Time to relax..... (Menorca)

Member Name: liamb71

Product:	Menorca
Date:	29/05/09 (140 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Very laid-back and relaxing

Disadvantages: A bit quiet for those who like to party

Menorca is a fabulous option if what you are looking for is a laid-back and tranquil environment in which to enjoy some sun and relax. As long as you are aware of this before you go, you will have a brilliant time - however you do still see people arriving at Mahon airport who have surely picked the wrong island, probably based on the fact that it is generally cheaper to visit than the more 'lively' Balearic islands of Ibiza and Mallorca. We have stayed in a number of places around the island, but our favourite is Santo Tomas, where we always stay at the Llebeig and Mestral apartments. Lovely pool, beautiful safe beach two minutes away, but it is literally just one street of apartments, hotels, a few small shops and restaurants running adjacent to the sea, and again I have seen people emerging from buses, no doubt having had their accommodation allocated on arrival, and looking horrified at what they have let themselves in for. Research is definitely the key!

The island is very small and one of my main recommendations would be to think twice about hiring a car for all your time there, and certainly do not sign up for the overpriced day trips to the main towns of Ciutadella and Mahon. There is an excellent bus service from nearly all parts of the island to them, and once you are there, it is very easy to find your way about - neither is what you might call a spawling metropolis! I guess the biggest advantage about having your own wheels is the ability to visit one of the bigger supermarkets, as if you are operating on a budget, you can often pay well over the odds in small Spar style supermarkets dotted around the main resorts. However I am still not convinced that you need one for more than a couple of days, in which time you can easily visit every town on the island and still have time left over for that one big food shop for the week!

So in short, don't go there if you want to party all night or like to see lots of different historic sights, but do give it a go if you just love taking it easy and basking in the joy of not having to do anything which involves putting down your book and leaving your poolside sun lounger!

Summary: The smallest of the three main Balearic islands