When is the next flight? (Menorca)

Member Name: mdhughes03

Product:	Menorca
Date:	14/07/09 (325 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quiet, great for nature-lovers, lots to see, peace and quiet

Disadvantages: not a lot to do for teenagers

Menorca is a small Island, a designated Biosphere protection area which is dwarfed by its sister Balearic Majorca. However, there is plenty here to keep you happy. There are two main towns, Mahon the capital, and Cuitadella, the former capital. Both are lovely but to see the "real" Menorca, experience the small towns and deserted beaches.

While there are package holidays here and therefore the unfortunate high-rise hotel complexes, none of the towns are particularly over developed. However I would stay clear of Son Bou unless your idea of a holiday is never to leave the beach and its adjoining hotel...there's really nothing else there!

We've stayed in both Binibeca and Calan Bosch, both quieter resorts aimed at couples and older people. Most of the resorts on the Island would not be suitable for teenagers needing lots of stimulation. In fact the only town we came across where there seemed to be any hint of the usual British-drink-your-own-body-weight resort feel to it was Punta Prima-avoid it at all costs as the beach is also noisy and dirty!

I have stayed in only two different towns in Menorca but due to the size of the Island we have travelled the full length and breadth by car. We hired a car from a small independent hire firm for a week and wished we had taken it for longer.

Driving in Menorca is infinitely easier than in the UK and nothing like the crazy experience of European city driving where you fear for your life at every bend in the road! Not only is Menorca small so there are fewer cars on the road, but its speed limits are very low and the general pace of Island life means everyone is pretty chilled out. There is one main road running across the width of the Island, roughly from Mahon to Cuitadella. From there small arterial roads fan out to the coast and take you everywhere.

The place I would recommend most is Fornells. A beautiful fishing village with amazing rock formations, buildings and 360 degree views, it is well worth a trip. Not somewhere I would stay though as there is nothing else to do.

The best parts of Menorca as those relatively untouched by travel companies so get around and explore. I can recommend Calan Bosch as a good base for this and there is plenty to do there if you want to stay put in.

Menorcan traditional fare such as their Gin and cheese are definitely worth a try. We found plenty of decent restaurants to eat out in and please everyone. The Marina in Calan Bosch is ideal; a five-minute walk round gives you choice of at least 20 restaurants.

One of the best things you could do in Menorca is to take a walk. Get a decent guide to the island which focuses on its amazing ecology and you will have many a good trek. Stick to the wonderfully rocky and rugged coastline for an unguided walk which will no doubt give many surprises (we once found a tortoise randomly walking down our street and lizards are ten a penny).

With cheap flights to Mahon Airport-we used Jet2 which I would definitely recommend-there's really no reason not to go.

Summary: We will definitely be returning to Calan Bosch again