PALMA de Mallorca has been the fastest growing tourist destination off the shores of Spain in 2007. Even though Tenerife in the Canaries and Ibiza in the same Balearic Archipelago are still the hottest tourist magnets, Palma de Mallorca has become the buzzword among all young circles anywhere in Europe. At the universities in Paris for example, students there from around the world say they all want to troop to Palma de Mallorca by summer. It’s just like the Carribean of Europe for them.

As early as the first days of 2008, travel agencies all over the United States and Europe have started various gimmicks just to lure travelers to Palma de Mallorca. Even though it is still the middle of winter, the temperature in Palma de Mallorca at this time is not that low because it enjoys a very temperate climate here all year round. It’s not just the discounts in plane and hotel suites that are available, there are also discounts on such delectable offers as spa services like body wrap, body scrub and a barrage of other body and facial treatments complete with free sauna and jacuzzi.

It may be a rainy Christmas in Palma de Mallorca last December 25 but that definitely has not hampered the vacationers from partying. Some were even seen soaking wet in the rain as they grinded like crazy to the tunes of dance and party music like Christmas Eve down to the wee hours of dawn with some parties even lasting up to 6 a.m. the next morning. But despite the liberated mood all around, it is imperative to note that tourism officials as well as resort management in Palma de Mallorca are very strict to apprehend anybody will illicit drugs. You can be dancing and gyrating wildly in stark nudity but you just cannot sniff cocaine.

And one thing that I like more in Palma de Mallorca resorts are their strict adherence to cleanliness. In fact, all Palma de Mallorca resorts have been stamped the blue flag accreditation by the European Union for having excellent quality service. To ensure independence and reliability of the accreditation, the European Union conducts surveys to customers in these resorts. These surveys are the bases for the blue flag accreditation.

One of the best resorts in Palma de Mallorca are the aptly-named Mallorca Farmhouses. The Mallorca Farmhouses may not have a beach but this inland resort has all the amenities a guest can call the entire sprawling campus a paradise. Among its excellent features are a heated pool and a terrace featuring cushioned lounges where you can tan yourself naked if the sun is up. Why not try the Mallorca Farmhouses during New Year? It may not rain there at all just like it had last Christmas. For first-timers in Mallorca, it may be helpful to note that the Spanish government has issued an updated digitized map of the place just in time for the new year.

MALLORCA is one of the islands in the Balearic archipelago splashed in the middle of the Mediterranean off the coast of Spain. At this point, it’s relatively deserted to tourists except those British expatriates and gays who have made it a permanent home. It is because most of the tourists who come here originate from the United Kingdom.

There has been no influx of tourists such huge as what has transpired this summer. Last summer, flooding has occurred in much of England and a lot of people there have gone to Mallorca to literally escape from the floods. Their homes have been safe but they cannot just afford getting their feet wet so to speak. All they want to do is bask and tan in the sun during summer so they head to a relatively safe and comfortable spot such as Mallorca.

Now that summer is over, many tourists troop back home to work never minding the danger of floods. But during Christmastime, many people go back to Mallorca again. Although England is a Christian country, more devout Christians are found here in Mallorca. Mallorca is where you see various Catholic parishes and during Christmas season especially during the nine dawns preceding Christmas Eve, make sure not to miss the morning mass and the street side breakfasts afterwards.

There are varied breakfasts here in Spain and this is worth tasting especially after the early morning mass. Among these is a cup of coffee although hot cocoa wouldn’t hurt either. There are also churros, torrijas and freshly squeezed orange juice. Here in Mallorca, you may experience a little bit cold during winter and temperatures here tend to get low at 3 degrees Celsius. So one needs to store layers and layers of clothing not just for oneself but also to his or her spouse or loved one and kids as well. Just make sure that you don’t use cotton shirts because cotton tends to absorb moisture into your skin and rather makes one colder.

