Just a short distance from the centre of Mallorca's capital, Palma, Cala Major is not as elegant as it once was, but there's still a royal palace which is in regular use, as well as some pretty fancy hotels. The steep wooded hills around here provide some excellent views along the coast.

The Blue Bay Hotel is a modern three star hotel set in a fairly quiet location, set in its own extensive gardens. The Cala Major beach is about 500 metres away and in summer the hotel provides a mini bus shuttle service. The hotel's excellent location makes it an ideal budget base from which to explore beautiful and fascinating Mallorca.