22 February 2025
Sunday´s weather. Well we need the rain!
Temperatures are relatively highWell first the good news. It should be quite a nice late afternoon with relatively high temperatures for this time of the year. The bad news is that rain is being forecast for the morning and early afternoon across the island which could mean that many of the carnaval
22 February 2025
91,000 homes needed to solve Balearic housing crisis
"Lack of housing fuelled the anti tourism marches of last summer.."A total of 91,000 homes with "acceptable" rents are needed to solve the Balearic housing crisis according to a new report which underlines the extent of problem which is now being faced by the islands.The lack of cheap housing with a
22 February 2025
A bridge too many on the Paseo Maritimo in Palma
New look promenade led to the closure of the British owned Social Club nightspot which will now reopen at a new venue.It was the end of the line for two historic bridges on the Paseo Maritimo in central Palma today as they came crashing down to make way for the new promenade. The bridge at the Puent
22 February 2025
Manners Meghan! Porreras deserves a reply
Manners make the personNo-one could argue that the Meghan-logo debacle hasn´t helped put Porreras on the map and I am sure that the town will benefit from all the publicity. But Porreras didn´t ask to be thrust on to the international stage when Meghan Markle unveiled her new logo which is similar t
22 February 2025
How Valldemossa is winning the war on pick pockets
The beautiful village of Valldemossa, home to Hollywood super star Michael Douglas, is plagued by gangs of Romanian pick pockets during the summer months. They do the winter in the Canary Islands and then the summer in the Balearics, according to local police.
22 February 2025
Greece and Portugal cash in as Spain says adios to Golden visa
Spain is also planning to introduce a new tax on non-resident/non EU property purchases.Spain is saying adios to its golden visa scheme in April and Greece and Portugal are laughing all the way to the bank. This scheme, which allows foreigners from outside the European Union to settle with few probl
21 February 2025
Spain is best country for digital nomads
The common digital nomad is symbolised by the young backpacker, whereas executive nomads tend to be older and are more likely to move with their family.The global remote working and digital nomad community is continuing to grow and according to the latest Digital Nomad Visa Index, compiled by Visagu
21 February 2025
Weekend weather: No masking the fact that carnival could be a wash-out
Unsettled weather will continue into next weekIf you are planning to attend any of the junior carnival events this weekend take your umbrella rain is being forecast. For tomorrow (Saturday) the Met Office is forecasting cloudy skies with a risk of rain in the afternooon. Temperatures of between 12 d
21 February 2025
The great shipping disaster of 1910 in the Balearics
Investigations into the General Chanzy sinking were overseen in Mallorca, where - and like Minorca - the disaster will never be forgotten.There are wrecks galore on the seabed around Mallorca and the Balearics. From many centuries ago, it is almost impossible to say how many wrecks there are. There
21 February 2025
Your seven days news round-up in Mallorca
These are the stories that made the headlines this week.The squatters at BellevueThe squat at Alcudia's Club Bellevue, first confirmed almost two weeks ago, has come to dominate the news locally and to attract international attention. Mallorca's largest holiday complex and one that doesn't always en
21 February 2025
Ryanair to base 16 aircraft at Palma airport this summer, an investment of $1.6 billion and supporting 7,000 jobs
"Excessive fees and bogus ‘incentive schemes’ by monopoly airport operator AENA.."Ryanair launched its summer 2025 schedule in Palma today with 80 routes, including two new destinations to/from Lübeck (Germany) and Pardubice (Czech Republic), offering passengers more choice and regular connections.R
21 February 2025
Meghan Markle’s new logo: A Royal rip-off or just a happy little coincidence?
It’s not every day that a quiet Spanish town finds itself embroiled in an international scandal involving a former royal, but here we are. The picturesque, sleepy little town of Porreras, located slap bang in the agricultural heartland of Mallorca, known for its apricots, olives, wine, honey, and un
21 February 2025
Mallorca set to welcome back young British seasonal workers
The tourist industry at large, in particular the hostelry sector in Mallorca and across Spain, has been hoping for a break in what was a hugely successful employment market with hundreds of young people heading for Mallorca and other destinations during the summer to work the holiday season. However
21 February 2025
Illegal letting: How’s anyone supposed to make sense of the figures?
The most bizarre figure was one that suggested there were some 235,000 illegal lets in the Balearics.Here’s a nice big number for you - 2.65 billion. In dollars, this was Airbnb’s net profit for 2024. With revenue having risen 12% to 11.10 billion, a 44.7% drop in net profit might strike one as unus
21 February 2025
Police tackle crime wave in top Mallorca resort
Local council under pressure to take concrete measures such as increasing the police presence in the area.Neighbourhood concern is mounting in Colònia de Sant Jordi, near the world famous Es Trenc beach, over the growing wave of robberies in the popular coastal resort. Residents have reported that i
21 February 2025
Balearics Day celebrations in Palma
In Palma there are 235 events scheduled.The Balearic Islands are gearing up to celebrate their most emblematic day: Balearics Day. This year’s programme, inspired by the motto #PRIDE—based on a poem by writer Javier Bizarro—features 298 activities, a 14% increase from the previous year. Events are d
21 February 2025
More airline seats to Mallorca mean nothing
Just because the airlines have decided to increase flight capacity to the island does not guarantee another record season.Flight and hotel prices have risen, not to mention general living costs in Mallorca, so just because the island is going to handle more airline seats, although fewer aircraft thi
21 February 2025
Mallorca recover from their recent wobble
After a week when congratulations were in order for presenter/actor Warwick Davis on finally getting his BAFTA Fellowship award – after many years of coming up short! – Real Mallorca, like most sides these days, seem to have got over a serious wobble which they’ve had from the start of this year. Th
21 February 2025
Mallorca’s hidden crisis: rising poverty amid tourism boom
For decades, Mallorca has been synonymous with sun-drenched beaches, luxury resorts, and a booming tourism industry. But beneath the island’s postcard-perfect façade, a stark social crisis is unfolding – one that can no longer be ignored. Makeshift wooden shelters, tent encampments, and clusters of
21 February 2025
New Ryanair rules you need to know
Travellers flying with Ryanair should pay close attention to baggage regulations and boarding times.Ryanair, one of the main low-cost flight operators in Spain, has announced a series of changes to its regulations that will affect travellers from May onwards. These new measures, aimed at optimising
21 February 2025
U.S. companies in Madrid ask Trump to treat Spain differently
A group of U.S. companies present in Spain asked the administration of President Donald Trump to take into account the country's trade deficit with the United States when setting new tariffs on its goods.The American Chamber of Commerce in Spain (AmChamSpain) said it had sent a letter to U.S. Commer
21 February 2025
From lame duck to Donald Duck!
“Would someone in Europe please tell Mr. Trump and his team to take a run and jump. It is time someone stood up for the old continent...”I always consider myself a proud European. Proud of Europe, our history, our culture and our people. Europe is not the European Union, it is a fine continent (and
20 February 2025
Friday should remain dry in Mallorca
Maximum temperatures could peak at around 22ºC in the Balearics on Saturday.On Friday there will be an important change in the weather with the arrival of an Atlantic front that will bring rain to the west and centre of the mainland which will be especially intense in Galicia, the Cantabrian mountai
20 February 2025
Films in English across Mallorca: Showtimes from Friday, 21 to Thursday, 27 February
This week’s film lineup offers something for everyone. New releases include Paddington in Peru (2024), a family-friendly adventure, and The Monkey (2025), a chilling horror tale.This week’s film lineup features offers something for everyone. New releases include Paddington in Peru (2024), a family-f