Making Business Trips Work for You: A Guide to Enjoyment and Efficiency

In this post our frequent guest writer, Jesse Clark, provides tips for frequent business travelers. As a frequent business traveler myself, I took the liberty of adding a little color commentary on Jesse’s great tips! Jesse’s bio sketch is below.

Business trips are often perceived as relentless and stressful, but with strategic planning and a positive mindset, they can transform into rewarding and enjoyable experiences. Embracing effective travel strategies not only enhances productivity but also allows for personal enjoyment amid the hectic schedule. Here’s how you can maximize the benefits of your business travels with a few smart tips.

*Image by wavebreakmedia_micro on Freepik.*

Embrace Downtime for Rest and Recharging

Downtime during a business trip is precious. Use these moments to rest and recharge between meetings or events. Rather than filling every free minute with work, take time to relax. Find a quiet spot to read a book, listen to music, or take a short nap. Even a brief period of rest can rejuvenate you and enhance your productivity for the next engagement.

Hint from the Independent Tourist: If time allows, go do something fun in the evening if you’re in a location where an event or fun spot might be close by – check out a new restaurant, go see a local tourist sight, or find out where locals like to hang out – perhaps a waterfront walking or bike path, a park, a downtown hub or whatever it may be. A short break doing something completely non work-related can do wonders for your mind and body as noted above.

Prioritizing rest helps maintain your energy levels and keeps you sharp for all the important tasks ahead.

Safeguard Your Travel Documents

Safeguarding your travel documents is crucial for a hassle-free journey. Keep all essential items like your passport, tickets, and hotel bookings together in one easily accessible spot. For convenience and security, consider saving these documents as PDFs on your devices, ensuring access anytime, even offline. If updates are necessary, editing PDFs is straightforward with a PDF editor, allowing you to modify documents directly online without conversion.

Hint from the Independent Tourist: It’s a good idea to have a couple forms of ID with you. I once got to the airport and realized I didn’t have my driver’s license with me when I was going through security – luckily, I had my passport in my pack and was still able catch my flight and make it to my client meetings, even though I couldn’t rent a car at my destination as originally planned. (Apparently, I had taken my license out of my wallet for some reason and hadn’t put it back!).

Also, double and triple check that you haven’t left any items on the plane (or train or rental car or taxi). Nothing like finding out later than you left your phone in a cab in New York City! Amazingly, I got a call from the person who found my phone and the next day they sent it back to me via Fed Ex – there are some angels out there!

Join Loyalty Programs for Rewards

Joining loyalty programs can significantly enhance your travel experience. Many airlines, hotels, and car rental companies offer rewards programs that allow you to earn points or miles for every booking. Over time, these points can be redeemed for free flights, hotel stays, or upgrades. Additionally, loyalty programs often provide members with perks such as priority boarding, complimentary breakfast, or late checkouts. These benefits can make your trips more comfortable and enjoyable, turning routine business travel into a rewarding experience.

Hint from the Independent Tourist: I’ve become a fan of the Capital One Venture X card – lots of great benefits for travel. My family has used my accumulated business travel points to vacation around the world!

Pack Comfortable Shoes to Avoid Discomfort

Comfortable shoes are a must for any business trip. Long walks through airports, standing during events, and exploring new cities can take a toll on your feet. Packing comfortable shoes can prevent blisters and sore feet, ensuring that you remain comfortable throughout your trip. Choose shoes that provide good support and are appropriate for the weather and activities planned. Your feet will thank you, and you’ll be able to focus on your business activities without the distraction of discomfort.

Plan Your Itinerary and Make Reservations in Advance

Planning your itinerary and making reservations in advance can significantly reduce stress. Knowing exactly where you need to be and when helps you manage your time effectively. Book your flights, accommodations, and any necessary transportation ahead of time. Make reservations for meetings, dining, and other activities as soon as possible. Having a well-structured plan allows you to anticipate potential issues and avoid last-minute hassles. This organized approach ensures that your trip runs smoothly, giving you peace of mind and more time to enjoy the experience.

