Which airlines fly direct to Palma

A. British Airways, British Midland, Go, Easy Jet and Air Europa all fly direct to Palma de Mallorca.

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Q. Is it feasible to visit Palma for the weekend
A. It is definitely feasible as it only takes approximately�two hours flying time with one hour (ahead) time difference. A ten minute taxi ride from the airport has you downtown eating tapas and drinking sangria at one of the city's fine portside restaurants.

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Q. What would you recommend seeing
A. Only known as an airport by the millions of British tourists that travel to Mallorca (commonly known as Majorca to Brits) each year, Palma city itself is an absolute find. Snuggled behind its old city wall the city boasts a beautiful and huge 13th Century Gothic cathedral. This combines its fine pinnacled columns with Gaudi's modern and elaborate ornate ironwork.

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Another must see is the Moorish palace of Almudania, now partly occupied by the military and Castell de Bellver.�A well-kept 14th-century fort at the west end of Palma bay offers one of the best views of the city in its circular courtyard. It also hosts a fascinating archaeological museum that traces the history of the island. A peaceful retreat from the bustling streets can be found in Parc Cuarentena, a terraced garden on a hillside.

Palma puts you in mind of mini version of Barcelona with its atmospheric old town that has an abundance of rambling alleys and hidden squares. The old town houses many bars and restaurants including Abaco an old merchant's house, which has been converted into an elaborate bar packed with statues, fruit and flowers on the floor and giant sofas. There are also many art galleries and museums to visit and street theatre and buskers to watch. The city has a great atmosphere.

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Q.� Is Palma a good stop-off for a golfing weekend
A. Golfing swingers can often be found holed up in Palma! It has several top class courses within half an hour's drive from the city centre. Son Muntaner is the newest course and the brainchild of Kurt Rossknecht, Bernhard Langer's associate. However, it is currently only for the exclusive use of A-list celebrities�such as Catherine Zeta Jones and her new husband Michael Douglas. Its sister course, Son Vida is the oldest course in the Balearics. There is also the magnificent Santa Ponsa, host of the Balearic Open and the Poniente near Magaluf.

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Q.� What about other sports
A. Cycling is the sport de jour in Palma; it is literally difficult to cross the road at junctions as there are so many top-notch bicycles queuing up. Palma also hosts an old velodrome in the north of the city.

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Q. Is Palma a good place for shopping
A. It has great clothes shops for both sexes, with Spanish-based Zara dominating the mid-range bracket. Its clothes are about 30% cheaper than they are in London, so it a good stop for stylish bargain hunters. Palma also has an abundance of kitchen/furniture shops housing modern designer wares. When on a shopping expedition bear in mind that practically all shops close from 2-5pm for the traditional siesta, but compensate this by opening up again until around 8.30pm.

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Q. Can you recommend any good hotels
A. At the top end of the market the Portixol (http://www.portixol.com) is fantastic. Situated in the harbour it is very modern with a great restaurant and terrace. The rooms are Zen-like with a Scandinavian influence, lots of dark wood, white walls and stainless steel features, however, the atmosphere is very relaxed and welcoming. Palacio Ca Sa Galesa, is another chic hotel with a great roof garden that boasts good views of the cathedral. A good backpackers find is the Hotel Ritzi, opposite the cathedral.

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Q. Does Palma have a listings magazine like Time Out that provides information on what's on
A. It has a new English-language lifestyle magazine, Island Life that is full of features on the Balearic Islands including culture, sport, events etc. It is available in most good hotels or on the newsstand. It has a pull-out supplement entitled Social Life that has a full listing of clubs, bars and restaurants. The English-language Daily Bulletin also lists events.

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By Karen Anderson