Building works underway... more planned

We're sorry to report that the construction of the new megahotel is well underway, and that large swathes of land behind the golf course - on the popular path to Peguera - have disappeared as the earth movers and diggers go about their business.

Consequently, noise, dust and numerous lorry movements dominate the village.

This video courtesy of Diario de Mallorca shows what's going.

The local council are also continuing plans to build a roundabout on the main road to Andratx to ease the problem of vehicles turning into and out of Camp de Mar across fast moving traffic. Local landowners have been up in arms about the compulsory annexation of their land for the project, which is up for tender soon.

The council are also looking to locate a municipal depot in Camp de Mar, and there is speculation about permission for a boat yard for dry storage of small vessels.

Exciting times ahead.

'Arts & Crafts' market this Saturday evening

A night arts & crafts market will take place in Camp de Mar from 6pm on Saturday, June 23rd in celebration of Sant Joan.

Golf club appeals fine for using fresh water

Golf Camp de Mar has applied to appeal the quarter million euro fine it received last year for using water extracted from a well to keep its course lush and green.

The company's lawyer has asked for the judgement to be set aside due to legal obligations the company acquired following its purchase of the course after the previous owner went bankrupt.

According to documents submitted, the company was compelled to honour existing contracts for the supply of water and did not know that one of these suppliers was using a fresh water well.

That contract was terminated as soon as they were informed of the contravention, and new arrangements were made for course irrigation.

Talks continue about improving road access to resort

The journey by road from Palma is fairly uneventful until exiting the Son Vich tunnel. It's then that you get your first glimpse of Camp de Mar in the distance as the Ma-1 snakes its way down to the turn-off.

Unfortunately, this junction is one of the more dangerous ones in Mallorca, being at the lower end of the curved road that descends from Andratx. Consequently left turning traffic, especially the long tourist coaches, have to cross the path of fast moving vehicles coming down the hill.

To alleviate this problem, the authorities have restarted talks in an effort to approve plans for a roundabout. This would improve road safety for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists.

We look forward to its completion.

Island restaurant under threat of demolition

News reaches us that Camp de Mar's world famous Illetas Bar & Restaurante could be demolished.

A Supreme Court ruling obtained by the authority in Madrid responsible for public beaches throughout Spain affects beachbars - Chiringuitos, especially those of a permanent nature. The new law requires such structures to be removable at the end of the holiday season.

As the 54 year old island restaurant is not, it faces demolition.

The regional environment ministry has enquired of Madrid about the legality of Camp de Mar's key tourist feature, and over a dozen others around Mallorca, so keep watching this space.

Latest report from Camp de Mar now online

Our latest report from Camp de Mar is now online.

Resort update

The review team has just returned from Camp de Mar and a full report with photos is currently in preparation but, to keep you up to date, here are some news items...

There is building work going on at one of the older villas on the eastern side of the bay with demolition noises and vehicle movements at odd times during the working week. Thankfully, weekends were quiet.

Most shops, bars and restaurants are now open. The exception being the Accana Summer Club, which is not due to open until June. The old Spar supermarket under the Playa hotel has reopened with a fresh new look and a good range of products, while alongside it a Scuba Academy was being fitted out.

The new Airport Bus Service - A11 - is operating between Peguera and Son Sant Joan Aeroport. Timetable here.

New bus route planned for Camp de Mar

Five new bus routes are being introduced by the Baleares government later this year.

Planned to run from the airport to popular tourist destinations, they will cut the need to travel into Palma on local EMT bus route 1 in order to change onto a TIB bus to continue the journey onward to a resort.

The initial proposal has recently been revised following local protests about the limited number of stops. This has seen the extension of the route to Santa Ponsa onward to Paguera and then terminating at Camp de Mar. The other four routes will end in or near: Alcudia, Cala d'Or, Cala Millor and Magalluf.

The routes will be operated by Transabus and Arriva, although we're not sure which company will run what services just yet.

From tomorrow - March 1st - the Spring timetable for bus L102 comes into operation and we've noticed that a couple of times a day a new Express bus service runs from Andratx to Palma (and vice versa) missing out those stops in between - thus shaving about 25 minutes off the journey time.

Hiring a car at the airport? Here's a few useful tips

When hiring a car, it is a good idea to check for those any dents or scratches before you drive off. However, the UK's Daily Mail reports on the new tricks of the car hire trade to empty your wallet - and some big names are mentioned. So, we will stick with honest Fernando and his little Autos de la Gala Blas for our motors in Camp de Mar!

