Euro notes are issued in 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 denominations and are identical in all member countries of the EMU. The designs symbolise European architectural heritage but not royal or national monuments.

The coins are issued as 1, 2 and 5 cents and are copper in colour, 10, 20 and 50 cents yellow in colour and finally 1 and 2 Euros white and yellow in colour. Although all the coins have a common European face, each member state is allowed to stamp their own motif on the reverse face.

Food
Restaurants in Majorca cater for a wide range of tastes. In the larger resorts you can get anything from a traditional English breakfast to a Chinese take away. Traditional Mallorcan cuisine makes full use of the islands home grown produce, pork, fish and vegetable dishes are very popular, flavoured with garlic, tomato and herbs.

Golf
Majorca is famed for its excellent golf courses. With no less than 14 courses offering a variety of different challenges, and some spectacular sea views, it is fast becoming the "Golfing Mecca" of the Mediterranean. Clubs, trolleys etc can be hired at most courses at a cost. Whilst shorts are permitted, beachwear is frowned upon.

Son Vida Golf near Palma tel: 971 791210
Real Golf de Benedinat near Illetes tel: 971 405200
Golf Ponietente near Magaluf tel: 971 130148
Golf Santa Ponca near Santa Ponca tel: 971 690211
Golf Pollensa near Pollensa tel: 971 533216
Canyamel Golf Club near Cala Ratjada tel: 971 564457
Capdepera Golf Club, Roca Viva, near Cala Ratjada tel: 971 565875
Club de Golf de Pula, near Cala Ratjada tel: 971 817034
Club de Golf Son Servera near Cala Millor tel: 971 567802
Golf Vall d'Or near Cala d'Or tel: 971 837068
Son Antem, Llucmajor tel: 971 180094

An organisation based in Son Ferrer called "Mallorca Golf Connection" will organise on your behalf tee-off times, transport to and from the course and generally take all the hassle away from you. They can be contacted by telephone and fax on 971 230853 or click here, to visit their Web Site.

In addition, most resorts have mini-golf courses, but four of them have been developed into massive 54 hole complexes with enough attractions to occupy you for a full day. These are Golf Fantasia at Palma Nova and Arenel, Golf Paradis at Sa Coma and Super Golf part of the Hidropark water park at Alcudia.

Lookie Lookie Men
The resorts have quite a large number of street traders selling "genuine" designer watches and T shirts. Do not start to barter with them unless you have a genuine desire to buy. A firm but polite "no" will not offend.

Markets
Regular markets are held throughout the island. Particulary worth a mention are those at Alcudia held every Tuesday and Sunday, Andratx held every Wednesday, and Inca every Thursday. As with all markets, use common sense and be prepared to haggle, something the British hate to do.

Money
The official currency of Spain is the Euro. For more information please see the "Euro" section on this page.

Palma
The most striking image of Palma is its magnificent Gothic cathedral, overlooking the sea front and harbour area. One word of advice, the numerous flower sellers around the cathedral are probably more interested in your wallet than actually selling you flowers. A definitive street map of Palma provided by hotdoc.de can be found here

Pickpockets
Majorca, as in every other holiday resort, does have its fair share of pickpockets. Common sense in any crowded areas hold on to any personal belongings. If you do have something stolen you must report it to the local Police with 24 hours if only for insurance purposes.

Public Toilets
There are public toilets in some shopping centres. Other than that, every restaurant and bar will have them for customers use.

Restaurants
The Spanish tend to eat very late compared to the English. So few restaurants tend to get very busy much before 8pm.

Shopping
Majorca has excellent shopping with many of the brand names you will recognise from home.

Sunbathing
Obvious advise, but the sun in Majorca is very hot. Please be careful and ensure that you cover yourself in a high protection sun cream. Remember you will get very badly burnt even on a cloudy day.

Taxi
Taxis are numerous and a cheap way to get around your resort. Your hotel reception will always call a taxi for you (sometimes for a small charge) or alternatively flag one down in the street. Cabs are not always metered, however, a list of common fares is often advertised at the Taxi ranks, and the driver should also always carry a copy. For trips any further afield always agree the price with the driver before getting in.

Telephones
Public telephones are numerous throughout all of Majorca with instructions in several languages. International calls home are cheaper between 10pm and 8am and all day on Sunday. To make a call to the UK dial 00 wait, 44 then dial your full STD number without the first 0. The minimum cost of a call is usually around 2 Euro. International calls can be made from your hotel but may prove to be very expensive.

Timeshare
Majorca has got to be the Timeshare, or holiday co-ownership as they prefer to call it, capital of the world! Any couple walking together under the age of 60 will be a prime target for the touts. The first question will always be "do you speak English?". After that you may be asked to help them with a holiday questionaire on behalf of the Spanish tourist board, or the more common scratch card. These scratch cards are all winners. Prizes may be 3 days car hire, waterpark tickets, duty free packs or the star prize of 2,000 Euro. Unless you want to sacrifice 1/2 day of your holiday to a relentless hard sell, do not go with them to collect your prize! I usually find it fun to play them at their own game and offer to sell them double glazing. Remember, only the foolish or greedy will really believe that they are getting something for nothing.

Tipping
It is customary to pay tips in Majorca. Normally a tip of around 10% of the total bill is expected.

Tourist Tax
Again one of the most popular questions at the moment. Since 1 May 2002 the Government of the Balearic Islands has introduced the much publicised "tourist or green tax". The proceeds of which are to be put towards repairing the damage to the environment the last 40 years of mass tourism has caused. In reality this will add approx 1 Euro per person, per night, to the cost of your holiday, and will be payable directly to your hotel on arrival in the resort.

Trains
There are two railway lines in Majorca, and both have terminals in Palma's Placa d'Espanya. One goes across the Serra de Tramuntana mountains to the town of Soller, and the other inland to the town of Inca.

Walking
Majorca offers plenty of scope for walkers, ranging from steep mountain routes to easier coastal paths. The best hiking is in the Serra de Tramuntana mountains along Majorca's north coast.

Water
The tap water in Majorca has a high mineral content and perhaps it will be best to buy bottled water from the supermarkets. The cost of a 5 litre bottle is around 1 Euro there are two types available "agua con gas" is sparkling mineral water and the more common "agua sin gas" still water. Avoid ice cubes unless you are sure it is made from bottled water, this includes ice in drinks.

Waterparks
The biggest waterpark on the island is Aquacity at the resort of El Arenal, but you'll find other parks in Magaluf and Alcudia.

Working in Majorca
Without a doubt the most popular question we are asked is regarding working here. So, we have created this section which should hopefully answer most of your questions.

Firstly, working in Majorca is not a paid holiday. The bar and restaurant owners work long hours and will not carry passengers.

Secondly, work is becoming harder to find for everybody. If you are genuinely prepared to work hard, come out to the island early in the season on a cheap flight, pick up the free English newspapers and follow every lead. If you strike lucky then good luck to you, if not, well you've had a cheap holiday.

A couple of web sites worth looking at before you go are: