Sa Coma - Mallorca - Resorts Guide

Overview: The purpose-built holiday resort of Sa Coma lies in the heart of Mallorca's popular east coast, sandwiched between lively Cala Millor and the restaurant-strewn seafront of S'Illot. S'Illot can be reached on foot, while a tourist tram connects to Cala Millor and its attractions. Sa Coma itself is largely frequented by British family groups on holiday, most opting for self-catering accommodation. The resort establishments cater particularly well for children, who make the most of the wide sandy beach with its broad shallow shelf of clear, blue water. The beach has 'Blue Flag' status for cleanliness, water quality and safety. The beach is fronted by a wide promenade lined with restaurants, bars and shops, many of them British owned. Another big plus for the children is the resort's proximity to the large safari-park at Cala Millor, where apes, gazelles, elephants and ostriches are among the animals that roam in a simulated natural environment and can be viewed from a safari bus.

Shopping: Self-catering holidaymakers will find a good selection of food at the Caprabo hypermarket on the Avinguda de les Palmeres in Sa Coma. The resort and its neighbours have numerous shops and boutiques selling souvenirs and goods attractive to tourists. For a traditional market take the bus to the nearby town of Son Servera on Friday mornings.

Restaurants: Sa Coma offers a varied selection of good quality restaurants for holidaying visitors to enjoy, and just across the footbridge on the S'Illot seafront even more options are available. Hearty British food is the popular staple served at JJs. BiBaBo café and music bar on the S'Illot front mixes the best of British with some Spanish dishes for families wanting the best of both worlds - will it be mussels marinera or chicken and chips? The top restaurant in town for Spanish and Mallorquin cuisine is Lago, but this is expensive. A good alternative is the tapas bar next door, or Es Cuerot, which has excellent Mallorquin food and a cellar or terrace venue to choose from. The 'frito mallorquin', lamb and vegetable stir-fry, is a speciality here.

Nightlife: Being a family holiday resort, the nightlife in Sa Coma is not wild, entertainment being mainly hotel based. Neighbouring Cala Millor offers a more lively after-dark scene for those interested. The only disco in the resort is Espace, at S'Illot. One of the most popular evening spots is Crazy Monkeys, a relaxed Spanish-style cocktail bar, also in S'Illot, where 'happy hour' lasts from 8pm to 11pm and then again from midnight to 2am. Other popular spots include Chaplins and La Havana.

Activities: There is plenty to do in Sa Coma and surrounds other than lounge on the beach, though this is the main reason most families choose to holiday here. Apart from a host of water sports (equipment and pedalo boats are for hire along the promenade) there are several 18-hole golf courses, tennis and squash courts, horse-riding, mini-golf, bowling, go-carting, and bicycling facilities. Children especially enjoy the Golf Paradis 54-hole mini golf course set among fountains, waterfalls and palm trees, and the Cala Millor safari park. The more energetic can climb up to the medieval watchtower on the headland at Punta de n'Amer, worth the 45-minute walk for the beautiful view afforded from the top, where there is a café for refreshments. Also on offer are several sight-seeing boat trips and excursions to attractions on the island like the Caves of Ham and Drac, with stalactites, stalagmites and an underground lake.

. Negatives: Sa Coma is not a good choice for holidaymakers who are seeking bright lights and hectic nightlife, nor for those who find concentrations of children annoying. The beach can become rather crowded in the height of summer.