The Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Ibiza are the best places for a fling, if you’re looking for holiday romance, according to a condom company.

Euroweekly news report:

MALLORCA is the second best summer destination to find holiday sex, with 35.9 per cent, while Ibiza took first place with 71.3 per cent. The study carried out by a condom company involving 2,000 men and women in Spain aged 18 to 25 reveals a general preference for the islands with Tenerife and the Canary Islands taking third and fourth position for favourite summer sex destinations with 29.7% and 26.7 respectively.

Top of the list also feature Valencia (23.3%), Cadiz (23.3%), Alicante (21.8%) and Cataluña (18%). But hard to get people from Málaga, Cantabria, Murcia and Almeria forced the lowest scores in Spain.

Contrary to popular belief 77.6 per cent of Spaniards admit that they have as much (or as little) sex in the summer months as they do in winter.

Sixty per cent admitted having had sex with someone they met while on holiday. Of these 7.3 per cent – the majority of these men – say they have done this with more than five people.

Almost one in two women claim they have never had holiday sex, while only a third of men concur.

More than a third of Spaniards have had sexual relations on the beach, but 15.2 per cent haven’t for fear of being seen.

The Daily Telegraph in the UK interviewed Radio 1 DJ Annie Mac, who revealed her holiday thoughts.

To read the full article click here

I went to Thailand with my boyfriend earlier this year, and it was the first holiday in about five years that didn’t involve work. We went for two weeks and stayed in Khao Lak and Koh Pi Pi. We ate lots of lovely food, read lots of books, swam in the sea and went scuba-diving. We also spent a couple of days in Bangkok, which is an incredible city – intense and vibrant. I found it a really exciting place. It was my first time in Asia and it’s a whole side of the world that I need to discover.

And the best hotel you’ve stayed in?

I’ve travelled all over the world as a DJ and have stayed in loads of hotels, but the one that I love the most is Es Cucons, on the island of Ibiza. It’s a really beautiful farmhouse that has been converted into a hotel and everything about it is just gorgeous. It’s so peaceful, and the staff are the same each time and know your name. It’s also got lovely gardens and the food is the nicest I’ve eaten anywhere in the world. It’s a proper hideaway and a very nice contrast to the rest of Ibiza.

What do you need for a perfect holiday?

You need to go on holiday with someone you can relax around. It’s also worth doing your research beforehand. Rather than trawl through websites, I always speak to as many people as I can and get tips from people who have been to a place before.

What’s your best piece of travel advice?

Make sure you go away with someone you really get on with. There are so many times that a holiday can be ruined by a person rather than by the hotel room or the weather. And pack light. I go away every week, or sometimes twice a week in the summer, so I’m a mini-break expert and know exactly what I need.

For details of hotels in Ibiza visit youribiza.net

Are you one of many people who work out how much you’re going to need for a holiday, think you’ve got everything covered - and then halfway through your trip realised your financial planning was out?

You’re not alone.

Many people have found the amount of money they thought they would need for a trip overseas hasn’t been enough. And with airlines and holiday companies adding extra on to a lot of items that used to come as standard it’s not a problem that’s going to go away.

In their defence it’s not surprising that airlines and holiday companies do this - the recession has hit the travel industry hard, and they need to increase the amount of revenue per passenger they are carrying on the airlines, and hotels for each guest they accommodate.

But putting the full price on advertised rates could affect their business, as it’s the headline price that catches many people’s attention - and with travel portals searching for the lowest price more popular than ever travel companies have to get around the low prices offered by making money elsewhere.

As an example we looked for a holiday to Ibiza for next summer, June 2011, to see what the holiday companies were offering, based on 2 adults with a reasonable hotel for 7 nights and Ibiza flights included.

Thomson Holidays, one of the UK’s leading tour operators, have available return flights and a choice of two different Ibiza hotels for 320 a person, and they also include getting to and from the airport to either of the Ibiza hotels.

Their main competitor, Thomas Cook, are doing even better with flights, hotel and breakfast from 285 a person for 7 nights. Their main competitor, Thomas Cook, are doing even better with flights, hotel and breakfast from 285 a person for 7 nights.

