You might not automatically think of the Balearic Islands as being the perfect winter holiday destination, but if you are looking for a last-minute getaway from the ice and snow of northern Europe, I can highly recommend these jewels of the Mediterranean Sea!

Having just returned from a long weekend on the (admittedly) not-so-sunny Mediterranean Island of Mallorca, I have to say I was amazed at how spotlessly clean and beautiful the island is during the winter months, and as we didn’t have to contend with the millions of summer tourists, we could tour around the island at our leisure.

Flights, accommodation and car rental costs drop significantly during “temporada baja” low season, and while many of the ‘tourist’ restaurants were closed, the traditional Spanish restaurants and bars were open, welcoming and filled with locals enjoying the delicious Parillas, Tapas and the magnificent wines of Spain.

The weather was not brilliant, but then we didn’t expect to get a suntan in the Mediterranean in January – but we had enough sunshine mixed within the showers to really enjoy our days, and the fact that many of the apple trees were already in blossom, and the fields were filled with delicate yellow flowers gave us the feeling that spring is most definitely on the way!

So if your summer holiday seems like a million years away, why not treat yourself to a quick weekend in Mallorca, with magnificent architecture, beautiful beaches, traditional restaurants and breathtaking scenery, we think it makes a very fine winter holiday destination indeed!