Cala d'Or Holidays

Set on Majorca’s south-east coast, this one-time fishing village has grown into a smart resort that’s hung on to its small-time feel. It’s a real antidote to mad-for-it Magaluf on the other side of the island. With Cala d’Or you get plenty of lively nightlife in the pedestrianised centre but it’s a family-friendly zone, too, with restaurants laying on kids’ menus. And the beaches are spot on for little ones, as well.

There are seven little sandy coves in Cala d’Or, each with gently shelving sand and calm water. The beach bars do a good trade in ice-creams, and there’s a mini-activity centre, Mallorcalandia – just at the end of the Cala Ferrara strip – that lines up fun stuff like go-karts and trampolines.

About 20 minutes’ walk from the centre gets you to the marina. It’s a swanky spot where you could quite easily spot celebs boarding their mega-yachts. The vibe is friendly, though, and on Sundays the place is packed with local families taking a leisurely lunch. Pull up a chair on one of the bar terraces and watch all the action unfold.

Around 20 minutes’ drive and you’re in one of a couple of sleepy fishing villages, Cala Figuera or Porto Petro – both great for beaches and coastal walks. And half an hour further up the coast, you’ve got one of the island’s most famous sights, the Caves of Drach. It’s an underground grotto that serves up classical concerts around a floodlit lake.