Cala Millor facts for kids
Cala Millor is a lively town found on the Spanish Balearic Island of Mallorca. It sits in a small bay, shared by the towns of Son Servera and Sant Llorenç des Cardassar. The beautiful Mt. Na Penyal overlooks it from the west.
With over 5,000 people living there and many hotels, Cala Millor is the biggest holiday spot on Mallorca's east coast. The town has a lovely, well-kept beach. It's also less than an hour's drive from Palma de Mallorca, the island's capital. The famous Cuevas del Drach caves are only about 30 minutes away.
Mallorca's main airport, Palma de Mallorca Airport (also known as PMI), is located west of Palma de Mallorca. It's about 70 kilometers (43 miles) west of Cala Millor.
Contents
Fun in Cala Millor
Early Days of Tourism
The very first hotel for visitors in Cala Millor was the Hotel Eureka. It opened its doors in 1933. Soon after, the Hotel Universal and the Hotel Talayot also welcomed guests. Many more hotels followed over the years. Most of the older hotels have been rebuilt into modern buildings. However, the Hotel Talayot is still open today, though it has been updated a lot!
The Amazing Beach
Cala Millor's beach is about 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) long. During the busy summer months, a special tractor cleans the sand every day. It works early in the morning, from 5 AM to 6 AM, to remove any bits of rubbish.
Lifeguards watch over swimmers from three towers. They use a flag system to show how safe it is to swim:
- Blue flag: Very safe, calm water.
- Green flag: Safe to swim.
- Yellow flag: Be careful, there might be some danger.
- Red flag: Do not swim, it's too dangerous.
In winter, the beach is not monitored or cleaned. You might see large piles of seaweed on the shore. Swimming is not recommended during this time.
The beach is usually about 30 to 35 meters (98 to 115 feet) wide. It's known for being very sandy and having almost no rocks. This makes it different from many nearby beaches.
Cala Millor's Economy
Changes Over the Years
Cala Millor has grown a lot since the 1930s. However, many local people remember the 1980s and 1990s as the best times for tourism. In recent years, the town has seen a slow decrease in visitors. Some people even say it's one of the poorer areas on the island.
People in Cala Millor have different ideas about why tourism has slowed down. Some think it's because of the Euro currency, which started in 1999. Others believe cheap flights from airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet mean people can travel to more places.
All-Inclusive Holidays
A big topic of discussion is the all-inclusive system. This is where tourists pay one price for their hotel, and it includes all their food and drinks. Some local restaurants and shops complain that hotels have an unfair advantage. They say tourists are encouraged to eat and drink only at their hotels. This makes it harder for local businesses to earn money. Some people want this system to be stopped. However, the exact reason for the slowdown is not fully clear.
Recent Challenges
In recent years, the economy faced more challenges. Many hotels were affected when the Thomas Cook Group travel company closed in 2019. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 caused lockdowns. This meant fewer tourists could visit. After these events, the town faced challenges, leading to some businesses closing.
Despite these difficulties, thousands of tourists still visit Cala Millor every year. The area, its hotels, and attractions often get great reviews on travel websites.
At the end of each year, Cala Millor celebrates with a special fireworks show. This show thanks all the tourists who visited the island that year.
See also
In Spanish: Cala Millor para niños
