- A little bit of geography
- A little about the weather
- It's about the beaches
- Hotels and prices in Madeira and Mallorca
- Transport
- Restaurants and cuisine
Where to go - Madeira or Mallorca? This question is asked by many, including those who have already visited the Spanish islands and want to decide on a trip to Portugal. It is rather difficult to compare two resorts that are different in terms of geographic location, nature, and prices. Nevertheless, such different places have in common - they are heavenly places where it is pleasant and comfortable to relax. So Madeira or Mallorca? Choose for yourself.
A little bit of geography
The first difference is that Mallorca is a separate island, although it is part of the Balearic archipelago. Madeira itself is an archipelago that includes the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and a number of uninhabited small islands. The geographical location dictates the features, ranging from beach holidays to the level of promotion and attendance. Madeira is islands located closer to the African peninsula than to Portugal, from which they are separated by a thousand kilometers of water. And Mallorca is a purely Spanish island, which is just a stone's throw from Spain. This makes it easily accessible and popular among the widest tourist masses.
A little about the weather
The weather in these places is, on average, almost the same. The spring and autumn months are almost even, the difference is felt in the summer, when in Mallorca the thermometer exceeds 30 degrees. While in Madeira, the weather is not too hot in summer (up to 28 degrees) and comfortable in spring and autumn. Due to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, you can swim in Madeira from May to January, and the most conditionally cold month is February and March. In Mallorca, the swimming season is shorter, but much brighter.
It's about the beaches
Both Mallorca and Madeira are islands with wonderful nature. But if Mallorca is a lot of small cozy beaches on the seashore, then Madeira is almost a complete absence of beaches on the coast. Everything is explained by the location: the Portuguese resort has a few exits to the ocean and a lot of beautifully designed pools in every hotel, but there are no coastal beaches as such. Since there is no gently sloping coastline as such. The mountainous terrain and cliffs are striking in their beauty, so if you want to enjoy the silence, beauty of mountain peaks and wonderful nature, having received complete relaxation, then you are in Madeira. By the way, the lack of beaches is more than compensated by the numerous balneological centers located by the ocean. Each 5-star hotel has its own thalassotherapy center.
If you want to heartily enjoy the delights of a beach holiday, diving or windsurfing, then come to Mallorca. By the way, there are also many beautiful mountain ranges, fertile valleys and dense pine forests. Here, like a magnet, attracts the most diverse people. So in Mallorca you can meet a world celebrity of cinema, and crowned heads, and your neighbor in the courtyard. It is no coincidence that Mallorca hosts up to 8 million tourists from all over the world every year.
Hotels and prices in Madeira and Mallorca
The huge flow of tourists makes the Mallorcan authorities, first of all, take care of the infrastructure. She's at the highest level here. The prices are appropriate, if, of course, you arrived in the high season, and not in winter, when prices are falling along with the fall of the tourist shaft. By the way, if you move inland, the price drop will be even more noticeable and soon they will be equal to the mainland ones.
Different prices can be found depending on the location of the hotel. So, the most expensive hotels and accommodation in the resort of millionaires - in Cala Maor, where kings and other celestials stay, Illetas also provides a luxury vacation. More democratic in the Arenal resort is a favorite vacation spot for young people, where hotels are classified as 2 stars. Finally, the most "Russian" among the Spanish resorts can be called Magaluf, with multi-storey hotels and the largest amusement park.
In Madeira, prices are European. Numerous five-star hotels in the main city of Funchal are always expensive, but there are also more democratic offers.
Transport
You can fly to Mallorca from Moscow by direct flight (during the high tourist season) or by numerous charter flights. To get to Madeira, you will have to fly or sail by sea to Lisbon, and there - to Funchal by local airlines.
Restaurants and cuisine
A distinctive feature of Madeira is the variety of seafood dishes, a huge selection of fish and crabs with shellfish. Here you can taste the world-famous Madeira, but table wine, including the young "green" wine, is served exclusively dry.
In Mallorca, locals love pork, seafood and game. All this, combined with a variety of vegetables, makes up a rich table, including in local hotels. Although, as in most resorts, the cuisine is quite democratic and has absorbed various world gastronomic traditions. Madeira, by the way, is not very different from Mallorca in this either. So in restaurants and cafes in Mallorca you will find a wide variety of offerings: Moorish dishes; Catalan menu; Mediterranean delights and varied European cuisine.
Those who dream of getting:
- positive charge for the whole year;
- gorgeous tan and a lot of beach pleasures;
- see with your own eyes world celebrities;
- join the ancient culture of the island;
- enjoy plenty of sea adventures sailing, boarding or scuba diving;
- eat deliciously and relax actively.
Madeira will be the best destination for those who:
- looking for a quiet secluded vacation in the bosom of the wonderful mountain nature;
- wishes to receive a course of balneological procedures and thalassotherapy;
- tired of the daily hustle and bustle and wants the regularity of the flow of rest;
- appreciates the beauty of ancient Funchal;
- dreams of water skiing, rock climbing, mountain climbing and other healthy outdoor activities.