Golf Camp de Mar caught with their pipes down (the well) it has been alleged

Golf Camp de Mar has been outed by environmental group Terraferida as the culprit in a charge raised by environmental inspectors against an unnamed golf course in Andratx for using drinking water to keep their greens green.

It is alleged that the suspect golf course had an extensive irrigation system fed from an acquifer, and that it was capable of extracting up to 720 cubic metres of  water per day - that's enough drinking water for a small town of 5,000 people according to Vicenç Vidal, Minister of the Environment.

He continued that the seriousness of the offence could lead to a fine of between ten thousand euros and one million euros.

A long way down: A true story

Earlier this year, one of our team was out exploring the remoter parts of Camp de Mar and reported on the construction of a new cliff edge villa. This was being built in front of an existing villa, and adjacent to another that was being extended. Now news reaches us of a spectacular accident in that area of Carrer Gerani.

According to the media, an excavator working on one of the two sites - we're not sure which - fell 50 metres into the sea, with the operator jumping from the digger in time to save himself by landing in some pine trees on the way down. A feat not unknown to many a Hollywood action star!

You can read more here and here with photos.

A long way down is reference to the movie featuring ex-Bond actor Pierce Brosnan - a man used to jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire - that was filmed partly in Camp de Mar.

Instagrammers of Camp de Mar in one place

Instagram is a fun and quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures, and here are a couple of links to see those pictures of Camp de Mar users have posted online: by location and by name

Latest report & photos from the team now online

Our latest report on what's new in Camp de Mar is now online, along with a whole batch of new photos on Flickr.

You can read the report here...

...and see the photos here.

Camp de Mar Cat Burglar Caught

A Tunisian pensioner has been sent to jail after being convicted of robbing rooms in a Camp de Mar hotel and other establishments on New Year's Eve 2015.

The ex-Santa Ponsa resident scaled balconies to enter the bedrooms of guests who were out celebrating. He got away with cash and jewellery, some of which has been recovered by the police.

Blue Flag lowered for 2016

The Bandera Azul (Blue Flag) Association of Spain has removed Camp de Mar from this year's list of approved beaches.

This is not because there has been any increase in pollution, but due to "more stringent criteria" being applied said Association President José Ramón Sánchez.

Goodbye Mr Ambassador

We have heard rumours that the Petit Ambassador restaurant on the beach in Camp de Mar will open on May 1st as the Accana Summer Club, a project from the IT MALLORCA | Unique Spaces group - developers of the  Can Cera, Calatrava and Can Alomar boutique hotels.

The new 'club' will deliver private events, private parking, private boat hire, private transfers, and probably private lounge chairs on the beach (with towels).

All in all, it looks to be an exclusive venue for private people seeking - in their words - creative Mediterranean cuisine, chill-out mood music, and signature cocktails.

Camp de Mar's beach cleared of seaweed accumulated over the winter

Andratx Council has begun works preparing the area's resorts for the holiday season...

Here, courtesy of Diario de Mallorca, we see the beach in Camp de Mar being readied.

Coronation Street and Camp de Mar

In 1974, the Camp de Mar's Playa hotel and the beach were used as backdrops for episodes 1434 and 1435 of the ITV soap Coronation Street. In the screenshots below we see Bet (Julie Goodyear), Rita (Barbara Knox) and Deirdre (the late Anne Kirkbride).

More pictures are in our Visitors & Celebrities section on our homepage.

Only 3 minutes walk from the beach... if you can walk on water that is!

"Located just within a 3 minute walk from the beach and with direct access to the sea via the rocks, this wonderful luxury villa will make a great spot from where to enjoy what Mallorca has to offer...   www.seemallorca.com "

The big 'office-style' villa overlooking the bay of Camp de Mar is now available for holiday rental; having been empty for a number of years.

With 6 bedrooms, the villa can house over a dozen guests and be rented exclusively for weekly prices beginning at 20,000 Euro, rising to 40,000 Euro in peak season.

More details here: http://goo.gl/07CeIg

seemallorca also reports that a new Summer Club will open in May, allowing guests to be picked up from the beach by yacht.

Camp de Mar has inspired many artists over the years: Here's Fonia's watercolours

Camp de Mar has inspired many artists over the years: Here's a link to Fonia's watercolours on Art Tutor.