When booking our first family holiday abroad, we wanted somewhere quiet and not a 'party' resort. We also wanted somewhere with a short flight time. Menorca (or Minorca) fit the bill. It was described in the brochures as a quiet island with lovely beaches, and was a 2 hour flight from the UK.
We decided to book a package holiday so that we had someone to hold responsible if something went wrong with any aspect of it. We booked through First Choice and paid £1450 for a weeks self catering for 2 adults and 4 children the 2nd week of July. We booked a 2 bed apartment.
THE APARTMENTS
The apartments were called Mestral and Lleibeig Apartments in the southern resort of Santo Tomas. We had a 2 bed apartment that slept 6 people, 2 on a sofa bed. The apartment was spacious and had a lovely large sun terrace. the complex had 2 play areas
and 2 very good sized pools, a kids club, 2 bars, restaurant, and a pony club. There is also mini golf and tenniscourts. There was a kitchen with microwave, shower and bath, electric included and also air conditioning free.
We never had any trouble getting a sunbed and the pools were not busy when we visited. The complex is set in lovely gardens and is only 2 story so does not seem like a tower block. the restaurant ,Las Dunas, is accross a quiet road and is reasonably priced. Main courses start around 7 euros, kids meals from 4 euros. The cleaning was frequent and a pleasant lady changed our sheets and tidied up 2-3 times during our week. They will do a clothes wash for you at reception (for a fee) and can order takeaways. Staff were very friendly and spoke English but they appreciated some spanish effort. The kids club was good but you had to put your name down in advance and it was often booked. Our children got to do 2 activities during the week and there was a kids disco at Las Dunas every night.
THE RESORT
Santo Tomas is very quiet, mainly a road with 2 supermarkets (these are VERY expensive) and hotels and apartments, a couple of bars and restaurants, and a few souvenier shops. It takes about 40 minutes from the airport at Mahon. There is a 24 hour on call doctor and pharmacy. Car hire and a bank machine are avaliable. Shops are generally open in the morning, close for the afternoon siesta and open again at 5pm.
The best thing about Santo Tomas is the beach. It is breathtaking and can be reached via several wooden walkways off a promenade which lines the full length of the resort. The beach is a white sand and the sea is turquoise. The main beach has sunbeds (we didn't hire as were told they were expensive), pedaloes, and lifeguards on duty with a flag system.
The water is gently shelving for a long way out and there is a section for bathing and one for watersports/boats. The beach goes a long way as there is another 2 sections of beach one way and Son Bou (with the biggest beach on the island) is a 45 minute walk the other way. You do pass a nudist beach this way and it can be a hard walk over the cliff if wearing sandals on a hot day! In July (mid season) there was plenty of room on the beach and in resort.
MENORCA
The island is very green and beautiful and is the second largest of the Balearic isles off the coast of Spain (Her larger sister is Majorca). The weather is usually hot from May to September, in July it was about 79-82 degrees. Really, hiring a car is the best way to get about and usually cheaper than the tour operators excursions. We hired a rather funny looking minivan for 75 Euros for one day but smaller cars were about 35 euros. The island is small and consists of one road going from Mahon at one end to Cuitadela with coastal roads going off, so driving is quite easy when you get used to driving on the left. We visited several places including....
MAHON
Lovely capital town with historic buildings and an amazing harbour. Some very expensive looking yachts. I believe Richard Branson has a home here.
CUITADELA
The old town is lovely, winding narrow streets, gifts shops and lovely churches with a small harbour.
CALA GALDANA
This is one of the most scenic resorts on the island. It has a small waterpark, lovely beach framed with wooded areas and lots of bars and cafes. Apparantly, the bounty advert was filmed here many years ago.
MONTE TORRO
Convent on top of the highest point in Menorca offering wonderful views of the island. There is a very large statue of Jesus and a shop and cafe run by the nuns. It is a strenuos drive up to the top but worth it.
FIRST CHOICE
We found them a good company to book with. We didn't prebook seats but arrived 3 hours before the flight so get seated together. On the way back we paid £12 to sit together. The rep in resort was useful and avaliable when needed and the excursions offered and welcome meeting were good. We would recommend them and book with them again.
OVERVIEW
Menorca is a lovely holiday destination for families and older couples looking to relax. Santo Tomas is lovely for a quiet week if you are happy with hotel based entertainment. I would recommend hiring a car and using the big spanish supermarkets outside of Mahon rather than using the very dear supermarkets in Santo Tomas if you are self catering. We would return but maybe go to Cala Galdana where there is a little more going on.
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We propose some unforgettable holidays in "El Capistrano Villages", in Nerja, the privileged balcony of the Costa del Sol. "El Capistrano Villages" is, possibly, the most beautiful and exclusive Urbanisation on the Costa del Sol.
Advantages: Air conditioned and with a surprising range of facilities for such a small place Disadvantages: Quite a way from the most popular resorts - Forcat and Bosch
Aug 3rd, 2007
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