Great deals from Britain’s two leading holiday companies - but extras available include choosing a seat on the flight, a meal and travel insurance. The first two can be missed for the budget conscious, but travel insurance should never be cut out and can be taken either with the holiday company when booking, or independently.

In some ways the hidden costs that only become apparent when booking a trip, in the above example Ibiza holidays, aren’t surprising given that the cost is often the first feature considered, and many holidaymakers expecting to have 5 star flights, hotels and holidays at 2 star prices - the most reliable companies have to compete at the headline prices offered by others.

Away from the booking itself, once people are on their Ibiza holidays or elsewhere, the cost of mobile phone calls are the biggest cause of complaint, despite the EU having ordered charges to come down in recent years.

Other charges that holidaymakers deemed to be excessive included the cost of a taxi - most commonly used to get from the airport to the Ibiza hotels where most people would be staying.

To keep costs down it’s possible to book a taxi online with an agreed price and a driver waiting for you rather than taking pot luck upon arrival. Keeping luggage weights within the airlines allowance will ensure no surcharges, and some airlines offer half price luggage costs when it’s booked online instead of doing it at the airport.

For more details about 2011 Ibiza holidays with news and articles visit youribiza.net

The Daily Telegraph has run a good review about the state of the Ibiza property market - to read the full article and for photographs click through to them here

White parasols, warm sun and mellow Balearic beats floating into the breeze. This is the chilled-out island that Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and James Blunt enjoy each summer; a far cry from the manic clubland portrayed in the television series Ibiza Uncovered.

Over the past five years a restored Ibizan farmhouse or olive mill (such as the one Jade Jagger owns) has become a status symbol for anyone with a fashion sense. House prices have increased by 15 per cent.

From the poolside at Las Nubes, a whitewashed house perched on a private hilltop near the pretty village of San Carlos, you look down on olive groves, green fields and the sparkling Mediterranean.

“It’s as if there’s nobody here,” says Zvi Smilovitch, who is selling the house for £10.5 million to create another (even more lavish) estate on the island.

“I’ve got houses in Los Angeles and London, but this is where I come to relax and regain some energy.”

That’s not to say that Ibiza has lost its mojo. The upstairs shutters at Las Nubes are closed, not to keep out the midday sun (there’s a gentle breeze), but because Zvi’s daughters are still sleeping, having returned from a nightclub a few hours earlier.

Live music and all-night partying have been part of the island’s culture since the Sixties. The difference these days is that the party scene (and nightclubs) are becoming increasingly upmarket.

“Clubs such as Pacha and Amnesia are not sleazy nightspots – I’ve taken my father along,” says Cathy Ouwehand, who runs Ouwehand & Wall estate agency on the island, an associate of Savills.

“It’s a performance every night with dancers, light shows and professional DJs. Whatever age you are, it’s an amazing event.”

A table in Pacha can cost up to £1,260 and groups regularly spend more than £850 on drinks in a night.

Over the past few years, restaurants, bars and hotels on the island have also smartened up their act to attract a wider range of visitors than young clubbers on package Ibiza holidays.

Blue Marlin on Cala Jondal beach, popular with Sienna Miller, Leonardo DiCaprio and P Diddy, has taken over from Club 55 in St Tropez as Europe’s hippest day-club. Afterwards, partygoers will head to restaurants such as KM5 near the airport or Sa Torreta in Ibiza Town.

“I chose Ibiza because of my daughters, but over the past few years it’s become more stylish,” says William Demetriou, who bought a villa on the Roca Llisa estate near Ibiza town four years ago.

“But it’s never going to be a place where you have to dress up to go out, which is what I love about it.”

His villa, which has four bedrooms, an infinity pool with sea views and a terrace garden, is on the market for £2.8 million as he wants to buy something smaller.

The Ibiza that exists behind the party image is still a bit of a secret, according to Ouwehand. “Ibiza has always had a glamorous side to it. Celebrities have come here for decades, they just haven’t talked about it,” she says.