Pack Light to Avoid Luggage Hassles

Packing light is a game-changer for business travel. Heavy luggage can be cumbersome and time-consuming to manage. Aim to pack only what you truly need, choosing versatile clothing items that can be mixed and matched. Use packing cubes or compression bags to save space and keep your belongings organized. With a lighter load, you can move more freely, avoid baggage fees, and reduce the risk of lost luggage. This simplicity allows you to focus on the purpose of your trip, rather than being bogged down by excess baggage.

Transforming business travel into an enjoyable venture is all about balancing work with well-being. By effectively managing your time, taking care of your travel logistics, and embracing opportunities for comfort and convenience, you can enrich both your professional and personal experiences. Implement these strategies during your business trips to not only meet your professional goals but also to enrich your travel experiences, fostering both personal satisfaction and professional growth.

Start planning your next adventure with The Independent Tourist, where our comprehensive travel guides provide you all the insights and tips you need for unforgettable journeys.

Jesse Clark is a traveler, so she’s no stranger to experiencing wanderlust and that strong desire to travel. She’s already had enough experiences to last a lifetime, but she’s not stopping anytime soon. Find out more and contact her through soulful-travel.com.

Featured image credit: Freepik

Three Quiet Inland Sights in Mallorca

Although most tourists to Mallorca, Spain flock to the beach or the mountains to bike on their holidays in Mallorca, there are several “off the radar” spots to visit if you’d like to spend a quieter day during your stay. These three towns and nearby sites are relatively close to each other in the north-eastern part of the island and make good short stops if your traveling from the east coast to the north coast, which is exactly what we were doing. See other posts on Mallorca here.

Manacor

If you enjoy professional tennis, you may have heard of Rafael Nadal, a former #1 ranked tennis player and winner of 22 Grand Slam Men’s Singles titles, including 14 French Open titles. Just amazing. Manacor is his home town and he has built a tennis academy there, just on the outskirts of town. We stopped by to take a look and visit the Academy store to pick up some souvenirs. The academy appeared fairly quiet while were there (September) and the facility was in the midst of expansion. If you or your children or friends are looking for some serious game improvement, this might be your place!

*There are multiple clay courts and hard courts at the academy plus dorm rooms, instruction rooms and workout areas. Not a bad place to spend a week or two brushing up on your tennis game!*

While there is more to Manacor than tennis, this was our main stop.

Petra

This little town is the birthplace of Franciscan Friar Junípero Serra, born in 1713, who made it all the way to what later became the state of California and established missions that led to the founding of the cities of San Diego and San Francisco. He represented the Catholic Church on what was known as the Portolá expedition (1769–1770).

Just outside of Petra, you can visit Bonany Monastery/Sanctuary, which sits on a hill (elevation 1,000 ft) above Petra and affords a lovely view of the island’s interior landscape. Signs from the town will lead you on the narrow road up to the monastery.

*Views of the surrounding countryside and town of Petra from Bonany Sanctuary.*

The monastery and church date to the 17th century when locals would ascend the hill to pray for rain for growing their crops, and a statue of the Virgin Mary was found on the hillside. The main church’s hours are short (10 am – 2 pm), so arrange your visit accordingly if you’d like to go inside. I believe the Sanctuary also offers some accomodations if you’d like to have some solitude during your stay on Mallorca.

*Inside the Monastery, through a viewing glass are these tiny outdoor scenes – quite interesting! Someone went to a lot of work to create these.*

Artà

Artà is a larger town than Petra but still easy to cover on foot and only 15-30 minutes from some lovely beaches on the northeastern shore of Mallorca.

Artà has a nice pedestrian street with fun and classy shops that leads towards the hill topped by the Sanctuary of San Salvador (Sant Salvador) with medieval walls surrounding it; this is one of the town’s main sights.

