The owners of this truly charming Villa , just added to ourrange of  Mallorca Pool Villas in the spectacular Val de Colonya, just 2.5 kms from Pollenca old town have just agreed to a last minute discount for early season, making this a very attractive choice for May.

The Villa sits amidst lush and tranquil gardens planted with a burgeoning variety of Mediterranean shrubs and plants and dotted with magnificent palms, beside a small orchard of citrus fruit, all at their best in springtime.
There are stunning mountain views across the lawns surrounding the lovely 8m x 4 m pool and a comfy sofa in the covered porch is an ideal venue from which to enjoy the scenery.

This extremely comfortable 3 bedroom Mallorca Pool Villa has air conditioning and a wood burning stove, in case the evenings become a little chilly. There is also a rather smart decked barbecue house with a lovely dining area in the garden. 

At 2.5kms from Pollenca, a 5 mins drive or 40 mins evening stroll brings you to a wide choice of shops, restaurants and cafes amongst this lovely old towns narrow streets and in the delightful Placa Mayor. The beaches of Porto Pollenca and Cala San Vicenc are just 10kms away.

A Mallorcan ‘bolthole’ Ca’n Fanals luxuriates in the privacy of three hectares of its own grounds and enjoys utter privacy from the world.

Olivers Petit, Alcudia/Mal Pas, Mallorca 

This delightful little finca just added to our  Villas in Mallorca   is hidden away in the countryside no more than 1 km from Alcudia Old Town and just a little more to the gorgeous beaches on the west side of the Alcanada Peninsular.  Almost hidden from view behind lush garden of Mediterranean plantings, little paths, water features and a colonnaded entrance taken over by a profusion of ivy and morning glory, the finca appears to have changed very little since it was first built, but take a peep inside and you’ll find this simple little villa has been fitted with a modern kitchen complete with full electric cooker with ceramic hob, microwave, fridge freezer and dishwasher. There are two prettily  furnished bedrooms tucked away under the sloping beamed ceiling, a family bathroom, and a comfortable open plan lounge and dining room with wood burning stove and  double height beamed ceiling rising to the eaves, with an open  staircase ascending  to a storage ‘den’  built above the kitchen.
All around, the 1.5 hectares of grounds provide a haven of peace . Sunbathing terraces surround the lovely 9m x 4m pool and if you can’t drag yourself away form this charming Villa in mallorca  in the evening, there’s a barbecue to move to whichever spot you choose. However, a short walk will take you into the beautiful Old Town of Alcudia where, enclosed within its Roman Walls the shining paved traffic free streets are home to  a growing number of excellent restaurants and cafes.

Just over a kilometre away from our latests Villas in Mallorca sandy beaches beckon and a drive up the peninsular to watch the sun setting over the island followed by a sumptuous meal at La Vittoria is something not to be missed

Villas in Mallorca

Having spent last week in one of our Villas in Mallorca , I am happy to tell you that the Mallorcans are taking their Spring Cleaning very seriously indeed. I was there the week before ‘the season’ began and the atmosphere was really quite unique and quite something to experience.

Every Villa in Mallorca was witness to a flurry of activity with windows wide open to the sunshine (yes, the weather was similar to the UK  ie enjoying some wonderful early sunshine). Everywhere we visited and drove past, windows were being polished, floors scrubbed, lawns mown and paths hoed. Every other vehicle seemed to be a pick-up with a ladder on the back or loaded with paint pots. The shelves of the supermarkets were noticeably low on cleaning products and conversations were overheard about the best polish and washing powder.

Yes I can honestly bear witness to the general atmosphere of excitement and expectations about visitors returning to the island after the winter. This winter in Mallorca has been particularly cold with unseasonable snowfall in February. The upside of this is that there is still later flowering almond blossom all over the island and the grass is almost artificially green and lush, unlike the mainland which has suffered a drought.  If you hurry and book a last minute break, you’ll still catch the blossom and Cana Joana can be highly recommended as it is quite literally surrounded by almond groves. Of the new  Villas in Mallorca  we are shortly to add to our website, look out for the appearance of Ca’n Fanells, in the most beautiful location behind Pollenca Old Town with green mountainsides framing the prettily planted gardens.

 At this time of year the roads are wonderfully quiet and a trip across the island is sure to meet with cyclists far exceeding motor vehicles. At lunch time village squares are frequented by lycra clad enthusiasts of the two wheeled form of transport enjoying pamboli (Mallorcan open sandwich)   and a cooling drink, alongside the more soberly dressed  locals

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 So everything by now is in place and I can bare testament to the fact the Mallorca is quite definitely ‘open’ and awaiting you – so why not book a cheap flight and pop over for a few days to saty in one of our Villas in Mallorca  ,  you won’t be disappointed.

