Ever thought what you ideal holiday might be? And have you ever returned from a holiday or vacation exhausted? You tried to DO too much and ended up wishing you’d just stayed at home?  well here are some 'How to chill out on holiday' tips and suggestions.

A good starting point for the perfect, worry-free holiday is one that doesn't cost anything. We began our search this year with loads of Tesco points (a leading UK Supermarket) that you can use to buy holidays. For some reason I can't fathom, just by buying our groceries and the odd financial product from Tescos, we end up with enough points every year to get a decent free holiday.

The other feature of a perfect holiday or vacation is not to do too much. Busy Doing Nothing sums it up nicely.

We selected our holiday from Cosmos 'Villa with Pools' brochure. The choice of holiday operators allowing you to 'purchase' the whole holiday on Tesco points is fairly limited. We chose Mallorca in Spain as my wife speaks some Spanish. Mallorca is a part of the picturesque Balearic Islands in the Mediteranean located off the spanish mainland near Barcalona.

I say pictureque but arguably much of Mallorca has been ruined by mass tourism which started in the 1950's resulting in mile after mile of concrete skyscraper hotels and appartment blocks, particularly around the Island capital Palma.

The least spoilt part of the island probably lies in the North in the mountainous Tramuntana region. The most northerly town is Pollenca (not to be confused with the more tourist-friendly resort of Port De Pollenca a few kilometers away on the coast).

The Aroma of Orange Blossom

Pollenca is a real jewel of a town - more on this later. We chose a villa close enough to the town (about 1km) so we could leave the car at home and walk into the centre but far enough away so that we could get some real peace and quiet.

The brochure blurb said:

"..with the only sound coming from the rustling of the orange trees the Villa Vista Sol ...

the air is infused with scent from the adjoining orange grove from which you can help yourself to fruit."

This sounded good enough to me as I'm partial to oranges and have never picked one from a tree. The (free) package included return flights from London, Gatwick, the villa for up to 6 (my wife and daughter made 3 so we had plenty of room), a hire car and even a welcome pack of food, wine and beer.

I arrived with low expectations but with a new female companion (in addition to my wife and daughter) who makes travel so much easier. The companion is called 'Carmen'. My wife was jealous at first but now accepts that Carmen can do things she never can. Carmen navigates without a map. To find out more about my accomplished Garmin lover click here.

Yes Carmen knows every road and track across the entire EU. And she never looses her temper or swears. When I fail to obey her she just says coolly, "recalculating ..."

Anyway, Carmen conveys us effortlessly from Palma Airport, about 50km (an hours drive on good roads) across the island to the narrow track on which our villa is located. The scent of oranges and other citrus fruit is so overpowering I wander off into the orange grove, intoxicated by the dreamy heat of a Secret Garden, leaving my wife to unlock the front door. There are loads of oranges here of all different varieties. I fondle the forbidden fruit in disbelief. I eat one. It really is delicious.

Every morning, in classic hunter-gatherer style, I pick oranges and make freshly squeezed orange juice for my privileged women-folk. I should explain that Britain is the wastebasket of Europe. Mediterranean countries ship all their worst produce to the UK in refrigerated ships. The citrus fruit we get never really ripens but kind of grows old in industrial fridges.

The sun is surprising hot for May but once the sun sets behind the mountains, the nights are unexpectedly chilly. The villa garden is eerily quiet for most of the day. The main sounds, clear as a bell, are cockerels crowing, birds singing and the loud hum of bees from the orange grove.

The swimming pool is deep so the waters fail to be warmed significantly by the sun's rays. Entering the pool therefore takes great courage but is well worth it in the end. Incidentally my new Hub Pages Avatar features me gazing into the Villa Pool.

So we spend much of our week around the pool, in the pool, reading novels, eating local produce, dozing (the Spanish make it respectable and call it a siesta) or just wandering aimlessly around the garden. But what did we find to do in or around Pollenca, in those rare moments when we ventured away from our Villa?

Pollensa is a beautiful town with a history going back before the Romans. In fact, there was a Roman footbridge near our Villa. The Moors were expelled from the town around 1200 leaving their mark on some of the town architecture. There are several significant churches and chapels around the town.

One of the most interesting is El Calvari, also know, in rhyme, as La Mare de Deu del Peu de la Creu (Mother of God at the Foot of the Cross). There are 365 steps leading from the centre of town up to the small chapel with magnificent views at the top of the rest of the town.

The town also has a number of squares, some crammed with cafes and resturants which are particulalry lively in the evenings and on market days. Pollenca also boasts various museums and galleries. Just outside the town is a steep path up to the Santuari Del Puig, a ruined convent.

This is 333m (1092 feet) high and guide books recommend you take water and avoid the climb during the hottest part of the day. I got as far as the beginning of the path but having walked across town from our Villa I decided the steep climb was not a good idea. Apparently you can drive a car about half way up. The views from the top are supposed to be well worth the climb.

A few kilometers away is Port de Pollenca, a reasonably picturesque resort. I say reasonably because like much in Mallorca the town is mixed. To the south of the Marina is a tacky strip of mostly British shops and restaurants featuring such delights as Trotter's Bar (named after the lead character in the British TV comedy Only Fools and Horses).

We Brits have certainly done our best to ruin the Spanish coastline. However, the silver beach itself, the curve of the bay and the blue ocean are very inviting. Fortunately the northern side of the Marina is much nicer with stylish hotels, traditional Spanish houses, nice cafes and restaurants and lots of mature pine trees.

Further along the coast is Cap de Formentor with rocky coastline, hair-raising bends, breathtaking views and stunning beaches. One of the best views is at Mirador (viewpoint) Des Colomer. However, car drivers should beware of large groups of lycra-clad German cyclists hidden around every bend!

Further along the coast is the beautiful walled town of Alcudia, originally known as Pollentia, founded by the Romans in 123 BC. Port d'Alcudia, on the coast is a commercial port and is also worth a visit and appears to be favoured by the Germans. As with much of Mallorca the coastline is arguably over developed.

From Pollenca you can also drive into the Tramuntana Mountains (highest peak 1445m, 4741 feet). These are spectacular but again watch out for cyclists on blind bends. The Monestir de Llac (10 km from Pollenca and nestling in the mountains) is worth a visit and is a place of pilgrimage for the Islanders. The monastery houses a dark-stone statue of the Madonna and Child as well as a museum, restaurant and cafes.

Good: A Villa holiday is a great way to chill out. Villa and pool magnificent. Great roads and good local produce available in local shops and supermarkets.

Not so good: The exchange rate. Tourist restaurants are not offering value for money in Mallorca and the Euro exchange rate with the £ is rock bottom. Other hazards include large numbers of cyclists on mountain roads and English tat shops and bars.

In spite of these minor snags, I can thoroughly recommend Pollenca and the surrounding area for an excellent holiday or vacation, particularly if you go for a villa with pool.  All in all, a villa with pool in Pollenca is a perfect way to chill out and unwind.