Last month, Meon Villas took a group of eight agents on an educational to Majorca. Based in villas in Cala D’Or, they visited properties in Cala Sanau, S’Horta, Porto Pepro, Cala Llonga and Cala Serena in the south of the island, and Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa in the north. They stayed for five days and visited the Caves of Drach, a pearl factory and local markets. We asked three agents for their impressions before and after the trip.
Before I had never been to Majorca but we sell a lot of holidays to the island because clients are confident that it is a destination well set up for English tastes and suitable for families. I tend to book Majorca holidays through mass-market operators and haven’t sold that many based on villas. I had been to Ibiza with some friends and enjoyed the clubs and pubs but I realised it was probably more suited to someone my age rather than the majority of clients. I imagined Majorca to be rather like Blackpool. I thought it would be really commercialised and set up for the mass market.
After Majorca is greener and prettier and a lot less commercialised than I had imagined. Clients booking villa holidays really stay in much quieter, out of the way places than I realised and a hire car is really important if they want to get the feel of the resorts. Staying in a villa gives you a really different view of Majorca – some are right out in the Spanish countryside, away from the hustle and bustle, although supermarkets are usually pretty convenient. I can see now that a villa holiday could appeal to lots of people – couples and families and even a group of young friends who could have their own non-stop house party.
Natalie Brettell, Sales Consultant, Aeroscope Travel, Weoley Castle, Birmingham, Age 21
Before I had been to Majorca once before a very long time ago and I knew it as a very lovely island but in more recent years I had found it was not selling as well as it once did. There are still plenty of youngsters going there to live it up but the more discerning clients do not go there as often because they have moved on to other destinations. From the brochures I knew there were still some pretty, unspoilt areas on the island but it is hard to recommend these convincingly when the public perception is of larger louts. I suppose I too have become influenced by the less favourable images reported of Majorca.
After I think Majorca really has something for everyone and is currently very under-rated. The Meon properties are very interesting and the extremes of the range varied far more widely than I had fully realised. Majorca is a tourist island but there is absolutely no question that it is still very much a Spanish island. There are clubs and busy resorts but there is far, far more; plenty of local Spanish bars and restaurants, markets and local colour. Some of the villages I could never have dreamt were Majorca as they are totally remote from any kind of larger kingdom. I have certainly renewed my own affection and enthusiasm for the island and hope to go back for a holiday there myself. I now have no hesitation recommending it to every kind of client.
Leslie Bennett, Owner, The Travel Centre, Evesham, Worcestershire, Age 68
Before I had never been to Spain before and I had never been on an educational before so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I thought of Majorca as a good fun destination with plenty of sun and lots of holidaymakers all having a bit of a laugh. At my age I am of course into the clubbing and pubbing scene so I thought it was the kind of place I would like. I had seen stories of rowdy tourists in Majorca but I thought there would be something of the Spanish way of life to see as well. I had sold quite a few holidays to the island but didn’t get many requests for villas. I thought villas would really only suit families.
After We found some pubs and clubs and they were fun but not nearly as crazy as they are portrayed – not as busy and certainly not filled entirely with drunken idiots. The landscape is dry and dusty in parts and much less cultivated than I had imagined. The accommodation was of a far higher standard than I had expected. The deluxe villas we visited are superb – some are very new and modern, others offer all the latest equipment but in very traditional buildings. I am certainly going to go back and am keen to recommend the villas – not just to families – but to anyone. They are of a really great quality and you can have a barrel of laughs in them.
Scott Downing, Trainee Travel Consultant, Clematis Travel, Northfield, Birmingham, Age 19