We have just put up some new photographs for Cala En Porter and Fornells.

To visit our Menorca photographs click here

Cala En Porter Beach

Not sure whether to book your holiday to Menorca or Majorca?

The Sunday Mirror has compared to the two and has come up with this advice:

Pale blue sky, deep blue sea, red-hot sun. And a perfect summer soundtrack dancing across the water from the speakers on our boat. We’re on the top deck of a beach-hopper called Fiesta, sailing slowly east along the south coast of Menorca.

As Lou Reed’s Walk On The Wild Side fades into Otis Redding’s Dock Of The Bay, I take a sip of cold Estrella beer and gaze ahead to the pretty cove where the Fiesta is about to dock. And hope that if I ever get to heaven, it might be something just like this.

Four of us are on a Thomas Cook package to the Balearic island of Menorca, the quiet little sister to brash Ibiza and Majorca.

We’ve signed up for a Castaway Cruise, sailing from the west-coast port of Ciutadella at 10am and back at 5pm after visits to two idyllic beaches. The Û50pp ticket includes chicken paella plus helpings of sangria and pomada (gin and lemonade).

A day earlier we joined a Shop and Sail tour of the capital, Mahon (Û40pp). It was my birthday, so we forgot the shopping to enjoy a Cava-fuelled tapas lunch at Bracafe in Plaza Colon (www.bracafe.com, tapas Û3.50-Û8). After lunch we visited the Xoriguer gin distillery on the waterfront. Founded in the 18th Century to keep British sailors happy, they don’t bother showing how the gin is made… the tour cuts straight to the free samples (www.xoriguer.es).

Then it was a short stumble to the jetty for a boat tour of Mahon harbour, second largest in the world after Hawaii’s Pearl Harbour. All around are reminders of the 1708-1802 British occupation, from Admiral Collingwood’s house to the mansion where Lord Nelson romanced Lady Hamilton.

We’d gone all-inclusive at Hotel San Luis in S’Algar, and could have lazed away our week with drink on tap and an all-you-can eat buffet. About two-thirds of guests here are cheerful British over-60s who like to put their feet up. The bar closes at 11pm, so they’re sure of a good night’s sleep too.

But we wanted to see the island. We had a hire car and on a cloudy Sunday we drove to the upmarket harbour of Fornells. King Juan Carlos of Spain sails in here for lobster stew at El Plas restaurant on the waterfront… at Û75 a bowl. On Monday the sun finally got his hat on and we hit the beach at Cala En Porter, one of the best villages for Menorca holidays. To reach this scenic cove you walk down hundreds of steps from the town - or drive down a back road like us. After a swim in the crystal water we collapsed on to sun loungers (Û17 a day for two plus parasol).

The sun stayed out all week and we found a new beach to laze on every day. Our cruise took us to a tiny cove, Cala Turqueta, and a wide bay, Son Saura. The only facilities are basic loos, but the beaches are totally unspoilt. Like all secluded Menorcan beaches, full-on nudists mingle with regular sun-worshippers and one or two visions almost put us off our packed lunch!

We visited three-mile long Son Bou, a developed ribbon of sand with beach bars. And we tried busy Cala Santa Galdana, a large cove with top-class facilities, but too built-up for our taste.

We spent our last day on what turned out to be our favourite beach, Cala Mitjana. It’s impossibly pretty, totally sheltered, with walks along the wooded cliffs.

And with an iPod on shuffle, I created my own soundtrack to make the heavenly scene complete.

Majorca.. best for the buzz

There’s something they don’t tell you about Majorca. It has a town that can up sticks and move - houses, shops, churches the lot - in just a couple of minutes.

You’ll discover the secret if you take an hour-long trip on the historic electric train that trundles into the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains from the island’s capital, Palma.

One moment you’ll see your destination, Soller, in a bowl-shaped valley as you look out of the windows on your right.

Shortly afterwards it will be on your left. It appears the valley has been magically transported from one spot to another.

I spent a good few minutes looking puzzled as those with a quicker grasp of these things explained the town appears to move because of the way the narrow-gauge tracks snake their way round the mountains.

First you approach the valley one way, then you make a gradual turn and come back the other… so the view is reversed. Simples, as they say. (www.sollertrain.com, Û17 return).

Soller is famous for its orange groves and terraces of ancient olive trees and had a nice, laid-back, slightly arty feel. And there’s a cute tram that will take you the 3k down to the port, with a wonderful curved bay and all the cafes and restaurants you could wish.

It’s a popular area for Majorca villa holidays.

We Britons have long loved Majorca and it’s a sure favourite with many celebs and sports stars, from the likes of Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones and to Patsy Palmer and tennis names Boris Becker and Rafael Nadal.

If you go you’ll find Palma city itself has plenty to keep you occupied. The place has a buzz which I liked - you got the feeling there is a lot going on.

