Bon Sol Hotel, Illetas

Only 9km from the capital of Palma, Illetas is a holiday resort claiming three picture-perfect beaches. Illetas beach is the main beach, and is more sheltered than the huge stretch of sand that makes up the beach in front of Palma's cathedral, making this one of the nicest beaches in the Bay of Palma.

Cala Major is located within Palma Bay, around four kilometres to the west to the city of Palma.

Playa Oratori is the popular local beach for Portals Nous and Puerto Portals.

Attracting thousands of tourists annually and especially popular with Brits and package holiday makers, Palmanova is a purpose built resort next to Magaluf in south west Majorca. Palma Nova actually hosts three separate ‘Blue Flag’ beach areas, Playa de Palmanova, Playa Son Matias and Playa Es Carregador.

The closest beach to Palma is at Ca'n Pere Antoni. This stretch of golden sandy beach starts just beyond the cathedral. A promenade and cycle path runs along its length but behind these lies the main road that takes you to Palma airport.

Portixol is found just to the east of Palma's cathedral and is home to a little bay within which a little sand and shingle beach known as D'es Portitxolet Beach resides. The water is generally calm here due to the sheltered nature of the bay.

Illetas (also known as Ses Illetes) is a small upmarket resort on the southwestern coastline of Mallorca. Just a few kilometres west of Palma, many flock to the area in the peak summertime thanks to its soft sandy beaches and crystalline turquoise waters.

Portals Nous is a small town 10km to the west of Palma. This is the place to stay if you want to spend time at the swanky marina of Puerto Portals.

Cala Major (also known as Cala Mayor) and its neighbour Sant Agusti are holiday resort towns on the outskirts of Palma.

Puerto Portals is widely known as the most glamorous marina on the island. It has become an attractive destination for the rich and famous to moor their yachts and now caters for more than 600 yachts up to 60 metres in length. Unlike many other ports in Mallorca, there is a year-round buzz here. It’s the place to visit for designer shopping, people watching and first-class restaurants and bars.

There are still people who can remember when Palma Nova was just a village. Then, along came the tourist boom and the 'new Palma' was established as one of the first purpose-built tourist destinations on the island.

The good, the bad and the ugly sides of Mallorcas tourist development meet along a 25-km stretch of coast. Tacky resorts sit next to exclusive retreats, it seems that everyone wants a slice of Palma Bay. One moment you can be in Portals Nous, with its chic marina crammed with millionaires' yachts, the next in seedy Magaluf, all British pubs and wet T-shirt contests.