*The town of Artà with the Sanctuary of San Salvador dominating the hilltop.*

*The walls of Artà – including the view of the town from the top.*

*Another landmark church in Artà is The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, dating from the 16th century (views above and below).*

*Inside The Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord they have an interesting museum, it is worth a visit.*

Ses Païsses

While exploring one of the shops in Artà, I saw a post card with a photo of some prehistoric ruins and I inquired about those ruins, and learned about Ses Païsses, a Bronze Age (approximately 900 BC) settlement, which is less than 2 km (or less than a mile) outside of Artà. This is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Mallorca and the Balearic Islands for that matter. This was an unexpected find and we enjoyed seeing this site. Ses Païsses was a prelude to what we were going to see in Menorca, which is home to a number of interesting prehistoric sites.

Artà would make a great place to call home for a night or two if you plan to visit this part of the island. We stopped here for a couple hours on our way to Alcúdia, our last stay on Mallorca.

Visiting Mallorca’s Drach Caves

One of the most well-known tourist sites in Mallorca are the Drach Caves (Cuevas del Drach, or Caves of the Dragon), located on the eastern coast in the town of Porto Cristo (see my post here for information on nearby beautiful beaches). The caves are known for having one of the largest underground lakes in the world (Lake Martel).

Drach Caves

Given the caves’ popularity as a cruise shore excursion and for other tourists on the island, it would be wise to purchase your tickets in advance here. Bring a light jacket, the air can be very cool. I highly recommend getting in line early for your appointed entry time so you can be one of the first ones into the caves for the best photos and to be one of the first to get on your boat ride at the end. You may be with 200+ other people at your tour time. We were staying in Cala D’ Or, only 28 km (17 miles) south of Porto Cristo, a convenient spot for visiting this part of Mallorca.

*The astonishing formations created over millennia in the caves.*

*Small pools of crystal-clear water in the Drach Caves.*

At the end of the walking tour of the caves, you are seated in stadium area by the underground freshwater lake (Lake Martel) – it is a spectacular setting. A boat with strings of lights appears from around a bend in the lake and live classical music is played (violin, flute & organ as I recall) as the boat sails past you in this unreal setting – kind of like “Phantom of the Opera”! Note: You are not allowed to take photos or video of the performance – they are very particular about this!

Following the performance, you have the opportunity to take a short rowboat ride to the exit path for your own “boating on the underground lake” experience. Or, if you wish, you can just walk on a path towards the exit if you’re in a hurry, since it takes a while to ferry 200-300 people by boat (there are multiple boats but each only holds about 10 people).

*The underground lake and a boat taking passengers on a ride to the exit path at the end of the tour.*

After your visit to the caves, if you want to make a day of it, there is a small cove for swimming next to the caves entrance. Bring your swimsuit (always good advice wherever you are on Mallorca!).

*This lovely cove is just a short walk from the Drach Caves parking area.*

Although the caves are very touristy, I highly recommend a visit. It’s not often you get to boat on a underground lake and watch a classical music performance in such an amazing setting.

Mallorca’s Southeast Coast – Home to Some of Its (and the World’s) Most Beautiful Beaches

After enjoying the Palma area and exploring the north/west coast of Mallorca, we moved on to our 2nd stop, Cala d’Or, a great location to explore the leeward side of Mallorca. The southeast coast is dotted with beautiful coves and beaches (I think there are over 100), many of which require a bit of a hike to get to, while others are easily accessible by car.

Alua Soul Hotel – Cala d’Or

We stayed at the Alua Soul Hotel in Cala d’Or, and we were not disappointed. The hotel property surrounds a small cove (Cala Egos, to which the public also has access) and is in a perfect location for exploring this beautiful part of Mallorca.

