Tenerife has topped Cosmos Holidays sales chart with a 60% increase year-on-year, report traveldailyco.uk

Majorca, last year’s number one, is now fourth in the sales list with Florida and Turkey before it.

Other Canary Islands have seen bigger rises in sales, particularly Fuerteventura (250%), Gran Canaria (100%) and Lanzarote (40%).

Menorca

The Algarve, Menorca, Shaem el Sheikh, Zakynthos and Mexico are also within the top ten.

“Whilst early booking trends indicated that this summer was all about the Eastern Mediterranean, the improved strength of the Pound against the Euro has resulted in a last minute surge of bookings to destinations throughout the Western Mediterranean and the Canary Islands,” said Monarch Travel Group Tour Operations Managing Director Hugh Morgan.

“After the challenges of the past 12 months, confidence has clearly been restored in the market and it’s great to see holiday durations lengthening from last year’s seven and 10 night durations to the traditional 14 night breaks.”

For the latest Menorca weather visit yourmenorca.net

Breakingnewstravel report that there’s a new guide to the island from the official tourist board:

The Menorca Tourist Board has created a brand-new insiders travel guide to Menorca - revealing the natural, archeological, cultural, and gastronomic delights of one of the Med’s most pristine islands.

Easy to navigate and packed with tips from locals the guide will help holiday-makers decide where to stay, what to do and how best to experience this lesser-known Spanish island.

Boasting more than 200kms of coastline Menorca has almost as many beaches as Ibiza and Mallorca combined yet remains the most untouched and tranquil of all the Balearics.

Imagine a magical island with rugged caves and green rolling hills on one side, sandy beaches from where you can kayak round to hidden coves on the other. A paradise for nature lovers the island was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, to conserve and protect both its natural habitats and strong cultural identity.

Visit S’Albufera des Grau wetlands to get up-close to turtles and migrating birds or explore the island’s distinctive barrancs (deep ravines and canyons which run from the central part of the island to coast), home to Peregrines, Egyptian vultures and booted eagles.

Whether you’re day-tripping from Mallorca or coming from the UK the guide covers all the essentials on how to reach the island and what to expect from the weather. Like your beaches wild or prefer the convenience of shops and restaurants? In-depth information on the beaches will match you to your perfect stretch of sand.

And if you’re wondering how you might fit in all the island’s attractions turn to the top tips and take your pick from sightseeing in the charming old port of Ciutadella to some snorkeling in the calm waters of the Bay of Fornells.

Or if that all sounds a bit energetic then dive into the food and drink section and find out about the island’s world-class gin and cheese producers and where to eat the local speciality dish of “caldereta de llagosta” or lobster stew.

For more information about the island including today’s Menorca weather visit yourmenorca.net

The tourist board have been busy promoting Menorca and the other Balearic Islands for late August to end September holidays, with Opodo reporting:

People considering a late summer break this year have been offered a number of reasons to choose Spain’s Balearic Islands as their destination.

The tourist board representing the archipelago pointed out that one of the region’s main advantages is its weather, with 300 days of sunshine every year.

Beach lovers will be spoilt for choice in the Balearics, with Salines in Ibiza, Cala Pregonda in Menorca and Es Trenc in Mallorca among the seafront hotspots being recommended.

People who enjoy a bit of celebrity spotting will be in with a good chance of seeing some famous faces on the Spanish islands, according to the tourist board.

Michelle Obama recently visited Mallorca, while Kate Moss regularly enjoys breaks in Ibiza and Formentera and both Claudia Schiffer and Elle Macpherson own villas in the region.

Travellers who enjoy outdoor activities were encouraged to try some of the sports on offer in the Balearics, with both Majorca and Ibiza boasting an extensive network of cycling routes and most islands providing facilities to go scuba diving.

Hello magazine has listed the best places in Europe to watch a sunset, and Cala En Porter is one of those making their favourites.

They say:

Minorca has plenty of stunning sunset sites, too, including the unmatchable Cova d’en Xoroi, a cave whose rocky walls are transformed each night to house one of the island’s most unusual discos. The sunset views from the terraces overhanging the cliff edge are, quite simply, breathtaking.

For a Menorca map showing where Cala En Porter is visit yourmenorca.net - the village is popular for Menorca villa holidays

If you’re off on holiday to Menorca soon and it’s the first time with a toddler, we’ve found the airlines to be helpful and understanding.

Thomson who we have flown with from Gatwick to Mahon were good - they seat passengers with babies and toddlers in the same area towards the back of the aircraft which seems to work well.

Thomas Cook Holidays have come up with a guide that’s pretty good, and the Daily Mirror reported on it yesterday.

Flying with very young children can be a challenge - it’s frustrating for parents and other passengers when little ones play up.

Cabin crew at Thomas Cook Airlines have come up with the following tips to help families taking Majorca flights this summer…

COMFORT

When taking off and landing, give your baby a bottle or a dummy as this will help stop their ears from popping.