“If you want to go to clubs you can, but you can live your life here without even knowing about them. It’s a wonderful place for families. Everyone has their favourite cala [cove] and the wonderful restaurants serve fresh fish.”

It is this aspect that is encouraging second-home buyers to Ibiza who would originally have looked to the quieter Balearic Islands of Majorca and Menorca. The island has a stronger economy than mainland Spain, where property prices have dropped since the economic crisis.

The island’s capital, Ibiza Town, with streets lined with tapas bars and linen shops, lies in the south-east, with a deep marina (for superyachts), while the hippy villages of San Carlos and Es Cana are in the north-east. The party town of San Antonio is on the south-west coast. “In terms of holiday homes, people can do everything here that they could do on Majorca and more,” Ouwehand says.

The property market slowed during the economic crisis but is now stable. “There is scope for some negotiation on prices but I don’t think they will fall further,” Ouwehand says.

Georgina Richards, of estate agency Knight Frank, is experiencing most demand for properties in the £420,000 to £630,000 bracket.

“There seems to be a spike in interest from a younger, London-based European crowd, generally between 25 and 35 years old,” she says.

Ouwehand agrees: “Demand from international buyers has returned strongly. Ibiza has a very good rental market and home owners achieve a good return during the summer months.”

Las Nubes, which has 49 acres, a pool and a gym (sadly not quite as big as Kate Moss’s, who is rumoured to own the biggest gym on the island) is one of the best houses on sale now in Ibiza.

“It’s very rare to get such a large, private property on the island,” Ouwehand says. There are five bedrooms, an open-plan kitchen/sitting room and a barbecue terrace and kitchen garden. At the lower end of the market, apartments in Cala Tarida, in the south-west, cost from £193,000. The properties are a short walk from Tarida beach and are very spacious for their price, with balconies looking out over the sea.

“They’re selling out fast because their rental potential is so high,” Ouwehand says. “Owners can get £85 to £125 per day in high season.”

San Antonio, Ibiza’s party town, was not included on my itinerary. Is it really that bad?

“It’s the classic package-holiday destination, so you are going to get your Brits on tour,” says Fiona Kingdon, of Savills. “It’s nothing like Benidorm, though.”

According to Ouwehand, it’s the best place to watch the sun set. “It isn’t as crazy as it’s made out to be,” she says. “It also has some of the best beaches on the island.”

In truth, I’d have been more interested to see Formentera, the small island that Ibiza looks out over, which, according to Ouwehand, is the closest Europe gets to the Seychelles.

House prices there were unaffected by the economic crisis, she says, and have climbed higher this year. “Nowhere in Europe has beaches like Formentera,” she says. “But at least if you buy a house on Ibiza, you can take a boat to Formentera whenever you want to lie on them.”

For the Ibiza weather visit youribiza.net

The tourist board have been busy promoting Majorca and the other Balearic Islands for mid August to end September holidays, with Opodo reporting:

People considering a late summer break this year have been offered a number of reasons to choose Spain’s Balearic Islands as their destination.

The tourist board representing the archipelago pointed out that one of the region’s main advantages is its weather, with 300 days of sunshine every year.

Beach lovers will be spoilt for choice in the Balearics, with Salines in Ibiza, Cala Pregonda in Menorca and Es Trenc in Mallorca among the seafront hotspots being recommended.

People who enjoy a bit of celebrity spotting will be in with a good chance of seeing some famous faces on the Spanish islands, according to the tourist board.

Michelle Obama recently visited Mallorca, while Kate Moss regularly enjoys breaks in Ibiza and Formentera and both Claudia Schiffer and Elle Macpherson own villas in the region.

Travellers who enjoy outdoor activities were encouraged to try some of the sports on offer in the Balearics, with both Majorca and Ibiza boasting an extensive network of cycling routes and most islands providing facilities to go scuba diving.

If you’re off on holiday to Ibiza in the next few weeks and it’s the first time with a toddler, we’ve found the airlines to be helpful and understanding.

Thomas Cook Holidays have come up with a guide that’s pretty good, and the Daily Mirror reported on it yesterday.