*Cala Egos – this is the view from our room at the Alua Soul Hotel – I think I could have stayed here forever!*

*Cala d’Or has lots of shops and restaurants, this particular shopping/restaurant area was very close to our hotel.*

Cala d’Or is a major boat harbor and tourist hub (although it did not feel all that crowded – the hotels and condos are spread out and tucked behind the various hills and coves). If you get tired of the beach, there are lots of other things to do here, such as renting ATV’s, going on fishing or sailing expeditions and many other activities to keep you and your family or friends entertained!

Mondragó Park

Near Cala d’Or is Mondrago Park (Parc natural de Mondragó). This nature park has lots of parking (fee required), wide beaches, snack vendors and restrooms. The beaches and shallow water are great for families. There are two beach areas connected by a trail (just a 5 minute walk between the two beaches). Speaking of families, let me point out that these are “European” beaches, which means you will likely encounter some topless sunbathers, as with most beaches in Mallorca (or any Mediterranean island for that matter). However, the protocol is that everyone covers up at the snack bars, going to/from the restroom, beach, etc.

*If you’re after a little more solitude, this little cove is also in *Mondragó Park*.*

Cala des Moro

This is perhaps the most famous (and beautiful?) beach and cove on Mallorca. Arrive early (like by 8 or 9 am) to enjoy a quieter beach experience and to find parking. You walk south from the parking area off the main road through a small residential neighborhood and just keep working your way to the coastline. It’s about a 20 minute walk/hike from the parking area to the beach – be prepared for a steep descent/ascent into/out of the cove. Just follow the crowd. At the top of the cove, there was an enterprising drink/snack vendor. I will say this is one of the most scenic beaches I’ve ever seen. The water is warm and the color is about the prettiest turquoise shade possible.

Other Beautiful Beaches

Further up the coast from Cala d’Or, the coves & beaches just keep on coming….here are two other examples that are near Porto Cristo, 28 km (17 miles) north of Cala d’Or and easily accessible by car (parking is next to the beach in both cases). Porto Cristo is the home of Cuevas del Drach (Drach Caves) which I will share more about in my next post!

Cala Anguila

Cala Mendia

No matter where you choose to stay while in Mallorca, be sure to visit the south/east coast of this beautiful island.

Beyond Palma – Touring North/Western Mallorca – Part 2

North/Western Mallorca (island of Spain) has some really lovely and historic towns as well as amazing scenery. In continuing our visit to this part of the island, here are a few other gems in addition to those listed in my Part 1 post. For an overview of our Mallorca (and Menorca) visit my post here.

Valldemossa

Valldemossa is the quintessential European mountain village. In visiting this town, you wouldn’t know that you are just a few kilometers away from some of the most beautiful and touristy beaches in the world. As we drove into town I stopped to take a photo of the village, and I could hear bells tinkling as sheep quietly grazed in the hillsides, oblivious to their surroundings.

In addition to its scenic location, Valldemossa is famous for one of its most illustrious short-term residents, Frédéric Chopin, one of the preeminent composers and pianists of the 19th century, who was from Poland. He and his girlfriend (known by her pen name of George Sand) lived in Valldemossa during the winter of 1838 – 1839. George (her real name: Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin de Francueil) was a French novelist and quite a respected and well-known author in her lifetime.

*A bust of Chopin, a portrait of George Sand and their living quarters museum at the Charterhouse in Valldemossa.*

They came to Mallorca with hopes to improve Chopin’s health, but the accommodations and cold winter weather did not help. The palace-monastery (Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa) where they lived is the main sight in this little village. A tour of the Charterhouse includes dormitory rooms dedicated to Chopin’s stay and his works as well as George Sand’s.

A display of works by George Sand, compositions by Chopin, and the famous French Pleyel piano, which Chopin used to compose his Preludes during the latter part of his visit to Mallorca. There is some controversy about whether this is the actual piano, which has a story all of its own.

Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa

This 13th century Palace was donated to the Carthusian Order of the Catholic Church in 1399. The Carthusian monks inhabited the Monastery until 1835 when the facilities were sold into a private estate and the small dormitory rooms then became available for rent. Chopin and Sand were not married, and after this was discovered they sought seclusion from the disapproving public in Palma and rented a room at the Charterhouse in Valldemossa, a very remote village at the time.

