Lila

Four twenty year old students are looking to have some fun in the sun for one last hurah before they head back to the USA. They´ve decided to take a trip to the Balearic Islands, and have chosen Mallorca as their final destination. Like most college kids, they´re on a tight budget and are hoping to get the most out of their buck. Provided is a weekend itinerary that will keep them busy without spending a fortune.

Departure: They´ve booked cheap roundtrip tickets through Ryanair for a mere 20 euro. However they must first get to the Madrid airport which costs about 13 euro one way via Alsa bus lines. From Estacion de Sur, take metro line Circular 6 to Nuevos Ministereos 8, which directs them to Barajas airport.

Day 1 (Friday): Upon arrival at Palma Mallorca airport, the group will take a 3 euro bus to Palma, then transfering to another 2.85 euro bus (lines 105-107) headed toward Magaluf for their first day and night. Some general information: Mallorca is the largest island of Spain and is located in the Mediterranean Sea. Bring your sunscreen and expect temperatures from (17-22º celcius..however the summer months reach a high of 29ºc). Before getting to the beach, it´s important to settle into your accomodation..here´s a few money-saving options: 1. Jackolin Hostal is a quiet, clean, and frankly unknown place..and only five minutes from the beach. They charge 15 euro per person and do last minute or walk in booking. If you´re looking to get all inclusive meals and drinks..Hotel Honolulu might be a better choice. You can normally request a room with a balcony, which gives you an amazing view of the beach/ocean and all of Magaluf. For free drinks and food all you pay is around 20 euro- A real bargain saver! Now it´s time to kick back and relax! Get ready for beautiful beaches and clear, tropical water! The sun stays out til about 6pm..giving you plenty of time to work on that tan. After a nap..put on your costumes and prepare for a night you probably won´t remember. Most people compare this part of the island to something like Cancun, Mexico. The people like to go wild..especially the Germans! No doubt you will entertained througout the noche. Many bachelor and bachelorette parties take place and are celebrated in the city as well. There´s a number of bars and clubs that will keep you busy; also many restraunts do great deals on drinks (ex. 3.50 euro pint of vodka redbull). There´s an array of food joints for a quick bite to eat or sit down (Burger King, and kebab stands which can also sufice).

Day 2 (Saturday): The second day of the trip consists of sight-seeing. The best way to get around the island is by car. 4 people is a good number for renting a car, which costs about 60 euro for the day (15 per person). There are a number of things to see in Mallorca, but the most recommended would be the famous caves! There are several different locations: Cuevas del Drach, aka the Dragon's Caves, are beautiful prehistoric caves on the East coast of Mallorca in Porto Cristo. Inside the Drach caves there is an underground lake called Lake Martel, which is one of the largest underground lakes in the world. The beauty of these caves is considered to be exceptional because of the colorful lighting illuminating the stalactites and stalacmites. Classical music concerts are performed daily by musicians on board boats floating in the Martel Lake. Entrance is less than 10 euro and well worth it! A few others include: Hams caves, Arta, Genova, and Campanet caves (you can easily access the tour hours and locations on the internet). After a day of wild adventure, the weekend would not be complete without a trip to Palma, the capital and major port of Mallorca. As of 2009, the entire population of Palma was 517,285..with almost half of the total population of Mallorca living in the city. The //Plaça d'Espanya// is the transport hub of Palma and the center for bus and train transport. The same bus that takes you to Magaluf goes straight to Palma, however if you want to be close to the beach..we reccommend stopping in Playa del Palma. Hostal Sol de Mallorca is a cheap place, located 2 minutes from the beach (literally right outside). For four people the room would be around 10 euro and includes breakfast. There are a few fun places to get drinks such as Mega Park, a huge stadium for partying..and full of Germans. Restraunts are prevalent right along the beach, you can score a whole pizza for 5 euro! There´s also a number of McDonalds and Burger Kings that stay open late.

Day 3 (Sunday): Enjoy tanning on the beach in Playa del Palma for much of the day and don´t forget to go cliff jumping! It´s thrilling adventure and the best part is it´s absolutely free! After checking out of your hostal by 12pm..It´s about a 20 minute walk, and you can easily get directions from any local. Jump off 20 foot rocks into the crystal blue water..definitely a highlight for the trip. When the sunset kicks in, you can take the short busride to the main city in Palma. Most famous for La Seu,a vast cathedral originally built on a previous mosque stands here. Although construction began in 1229 it didn't finish until 1601. Local architect, Antoni Gaudi, was drafted in during a restoration project in 1901. It´s definitely an experience to visit the cathedral, and is free during mass. Overlooked by the building is Parc de la Mar (Park of the Sea), which lies just south, a fun and free place to rest and soak up more culture. Now it´s time to say good-bye to paradise and head home.

Return: Palma airport will take you back to the mainland and it´s a homestretch from Madrid to Granada. The return trip is a little over 16 euro. Buena Suerte!