Port d'Andratx is one of Mallorca's classiest resorts, popular with the yachting fraternity and with film stars whose Italian-style villas can be seen climbing up the hillsides. The harbour is one of the prettiest in Mallorca and a table at one of the waterside bars is really the perfect place to watch the sunset. Gill visited in March 2005...

Port d'Andratx was originally the small fishing village annexed to the town of Andratx, which lies a few miles inland. This lovely destination has many first class restaurants, as well as a variety of shops and a couple of supermarkets, for those self-catering. A large Marina also offers the opportunity to potter around by boat or yacht, and visit the numerous coastal bays and inlets. The boat we were on is privately owned and moored year round at the Club de Vela, but it is possible to charter boats from several outlets in the town.

There's a delightful beach at Camp de Mar, 4 km away, with a restaurant to enjoy lunch, and another even further round the coast, travelling east in the direction of Palma, at Cala Portals Vells. Here we disembarked and had a delightful lunch at a beachside café that was absolutely in-keeping with the ambience of the afternoon. All the usual favourites were on offer, including freshly caught fish and seafood, and of course, Paella. After a languid lunch, the only thing to do was to enjoy a spot of sunbathing. Being late March, the sea was freezing, but I have it on authority that it substantially warms up during May.

We were with a family party – ten of us in total, including two small children – and during the day we enjoyed roaming around the coast, heading out and teasing the children by looking for the “Dragon's Caves”, turquoise blue and crystal clear waters, and dropping anchor mid-afternoon for a customary Gin & Tonic, whilst enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

We took the boat round to San Telmo a couple of times and had superb lunches on both occasions. For the first, we had a table on the verandah overlooking the bay at Na Caragola, Avenida Jaime I, 23 and enjoyed a Paella that really tasted of the sea, as we basked in the warm sunshine. From San Telmo, you could take a ferry out to the island of La Dragonera, which is a nature reserve.

We stayed at an aparthotel just behind the Club de Vela, called La Pergola. This 4* establishment offered excellent accommodation – the one-bed apartment had a separate bedroom with en-suite bathroom, kitchenette and sitting room, plus a balcony overlooking the pools and restaurant. The buffet breakfast offered was amongst the most varied I've had anywhere, all for a very reasonable E8.50. Two outdoor pools (plus a small indoor pool with a jacuzzi), a children's playground and tennis courts fitted the bill perfectly. There is another hotel close by, the 5* Mon Port, which is the sister hotel.

In the evening, we would take a 15-minute stroll around the bay towards the town, where you could sip a pre-dinner aperitif at one of the bars along the harbourfront, maybe Tim's on the Avenida Mateo Bosch, whilst watching the sun set. Then dine at one of the many restaurants on offer, mostly Italian, as well as one or two offering international cuisine, plus a very good fishmongers/restaurant – La Gallega, Calle Isaac Peral 52. Sadly, I didn't come across a typically Mallorcan restaurant, or sample any tapas. Two places I would recommend for perfectly cooked Pizza and home-made Pasta are Osteria da Sandro, Calle Isaac Peral 47, just along from the church, and another one with a wood-fired oven just a few yards along the same street.

I would have to say that there is little in Port d'Andratx to entertain you for more than a day, unless you have an interest in the boats and yachts, or unless you were content to relax by the pool with the children and enjoy the facilities at your accommodation. We visited the local market on Wednesday morning (there are markets on most days in other towns in the region), and picked up a Paella pan – enough to feed 12 – for an amazing 7 Euro! Leather shoes, handbags and jewellery are also on offer and at half the price you would pay in the UK. Also for reasonable bargains, we had a day shopping in Palma. We caught the bus from Port Andratx that took 1¼ hrs, and cost E13 each way for four adults. The shopping mall at Porto Pi offers many of the usual clothiers you would expect to find anywhere in Europe, plus a trendy ZARA HOME store. However, if you had the luxury of car hire and you were feeling adventurous, you could enjoy a trip up to Valdemossa, Sóller and Deià. There is also golf nearby, at Golf de Andratx in Camp de Mar.