Flying with very young children can be a challenge - it’s frustrating for parents and other passengers when little ones play up.

Cabin crew at Thomas Cook Airlines have come up with the following tips to help families taking Majorca flights this summer…

COMFORT

When taking off and landing, give your baby a bottle or a dummy as this will help stop their ears from popping.

Be prepared if you’re travelling on a night flight. Some parents think their child will sleep but this often isn’t the case as the child is not in their usual environment.

Take a small blanket in case your child gets cold, as some Majorca flights don’t provide them for short-haul trips.

Nappy-changing facilities are in the aircraft toilets and there isn’t much room - dress your baby in clothes that are easy to get on and off.

Consider getting a baby sling for your journey. That way you can carry your tot and have two hands free for luggage.

Pack your child’s favourite snacks so you have food to hand if they want something to eat quickly.

If your child is having an inflight meal, be prepared with alternatives in case they don’t like what they’re given.

If you want to give them milk while flying, pick up some once through check-in/security as this is not often available on board.

Entertainment on Ibiza Flights

Crayola’s Colour Wonder paper pad and markers are a great way to keep kids entertained. The pens only work on the special pad so you don’t have to worry about your child marking the seats or the walls of the aircraft.

Kids love presents, so wrap up lots of small surprises you can give to your child throughout the flight to keep them entertained.

Bring toys out one by one so that you can keep children entertained with each toy individually.

For more information about holidays with Thomas Cook Holidays visit their site.

They also do Menorca flights

Hello magazine recently revealed their travel writers’ opinion of where to find the best sunsets, and Ibiza was included:

Ibiza offers exciting options to savour the sunsets to a background of chill-out music at Cafe del Mar, Mambo or Kumara.

On the island, you’ll also find the somewhat more intimate settings of Punta Galera and Cap des Falco, the sandy bay at Cala d’Hort looking out over the islet of Es Vedra, and the romantic hotel Hacienda Na Xamena.

Set alone atop a cliff, the hotel is surrounded by pine woods, and the sunsets can even be enjoyed from the luxurious open air spa, a hedonist’s delight where the water tumbles between pools and waterfalls among the natural rock formations.

For hotels in Ibiza visit youribiza.net - they also have the latest Ibiza weather

Andorra Blog

October through to December might mean looking forward to Christmas for the vast majority of the population, but it’s an important time for skiers, as the 2011 season draws nearer.

And for those considering ski holidays Andorra is a great destination, with first class slopes and an infrastructure to match.

There are different areas to ski in Andorra, and they are:

Arinsal and Pal - now a single resort linked by cable car. One ski pass allows skiers to venture onto either set of slopes. In effect, wherever you are staying at the resort, you can ski from your backyard right onto the slopes. Snowboarders will also feel quite comfortable whether they are beginners or experienced.

Pas de la Casa is also close by but tends to be more crowded. However, it does offer very good value if that is the major criteria in selecting a resort.

With its numerous cafes, restaurants, happy hours and discos, Pas de la Casa tends to attract the livelier young adult crowd. Travel offers often feature the resort for a cheap ski holiday, and there are regular buses to and from the capital la Vella for those who want to do some duty free shopping during their trip.

Perhaps the best known resort is Soldeu. It has a mix of accommodation but has the best hotel for skiers, the Sports Hermitage, and first class ski slopes. An excellent mix.

It’s also perfectly possible to have a twin centre trip, with both Andorra and French ski holidays. Some areas good in France include:

Nestled atop a magnificent glacier on Mt. Bellecote is the world-class ski area of La Plagne. Surrounded by the majestic Vanoise Massif Mountains in the Graian Alps, La Plagne resort beckons the avid skier. It is spread over an altitude of 1250 to 3250 meters. The result is a variety of terrains and altitudes appealing to beginners and French ski holiday experts alike.

The resort was built in 1961 with the hope of attracting tourism dollars. It was largely conceived in the interest of four small mountain villages. The fledgling towns were dying and hoped to capitalize on the gorgeous natural beauty of the area and appeal to people who like a French ski holiday.