Villas In Mallorca

Freelance Holidays, the Mediterranean island villa specialist, is opening its Mallorca Villas  for Easter holidays from 31 March and the company’s ‘any day arrival’ and ‘any length of stay’ policy means travellers can mix and match low-cost flights to for best-value independent Villa holidays.

Newly-featured Mallorca Villas  , Villa Valeria  is a farmhouse-style property enjoying rural views over the Puig de Maria from its sunny terrace and private pool, yet it is within two kilometres of the cobbled streets of Pollença for dinner in one of the town’s excellent restaurants.  Creamy stonework, terracotta floors and natural wood are much in evidence throughout this traditionally-styled, yet modern villa, with a double ensuite and two twin rooms providing spacious, light-filled accommodation for six.  Puerto Pollença’s beautiful beaches are a five-minute drive away.

Added to Freelance Holidays’ Mallorca Villas  portfolio just last week, Villa Valeria has excellent Easter and later availability starting at £78 per night, or just £13 per person per night at maximum occupancy.

On the other side of Mallorca, a five-minute drive from the sandy beaches of Cala Mondrago, is Sa Cova Foradada, a charming Mallorca Villas  with bags of character, from the whimsical garden to the colourful local ceramics on the high shelf around the living room. The garden is stuffed with everything from palm trees to succulents, as well as bougainvillea and citrus trees, with a vine climbing over the terrace and tufa obelisks between the terracotta pots.Despite the cottage-like scale of the property, it boasts its own private pool and a terrace for al fresco eating, as well as a double, a twin and a galleried single bedroom ideal for a teenager.   Easter holiday dates are available at just £74 per night, or under £15 per person per night when five share.

Striking a more manorial note is the Ca’n Alou, a very private villa surrounded by almond orchards in the rolling hills of the Serres de Llevant, five kilmometres from Porto Colom’s beach.  This loving-restored property sleeps just four, but its open-plan living space features an imposing fireplace and chimney-breast, high, beamed ceilings and acres of exposed stone walls.  Easter dates are available from £129 per night.

01789 297705, www.freelance-holidays.co.uk

- ENDS –

Freelance Holidays’ press contact is PaulFogg 01789 297 705

Release issued byJane Williamsat Beacon PR 01572 748 800

Ed’s notes:

• Freelance Holidays specialises in villas on the Mediterranean islands of Crete, Kefalonia, Sardinia, Sicily and Mallorca.
• Flexible arrival days and durations allow travellers to mix and match low-cost flights; all properties are priced on a ‘per night’ basis
• The hand-picked properties include villas with pools, village houses, and family-run apartments – many with jaw-dropping views.
• Freelance Holidays does not arrange flights or transfers, but can pre-book car hire.
• ABTA members

We Know the best beaches in West Crete……

We have just updated our ever popular Crete Beach Guide  for the very best beached in West Crete, lots of Blue flag beaches to check out before you go on holiday, if you know of any beaches you think we should add to our Crete Beach Guide please let us know.

Diane is now working on our Best Taverna Guide, its a hard job but someone got to do it………………………

Discover the island beyond the beaches in April

April’s a wonderful time to get under the tourist veneer of Mallorca and discover the island beyond the beaches (although of course we don’t deny they make for some lovely walks and picnics at this time of year whilst staying at one our or your Mallorca Villas ).

If you’ve never seen any of the spectacular Easter celebrations held across the island then the fascinating parades and festivities centred on the Holy Week are really not to be missed.

It’s a beautiful event beginning on the first Sunday before Easter with the mass. Spectacular processions are held throughout the island over the following week organised by the brotherhoods, carrying their standards and Holy statues through the crowded streets. On Good Friday, the spectacular “Davallament” is held at the Calvari of Pollença: with the statue of the dead Jesus descending the Calvari hill down the 365 stone steps.Easter Sunday sees more processions and celebrations.

This is a time of year when Mallorcans dress in their best colours and spend time with their family, eating traditional food like panades, robiols and ensaimadas.

Another great event to look out for in April (31/03 – 07/04) is the yachting regatta for the  Princess Sofia Trophy, when over a thousand sailors from 53 countries and the best Olympic sailing crews  come to Mallorca to participate. The speed, skill and sheer number of boats make it an exciting spectator event, even before you factor in the beautiful setting.

The World Folkdance Festival (26/04 – 30/04) joins together different and very diverse cultures, through music and dance. This is an annual and moving spectacle of colour and enthusiasm which brings together a wonderful collection of cultures from all over the World, from Japanto Africa to Hungary Dancers perform at various venues across the town of Palma, with stages erected in many Plaças as well as theatres.

In addition to these Festivals, every day of the week sees a market in a town or village and the weather is usually great for walking in the countryside, still fresh and green before the sun starts to bake it.

