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The brilliant TV series that everyone in the UK has been glued to this summer, Love Island, is coming to an end tonight (sob!). We’re really going to miss the tears, the tantrums and the erm…romance, so what can we do to help us get over it? Well, besides the fact that ITV has just announced that there will be a spin off show, Heading Home, why not visit the real Love Island?
Where is Love Island filmed?
The real Love Island is Majorca, one of the Balearic Islands. The villa itself belongs to a French businessman and it has the largest private swimming pool in the Balearics. Sadly, you won’t be able to rent the villa itself, but there’s plenty more in the area. The villa is located in Ses Salines, South East of the island and around 30 minutes from the popular destination of Cala D’Or.
About Ses Salines
Ses Salines is a small village. It has a population of just over 5,000 people. It is a primarily residential town, which means that it is incredibly unspoilt, both in landscapes and beaches. The town centre is made up of long, straight streets, consisting of Santanyi buildings and Catalan architecture. The village has also been designated as an Area of Special Scenic and Rural Interest. It’s popular with birdwatchers, as the region’s salt pans provide an alluring habitat for migrating birds who are on their way to Africa. Species that are regularly spotted include the red-legged Partridge, Thekla Lark and the fan tailed Warbler, among many more rarer birds.
The highlight of the town centre is the 20th century church, which is dedicated to Saint Bartholomew and is used as a point of reference by sailors.
How to get to Ses Salines
The closest airport to Ses Salines is the Palma de Mallorca airport. It’s around one hours drive away. You can fly to the airport from the UK with a number of well known airlines, such as Ryanair, Thomas Cook, Monarch and Jet2. Flights range from around £120 to £200, depending on the time of year and when you book.
Once you arrive in Palma, there are several different ways to get to Ses Salines. As the area is not touristy, there are no standard shuttle buses and public transport is relatively complex. Therefore, your options are to book a hire car in advance, or grab a taxi from the cab drivers waiting in the hall. If you have young children, note that most taxis do not carry child seats, so your child will have to travel on your knee.
If you do choose to drive, the drive is relatively straightforward but not very scenic!
Accommodation options
There are several accommodation options when you stay in Ses Salines. For a private getaway, opt for an apartment or a villa- Thomson in particular has a great selection. AirBnB is also active in the area, with listings ranging from rooms to entire houses. TripAdvisor does not list too many hotels, but the top rate is Es Turo Finca Hotel Rural. Guests are saying that they have visited for a honeymoon or family holiday and have enjoyed facilities such as outdoor daybeds, whirlpool baths and generous breakfasts.
Eating Out
The top rated TripAdvisor restaurant in Ses Salines is Es Pinaret. Recent reviews say that it is ‘excellent’ for a special occasion, focusing on Mediterranean cuisine. There are 14 other restaurants listed on the site, ranging from coffee houses to barbecue/grill places. There are great reviews in particular for the area’s seafood. There is also two Michelin starred restaurants nearby; Flor de Sal in Sant Jordi and Port Petit in Cala D’Or.
Things to Do
Although Ses Salines is very rural, there are still things to do. The village has lots of great cycling routes and coastal walks, so it’s a good destination for people who like to keep active on holiday. Another highlight is the Botanicactus gardens, where you can see many different types of cacti. As we mentioned, birdwatching is a popular activity in the area.
Of course, there are other areas of Majorca close by. Cala D’Or is 30 minutes away; you can hire a boat, go kayaking or visit the karaoke bars. Palma is accessible by public transport and is great for shopping.
Visitors say that staying in Ses Salines gives you the best of both worlds. It’s very quiet and tranquil, yet urban sights and shops are not too far away.
Make sure not to…
Confuse the village of Ses Salines with a beach in Ibiza of the same name! It’s a very popular beach, definitely not a rural village…we’d wager there’s more people on the beach than there is in the actual village!
Who would have thought that this quaint little village would be the home of the most explosive TV programme of the year? We wonder if any of the couples will be back for their honeymoon…