Be prepared if you’re travelling on a night flight. Some parents think their child will sleep but this often isn’t the case as the child is not in their usual environment.

Take a small blanket in case your child gets cold, as some Majorca flights don’t provide them for short-haul trips.

Nappy-changing facilities are in the aircraft toilets and there isn’t much room - dress your baby in clothes that are easy to get on and off.

Consider getting a baby sling for your journey. That way you can carry your tot and have two hands free for luggage.

Pack your child’s favourite snacks so you have food to hand if they want something to eat quickly.

If your child is having an inflight meal, be prepared with alternatives in case they don’t like what they’re given.

If you want to give them milk while flying, pick up some once through check-in/security as this is not often available on board.

Entertainment on Menorca Flights

Crayola’s Colour Wonder paper pad and markers are a great way to keep kids entertained. The pens only work on the special pad so you don’t have to worry about your child marking the seats or the walls of the aircraft.

Kids love presents, so wrap up lots of small surprises you can give to your child throughout the flight to keep them entertained.

Bring toys out one by one so that you can keep children entertained with each toy individually.

For more information about holidays with Thomas Cook Holidays visit their site.

They also do Majorca flights

The Independent in the UK recently reviewed some boutique hotels, and had this recommendation for Menorca:

Sant Joan de Binissaida, Menorca

The owners of San Joan de Binissaida have reforested half of their sprawling estate with pine and wild olive trees, leaving the other half for sheep and pure-bred Menorcan horses to roam. In the midst of it all stands a once-decrepit homestead that has been rescued and restored to become an elegant rural hotel with an acclaimed gourmet restaurant. Rooms are named after great composers and are either bright and rustic or sleek and contemporary.

For other Menorca hotels visit yourmenorca.net and for hotels in Majorca visit yourmajorca.net

The Daily Mirror is running a competition to win a holiday for two in Menorca, closing date this Friday 23 July 2010.

Watch out for the entry costs - 60p a minute by phone and £1 via text.

For more details click through to The Mirror here

For today’s Menorca weather visit yourmenorca.net

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

Florida was awarded to Britain as part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, and marked the time when Britain moved her focus from Europe to a more global domination.

When the British landed in Florida they found it unpopulated, and Dr. Andrew Turnbull, a Scottish doctor, took advantage of the treaty which offered easy terms of settlement to those who desired land grants.

The doctor felt that people from the British Isles might have found it difficult to adjust to the heat in Florida. Instead, he went to Greece hoping to find colonists. The Greeks were accustomed to humid, hot conditions and he felt they would do a good job of cultivating olives, cotton and tobacco.

Dr. Turnbull acquired land near Ponce de Leon Inlet near present day Daytona. He planned to have 500 Greek settlers from islands like Crete and Corfu to come back with him and would call his new colony New Smyrna. He arrived in June of 1767 at the port of Mahon on Minorca.

There he chose to delay his trip to Greece and vied instead for the attention of Italians in Leghorn Italy, of whom he heard some were interested in migrating to the New World. Sure enough several Italians males signed up to become inhabitants of New Smyrna, encouraged bu the thought that the climate would be similar to the Rome weather.

Alongside the Italians, a few Greeks from Levant joined the voyage.

As the doctor collected his new immigrants he sailed back to Mahon in February of 1768. There he found the Italians he had recruited had married Minorcan women.

On April 17, 1768 he sailed from Minorca with eight ships carrying a total of 1,403 settlers. This doubled the number he’d originally hoped for and then some. Unfortunately, 148 of the colonists died during the voyage from Minorca to Florida.

New Smyrna Residents Arrive

Upon arrival, the colonists’ met with rough conditions in New Smyrna. The land had yet to be cleared of trees and thick bush.

Two of the biggest obstacles were Indians and alligators. Food had to be gathered, hunted or caught by fishing, and they had to work the swamps for their very survival. Malaria from the mosquitoes quickly took its toll on the new settlers.

Settlers had several options to get food, but little time was allotted to the people to forage. They were forced to spend much of their time building homes for themselves.

These conditions led 300 of the colonists to revolt. They seized a ship and sailed south. A British Frigate found the ship and captured its passengers; taking them to St. Augustine. Most were returned to the colony, but two were executed.

In the first year, 450 colonists perished. Despite many of the hardships New Smyrna was one of the better colonies in North America at the time.

What to Expect in New Smyrna Today

The indentured Greek and Italian servants, who through their blood, sweat, tears made the colony successful are honorued by The Odyssey Monument. Every year on the first Saturday after Labor Day there is a commemoration in their honour at the monument.

In St. Augustine Florida, the St. Photios National Shrine honours the settlers. There you will find exhibits that adjoin a chapel. The stories of the people and their plight are told in wonderful detail, and the connection between today’s Florida and Minorca is evident.

For more details about Minorca including holidays in Minorca visit yourmenorca.net

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