If you haven’t booked a summer holiday yet, and aren’t sure where to head for, why not try Menorca? Despite the poor economic, Spain and her islands have a lot to offer to holidaymakers who do venture abroad this summer, especially in the Balearic Islands.
A mainstay of Spanish tourism, these islands offer an amazing climate, with roughly 300 days of sunshine. Beautiful beaches and a rich cultural heritage also add to their appeal. One of the best known is the island of Menorca, which has been listed as a Reserve of the Biosphere by UNESCO.
Second in size to Majorca, Menorca has a population of roughly 88,000. During its early history, ownership of Menorca changed hands many times. The island was initially used as a base by pirates. Some of the architecture of Menorca has retained its British influence. The Treaty of Amiens in 1802 saw the island ending up in Spanish hands.
Things to do in Menorca
Menorca offers visitors an experience that will last a lifetime. In the old capital, Ciudadela is a medieval fortress of great interest to most visitors. If you are looking for some history on Menorca, this is a must-visit spot. In the city visitors can walk through the narrow streets to see old churches. The numerous shops and bars are popular with visitors. There are two museums in Ciudadela, the Museu Municipal and the Museu Diocesa. These offer an interesting glimpse into the country and its people. Steps leading to the waterfront will open up a whole new side of Menorca. Here visitors can take boat rides or enjoy the cuisine in one of the restaurants. Bar hoppers will find many venues to sample.
Beaches in Menorca
A trip to Menorca would not be complete without visiting one of its over 50 beaches. One of the most well known is Cala Pregonda. It is ideal for anyone who wants a quiet, secluded spot. It is a long walk to get there, but there will be no complaints once you experience the beauty of the area. The Cala Santa Galdana is likely to attract more of the touristy crowd during holidays in Menorca with its modern facilities. It is a great spot for photography enthusiasts. The shallow waters make Cala Santa Galdana a popular beach with families. The Son Bou Beach is the longest on the island. Its wooden path leads to three bars, so you will not be thirsty. This beach also offers a variety of water sports. Visitors are advised to be aware of strong currents and to pay attention to flags posted for their safety. The Cala Turqueta is notable for the fact that the beach is largely unspoilt. The natural coastline is not marred by the construction of modern facilities. It is considered one of the most beautiful spots on the island. Other well known beaches include Son Xoriguer, Santo Tomas and Punta Prima.
Why Menorca
Menorca has the reputation of being an ideal destination for groups and families. It enables visitors the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Europe on the cheap. Travelers often take advantage of package deals to save money. Hotels in Menorca vary, and there is something to suit every pocket. There are choices ranging from five star hotels in Menorca to bed and breakfast. Half board options (bed, breakfast and dinner) are also quite popular. Many travel sites in the UK also offer special deals for anyone wishing to visit Menorca. This hotspot presents an opportunity for anyone who wants to stretch their travel dollar. Even with the exchange rate between the euro and pounds, Menorca is affordable. Menorca continues to allow tourists this summer a pleasant holiday, and a great escape from the economic woes at home.
Quite how deep the fall in visitor numbers to Spain from other European countries has been revealed by figures showing the number of arrivals at Spain’s airports earlier this year - and it hasn’t set a good precedent for 2009 as a whole for the Spanish holidays industry.
At first glance the figures for Spanish tourism look impressive - 11.08 million arrivals for January. But it’s when it’s compared to the same month for 2008 that the figures start to look less good - down nearly 12 per cent.
And more recently another report which looks at how the Spanish holidays market is doing in the run up to the peak summer holiday months indicate as many as half of all holidays in Spain could be unsold, and that near 12 per cent drop in January could look quite good by the end of the year if people don’t start booking their normal Tenerife or Menorca holidays for example pretty soon.
Spain will be hoping that people who have holidayed there before will remember just how good a holiday in Spain is, and decide whatever the economic uncertainties are at home that a trip to Spain will brighten them up - and brighten the Spanish holidays industry up at the same time!
Majorca for example has been a major summer holiday destination for several years. Many people don’t realise the magnificent deals to be taken advantage of during the winter months as well though. Winter visitors can stay at the same beautiful, award winning hotels and resorts for a fraction of the price of the summer holidays season. Winter time is also the season when you can enjoy newly ripened citrus fruit from the local groves. Wintertime holiday packages can be booked for as little as 325 euros.
Many people prefer the slower paced winter holidays to the hustle and bustle of the busy summer holiday season, and Spain will be hoping that as the year goes by the European economies will pick up, and more out of season bookings will occur from those who didn’t visit in the summer. Temperatures in the winter season on Majorca range from 6 degrees Celsius (42 degrees Fahrenheit) to 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit). These mild temperatures help make Majorca the perfect wintertime destination for those who enjoy cooler temperatures and mild winter weather. Helping Majorca is the fact that recently three of her hotels have received Excellence and Leisure Nominations and Awards.
Also recognised for some really good holiday accommodation has been Majorca’s sister island of Menorca.
In a year when Menorca and other holiday destinations need good news to remind tourists why they should visit, three Menorca hotels have done well on the Spanish holiday island.