I could easily have stayed longer, but wanted to see more of Majorca. So next morning we went south to the port of Colònia de Sant Jordi and took a 12-seat speedboat to Cabrera, one of the islands off the coast.

It was a lovely two-hour trip - once I’d got used to sitting astride a padded tube and clinging on. It was great swathing through the water and the sea was a lovely shade of blue… pretty well matching the colour of a couple of passengers after they’d dived in during a stop inside a cave. I’m told the water is beautifully warm later in summer, but one test of the temperature when we were there and I decided my teeth didn’t need reminding of how to chatter (www.marcabrera.com, adults Û38, under-12s Û30).

Afterwards we stopped off at the Jaume Mesquida winery in Porreres. They make 200,000 bottles a year and use “biodynamic methods” meaning they are nature-friendly (www.jaumemesquida.com). We were meant to be doing more sightseeing, but the lure of our pools at the Hotel Hilton Sa Torre was too strong. It’s a lovely place in what seems the middle of nowhere… but is an easy 16k from Palma Airport and Majorca flights home.

To read the full article click here

The biggest of Cala En Porter’s hotels has just opened after an extensive refurbishment - it’s good news for the village and for holidaymakers making their way to Menorca for their holidays.

The village has been out of favour with some of the tour operators, perhaps because it’s a little quiet for some, but the hotel will provide a great base for those wishing to visit the island and book their flights and accommodation seperately.

With views of the Mediterranean, the Azul is within an easy stroll of the resort’s amenities, including a choice of restaurants and bars, many with evening entertainment, but for those preferring a quiet week away they are catered for too.

The most recent reviews on tripadvisor from those who have been on their Menorca flights and stayed there have been glowing, and include comments such as this one from Switzerland:

We stayed 1 week in playa azul and took the hotel as a last minute offer for around 350Eur/pp including flight. For the price we paid, the hotel offered much more!

Overall we got much more then we paid for and we are really happy with Hotel Playa Azul.

And from a UK tourist who had their Menorca holidays recently:

Just got back from a week at this fab hotel, from the moment we walked through the hotel reception till the day we left it was brilliant, the staff especially the resturant and bar staff were very freindly and attentive - nothing was too much trouble, the food was first rate.

And as well as for independent travellers booking their trips online the good news for the hotel is that Thomas Cook are now offering it either seperately or as part of a package.

New photographs for Cala En Porter are due soon at yourmenorca.net and photos of the hotel are at social media like stumbleupon

Majorca

As reputations go, Majorca has a real mix of attitude from people who might be considering a holiday on the well known Spanish island that has proved so popular with tourists in the past.

On the one hand there is the image of Magaluf to consider. It’s a town that attracts some but is a definite turn off for others.

And for tourists who prefer peace and quiet to a walk on the wild side, Magaluf is set to become even more of a party magnet as ‘Mallorca Rocks’  has opened - sister hotel to the successful ‘Ibiza Rocks’ just across the water.

Fantastic for the young, and young at heart who can discover Majorca as well as Ibiza. For those who like their clubbing and nightlife Mallorca Rocks will be the centre of a Majorca holiday for many of them.

And the Majorca hotels could benefit as stag weekends and hen parties view Majorca as an alternative to Ibiza, bringing in good revenue year round from young Europeans with disposable incomes.

Flights are inexpensive to the island, and with airlines operating from many regional airports from the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe, for students and other young people the cheap flights could see visitor numbers in this age group rise considerably this summer.

Majorca Holidays

But for couples and families who don’t want 24 hour partying, and are looking for a good relaxing sunshine holiday, is Majorca a good destination for them this year?

The answer is a definite yes, there’s another side to the island that’s ideal, and if they choose the right location it would be hard to imagine they’re on the same island as party loving Magaluf - but they would still get the good deal for their Majorca flights.

When looking at a map, on the north-west side of the island is Soller. And it is here that holidaymakers can escape to another world, and it’s quiet enough to enjoy while having a good amount of activities going on, to be enjoyed year round.

A tram connects the port to the town, and Deia - another village ideal for family holidays - is closeby, and there is a train that runs through the wonderful Majorca countryside to the capital Palma - a great day out enjoyed by many staying in Soller either in one of the hotels or Majorca villa holidays.

The port is a wonderful place to while away a few hours, with yachts calling in from all over Europe. The harbour area has a good amount of restaurants and cafes serving a variety of food including local dishes all day, and there are also apartments to rent with sea views here for holidaymakers.

For a good family holiday this summer, Soller could be the answer for a quality trip.

For a profile of Majorca including travel information visit yourmajorca.net

If you’re looking at holiday and travel sites and browsing the internet for ideas on where to go for a summer holiday, one island in particular could be just right if you’re booking for a family.