Today’s La Plagne is comprised of many different and distinctive villages. All are linked to one another by ski lifts and trails for those who prefer cross-country skiing. The villages continue to expand, giving it a competitive edge when it comes to tourism revenue.

Even the non-skier will find something to love about La Plagne. Non-skiers may choose from over 50 pubs and restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining. After dark visitors can hit one of the resort’s many night clubs for an evening of dancing and partying. Numerous daytime activities entertain and engage those who choose not to ski as well. Winter sport activities include ice skating, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing.

La Grave is a commune in southeastern France and the location of La Meije. Three summits comprise La Meije with the highest summit being 3,984 m. Mountain climbers and rock climbers challenge themselves to reach the highest summit of La Meije. The very first successful climb was by Emmanuel Boileau de Castelneu and Pierre Gaspard and his son on August 16, 1877. Glacier climbing or ice climbing is a very popular sport in La Grave as well. One hundred to 300 metre climbing routes offer a variety of difficulty.

Much of the La Grave la Meije ski area is glacier and considered dangerous. Guided skiing is recommended. Extreme skiers find a great deal of fascination and appeal in La Grave la Meije due to the enormous vertical drops and extreme ski conditions. The largest vertical descent can be extended to 2,300 m when skiers go past the resort to the road.

Located in the Belleville Valley, Les Menuires resort hosted the 1992 Winter Olympics. It is part of the largest ski area in the world, Les Trois Valleys.

The Three Valleys are comprised of several resorts that host millions of skiers per year - Thomson Ski for example include it in their brochures. Les Menuires has 62 ski trails, advanced and beginner slopes and 39 lifts. The resort’s 48 restaurants offer foods ranging from fast food to fine cuisine.

To see independent comments from those who have visited these areas follow them on myspace

Good news for those considering a holiday in Ibiza at the moment - leading tour operators Thomas Cook and Thomson have some great deals available - visit youribiza.net to access both of them plus First Choice.

As the Daily Express report:

HOLIDAY firms are set to slash the price of package deals by hundreds of pounds after a slump in bookings over the summer, experts said yesterday.

A focus on the World Cup and fears over travel disruption have left tour operators with leftover stock.

Discounts on brochure prices are expected to reach up to 70 per cent.

Even families hoping for a break before school starts in September could save as much as 50 per cent on a week in a European destination such as Tenerife.

TUI Travel, owner of Thomson Holidays and First Choice, yesterday revealed a two per cent drop in UK sales over the past three months, normally its busiest time of year.

And it announced the volcanic ash cloud disruption had hit its last-quarter profit by £105million.

Chief executive Peter Long added: “It remains difficult to predict how the later-booking pattern will change over the next 12 to 18 months in the light of the current economic environment.”

A spokeswoman for TUI confirmed there would be “great value deals” during autumn. Among its best was a week on the Greek island of Rhodes in October, starting at £189 per person.

Thomas Cook was also expected to record a drop in sales today.

Long-haul holiday firm Hayes and Jarvis said the downturn in summer sales would mean a “glut” of heavily discounted deals, bringing down the cost of travelling to exotic countries in the Far East to under £500.

Looking to stay in a boutique hotel in Ibiza?

The Independent in the UK have these two recommendations:

Aguas de Ibiza, Ibiza

The east coast town of Santa Eulalia may be the family’s choice of Ibizan resort, but one of its swankiest addresses, Hotel Aguas de Ibiza, is aimed squarely at the beautiful crowd. Its decadent rooms are awash with pale stone hues and iridescent fabrics. Guests without a sea-view can head instead up to the rooftop pool and bar where the vista takes in the neighbouring island of Formentera. The restaurant serves modern interpretations of classic dishes.

For hotels in Ibiza visit youribiza.net

Atzaro, Ibiza

Away from the bustle of San Antonio and Ibiza Town is Atzaro, on the north coast. In this century-old finca, surrounded by orange groves, traditional architecture meets Asian and African influences. Offering a gentler take on the hedonistic isle, Atzaro hosts chill-out DJs and art exhibitions throughout the summer.

For hotels in Majorca visit yourmajorca.net