Menorca is well known in Europe as an ideal island for villa holidays - of the three Balearic Islands it’s quieter than both Majorca and Ibiza, and is popular with families looking to spend quality time together, and part of Menorca’s appeal are the family friendly restaurants and beaches.
So the fact that Menorca has been recognised for her hotels as well as traditional villa holidays is welcome at a time when the holidays market is battling the recession to keep the tourists flying in for a week or two’s Menorca holidays.
The Hotel Apartments Princesa Playa in Cala en Bosc is named as one of the world’s best family hotels - reinforcing the Menorca holidays image as one of being family friendly.
The other two Menorca hotels that get a mention in the European best hotels category are the Blanc Palace in Sa Caleta and the Royal Son Bou in Son Bou - both previously not particularly well known of all the hotels in Menorca.
And while hotels in Menorca continue to provide excellent service and standards of accommodation, the island has every chance of staying as a top holiday location.
In 2009 when Menorca and other holiday destinations need good news to remind tourists why they should visit, three hotels have helped with some good publicity.
Menorca is well known in Europe as an ideal island for villa holidays - of the three Balearic Islands it’s quieter than both Majorca and Ibiza, and is popular with families looking to spend quality time together, and part of Menorca’s appeal are the family friendly restaurants and beaches.
So the fact that Menorca has been recognised for her hotels as well as traditional villa holidays is welcome at a time when the holidays market is battling the recession to keep the tourists flying in for a week or two’s Menorca holidays.
The Hotel Apartments Princesa Playa in Cala en Bosc is named as one of the world’s best family hotels - reinforcing the Menorca holidays image as one of being family friendly.
The other two Menorca hotels that get a mention in the European best hotels category are the Blanc Palace in Sa Caleta and the Royal Son Bou in Son Bou - both previously not particularly well known of all the hotels in Menorca.
Son Bou where the Royal is located is home to the largest and, for many visitors, best beach on Menorca, accessible via a tunnel down the road from Alaior. This resort has two hotels at the eastern end. With just shy of two kilometers of beach bars, there is no shortage of opportunity for fun. For the more modest holidaymaker, note that the farther west you go on this beach, the more scantily dressed the beach-goers are. It is perhaps not a good choice for a family holiday, but an ideal spot for couples or a group of friends.
But while Son Bou is a popular area, for small island Menorca has a surprisingly diverse range of villages to suit different holidaymakers depending uponwhat they are looking for.
Not far from Son Bou is Santa Tomas for example. The beach area in Santo Thomas offers popular busier stretches and quaint hideaways. At a couple of miles long, it’s never overcrowded and offers protection with its surrounding sand dunes. The beach, patrolled for safety, is long and narrow. It offers an excellent swimming habitat, fine sand and warm surf. Scenic countryside and woods provide a backdrop to the sand and the Mediterranean.
S’Algar is a small resort located on the southeast coast of Menorca, a short distance from the capital of Menorca Mahon and Sant Lluis. This is a ‘purpose-built’ holidays resort, and it is very well cared for and offers a good selection of accommodation, which includes two large hotels, several apartment complexes and some privately owned villas. You’ll also find a fair number of bars and restaurants along with a variety of shops. If you want to be active during your Menorcan resort holiday and not just lounge around, S’Algar has a host of sports facilities for you to enjoy. There is no beach here, however. You’ll have to travel to Cala Alcaufar, about a 15 minute walk.
Punta Prima is another popular Menorca village and has several hostels, hotels, apartments and villas to rent and a good selection of bars and restaurants for the convenience of its visitors. Unlike some of the other resorts in Menorca, Punta Prima also has two supermarkets and car rental facilities. If you are looking for a beach, you’ll find a beautiful one at Punta Prima, but be wary of the currents - they can be very strong at times. Take note of the warning flags that will alert you to the safety conditions of the water.
Binibeca Village is a beautiful, quiet resort consisting of Cala Torret in the east and Binebeca Vell to the west. This resort consists of all low rise apartments and villas and offers no high rise accommodation. The area around Binibeca has a variety of high quality bars, restaurants and stores.
But wherever you choose to spend Menorca holidays these days it appears that the hotels are giving the villas a run for their money at last!
The Balearic island of Menorca is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe for holidaymakers from Germany, the UK and Scanadanavia, and she’s got a reputation of being a quiet and peaceful holiday island - but a new tourist facility will enable Menorca holidaymakers to see parts of the island they might well have missed otherwise - jeep safaris have arrived!
2009 is going to be an uphill struggle for Menorca’s tourist industry - but with the new jeep safaris uphill will be no problem as holidaymakers see terrain in 4×4’s that even a lot of Menorcans themselves haven’t seen before.
Jeep safaris have proved to be popular in quite a few European tourist destinations, and will be a great day out for both holidaymakers spending a week or two on the island, and for the thousands of cruise ship passenegers who arrive in Mahon each week during the holiday season.