Part of the Balearic Islands and just two hours flight from the UK, Menorca has always been known as the quietest of the group which includes Ibiza and Majorca, and for good reason.

It’s ideal for families, and it’s how Menorca wants to stay.

Many of this year’s visitors will be families who chose the island for their first family holiday and found it to be all they hoped for that they have kept holidaying on Menorca while their children have grown up - and then by themselves once their offspring have flown the nest.

If you decide to book a trip to the island, which areas are best suited for a family visit?

S’Algar is a purpose built holiday area, not far from the capital Mahon and the airport where the Menorca flights arrive, located on the south-east coast of the island. It has a variety of accommodation available, including both villas and different standards of hotels. But not really the area for a beach holiday.

Punta Prima like S’Algar has a good choice of accommodation with both villas to rent and a good selection of bars and restaurants for tourists and locals It has a couple of good supermarkets and importantly a good beach, but watch out for the flags as the currents can be strong.

Binibeca Village is a good character village but more suited for families with older children or couples than for young families, as one its main attributes is the peace and quiet. When you look at villa holiday brochures Cala Torret is in the east and Binebeca Vell to the west. The village consists of all low rise apartments and villas, and there are restaurants and shops in the village. The James Villa Holiday Company have a good selection of villas available in Binibeca.

Son Bou is home to the largest and, for many visitors, the best beach on Menorca, accessible via a tunnel down the road from Alaior. Alaior has good self catering accommodation called Son Bou Gardens while the resort itself has two hotels at the eastern end - one disappointingly is a high rise and of all the hotels in Menorca has to be the most out of place of them all. But the long beach and character of the area manages to over come this. For those of a more shy disposition it’s worth noting that parts of the beach are clothing optional but good if you’re into naturism.

Cala en Porter is the original village that started it all when the jet age arrived, and airlines began to run regular flights to Menorca. It’s situated on the eastern side of a deep gorge that opens onto the beach and has a small stream running alongside during most of the year. Cala en Porter has just about everything you could want for a fun. A full range of shops, restaurants and bars are all there, with car hire facilities, and it’s popular for those who like Menorca villa holidays. If you’re staying there check out the Cova d’en Xoroi, which are caves set into the cliffs, now made into a night club.

More information, travel resources and news are available with http://www.yourmenorca.net

For comments from tourists on the island now visit social media like twitter

Read most travel guides and they will tell you Son Bou is the best beach on the island - and we wouldn’t really disagree with that, although Cala en Porter is great for families too.

But the UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph has different ideas (to see the photograph and read the full article click here) and they report:

Pregonda is a long beach with reddish gold sand and pink rocks – creating the effect of a lunar landscape – and flanked by dunes and green fields. On the quieter north coast of Menorca, there are tiny islands just off shore that protect the bay from the northerly winds, so the sea is usually millpond-still and crystalline.

Who goes?

People who are prepared to hike for half an hour along a track with no protection from the blazing sun – you know the type. But it’s worth it when you get there.

What is there to do?

This part of the coast is a marine reserve, and is home to a colony of rare Audouin seagulls. The calm conditions make this a great beach for snorkelling and diving. Take a mask at least.

Bars and bites

Take a picnic and plenty of water with you as there are no facilities on Pregonda, although there is a chiringuito (seaside snack bar) on the nearby Binimel-la beach, serving snacks and meals. Many beaches on Menorca don’t have litter bins, both for aesthetic purposes and to encourage people to take their waste away, so make sure you take any rubbish with you.

Getting there

Pregonda is six miles from the town of Es Mercadal. Follow signs north towards Cavalleria, then turn off west to Binimel-la beach, where you have to leave the car and proceed on foot.

The summer holidays are nearly here, and people are set to head off for their favourite or sometimes new destinations.

What should people expect of Menorca who haven’t been before?

Smaller than Majorca, and definitely quiter than Ibiza, of all the Balearic islands Menorca is best known for family holidays.

Menorca is well known for her quiet fishing villages and resorts, and is geared more towards holidaymakers seeking relaxation as opposed to hard partying. The island also has a variety of attractions and sights to keep any visitor engaged.

Part of Menorca’s appeal rests on the fact that overdevelopment has been strenuously resisted. Its numerous green spaces make it a refuge for tourists who like to enjoy nature’s unspoilt beauty. The towns of Mahon - the capital - and Ciutadella offer numerous sight seeing opportunities.

Menorca holidays offer a wide array of outdoor activities including horse riding, cycling and golf. Due to the good weather, quite a few tourists play golf. Club Son Parc is a large resort featuring an eighteen hole golf course. This family-friendly resort is home to the only golf course on the island with a practice range and instructors for new golfers.

