Illetas on the south west coast of Majorca lies six miles west of the capital Palma. It is an exclusive resort, described as the Monte Carlo of Majorca, where the hotels have a minimum of four stars and the harbour is filled with luxury yachts. Many of the hotels have their own private beaches for the exclusive use of their guests. There are excellent restaurants serving international cuisine. Illetas is a good base for those interested in the cultural treasures of Palma.
Illetas offers a select holiday for the more discerning customer. Enjoy sun, sea and sand by day and sophistication at night.
Illetas remains relatively undiscovered as it has not been the target of mass tourism. It attracts professional families, couples and older visitors who come to enjoy the peaceful nature of the resort and the culture of nearby Palma. Golfers have a choice of courses in the vicinity.
The holiday season in Illetas begins in April and ends in late October. The temperature ranges from twenty to thirty degrees.
Illetas, to the west of Palma, is an exclusive resort developed to attract professionals of all ages. Transfer time from the airport is fairly short. This upmarket area has excellent luxury hotels and apartments offering the best amenities. None of the accommodation has less than four stars. The public beach beneath the low cliffs can become crowded in the height of the summer season but many hotels have their own beaches that are reserved for the sole use of their guests. Hippocampes Divers is a registered diving centre with good facilities. Marineland in nearby Portals Nous has dolphin and sea lions performing their routines daily. There is also a collection of rather clever parrots that help to amuse visitors. Golfers have a choice of courses in the area at Bendinat or in son Vida. The nearby capital Palma, once a walled Moorish city, is a must for sightseers. Its port is always busy with the comings and goings of ferries, yachts and all manner of sea craft. The heart of the medieval centre Paseo del Borne has many narrow alleyways perfect for exploring on foot. The cafes here are very inviting and a good view is had of the cathedral. The cathedral is a magnificent Gothic building constructed between the fourteenth and the nineteenth centuries. There are a large number of beautiful historic buildings in Palma that are now housing museums. The Soller Railway, with its old wooden trains, travels through beautiful scenery from Palma to Soller.
Illetas nightlife can only be described as sophisticated. It is a quiet resort where entertainment is mainly hotel based with no all-night venues. The one night club is found in an unusual setting in the caves of Illetas. The Virtual Club, as it is called, is a combination of club, cocktail bar and restaurant. It remains open until two in the morning which is a very late night in Illetas.
Illetas has few shops in the town itself. This is probably due to its close proximity to Palma which has a wealth of designer boutiques and specialist shops. There are however sufficient opportunities for buying holiday mementos. The Mercal Artesanal is a craft market in Palma which is open each day from ten until two. It is a lively place that attracts street entertainers. On Saturday mornings the Rastro flea market, also in Palma, is the place to scour for bargains.
Illetas has some very elegant restaurants serving international cuisine. The hotels themselves have their own excellent restaurants where the food is of a high standard. An example of this is the Del Jardin restaurant at the Melia de Mar hotel. Set in beautiful gardens overlooking the sea, the food is delicious with lobster being a particular favourite. Here the average price of a three course meal, including wine, is a very reasonable forty euros.
