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 Despite its popularity as a holiday Mecca, the Balearic island of Menorca (Minorca) remains one of the loveliest, most unspoilt islands in the Mediterranean. The local population support the control of resort development and the woodlands and fields of its hilly rural interior remain largely untouched. This is the result of a thriving local industry that is less dependent on tourism for its survival than the other islands are.
Minorca is only nine miles (15km) wide and about 32 miles (52km) long, and boasts stretches of varied beaches, from silver-sanded gently curving bays to rocky inlets. Aside from beaches and resorts the island also has plenty of interest for history buffs and culture vultures, with several attractions to experience, including a world famous pipe organ and several mysterious prehistoric archaeological sites related to the second millennium BC Talayot culture. The more recent history of the island is a saga of British, French and Spanish attempts at control and colonisation, each of which have left their influence on the local culture and architecture. |
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Menorca Resorts: |
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Arenal d'en Castell lays on the North coast of Minorca, approx 16 miles and 30 minutes transfer time from the island's airport at Mahon. The warm shallow waters make this resort very popular with families with young children. But as with all beaches, do watch out for the safety flags, green means safe, yellow warns you to be careful and red you mustn’t swim at all. The beach is without doubt a major attraction to this resort with fine, clean sand and a good variety of water sports and other facilities available to suit all tastes. It must be remembered that the path to and from the beach is very steep and may not suit families with young children or the less able. Arenal d'en Castell is a good mainstream beach resort which is especially popular with families. As with most resorts in Menorca, evening entertainment is mainly hotel based, the resort does have a small number of lively bars. Warning. At the start and end of the summer months Menorca, especially the North coast, does get very windy.
Binibeca (or Binibequer) is situated on the South East coast of Menorca and is just a short transfer from the airport (approximately 15 mins). Binibeca is characterised by private white washed villas and sun drenched patios, perfect for those looking for a quiet villa holiday with their own pool. The golden sandy beach is gently shelving, ideal for families with children. Sun loungers and pedaloes are available for hire and there is a beach bar for snacks and drinks. Cala Torret, which is situated beside Binibeca, has a number of restaurants and bars offering relaxed dining, most overlooking over the sea. A road train runs between Binibeca Vell - to the west, Binibeca, Cala Torret and Punta Prima - to the east, return journeys are at a cost of approximately 7 euros per person and is useful for those not wishing to hire a car whilst on holiday.
Cala Blanca lays on the west coast of Minorca, approx 12 miles and 45 minutes transfer time. Cala Blanca is best suited for those looking for a simple no-frills self catering holiday. The two small beaches are very clean, with fine gently shelving sand, protected by rocky sides, but they can become very busy in high season. Both also offer a fair variety of water sports for hire. The resort does have a good pedestrianised shopping area in the centre of the town, with a good range of souvenir shops and supermarkets. Evening entertainment is mainly hotel based, however, the resort does have a few music bars and even a disco at Santandria.
Cala Galdana The resort of Cala Galdana lays on the south coast of Minorca, approx 10 miles and 20 minutes transfer time. Without a doubt Cala Galdana is considered to be the most beautiful and picturesque on the island, and frequently features on the cover of tour operators brochures. The warm shallow waters make Cala Galdana very popular with families, and the beach is without doubt a major attraction to the resort with fine, clean sand and a good variety of water sports and other facilities available. It must be remembered that the path to and from the beach is very steep and may not suit families with young children or the less able, so chose your accommodation wisely. The resort does have a small number of lively bars, along with the usual spread of tourist shops and supermarkets. A good all-round family resort.
Cala Llonga The resort of Cala Llonga lies to the north side of Mahon harbour. One of the most exclusive areas in Menorca, some of the most impressive homes can be found here. With its rugged coastline and waterfront location, Cala Llonga is ideal for sailing enthusiasts. With its views of the Port of Mahon, Cala Llonga offers a peaceful and relaxing holiday with panoramic views. With the Capital Mahon only being a few minutes drive away, Cala Llonga is the ideal base with all the facilities of Mahon on offer.
Cala'n Bosch The resort of Cala'n Bosch lies on the south west coast of Minorca, approx 19 miles and 45 minutes transfer time. Cala'n Bosch is best suited for a get a way from it family holiday or older couples not looking for too many activities. The resort is still fairly new, and stretches over several square miles into Son Xoriguer. The focal point of the resort is it's man made marina, which is usually full of small to mid size yachts and leisure craft. Cala'n Bosch has two fair sized sandy beaches, although the rest of the coastline in the area is very rocky. Both beaches offer a good selection of water sports for hire. There's the usual range of souvenir shops and supermarkets and Cala'n Bosch would suit those who are seeking a more relaxing holiday.
Cala'n Forcat lies on the extreme west coast of Minorca, approx 30 miles and 1 hour transfer time. This area of Menorca is without doubt the most liveliest on the island, of which the Los Delfines complex forms the heart, as a result the area does tends to attract families with young children and younger couples. Cala'n Forcat is made up of three resort centres of Cala'n Forcat, Cala'n Blanes and Los Delfines are merged to form the one resort 2 miles to the west of Ciudadela. It would appear that the area was planned whilst the local planners were away on holiday as nothing seems to link together very well. The coastline is very rugged and Cala'n Blanes has the best beach in the area but it can soon become very crowded. The Los Delfines area has the better shopping.
Cala'n Porter The resort of Cala'n Porter is one of the largest and oldest resorts on the island situated on the south coast of Menorca, and being only 9 miles from the airport at Mahon, transfer time is usually about 30 minutes. This is a busy resort with a good beach and a devoted following of British fans. Not to everyone's taste, Cala'n Porter is not "traditional" Menorca, but appeals to a great many people with its many "English" restaurants and pubs. Warning: The town and most of its amenities, sit proudly on the high cliffs overlooking the beach area. The most direct route between to two is via a steep set of nearly 200 steps - ok going down but it can be a trek going back up. A mini train does run between the two points, however, at a cost of 4 Euros per person, this may prove to be a costly option for a two week family holiday. Once there, the beach is very large and being protected on three sides by the cliffs does become a real suntrap during the heat of the day.
