| So you're looking at buying a Villa in Mallorca but | | | | glimmering hundreds of feet below. A large table, |
| you're not sure which Mallorca Villas or more | | | | spread with a snow-white tablecloth, groaned under |
| importantly what areas to choose then why not take | | | | the weight of local cheeses, ham, fruit and wines. |
| a closer look at Puerto Andratx and Deia. | | | | Oxygen might have been more appropriate. |
| PUERTO ANDRATX | | | | Our lunch had been carried in panniers strapped to |
| Puerto Andratx property does have some | | | | saddles across the backs of Isabella, Luna and Alba, |
| advantages over other parts of Spain with its | | | | so when we caught up with them, they were made |
| location and lifestyle being some of them. | | | | a great fuss of. In the intoxicating high altitude of the |
| Puerto Andratx property for sale in Spain is pretty | | | | Tramuntana, exhilarated by the climb (or perhaps the |
| close to the number one location in Mallorca with a | | | | wine), life felt good. I'd imagined a holiday comprising |
| magnificent port with luxury apartments and Villas. | | | | mainly of sand, sea and sangria, but in the end it was |
| Realistically you need at least 400,000 to be looking | | | | all about the donkeys. What a clever idea by La |
| at an apartment and probably more and over a Million | | | | Residencia, our hotel in Deia, to offer this service as |
| for a townhouse or Villa. | | | | an unexpected alternative to more hedonistic |
| Spanish property for Sale in Andratx represents the | | | | pleasures. |
| highest quality of Mallorca life and is not everyone | | | | La Residencia, or La Res as it's known to returning |
| choice of Spanish property. Andratx property tends | | | | guests, was once four separate mansions, all grand |
| to be for the very top end of the Mallorca property | | | | fincas, which lorded it over Deia when the village was |
| marketplace with stunning Villas and luxury | | | | a remote peasant outpost on the island's western |
| Apartments. Puerto Andratx (Andraitx) and the town | | | | coast, almost a day's journey from Palma. |
| of Andratx are situated in the far south west corner | | | | Today the hotel Mercedes glides guests from the |
| of Mallorca in the municipality of Andratx which has | | | | airport past the bell towers and lemon groves to Deia |
| over 7,000 inhabitants. With magnificent mountains | | | | in 50 minutes. |
| either side of the port Andratx has become one of | | | | Richard Branson turned La Residencia into a luxury |
| the most sought after areas to live in Mallorca, | | | | hotel and sold it to Orient Express. It's a sumptuous |
| attracting celebrities such as Claudia Schiffer and | | | | retreat for celebrities, and I've seen many a famous |
| others. The town of Andratx is inland and is very | | | | face sinking into the hotel's heavy Spanish sofas in |
| picturesque with cobbled streets and you can still see | | | | cool oak-beamed lounges. |
| the remains of the old wall which protected the | | | | Princess Diana famously took refuge at La Res when |
| inhabitants from attack from pirates. | | | | her marriage broke up, and Andrew Lloyd Webber |
| So if you decide to buy Puerto Andratx property in | | | | hired the whole hotel to celebrate his 60th birthday. |
| Spain the only thing to make sure of is that you | | | | With separate villas linked by secretive stone |
| choose an agent that will look after your interest and | | | | passageways, Spanish arches and tumbling olive |
| one you can trust because there have been major | | | | terraces, La Res gives up its secrets slowly. It has a |
| issues with licenses and the mayor under | | | | private beach, a great spa, three pools, |
| investigation. | | | | complimentary yoga and tennis courts. |
| DEIA | | | | Star spotting: La Residencia in Deia is a luxury |
| Climbing mountain paths to the high peaks of the | | | | hideaway ideal for guests both celebrity and civilian |
| granite Tramuntana Mountains guided by donkeys | | | | Deia perches precariously high above the seashore |
| wasn't what I had in mind when I boarded a cheap | | | | clinging to the Serra de Tramuntana, flanked by pine |
| flight to Majorca. Isabella was the leader of the pack, | | | | and cedar forests, olive groves and lemon orchards. |
| followed a tail's length by her young daughters Luna | | | | Labyrinthine alleys of stone houses curl up to the |
| and Alba, with our breathless party in the distance. | | | | 14th century church with its panorama of the coast |
| Donkeys have an advantage when climbing vertically | | | | tumbling down a stream-fed valley to Cala Deia, the |
| in the rarefied mountain air of this lush Spanish island. | | | | town's shingle beach. |
| That will be the Deia: This small Mallorcan town is a | | | | So there you have two options to choose from |
| nugget of mountain charm in the north of the island | | | | when it comes to Mallorca Villas. Just make sure you |
| Luckily, lunch had been prepared by our hotel halfway | | | | use an agent you can trust and who has the best |
| up at a scenic spot by an old stonewalled shepherd's | | | | distressed property sales in Mallorca. |
| hut, where we could see the Mediterranean | | | | |