Also during winter, Mallorca beaches, even the nudist ones, tend to get deserted because of this cold. But this must not get in the way of spoiling a holiday. You may even organize your Christmastime wedding here in the beaches of Palma del Mallorca. Don’t laugh at this seemingly obscure idea but my mom and dad have gotten married during a snowy and moist Christmas midmorning. It surely is a great romantic way to exchange I dos and plead to each other to be loyal for life.

Just be careful when you go out into the Mediterranean for some parasailing or windsurfing because lifeguards and Coast Guards are not that many on duty during these times because of the lack of tourists. However, some yacht cruising across the Mediterranean wouldn’t hurt now, would it? Just don’t do any scuba diving because these types of activities are reserved only for summer where temperature can get as warm as 23 degrees Celsius. So what are you waiting for? Reserve now for a vacation here in Mallorca.

DURING summer, Palma del Mallorca is one of the most prolific beaches in Europe. Its reputation has even surpassed that of Ibiza’s which is of course still the undisputed hangout of the fun-loving Europeans and other nationalities. Every summer, it’s not just the Europeans who come here and frolic in Palma del Mallorca beaches. There are also Americans, Japanese, Nigerians and Filipinos coming here. Palma del Mallorca is a mixture of the temperate and the European climates. The weather is perfectly blended here as Palma del Mallorca lies in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.

Thus, we don’t experience storms here not even in the middle of winter. Here in Palma del Mallorca, winters tend to get cold but not as cold as it is in the Pyrenees. Temperatures may go down just a little bit at about -3 degrees Celsius but that’s as cold as you can get already. Thus, you still need to wear extra clothing like some parka or an overcoat here and there. Just make sure not to wear any cottony stuff as cotton tends to absorb moisture, making you even colder. For a change, why not spend winter here in Palma del Mallorca? Tourists are going elsewhere. The ski-loving folks will be at the Pyrenees at the Iberian Peninsula nearby. On the other hand, the people in the usually rowdy nudist beaches during summer are gone. They are back in their Danish homeland enjoying Christmas with fireplaces at home.

Therefore, in a way, Palma del Mallorca can be called a serene tourist destination during winter. You may want to have your second honeymoon – or even better – a wedding here. There are also lots of five-star beach hotels here. And all of these beach hotels are given the blue flag accreditation by the European Union. That simply means they are regularly inspected for cleanliness and quality of service. Also, most of the staff in these hotels are schooled with the best hospitality institutions in Switzerland. Service here is definitely excellent. Most of the staff are Spanish especially in the reservation and customer service to give a taste of local feel but they are linguists in the sense that they speak fluent English and know a little French and a little German on the side. Those are the key European languages anyway.

Learning a language is something you could dedicate yourself to if you were indeed to spend 365 days in Mallorca. A year’s break is a long time and is therefore time to take advantage of, time to try something new. Mallorca has an abundance of water sports you could try - certainly things you could not do at home! It also has the beautiful scenery to explore and the beaches to enjoy. However, if you are not the sporty type then perhaps something completely different could call your attention - a casino perhaps? The glamour is special, the games are exciting, there’s chance to win BIG…they really do appeal to a wide audience - from the beginner to the professional. There’s some of the best casinos to be found in Mallorca but perhaps you’d need some practice first? You could really learn to enjoy Spain’s “juegos de casino” if you put some time in learning the game beforehand online. Cards are a popular game in Spain so you would definately be experiencing a little of the culture - without necessarily leaving your house!

So after the excitement of the games, perhaps relaxation appeals and the beach calls? There are a number of golf courses embedded in the hotels’ compound but with a compelling view of the Mediterranean. Seafood is directly delivered to the kitchen ready for cooking fresh from the fishermen’s daily catch. The Spaniards hate to cook their seafood frozen and this habit is also reflected here in Palma del Mallorca. So everything is really fresh. There are even live lobsters caught in the Mediterranean but are displayed alive in an aquarium at the hotel restaurants here where all you need to do is pick them up and the restaurant staff will cook them for you. So visit Palma del Mallorca now.