A 2 hour flight away from London, Majorca has been the favourite destination for British holidaymakers for decades, and has helped Spain to be the holiday country it is today. But with the Euro strong against the pound, British tourists have been swapping Majorca for cheaper priced holiday spots.

Professional tennis hasn't seen the likes of Rafael Nadal since Connors and McEnroe were playing. His power and skill have taken him up the ranks to become the top player in the world. The dramatic rivalry between Nadal and Roger Federer has brought tennis back to the forefront of public sporting events.

Mallorca hosts several sailing competitions throughout the year. Palma de Mallorca, the 12th largest urban area of Spain, is also host to the King's Cup as well as several other regattas. King Juan Carlos de Borbon and his son Prince Felipe will join the races together.

From the late 1950's when overseas travel became available to the masses, Spain and her islands have consistently been the favourite destination for the British, Germans, Swedes and other Europeans. Even when longer haul destinations in Europe like Cyprus, Malta and Greece became possible, and later holidays in Florida and even more recently Australia became economically viable for more people, Spain has maintained her popularity.

The island of Mallorca is best known around the world as a holiday island, but dig a little further into the island's society and culture and it's a fascinating mix.

Planning the perfect island vacation can be a daunting task, especially when children are involved. Majorca's beaches are some of the highest ranking beaches in the world. Eighty beaches and lots of clubs make Ibiza the central hub of excitement for party-lovers.

Popular for beach holidays, a trip to Mallorca can be all sun, sea and sand. But the island also has terrific little villages like Deia, where the island's culture and history come together.

Spanish tourism officials anticipate a rise in British tourists in spite of the pound doing poorly against the euro. Parts of Spain, including the Balearic Islands have been popular tourist destinations for decades. This isn't expected to falter any time soon.

In the eighties holiday companies would often meet increased costs by adding a surcharge to their brochure prices. With aviation fuel and oil prices at record highs, the surcharge is making its way back...

A young King Juan Carlos helped steer Spain from a dictatorship to a modern democracy after he came to the throne some 32 years ago, and his achievements include defending the fledgling democracy in 1981 from an attempted coup.