A holiday in one of our Mallorca Villas in summer naturally tends to focus on the beach and the pool but in April you will discover there is so much more to the island and we are so convinced that a short (or longer) break is unmissable in April that we have reduced the price of two  of our best-selling Mallorca Villas  in April.

To see all our Mallorca Villas go to our website……..

We know the places!

I can remember back in 1988, my first year as a rep for Freelance Holidays, I would ride my moped out to visit clients at a small pension in Maleme located right on the coast road. Back then this road was the only road from Chania leading towards the west & it would pass through Maleme village. In those days before the start of the many Crete Holiday Villas , holidays were simple & the accommodation was rather basic because then there wasn’t the option of a glamorous holiday villas . I recall having to deliver electric kettles (on my moped!) that were sent from the UK as they were unheard of on Crete back then! We only had a few Crete Holiday Villas in our program and none of them were in the category of ‘villas with pools’ because there wasn’t even a category back then! It was simply unheard of – a villa with private pool, what? In those days Maleme was the last holiday resort on the north coast after Platanias with one or two tavernas, a small mini market and a couple of large hotels.

A few things have changed in Maleme since then, the mini market is a now called a super market. There are more tavernas on the beach as well as on the main road. The town council has made a lovely stretch of road (nearly completed) & sidewalk that goes from Maleme to Platanias right along the beach. The last holiday village is Kolymbari, quite a few kilometers down the coast road, which by the way have some great fish tavernas. TheNational Highwayhas taken the traffic off the coast road. I no longer drive a moped! Plus we have two very stylish Crete Holiday Villas in our program, Villa Polymnia & Villa Stefanos, both with pools and both offer comfort & style, electric kettle, dishwasher, washing machine and all!

Both  Crete Holiday Villas  are set back & slightly elevated so you can view the sea beyond the olive groves and rooftops. The area around Maleme has many side roads through the olive groves and is a great place for walking or jogging, especially along the beach front.  On your walks through the village you will no doubt see the locals harvesting their olives in the autumn or picking vegetables from their garden. Stefanos, the owner of the two Crete Holiday Villas , produces organic olive oil & is very much into recycling. He has placed composts near each villa for guests to discard their food scraps, which he then uses to fertilize his olive trees. He speaks very good English & loves to talk about agriculture amongst other things.

Spending the day on the pebbly beachof Maleme with a taverna opposite is one way to spend a few days of your holiday. But you could also take a drive to the sandy Falassarna Beach which has been voted one of the top beaches in Europe &  takes about 35mins from your west Crete Holiday Villas by car. There are two beaches at Falassarna, a long one & a small intimate one, both have tavernas & snackbars on them. The waters of Falassarna although very cool & refreshing,  are the clearest waters you will probably swim in, unless you take the boat to Gramvousa/Balos bay where they compare!

 Another option for day trip from your Crete Holiday Villa could be the adventurous & scenic route inland via the Topolia gorge, through Elos village & down to Elafonissi beach. Known for its pink coral sandy patches and lagoon type beach with the little island opposite, it is best to turn up later in the day to avoid the crowds in the height of summer. The drive from Maleme to Elafonissi beach takes just over an hour by hire car if you don’t stop for a cheese pie  enroute.

If you need a change of pace, you can take a short bus ride (5mins) to the buzzy little holiday resort of Platanias where there is plenty of entertainment & activities for the younger members of the family, like mini golf, music cafes, variety of shops & plenty of restaurants.  Another place not to be missed when on holiday is a day or night trip into Chania town center & harbour. You can either take the local bus or use the “Parking in Chania” map which is inside the info file in the Crete Holiday Villas  info file provided by Freelance Holidays & takes you via the highway and into the town center & gives instructions how to get out again. The journey is about 15mins by car or 30mins by bus.

If you happen to be on Cretein May, make a note that this is when the Battle of Crete Memorial week is celebrated honoring all who were involved & those whose lives were touched by the war. If staying in Maleme you will be able to see some events right from your accommodation. Maleme was the place where the German paratroopers landed & found great resistance from the Cretans & the Allied Forces. Many lives were lost in this region and Maleme is the resting ground for the German troops.  Each year a group of paratroopers reenacts the landing in Maleme as part of the memorial celebration.  Last year I got to watch an F16 do some amazing acrobatics above Maleme.  But the best air show I have seen was the amazing Red Arrows perform their spectacular show over the crowed Chania harbour. It was an impressive sight although a bit scary at times. This May will mark the 71^st Anniversary of the Battle of Crete.

So the concept of having an enjoyable & relaxing holiday hasn’t changed since 1988 and neither has the rural lifestyle onCrete or the beautiful countryside around Maleme.  Here you can enjoy a well-appointed, comfortable  Crete Holiday Villas amongst the olive trees & just a short distance from the sea. What more could you ask for besides a villa in Maleme?

 Diane in Crete

See our website for more  Crete Holiday Villas