Menorca is a calm island with good countryside and history, so the jeep safaris have a rich tapestry for those who want to take one while on their Menorca holidays. For those on the island for the day with a cruise boat for example one safari takes in the lanes of San Clemente before cutting down to Calas Coves via Binicalaf. From there after some exploring it’s off again via Torralba, sometimes stopping to see the taula, through the narrow streets of Alaior, and then taking a rocky track through woods and countryside to Es Mercadal, up lanes to Binime-la on the north coast where it’s a lunch stop and the beach. After lunch it’s in a 4-wheel drive to get close to Cala Mica before turning back and going to Cape Cavalleria, before heading back to the cruise ship. Another example is to drive through the fortress of the Mola to the most easterly point of Spain and then to one of the water parks of the island, so a Menorca jeep safari can be combined with a few hours at the water park and sometimes a horse show as well on other trips.
And for British tourists aware that their pounds aren’t buying many Euros this year, is a jeep safari during their holidays in Menorca expensive?
It’s surprisingly inexpensive. The cost of a jeep safari which lasts between 7 and 9 hours is 165 Euros, and if shared with others this can come down to 24 Euros a person - even with a poor exchange rate that represents fantastic value for money for a day out seeing Menorca’s nature and beauty close up with a professional guide.
The man behind the jeep safaris is Francis Hoare. Francis has lived on the island for eleven years and knows it really well, and will be hoping to share his knowledge with quite a few people taking their holidays in Menorca this year.
Before establishing his own company, Francis worked for a holiday company doing conventional tours on Menorca, and so knows the tourist market - and how to improve the range of trips on offer. ‘I’ve worked as a guide in Menorca for many years doing all types of trips, but undoubtedly the trip everyone enthuses about the most is the jeep safari. You see more and you have a lot more fun!’ Francis says.
Tennis in the 70’s and 80’s used to be exciting, and not since the days of Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe has the world of tennis been as good as it is today, as Rafa Nadal from Spain’s Balearic Islands and Switzerland’s Roger Federer make the game watchable to a mass audience again.
The numbers 1 and 2 in the world produced what was widely described by sports journalists around the world as Wimbledon’s finest men’s final in a generation last July where Nadal triumphed, and then in early February this year the two produced a pulsating final lasting over four hours in another Grand Slam event - the Australian Open. Again Rafa Nadal was victorious.
Upon returning home to the Balearic Islands after his Wimbledon triumph last summer - the Balearics are made up of Rafa’s home island of Majorca, along with Menorca and Ibiza - Rafa was given a hero’s welcome, and the island came to a standstill for the day as celebrations carried on from dawn to the early hours of the next morning.
Before Rafa’s rise to the top of the tennis world, The Balearic Islands have been best known in the wider world as prime holiday destinations - Menorca for example is known as a quiet family holidays island, and with flights to Menorca under two hours from London has become a favourite for the British holidaymaker since the early 70’s.
But with a recession hitting Menorca’s main holiday markets of Britain and Germany, the tourist authorities for the islands have come up with a stroke a world class tennis player would be proud of - they have signed Rafa Nadal up to promote Menorca as a holidays destination to the British and German publics, and be the recognisable face for their holiday marketing activities.
‘Rafa is an instantly recognisable symbol of something positive’, comments leading Menorca travel site yourmenorca.net, ‘And associating Menorca with someone as dynamic and successful as Rafa Nadal could help the island attract more tourists at a time it really needs it.’
Of all the islands in the Balearics, Menorca is known as one for family holidays. Quiet, sedate, peaceful are words often used to describe Menorca and Menorca holidays.
But as well as promoting Menorca as a reminder to past visitors to holiday on the island again, it’s quite possible that Rafa Nadal’s image among the population as a whole in both Germany and the UK could be enough for new generations to consider taking holidays in Menorca for the first time - something the island would welcome as once people take a trip to Menorca they often return and count the island as one of their top holiday destinations to consider for future years.
British visitors, an important constituent of Menorca tourism, have been hit by the strength of the Euro against Sterling, and Menorca holidays are more expensive than holiday destinations which don’t have the euro - Turkey in particular has seen a big jump in British tourists, and outside of Europe Egypt and Morocco have benefitted too at the expense of traditional favourite Spain - in 2008 Spain experienced a drop of a million holidaymakers compared to the year before.
And while the island will still be seen as peaceful compared to some holiday destinations, it will be determined to keep that as part of the appeal that has attracted holidaymakers in the past. But new companies are also springing up among the Menorca holidays businesses that will appeal to those first time Menorca visitors who might want a little activity - and might expect it too considering Rafa Nadal’s image. One new company is offering escorted mountain bike tours, while another is offering jeep safaris - perfect for the younger generation of tourists Menorca would like to see return in future years.
The new companies providing the tourist facilities will be welcomed by the Menorca hotels too. Menorca hoteliers have invested heavily in recent years, refurbishing existing hotels while a few new ones have been added too. But if occupancy rates drop this year there is a possibility that some Menorca hotels will open just for June, July and August, while others may be mothballed until the number of visitors increases again.
The holiday island will be hoping a bit of Rafa’s magic will persuade holidaymakers to book a holiday in Menorca.