*Exterior views of the Charterhouse (former royal palace and monastery).*

In addition to the cells and displays dedicated to Chopin and Sand, you also have an opportunity to tour some of the features of the monastery and elegant rooms of the palace.

*The monastery’s pharmacy and monk’s cell displays.*

*Rooms in the Palace portion of the Charterhouse.*

And at certain times of the day, a short (15 minute) beautiful recital is given of Chopin’s music. We were fortunate that the recital timing coincided with our visit perfectly. You can then tour the gardens of the Charterhouse.

Recital of Chopin’s music at the Charterhouse in Valldemossa, Mallorca.

This was a really interesting stop, we enjoyed our visit.

Sóller & Porto Sóller

Just 24 km (15 miles) north of Valldemossa is the pretty town of Sóller. Like Andraxt, there are two parts to Sóller. The inland town and port are both attractive and popular tourist spots, especially for hikers and cyclists and for those seeking some beach time. Sóller became wealthy in the 19th century due to its citrus groves and fruit exports to France. Today beautiful small hotels and apartments surround the peaceful harbor and beach.

*Left, a tram transports you 3 km from the inland town to the port. Views of scenic Porto Sóller with its pleasant sandy and shaded beach.*

The inland town is also quite picturesque and worth a stroll. I bought some great Mallorcan shoes from a local cobbler – they have a unique style!

Views of Sóller. If the buildings in the center and right images look a bit like Gaudi’s work, it’s because his disciple, Joan Rubió Bellver, designed the facades during a facelift in the mid 1900’s. The church (right, Sant Bartomeu de Sóller) was originally built in the 12th century.

*My Mallorcan shoes! I wear a size 11.5 – 12 and it was a little hard to find that big of a shoe (44 in European sizes).*

Fornalutx

One little town we passed through quickly (we visited it on our last day in Mallorca as we were headed to the airport) was Fornalutx, which is only 4 km from Sóller. It is another little scenic town and worth a stroll of its main street. It might be a great place to stay on the north/west coast of the island and perhaps less expensive and quieter than Sóller or Deià.

*Views of Fornalutx – with jugglers on stilts!*

Beyond Palma – Touring Western Mallorca – Part 1

From our base in Palma, we did a couple of day trips through the western part of Mallorca. The north/western shore of Mallorca is rugged and this mountainous area (known as the Serra de Tramuntana), is Mallorca’s “backbone”, with narrow winding roads, steep hills, dramatic coastline and several quaint medieval villages. As mentioned in my Overview of Mallorca, bicyclists are everywhere – some are just out for fun while others do serious training here.

*Mallorca’s dramatic western coastline.*

Andraxt and Port Andraxt

Andraxt was our first stop along the southwest coast from Palma. We skipped the touristy and trendy Magaluf area, (a short distance from Palma), and decided to check out the quieter southwestern end of the island. As with a number of coastal towns on Mallorca, the town of Andraxt and its port share the same name and are just a few kilometers apart. Hundreds of years ago, the inland town separated from the port provided some protection against raids by pirates. Andraxt and Port Andraxt is one such example. It was interesting to see the difference between the two – Port Andraxt is the modern tourist hub with sleek yachts in the harbor and the old town of Andraxt is nestled in the hills and feels like it’s from a completely different era.

*Above – Port Andraxt, lined with shops and restaurants, and moorage for boats.*

*The old town of Andraxt with Port Andraxt in the distance – it was very difficult to find a place to get a photo of the town and port!*

St. Elm Beach

Not far from Andraxt was St. Elm Beach, about a 45 minute drive from Palma. St. Elm is a small resort town at the very tip of southwestern Mallorca. We spent a couple hours enjoying the scenery and beach here. There was a small car park just across the street from the main beach and behind the beach is a line of restaurants and shops facing the beautiful bay, with the uninhabited islet of El Pantaleu just offshore.

