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[mtnlover]

I have a 7 day meeting in Mallorca (also spelled Majorca) Spain in October followed by a 5 day meeting in Arnhem (in the Netherlands).  I would love to hear from anyone who has on suggestions for the trip.  I am from the US if that matters.

[untenured]

All I know about Arnhem is that a nasty battle took place there between British and Polish paratroopers and an SS panzer division in 1944.  Ever heard of the book, "A Bridge Too Far"?  The bridge that was too far was the one in Arnhem.  No doubt there is a museum or other information related to this important event.

Other than that small tidbit, I leave the advice giving to others.

Good luck,

Untenured

[starfleet_grad]

Mallorca is among the top Mediterranean vacation spot for sun-starved blue-collar northern Europeans. The coastline is littered with cheap resort hotels, and in the summer, you hear more German, Dutch, Swedish, Cockney, and whatnot spoken than Catalan. Entertainment for a long time used to be geared toward people who enjoyed getting drunk by chugging bear from 5-gallon metal buckets and searching for one-night stands. I kid you not; ask German attendees about the "Ballermann" and watch their reaction. As a result, Mallorca's had a bit of a seedy reputation for a while.

The island actually has a rich history, and there are many cultural and architectural gems worth visiting. They have been cleaning up their image, too, and some of the worst watering holes, I hear, have been closed. Overall, though, for Europeans a conference on Mallorca is like a conference on the Bahamas for Americans. Expect there to be plenty of time for leisure.

Arnhem for Dutch purposes is an average city; nothing too exciting about it. However, the Netherlands is a small country, and you are also close to Germany and Belgium. I suggest you rent a car and explore the area. Even Amsterdam is only, what, a couple of hours away. Get yourself a Netherlands tourist guide online or at your local bookstore chain and see what you might want to experience.

Both countries use Euros, so no worry about changing money and such. My last impression of the Netherlands was that food prices were comparable to the U.S. but restaurants were a bit pricey. If you like fast food, there is a chain that sells Indonesian-style burgers (really). I don't recall the name now, but if you see a sign for "Pinda Burger," you have got to try that (unless you are allergic to peanuts).

Consider shopping for clothes. Men's clothes and shoes can be much cheaper and much more stylish than in the U.S. Every time you buy something over 20 Euros, ask for a "tax free check." The store will fill out the form for you (you need to show your passport), and if at the airport you have these forms stamped by the customs office in the departure hall, you can get your sales tax back at the Tax Free Office. If the store participates in the rebate program, there will be a "Tax Free" sign in the shop windown or door.

[skirt]

If I remember correctly, Arnhem is very close to the Hoge Veluwe, which is the Netherlands's big nature park. If you can spare a day to just bike around, it's pretty nice and pleasant. But not impressive by US nature standards.

Though it's known mostly for having "A Bridge Too Far," it's not a typical Dutch city because it's not as crowded and compact as Holland-Zuid province (Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, etc.), but that probably makes it more appealing if you've done the Amsterdam thing. Also, Dutch museums of any sort are always a treat. There are also some cool zoos nearby (that I went to with my kids).

Chances are, though, whatever free time you have in the Netherlands will be at the tail end of your conference, and you'll probably end up killing time in Amsterdam while counting down your time to go to the airport. Downtown Amsterdam is special in its own way: it seems so touristy but then you turn a corner and suddenly you are on a charming street. And you can take the train directly to Schipol airport from Amsterdam Centraal station with little fuss.

I've never been to Mallorca but I associate it with pottery. Don't know why...

October means the tourist crunch is over in Europe and it won't be ungodly hot anymore. You can dress nice and neither sweat nor worry about having to bulk up for winter.

Have lots of fun!