... some advices and hints for driving in Mallorca

Driving in Mallorca

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To Mallorca by ferry

The actual departures and prices of the ferry
can be read on the homepage of the "Trasmediterranea": http://www.trasmediterranea.com
For reservations please call (+34) 902 - 45 46 45

From BARCELONA the Transmediterranea ferry departs daily throughout the year to Palma de Mallorca. From June 15. until September 15. a second ferry departs (only 4 days per week). The journey takes approx. 8 hours. Prices start at approx. 130,-- EURO for a small car and approx. 50,-- EURO per person. Cabins approx. 60,--EURO p.p.
Reservations at all major travel agencies. Recommended in the summer season.

In case you missed a ferry or you don't get a ticket anymore please drive through to VALENCIA.
From here the Transmediterránea also departs to Mallorca every day throughout the year. Prices and transfer times are the same as from Barcelona.

If you are tired driving the french highways you can also catch a ferry in SETE (South France). Except in winter. But from here the trip takes 16 hours to Mallorca and the prices are much higher compared to those from Barcelona.

A fast ferry connection between Tarragona (on the mainland) and Palma de Mallorca started it's service this year again. The "Almudaina" - the newest ferry of the Transmediterránea - departs on tuesdays, thursdays, saturdays and sundays and needs only 3h 45min. The ship can take 450 passengers and 87 cars. Departure times and prices are available in nearly every travel office or on their homepage.

Reservations of the Transmediterránea: (+34) 902 - 45 46 45

Different traffic rules

Speedlimit on motorways is 120 km/h (75 mph), on bigger roads 70 km/h (55 mph) and in towns 50 km/h.

You have to fasten seatbelts! The "Guardia Civil" checks intensively and the tickets are expensive (60,-- EURO!) if they get you without a fastened seatbelt.

In case the car broke down it is NOT allowed by law to tow your car privatley! ONLY an official towing service (Servicio de Gruas) has the right to tow cars! ! !

New since 1999: It is law to carry two warning triangles and also spare bulbs for the car lights.

Some traffic advices

Driving on Mallorca is sometimes a little adventurous. The traffic is pretty heavy and the Mallorquins aren't driving really slow and carefully. Especially in the summer seasons, when lots of rented cars will be on the roads it gets to some hot situations! As a tourist on the island please take care on your sightseeing tour that you don't drive too slow. Of course you wanna see the beautiful landscape - but please pop into a parking spot at the many scenic points and park there. Too slow driving cars cause accidents very often!

In the winding roads up in the mountains (click here for a photo) you often meet oncoming trucks and busses. Because the roads are really narrow (specially for Americans who are used to much wider roads...) you have to stop very often to let them pass by. So please drive carefully!

Mallorca gets more and more popular for biking. Especially in spring you'll see almost more bikes than cars on the roads. Please drive accordingly.

Another dangerous point are traffic lights: the Mallorquins are used to drive through the yellow phase and they even ignore a blinking yellow traffic light. So watch your mirrors who's coming behind you!

Parking in Palma

If you can make it, please use one of the underground car parks in Palma. To explore the historic part of the town we recommend the car park at Parc de Mar. You'll find it at the Paseo Maritimo, close to the famous cathedral.

Downtown Palma are many parking places with parking machines (pls. note the blue lines). The machines take 10, 20, 50 cents, also 1 or 2 EURO coins. Minimum charge for parking is 20 cents for 30 minutes. It increases in fractions for every 5 minutes. After pressing the GREEN button on the machines you get your parking slip. Place this slip behind your front window in the car.

Did you exceed your parking time you'll find a parking ticket behind your wiper. Take this ticket, go back to the parking machine and press the YELLOW button now. Then insert the coins into the machine and you'll receive another paper which you put in the envelope. Seal it and place it in the box marked "buzon" on the top of the machine.

Gas stations

During the last years petrol stations (Gasolineras) are springing up everywhere all over the island and meanwhile you get unleaded gas at all stations (approx. 1 USD per liter). Diesel is much cheaper. There are a few stations which are open 24-hours. Those gas stations do NOT give change after 22.00h! Many stations are closed on sundays and public holidays.

M.O.T. Test

Same as almost all over the world cars must pass regularly the MOT-Test. Appointments can be made or drivers can queue and have test on the spot. If the car fails, you have to repair within a month.
On passing the test, drivers are given a little colored sticker to display on the top right hand corner of the windshield.

There are 4 test offices on Mallorca:
Palma:
Motorway Palma to Santanyi, Exit Ca´n Pastilla, Camino Son Fangos, Phone: 971 - 26 59 50
Poligano Son Castellc, Gremi Sucrers y Candelers 2, Phone: 29 79 06
Inca:
On the way from Palma to Alcudia, km 30, Phone: 971 - 50 24 04
Manacor:
Poligono Industrial Manacor, C/. Oliveristes, Phone: 971 - 55 54 57

http://mallorca-market.com

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