Es Castell Originally built under the Fort of San Felip, it is a town steeped in history and is the most easterly village in Spain. It was originally named Georgetown (after George III) by the British during their second occupation and built in square block military style and it still retains a colonial feel. Renamed Villacarlos when the island reverted to Spanish rule, locals call it Es Castell (the Castle) because of the proximity to the previously demolished Fort of San Felip. The village is flanked by two harbours - Calas Fonts and Cala Corb, where you can enjoy waterfront dining from one of the many restaurants and bars situated there. Es Castell is a bustling village with plenty to offer - historical interest, restaurants, bars, supermarkets and some nightlife.
Mahon (Spelt Mao locally) is the capital of Menorca. Mayonnaise (Mahon-aise) was created here during the French occupation. Mahon is the second largest natural harbour after Pearl Harbour and was an important strategic harbour for the various navies that occupied it. Along the harbour side are lots of restaurants and cafe bars. There are plenty of shops in Mahon and there is an open air market on Tuesdays. Almost everything closes about 2pm for the siesta. There is a nice walk from the harbour, although it is quite steep. It winds up from where the cruise ships dock, through the main street to the open air market at the end.
S'Algar lies on the south east coast of Minorca, approx 9 miles and 20 minutes transfer time. A small purpose built resort better known for its sports facilities rather than for its small man made beach. A very clean small tourist village for those who want to relax.
Sant Lluis is a quiet village with a range of facilities - supermarkets, restaurants and bars, chemists, banks and transport connections to Mahon. It is also famous for its blue and white windmill - Moli de Dalt, which can be seen as you enter Sant Lluis from Mahon. This famous landmark has now been converted into a museum. Sant Lluis provides an excellent, well equipped base for exploring Menorca.
Santo Tomas on the south coast of Minorca, approx 19 miles and 45 minutes transfer time. Santo Tomas is a purpose built resort and has a single main street with 2 small commercial centres on either side, selling the usual array of tourist and beach goods. Santo Tomas has a lovely block paved promenade, which runs the full length of the resort. The path passes a number of playgrounds for the children to play in, and the pool areas of many of the other hotels. Evening entertainment is mainly hotel based but there are several pubs and eateries to cater for your needs.
Son Bou on the south coast of Minorca, approx 12 miles and 40 minutes transfer time from the island's airport at Mahon. The first time you set your eyes on the blue sea and gorgeous beach it will take you breath away. It is lovely. Son Bou has a longest beach on the island with almost 2 miles of fine white sand backed in the most part by a protected area of sand dunes and freshwater marshes. The resort has a few basic tourist shops along with the usual pubs and eateries. There is a small disco as part of the Son Jaime complex. A couple of WARNINGS. The only access to the beach is near to the two big Sol Hotels at the far end of the resort, so if your accommodation is at the other end be prepared for a long walk each day. Also despite its size, the beach does get very busy at weekends. Although not officially allowed in Menorca, the western end of Son Bou beach, going towards San Tomas, is recognised as a nudist beach. Alayor is the nearest real town to Son Bou, at 5 miles inland. The local fiesta takes place here during the first two weeks in August and a small local market is held every Thursday morning. |
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Menorca Travel Facts: |
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Time: Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October); The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT +1 in summer).
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 or 225 volts, 50Hz. European-style two-pin plugs are standard.
Money: Spain's official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.
Language: Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.
Entry requirements for UK nationals: British citizens must hold a passport (can be expired for up to one year), but no visa is required for a maximum stay of 90 days for those holding a passport endorsed British Citizen, European Community, British Dependent Territories Citizen or British Subject. Other UK passport holders require a visa and a passport valid at least three months beyond visa expiry date.
Health: There are no health risks associated with travel to Spain, and no vaccination certificates are required for entry. Spain has a reciprocal health agreement with most EU countries, including the UK, providing free emergency health care at State run hospitals. UK travellers should take a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Note that private clinics are not covered, and the scheme gives no entitlement to medical repatriation costs, nor does it cover ongoing illnesses of a non-urgent nature, so comprehensive travel insurance is advised. Tipping: Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered. In restaurants tips of about 15% are expected. In Mallorca value-added-tax is usually included in restaurant bills, designated 'I.V.A', and may be mistaken for service charge. Drivers of metered taxis expect tips of 10 to 15%. It is customary to tip small amounts, usually 5-10% for most services, including guides.
Safety: Visitors should be aware of the activities of the Basque terrorist group, ETA, who have renewed their threat to extend their terrorist campaign to Spanish tourist areas. Numerous small bomb explosions have occurred in a number of hotels and cities across Spain, but due to prior warnings severe damage and serious injury have been avoided. Customs: From 1 January 2006 laws against smoking in public places came into effect and stiff fines will be imposed for smoking in areas such as enclosed public spaces, areas where food is prepared and sold, public transport, designated areas of bars and restaurants, and any places that cater for children.
Communications: The international access code for Spain is +34. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Pay phones are either blue or green and accept either coins or phone cards, which are sold at post offices, tobacco shops, and newsagents. Three mobile phone operators provide thorough GSM 900/1800 coverage throughout the country and the Balearic and Canary Islands. Email and internet access is available at internet cafes in most towns and resorts.
Useful contact information: Spanish Embassy, London, United Kingdom: +44 (0)20 7589 8989 British Embassy, Madrid: +34 91 700 8200 |
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ABTA & ATOL protection is included on all holidays |
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