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

The Daily Mail in the UK recently ran an interesting article about Menorca, their comments include:

Think of the Balearic islands as a family: Majorca and Ibiza are the two older sisters who party all night, while Menorca is the little sister who stays in doing her homework.

‘This has always been a quiet island,’ says Lindsay Mullen, who, with Sheelagh Ratliff, owns and runs the Biniarocca Hotel, a ten-minute drive from Mahon airport. Lindsay, an accomplished artist, and Sheelagh, a successful clothes designer, emigrated to Menorca in the Nineties.

Sheelagh was running a B&B when a working farm near St Lluis went up for sale ten years ago. They bought and thoroughly renovated it, and it is now a Relais Chateau-style hotel with 17 bedrooms, a pool set in bougainvillea and palm tree-filled gardens, and a stylish European restaurant. 

The Biniarocca’s comforts are bliss, and although it was tempting to stay glued to the grounds, the hotel is a good base from which to explore the island.

Scrupulously clean and well-signposted, Menorca is perfect for driving. A main road bisects the island, leading from the capital Mao to the second largest town, Ciutadella on the west, and roads branch off to the north and south, heading for the coastal coves and beaches.

The island’s biggest sandy beach, three kilometres long and 40m wide, is to the south at Son Bou.

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For reviews of Menorca hotels  visit http://www.yourmenorca.net

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!