you really go back in time and can relax forgetting about any modern day worries. There are hidden restaurants and bars as you meander through the slim streets. Make sure you stop for a glass of wine in the main square near the church. You can spend all day watching the world go by.

Moraria

We spent a day in Moraria. It’s only a 15min drive from the villa Eucalipto. I recommend that you stop in the restaurant that is located on the front near the marina. It’s a great place for an English breakfast or a mid-morning snack of tortilla de patatas. The beach in Moraria is great for sun and relaxation or take a stroll around the shops around the town. There are plenty of fine restaurants around too. You can spend your time looking at the marina and playing the ‘That’s my Yacht over there’ game. Perhaps the Yacht will be there for me one day – I’ll have to ask my boss about that one.

Benidorm….

Just 45mins drive from Javea, I couldn’t resist visiting Benidorm. Benidorm has had a snigger attached to the resort since the late 1980’s when it started to lose out to the more exotic sounding Balearics & Canary Islands.

The hit comedy Benidorm was a parody of all things negative associated to Benidorm (mainly the ‘Brits abroad’ ‘Belly-Buster Breakfast – Drink as much as you can – All Inclusive resort’). I am sure that the Benidorm tourist office may have watched the sitcom when first released in 2007must have thought this was the final nail in the coffin for Benidorm.

Benidorm did the exact opposite for Benidorm. The good British public come back to ‘Benny’, perhaps to bring back old memories of holidaying in the past, or perhaps there was a tongue-in-cheek philosophy of going back to Benidorm. Either way, business has been good again for Benidorm.

Perhaps I went there for the wrong reasons too. I was glad I went though. The Marketing team who came up with Costa Blanca – The White Coast were not wrong. The beach at Benidorm is fantastic. You can see why this resort just grew and grew… Benidorm is a city with many attractions, bars & restaurants. Yes, along the seafront there are a few remaining Karaoke bars and ‘€2 Pints of Carling’, but in the main town itself, there are the authentic Tapas bars with Spanish speaking locals. There really are some hidden gems in Benidorm.

Having been to Dubai on a few occasions, it’s easy to draw a comparison between Dubai & Benidorm. High–rise hotels built quickly around a beautiful sandy beach. Perhaps in 10-20 years there will be a sitcom called ‘Dubai’, whilst Benidorm enjoys its renaissance. I’ll wait and see if my prediction is correct.

Ask The Experts – Tricia, Algarve Resort Manager

October 30, 2014November 18, 2018

Meet Tricia, our overseas manager in The Algarve. With a wealth of travel and tourism knowledge we thought we’d ask her some questions and share them with you…

Hi Tricia, you’re originally from Southern Ireland but you moved to Bognor Regis and now the Algarve in Portugal Where did this love of travel come from?

My father was in the hotel business and as a family we travelled around a lot, this is where it all started for me!

What was it about the Algarve that made you decide to stay?

My husband!!! And also the people, who are quite like the Irish. They like to dance, drink and have a laugh!

What first made you want to be a holiday rep?

I always wanted to travel and I am a people person, so I have managed to combine the two things perfectly.

Of all the countries you’ve visited, what are your personal highlights?

I absolutely love Rome. The history and culture is phenomenal. It is also very romantic.

For you, what is it that makes villa holidays so good?

You have your own independence, not having to wait for other people or for hotels to say when dinner is ready! You also have a lovely pool all to yourself.

And finally three questions we ask all our experts…

What’s your favourite holiday destination and why?

Have only ever been to Tenerife and Gran Canaria, with the family, my favorite, was Tenerife because of the climate in the winter months, which is the only time I can go. The children were younger then and they enjoyed the resort. It was nice being pampered in the Hotel and we flew from Seville, which was a short flight.