Bridge in Majorca, the Hotel Bella Playa

14 March 2022

The Hotel Bella Playa & Spa is proving to be a firm favourite with our guests. This will be our eighth visit to this delightful hotel, and our guests love its excellent dining, friendly service, warm atmosphere and relaxing facilities.

Bridge directed by Mark Hooper and hosted by Ro Kaye and Anne Wright
Stay at the 4* Hotel Bella Playa & Spa on a half board basis
Included flights from London Gatwick
Low single supplement
Includes a full day tour to Palma & organised walks
Fantastic unspoilt location, ideal for golfers and walkers

Bridge in Majorca, Hotel Bella Playa and Spa

Cala Ratjada is a well-established resort and port on the beautiful north east coast of Majorca that up until a couple of years ago was virtually undiscovered by the British tourists. As a result, unlike some resorts on the island it is completely unspoilt by fast food outlets and British bars, and you can enjoy a delightful coastal promenade and attractive marina offering good quality restaurants, tapas bars and pizzerias.

The area is really beautiful with a dramatic coastline and many sandy bays and blue flag beaches, and there are many wonderful coastal walks. Hayo, the hotel manager organises a gentle weekly group walk for First for Bridge guests, and other walks of different levels can also be arranged by the hotel. This region is popular in the winter with the older generation who are able to take advantage of a winter sunshine break, and golfers who are also attracted to the championship courses around Cala Ratjada during early spring.

Included excursion to Palma

Get a real taste of Spanish culture on our included full day excursion to the island capital Palma. Our knowledgeable guide will take you to the mighty Cathedral, Belver Castle and port before you have free time for shopping & sight-seeing.

What to expect on this Bridge holiday:
Fly from London Gatwick airport (regionals may also be available) with our flight inclusive package. Your transfer will also be included.

At the start of your Bridge holiday you’ll be invited to join our Bridge director and host for a welcome meeting in the hotel. Any single travellers will have the opportunity to find a partner for the Bridge room.

Our Bridge programmes will vary according to the length of your break, and, in addition to playing Bridge, we try to include interesting Bridge seminars, hosted by your Bridge Director.

Your duplicate Bridge will be available every evening between 7.45pm and 11.15pm and we endeavour to vary these evening sessions, balancing between teams and pairs, with at least one Swiss style event during a two-week Bridge break.

Bridge will also be offered some afternoons between 2.30pm and 4.45pm. These sessions are normally given over to open pairs/teams.

During your Bridge holiday nothing is obligatory and you can play in as many, or as few, Bridge sessions as you wish. We don’t forget you are on holiday and our Bridge programmes also allow time to relax and the opportunity for you to explore the surrounding area.

Included in the price:

Full bridge programme, directed by Mark Hooper and hosted by Ro Kaye and Anne Wright, with seminars and varied bridge sessions
Masterpoints and prizes awarded
Return flights from London Gatwick. Regionals at a supplement
Return Transfers from Palma airport to hotel on our specific arrival and departure dates
11 nights 4* accommodation on a half board basis
Two organised walks in Cala Ratjada
Full day excursion to Palma with guided tour and time for shopping and sight-seeing
Welcome cocktail
Porterage

Anne Wright

Anne is a new First for Bridge Host who works alongside our Directors with the aim of ensuring that everyone enjoys their bridge holiday. Anne is friendly and approachable and enjoys her bridge; playing in several competitions near her home in Leicestershire.

Anne is a qualified bridge Director and she looks forward to welcoming bridge players of all standards on the First for Bridge holidays.

Mark Hooper

Mark is a bridge Premier Life Master, having played competitively for over 30 years. After retiring from a career in IT, Mark has been able to indulge his passion for bridge. While allowing time to play more bridge, he also threw himself in to other aspects such as bridge directing and teaching.

He is an EBU qualified tournament Director, and an EBU accredited bridge teacher, teaching beginners at his local bridge club. He continues to play lots of bridge at a high level, having represented Dorset in major competitions such as the Tollemache, the Corwen and the Pachabo. Mark can be seen at most of the major bridge congresses across the South of England.

Ro Kaye

I cannot wait to get back to bridge holidays, particularly in the sunshine!

I enjoy bridge, but also meeting new people and encouraging them to appreciate the highs and lows of this intriguing game. I have been busy in lockdown when, as chairman of Cheltenham Bridge Club, we set up on-line sessions to keep the membership in touch with each other. I was one of the founder members of the Wessex Youth Bridge Weekend held for youngsters of any ability to come and learn how to play. I have also really loved hosting First for Bridge Holidays in recent years.

Fly from London Gatwick

Return flights from London Gatwick are included in our package on our specific arrival and departure dates plus one item of checked in luggage, per person.

Transfers will also be included on our specific arrival and departure dates to take you to your holiday destination. If you choose to arrive or depart on a different day, there may be an additional supplement charged to cover your transfer costs.

Fly from other airports

If our included flights are not suitable, alternative flights may also be available from other airports on our arrival and departure dates. These may have an additional supplement and are subject to availability at the time of booking.

Where possible, transfers will also be included, although if you choose to arrive or depart on a different day, there may be an additional supplement charged to cover your transfer costs.

Please call one of our friendly Holiday Advisors to check flight options and availability for this holiday.

Meet us at our hotel

If you would like to make your own travel arrangements, you can meet us at our hotel. This package will not include flights or transfers. Please contact our friendly Holiday Advisors who will be happy to help, assist with travel information and advise you of our ‘meet us there’ holiday discounts.

Overview

The Hotel Bella Playa & Spa in Cala Ratjada is a firm favourite with our guests who commend it for its excellent dining and friendly service as well as its warm atmosphere and relaxing facilities. Located just a short distance from the sea, rooms at this 4-star, privately owned hotel have recently been refurbished and guests can expect a high standard of service throughout.

Hotel Facilities & Amenities

The hotel serves a variety of cuisine from the restaurant which has a large terrace with beautiful views of the sea. There is a very good choice of hot and cold and freshly prepared dishes from the buffet breakfast tables. Dinner is buffet style with a wide selection of dishes, including a pasta table and show cooking where meat and fish are cooked freshly each evening. Desserts are delicious and include a good selection of gateaux, cheeses and ice-creams. During the day snacks and light lunches can be purchased in the hotel bar and on the terraces. In the evening, the Ponent Bar is the perfect place to relax and enjoy your favourite drink with its cozy atmosphere.

As well as a lovely outdoor pool and spacious terraces the hotel boasts a fantastic, new, heated, indoor pool with hydro jets and massages, and two steam rooms and a Jacuzzi, sauna and fitness centre- all complimentary to hotel guests. If you want to treat yourself the Eco Spa offers a wide range of treatments (additional charge applies)

Room Facilities & Amenities

The lovely rooms at the Hotel Bella Playa are spacious, light and have recently been renovated to a high standard. They are equipped with the following: