We have finally decided to take the plunge and move to majorca. My husband will be working in the south west and we want to rent a property till we find our own.Any tips would be appreciated. This is my first time to this page.

Just to say that i love Mallorca, i have spent a lot of time there, mainly in Palma but have seen most of the island, its so beautiful and the people are bloody nice in general.
What is your OH planning to do?

Yeah great place. Just big enough so that you don´t get that "island mentality". It´s got its blots on the landscape (eg Magaluf) but they are easily avoided! I forget the names of the places I have been to now, but some are really pretty. i think housing is pretty expensive though.

What are you going to do about the language? They all speak some wierdo language there called Mallorquin. It´s a bit like a foreigner moving to North Wales. Which language would you study, Welsh or English?

If it were me, I would forget Mallorquin and learn proper castillian Spanish. At least you can use it when you go elsewhere, and the Mallorquins will be able to understand you in both languages.

Check this out www.visitbalears.com

All about the islands

Big_john Spain

Agree it is a lovely island,my oh is joining a financial brokerage.

Yes properties seem to be a bit more expensive than the mainland especially the areas where we like,unfortunately.

Good advice,thanks.

Keith is right they do speak Mallorquin but they also speak the normal Spanish that you learn in the lessons here in the UK so don't panic.

I have going there since I was a little girl (won't tell you how old I am now ) and the locals are all really sweet, sometimes they do get a little bit funny if you don't speak Mallorquin but I can count the number of times this has happened on 1 hand. As long as you try to speak Spanish that is the main thing.

I am biased towards to the south-east of the Island and love Porto Colom and areas like that.

Are the languages very different? Porto Colom is a favourite of ours as well but the south west will be more practical as that's where hubby will be working.Is there any Brits at all on the Island everyone seems to be mainland Spain?

My only experience of Majorca was 2 holidays in Alcudia and Puerto Pollensa which were both absolutely beautiful .... in the late 70's. In Alcudia there were a handful of bars (including "the spotted dog" ) and one major hotel. No high rise to speak of ..... different now is it?

Funnily enough I was speaking to a Spanish friend yesterday who comes from Barcelona and she was saying that Mallorquin is very similar to their Catalan so if you learn this language (it is its own language as Welsh and Celtic is - don't dare say it is a form of Spanish my friend warned me )

Alcudia still has lovely beaches but is quite built up now and Puerto Pollenca is still gorgeous but there seems to be a lot of building work there now which is sad

My parents have a place in the hills near Felanitx (just under San Salvador) and we go out there every year at least once. I have bumped into several English people who live out there but I am not sure where you would go for an expat community in the area. I will have to ask my parents when they return as they are there at the moment lucky things !

Cala Dor seems to be a good place to bump into English people especially near the marina.

Alcudia old town is still lovely but the rest is all high rise,pubs clubs,Puerto pollensa is still beautiful and hasn't been spoiled too much and perfect for family holidays.