AEnsure that your passport is valid for at least six months after your arrival
ACheck airline baggage restrictions
AMake advance bookings for accommodation, restaurants, travel and tours
AInform your credit-/debit-card company that you'll be travelling abroad
AArrange comprehensive travel insurance
AVerify what you need to hire a car (including excess insurance)
ATravel adapter plug
AHigh factor, waterproof sun cream
AMosquito/insect repellent
AFlip flops
AHiking boots for Tramuntana trails
AMobile (cell) phone charger
ASunhat and sunglasses
ABeach towel
ABathing suit
AWaterproof coin holder/dry bag
ACamera
APhrasebook
AA sociable nature – the Mallorcans love a good chinwag
ADetour off the well-trodden trail for a spell and you will find peaceful countryside, restful fincas (farms) and uncrowded beaches.
AGet high: the best views and photo ops are from the monasteries, forts and castles that crown Mallorca's hillsides. Time it right and you'll catch a fiery sunset.
AAllow ample time to get from A to Z. Looking at a map of Mallorca is deceptive. Yes, it is an island and fairly compact, but those twisting mountain roads bump up journey times.
AWalk. Whether it's pilgrim-style to a monastery, through the back alleys of a cobbled old town or to a hidden bay, many of Mallorca's most alluring sights can only be seen on foot.
AMallorca is made for cycling: many professional teams do their winter training here, and it's the ideal way to meander among wineries and finca hotels.
Mallorca is a laid-back island and most people find they over-pack, especially for beach and poolside holidays that require little more than bathing suits and a couple of changes of shorts and T-shirts. Going out is a casual affair and ties and jackets are not required, even in the smartest restaurants.
Summers are hot, but layers are advisable for the rest of the year when the weather is patchier and evenings are cool. Forget wearing high heels on the cobbled streets of Mallorca's hill towns – flats it is.
Reserving a room is always a good idea – book well in advance (at least two months) if you are travelling in the peak months of July and August, when beds are like gold dust.
From November to Easter, the vast majority of hotels close in coastal resorts. Palma is a year-round option, though, and you'll also find a sprinkling of places open in towns like Pollença and Sóller.
AHotels These range from family resort hotels beside the sea to converted manors with boutique-chic interiors inland.
AHostales Small no-frills budget hotels, usually family-run.
AFincas Farm-stays in rural, peaceful areas.
Spain's IVA (VAT) goods-and-services tax of up to 21% is included in stated prices. Refunds are available on goods costing more than €90, if taken out of the EU within three months. Collect a refund form when purchasing and present it (together with the purchases) to the customs IVA refunds booth when leaving the EU. For more information, see www.globalblue.com.
The only place haggling skills may be called for, or appropriate, is at markets. Otherwise it's not done. If you want something, be prepared to pay the asking rate.
AHotels Discretionary: porters around €1 per bag and cleaners €2 per day.
ACafes and bars Not expected, but you can reward good service by rounding the bill to the nearest euro or two.
ARestaurants Service charge is included, unless 'servicio no incluido' is specified, but many still leave an extra 5% or so.
ATaxis Not necessary, but feel free to round up or leave a modest tip, especially for longer journeys.
Mallorcans are generally easygoing, and used to the different mores of foreigners, but will respond well to those who make an effort.
AGreetings Shake hands on first meeting and say 'bon dia' (good day) or 'bona tarda' (good evening). In more casual situations, greet with two kisses – offer your right cheek first.
ASocialising Mallorcans, like all Spanish, are a chatty, sociable lot. Don't be shy – try to join in their rapid-fire conversations, and be prepared for people to stand quite close to you when speaking.
AEating & Drinking If you are invited to a Mallorcan home, take a small gift of wine, flowers or chocolate. Wait for your host to say bon profit! (enjoy your meal) before getting stuck in. Dunking bread in soup is a no-no, but otherwise meals here are fairly relaxed affairs. Join in a toast by raising your glass and saying salut!
Travelling in Mallorca without speaking a single word of Spanish or Mallorquin is entirely possible, but picking up a smattering of these languages will go a long way to winning the affection of the locals. English is widely spoken in the beach resorts and in major towns, but in the rural hinterland and small villages you'll find it handy to have a grasp of a few basic phrases. Plus it's part of the fun!