*Another view of St. Elm Beach and islet of El Pantaleu*

Banyalbufar

North and east along the coast from St. Elm is the municipality of Banyalbufar, with dramatic coastline as shown above in this post and with one of the many scenic medieval towers in Mallorca keeping watch over the coast.

Miramar Monastery

Situated between Valldemossa and Deia, this 13th century monastery is worth a visit – the views from its terraces are lovely. There’s not much left of the original monastery, but there are a few buildings, a small museum and gardens to provide an idea of what life was like for the early inhabitants – monks who were learning Eastern languages in order to take the gospel to the Moors.

*Old olive presses and other machinery at Miramar Monastery.*

*Coastline view from the garden terraces at Miramar Monastery – a fantastic peaceful setting.*

Deia

Not far from the Miramar Monastery is this little village, perched on a hilltop on the western coast of Mallorca, which has an outsized reputation as a real hot spot. In fact, it’s so busy that we could not find any place to park as we drove by the town. Deia is known for its scenic setting, quaint streets, magnetic star power (lots of music and movie stars have hung out here), and beautiful cove and beach. Traffic was stop and go along the road passing near the town, everyone was looking for a parking spot, just like us. We really wanted to stop and I did a couple passes by the town, but the tiny car parks were continually full. The road is so narrow with cliffs on both sides that you cannot pull off the side of the road. We gave up and just took this picture out of the car window! Maybe you’ll have better luck. Perhaps later in the season or another time of day would have been better (we were there in early September).

In my next post, we’ll explore the villages of Valldemossa and Sóller, two other very beautiful and historic towns on Mallorca’s western coast.

Top Sights in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Our first stop in Mallorca was Palma de Mallorca, the main city, port, cruise ship and tourist hub on the island. Palma has a lovely old quarter with a classic Gothic cathedral, old city walls, a wonderful bike path running along the harbor for about 9 miles and sandy beaches within a short distance. Visiting the Palma area alone could be great one-stop vacation since it has so much to offer.

*View of cruise ships in Palma de Mallorca’s harbor.*

We used Palma as our base for exploring not only the town, but also the western part of the island, which worked out great. We didn’t spend time on the beaches right near Palma simply because much of the rest of our visit around the island was going to be focused on exploring and relaxing on a variety of Mallorca’s many beaches.

Listed below are a few key sights in Palma.

Palma’s Old Quarter and Cathedral

While Palma is a big city, like most European cities the old town is compact and very easy to access. The “Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca” is the postcard image of Palma, with a stunning setting on Palma’s beautiful harbor.

*Palma’s 13th century Gothic Cathedral is an iconic landmark, visible from many locations around the city and bay.*

*Views from the rooftop of Palma’s Cathedral – definitely worth a visit.*

*Interior views of Palma’s Cathedral. the chandelier over the altar in the center image is the work of Gaudi from the late 1800’s.*

The Royal Palace of La Almudaina, which dates back to the 14th century, is the official residence of the King and Queen during their stays in Mallorca. The palace is next to the Cathedral and may be visited.

*There are massive walls on the seafront of Palma’s old town.* *The Cathedral is in the distance.*

*Views of Palma’s old town, which boasts some beautiful architecture.*

Bellver Castle

This is an interesting 14th century castle located on the western edge of central Palma, with its unique circular construction it is the only existing castle in Spain with this shape. The castle has served as a royal palace and a prison. There are few castles in Mallorca and Bellver Castle is by far the grandest.