Some of the best known holiday areas are:

S’Algar - a small resort located on the southeast coast of Menorca, a short distance from Mahon and Sant Lluis. This is a ‘purpose-built’ resort, and it is very well cared for and offers a good selection of accommodation, including two of the largest Menorca hotels, several apartment buildingss 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 Menorca 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 boasts several 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. The village consists of all low-rise apartments and villas and offers no high rise accommodation, and is popular for Menorca villa holidays. The area around Binibeca has a variety of high-quality bars, restaurants and convenience stores.

Son Bou is home to the largest and, for many visitors, the best beach on Menorca, accessible via a tunnel down the road from Alaior. This resort has two hotels at the eastern end. For the more bashful holidaymaker, note that the further 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.

Cala en Porter is one of Menorca’s oldest resorts, sitting high atop cliffs that overlook a picturesque and safe beach. This resort is situated on the eastern side of a deep gorge that opens onto the beach and features a small stream running alongside during most of the year. This resort features just about everything you could want for fun family Menorca holidays. A full range of shops, restaurants and bars are conveniently located in the centre of the resort. Be sure to check out the cova d’en Xoroi, which are caves set into the cliffs, now made into a nightclub, but open to visitors for the caves during the day.

The holiday resort of Arenal d’en Castell sits on the rustic northern coast of Menorca, about twelve miles north-west of the country’s capital city, Mahon and the international airport. Although the distance from the airport to the resort is short, the roads along this route are not particularly good, so the journey can take up to about 40 minutes. It’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the scenery!

Cala’n Bosch is located a short, 15 minute drive from the former capital city of Ciutadella, and  is home to one of the two five-star hotels in Menorca.

More information about the island including the weather in Menorca is available at http://www.yourmenorca.net where they also have a map and travel information.

Calan Porter is a popular village on the island for holidaymakers travelling as a family, and the Daily Mail recently ran a travel report about the resort, commenting:

What does the savvy modern traveller do faced with a lastminute package deal to Minorca? They check holiday review sites on the internet, of course.

The Siestamar Apartments, near a sandy beach in Cala’n Porter, are an ideal destination for families, according to Thomson Travel. ‘Great food, great everything,’

Our twobedroom apartment at Siestamar II was perfectly adequate and clean (although why there was a massive print of Boy George on the wall is anyone’s guess).

It backed on to the main pool and stage area. This was where ‘adult activities’ - i.e. bingo and the quiz - ran each night and where the outdoor disco began at 10pm.

But the beach is everything Thomson Holidays says it is. Leave the complex, cross the road and it’s 182 steps down to a beautiful cove.

Self-catering is the best option: the onsite food is of the egg-and-chip variety but there are two supermarkets opposite the complex and local restaurants aplenty.

While we didn’t intend to hire a car –Thomson in the UK had offered us a two-day ‘deal’ for £118 - bad weather drove us to it. We got a car for three days for €70.So don’t book a car until you get there.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1244499/A-package-holiday-Minorcas-Calan-Porter-minute-success.html#ixzz0hyC2iO74

For more details of Menorca holidays visit http://www.yourmenorca.net and follow people on holiday there now via twitter

In their travel section recently The Daily Telegraph commented about Menorca:

Menorca is one of those places people return to year after year. It may be short on clubs and high-rise hotels, but is very strong on idyllic coves with warm, turquoise water – ideal for scuba diving. It is worth going just to try the lobster stew, one of the local seafood specialities. PCI Holidays (0330 555 0034) has a selection of villas in Son Bou, a small resort on the south coast, with one of the best beaches on the island. Rentals start at £778 a week for a three-bedroomed property with a pool

http://www.yourmenorca.net has a section for both Menorca holiday villas and villa holiday companies like James Villas

The New York Times has listed the island as one of the top places to visit in 2010, and comment:

While the beat of disco pounds in Ibiza and Majorca, their quiet sister Minorca offers a tranquil contrast to the glitz next door. The entire island is a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, so the Spanish megahotel development frenzy of the last decade has largely skipped over this patch of the Mediterranean. That means miles of beaches —some 120 of them, in fact, like the northern sweep of crystal-clear swimming waters in the coves called Cala d’Algaiarens, with fine sand and rolling dunes. And Minorca’s eco-diversity extends well beyond the coasts: forests, deep gorges, wetlands, salt marshes and hillsides covered in lush greenery that sometimes look more New England than Mediterranean. Even the island’s sun-bleached towns — Mahón and Ciutadella, each combining elements of their British colonial heritage, Moorish roots and modern Spanish identity — are more peaceful than their Majorcan equivalents.

The ideal visit to Minorca celebrates islanders’ emphasis on agritourism — sleeping in rural establishments like Ca Na Xini (www.canaxini.com), a dairy farm that offers an eight-room temple to modernism inside the shell of a century-old manor home. It’s like spring break for eco-conscious adults. — Sarah Wildman

For more information about Minorca including the latest weather visit http://www.yourmenorca.net/weather