we will be in andalusia in may and can catch a flight to mallorca. is mallorca a scenic island? easy to get around by car? nice beaches and swimming?

oops! majorca

Mallorca was quite right. Majorca is the English name that you won't find used when in Spain.

Mallorca is Europe's holiday destination #1.
You will hardly find one airport in Europe that does not have non-stop flights to the island. So why do you want to go there instead of spending more time in Andalucia? Which also has tons of beaches?

Anyway. Mallorca has the ugliest eyesores of mass tourism (west and east of the capital Palma), more mid-size resorts and beaches on the East and North coast, little mass tourism and small "quaint" towns in the scenic Western mountains, and no tourism at all in the (huge, mostly flat) center of the island.
So you can find as busy or quiet as you like it.
A car will take you from one end to the other in around an hour or bit more. So one base will be sufficient to explore the whole island.

In May, the Med sea will not be as warm as the Carribean, though. But usually you can already swim.

We love Majorca. The north of the island is dramatic around Soller or Port Soller, you can get there by a rickety steam train that goes through the orange groves. Sant Elm on the West Coast is a delight as is Port Andratx. Palma (the capitol) is a lovely City and might be the best option if you are flying in with limited time. Although, I haven't been but having read other posts and researched the area - I would choose to stay around Cala Mondrago on the east side.

both reply's have sent my brain in motion! thank you! as cowboy points out our "dilemma" is more time in andalusia or do something different. we will be on a cruise that ends in malaga. we have 2 weeks time after that, and being in andalusia we decided to do at least seville,cordoba,and granada. then we plan barcelona for a few nights. after all the cities we thought a combo beach/sightseeing destination would be welcome (and majoca is in the neighborhood)! a not-too-expensive resort on the beach would be our base. the combination of both of your answers indicates that this is a good plan. we hear that the beaches in andalucia/costa del sol aren't real good. true? any further advice &/or hotel recommendations would be appreciated. does cala mondrago have a nice beach with good swimming? again, thank you,both!

In my opinion the the Mediterranean beaches are not that nice. On the Atlantic side they are quite nice. I've never been to Mallorca. My feeling is that Americans might be disappointed but Brits or Germans might find it quite nice if it is developed like the costa del Sol and points north.

If its just beach you are after, there are beaches a plenty around Malaga and the rest of the Costa Del Sol... you dont need to fly in to Majorca. Santa Ponca has a nice beach and even nearer to Malaga there is Benalmedena Costa. If you do decide on Majorca and you want mainly beach then Palma itself has a nice beach. If you are driving to Barcelona there are plenty of beaches near there ie Blanes, and Roses on the Costa Brava has a delightful beach.