*You get a fantastic view of central Palma from the rooftop of Bellver Castle.*

*Other exterior views of Bellver Castle.*

*The castle’s interior has some historical displays and the large courtyard is used for various performances.*

Arab Baths (Banys Arab)

Not far from the Cathedral are the 10th century Arab Baths, believed to be part of wealthy person’s home in the original Moorish city that was the foundation of Palma. Although small, they are definitely worth a visit. It’s interesting (and fortunate) that these baths have survived so long in central Palma, as they are above ground and right in the heart of the old town. To get here, we just walked there by following the signs on the sides of the buildings on the narrow streets east of the Cathedral. We made a couple wrong turns, but found the Baths without much difficulty.

*The exterior of the Arab Baths, believed to be part of a noble person’s residence 1,000 years ago.*

*Interior of the Baths. The columns are believed to have been “recycled” from Roman-era buildings. These baths used the same engineering principles as Roman-era baths.*

*One of my favorite images of the Baths.*

The small Bishop’s Museum (Museu Diocesà) is in the 13th century Bishop’s Palace behind the Cathedral and also near the Arab Baths. It is worth a visit. The Cathedral ticket covers the entrance fee for this museum as well. The image shown is an amazing wooden mural containing scenes from Christ’s life.

*One can never pass up the amazing gelato available in Palma and many other places on Mallorca!*

Melia Palma Bay Hotel

We stayed at the Meliá Palma Bay hotel, just a few minutes from the old town and across the street from the beach and biking path.

Here are a couple photos taken from the rooftop pool and lounge area. The hotel also has a bicycle rental shop, which I highly recommend. It was fun biking along the path right next to the beach.

The Melia Palma Hotel has a great setting, right next to the beach, with views of the city, bay and cruise ship port. The pool was an enjoyable, relaxing experience at the end of a good day of touring this beautiful island.

In our next post, we’ll explore the north/west coast of Mallorca.

Mallorca (Majorca) and Menorca (Minorca) – Spain’s Well-Kept Secret Islands (at least from Americans)

My wife and I love exploring the Mediterranean’s host of magical islands for so many reasons, but as of 2022, we had not yet visited Spain’s share of these islands and so we decided to take a September trip to Mallorca and Menorca (with few days in Barcelona on our way home). September was a perfect time to go – the water was still warm and the days long enough to allow plenty of exploring, with fewer tourists than might be found in July or August. United Airlines started offering seasonal direct service to Palma, Mallorca from Newark, NJ in the summer of 2022. I think that was a fabulous decision, even though locals may not agree!

In this post, I’ll provide a short overview of these two islands and in future posts go into more detail on each.

Why Mallorca and Menorca?

As mentioned above, we love the Mediterranean – the beautiful coastlines, ancient and medieval-era historical sites, incredible beaches and the variety of cultures and languages to be found throughout the region. We also love that these (Mallorca and Menorca) islands don’t really seem to be on US tourists’ European vacation maps yet, at least not to the same degree as a London, Paris or Rome.

*One of the many beautiful coves on the island of Mallorca. Like many of these coves, it takes a little hiking to get here.*

However, please don’t think that the islands are void of tourists – that’s hardly the case. Car parks for the most accessible beautiful beaches and coves fill up fast – you have to get there early (or arrive late in the day) if you want a convenient parking spot. It seems that most of the tourists to these islands come from Germany and the UK, although cruise ships also visit Palma. Cycling on the narrow winding roads through the mountains of Mallorca is a favorite pastime in addition to hiking, 4 wheeling, and of course all kinds of water sports.

*When driving in Mallorca, one needs to be careful of the cyclists sharing the road.*

Even with all the tourists, it’s still possible to visit little towns on both islands and pretty much be the only tourists in sight.

*The scenic town of Arta in the northeast corner of Mallorca – few tourists here.*

Mallorca and Menorca are quite different from one another. Mallorca is larger, more mountainous, with a significantly larger population (about half of which live in the Palma area) and caters to more tourists, who tend to stay put in specific regions of the island. Menorca is smaller in size and population with fewer tourists, and feels more rural. Both islands offer stunningly clear turquoise water, incredible coves and beaches – some of the prettiest anywhere on the planet – and interesting historical sites and towns.

*Torre d’ en Galmes, one of Menorca’s many prehistoric ruins.*

Where are Mallorca and Menorca?

Mallorca and Menorca are two of the three primary Balearic islands, belonging to Spain, the other being Ibiza. Ibiza has a reputation as a real “party” island and we preferred a bit different experience. Plus, as stated above, we could fly directly to Palma from the US. Mallorca and Menorca are close together geographically and it’s easy to get from one island to the other (just a 30 minute flight), or by taking a longer ferry ride.

Mallorca and Menorca are in the western Mediterranean Sea. It is a short flight from Barcelona to Mallorca or Menorca – about an hour (approximately 158 miles or 255 km). We flew to Barcelona from Menorca for a few days at the end of our stay and then directly from Barcelona to Washington, D.C.

Be on the lookout for many more posts to come about these beautiful islands!

Segóbriga Archaeolgical Park – Another Great Day Trip from Madrid, Spain

On our way back to Madrid via an overnight stop in Cuenca, we visited Segóbriga, an archaeological park with Roman-era ruins. The earliest evidence of civilization here dates to the 5th century BCE. Segóbriga came under Roman rule in the 2nd century BCE.

*Segóbriga is about 79 km (49 miles) west of Cuenca and 112 km (70 miles) southeast of Madrid.*

Segóbriga was an important Roman city, it produced agricultural products, livestock and through mining, ingredients used in the making of translucent plaster. Life was hard here, with 20% of the population dying before the age of 10, and 70% dying by the age of 40. The greater part of the population were freedmen and slaves, many having come to Segóbriga from other conquered regions of the Roman empire, especially Greece. Texts found in Narbonne, France refer to trading partners in Segóbriga, showing its economic influence throughout the broader region.

Most of what remains today are structures from the 1st Century AD, during the time of Augustus. Specific features include a large amphitheater that could hold 5,500; a theater, baths, and a forum in addition to the remnants of some homes. A few images of the sights are shown below.

On the trail leading to the ruins is this 2nd century tombstone monument to Lucunda, a young female slave who died at the age of 16. The relief image is of her playing a zither. She must have been pretty important to someone to warrant such a fine tombstone.

*View of the large amphitheater and a corridor leading to the seating areas.* *Unfortunately much of the original building’s stone was used in the 16th and 17th centuries as construction material for a monastery.*

*View of the theater and nearby forum – the center of cultural life in the city.*

*Views of the baths. The image on the right shows part of the water drainage system.*

Other views of stones with Latin inscriptions, foundations of small houses or shops, and a well-preserved mosaic floor (all original except for the very center of the mosaic) in one of the grand villas.

*At the entrance to the archaeological site is a small and interesting museum with good information on the history of Segóbriga.*

In addition to the above, there are remnants of a necropolis, a circus, and other elements of urbanization (other roads, drainage systems, etc.) scattered around this large site.

If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by! Due to its somewhat isolated setting, Segóbriga does not receive a lot of visitors, even though it’s not too far from Madrid.

Cuenca, Spain – Home of the Hanging Houses (Casa Colgadas)

From Belmonte and Alarcón, we traveled to Cuenca, our last overnight stop in Spain before heading back to Madrid for our trip home.

*Cuenca is 138 km or 86 miles southeast of Madrid. By train, it is less than one hour, making it a great day trip if you have the time.* (*This map shows our general car travel route in Southern Spain).*

The old town of Cuenca has a spectacular setting, sitting on a steep ridge surrounded by deep gorges carved by the Júcar and Huécar rivers on either side – a very strategic site for a military stronghold, and that is how Cuenca began back in 714 AD. Cuenca has had its economic ups and downs over the centuries and lucky for us, it’s been well-preserved and is recognized as a World Heritage site. The main tourist site is the old town itself. It is a steep climb up into the old town from the newer part of the town below, especially if walking. Cuenca is definitely worth a stop as part of your tour of Spain.