| If you love beautiful landscapes, dream of remote | | | | mountain bikes. There is now a signed network of |
| natural sandy beaches, love to dine well and sip drinks | | | | recommended routes with gradients, time to |
| under dreamy stars then read on. Most guide books | | | | complete and difficulty information across the island. |
| extoll the virtues of Menorca for families much less is | | | | There is also a booming list of enthusiasts favourite |
| written about its attraction for the twenty something | | | | routes with maps and photos. |
| plus couples. And while Menorca is no 'Clubbers | | | | There is a growing network of cycle hire shops - |
| paradise', there are still plenty of places where you | | | | best to pack you own helmet for comfort and you 'll |
| can dance the night away, none more spectacular so | | | | will save yourself a silly extra surcharge too. |
| than Covas den Xoroi set in natural caves 25m | | | | Fancy pounding through the water on beaches at |
| above the bay in Cala en Porter with guest DJs from | | | | sunset, riding through pine, oak and olive woodland |
| UK and Ibiza. Most of the dance clubs can be found | | | | dappled with rays of sunlight? then Menorca offers |
| in the harbour areas with smaller music and "chill out" | | | | guided and 'free reign' four legged hire. |
| bars in the side streets of of Mahon and Ciutadella as | | | | Naturally watersports play a big part on the island, |
| well as in Es Castell. There is a water taxi between | | | | however it's not over commercialised so it's not |
| Mahons' and Es Castells' attractive harbours that is an | | | | wacky races on waves here! |
| especially delightful way ' to arrive' on summer | | | | Fornell's huge bay offers optimum conditions to learn |
| evenings. | | | | windsurfing, sailing, water skiing and is the most sort |
| The best tip for Menorca is to treat the whole island | | | | out watersports destination. |
| as your resort. Absolutley nothing is more than a | | | | Of course much of the beauty of Menorca is best |
| hour's road trip away. Getting mobile with a hire car | | | | seen from the water. If your budget doesn't stretch |
| will allow you to experience so much more. Reserve | | | | to private yacht charter( though in a group its |
| in advance as hire on the island is generally more | | | | affordable ), then there still other ways to enjoy the |
| (much more) expensive. The island has a modern bus | | | | beautiful coastline. Firstly there are organised trips |
| network that uses four hubs along the spine road of | | | | from Mahon, Ciutadella and Cala en Bosch to virgin |
| the island (ME-1) so most places are accessible but | | | | beaches along the coast. With stopoffs for bathing |
| given the small size of the island and regulated fixed | | | | and perfecting that tan on the remote beaches. The |
| fare pricing a Taxi trip won't break the bank either. | | | | Red Rocket from Mahon harbours offers a more |
| The island definitely does not attract the get drunk | | | | personal trip in small groups on a sporty red vessel. |
| quick visitor. Menorca is not a budget destination, | | | | Why not get up close to the coast with Sea Kayak |
| never has been and never will be. So you are left | | | | tours where you can enter the many hidden bays |
| with relaxed quaility and if you are in the know then | | | | and caves- terrific! |
| like me you can eat very well for a lot less. Renting a | | | | Menorca is a delight for diving too as the water |
| private Villa or Apartment, or staying in a smaller | | | | clarity is excellent, the water warm and the sea life |
| country house or family run hotel will complete a | | | | very abundant. Menorca offers some great cavern |
| memorable romantic break. | | | | diving due to the soft limestone underwater cave |
| There are picture postcard villages of Torret, | | | | systems. And of course the shallow turquoise waters |
| Llucmacanes and Trebaluger to visit and lovely | | | | with rocky fringes make snorkelling a joy. |
| countryside drives through stone walled lanes. | | | | The island offers some great places to walk outside |
| Beach Life and Sun Worshipers | | | | of the sunnier parts of the day. There are lush |
| There are arguably few, if any, destinations in the | | | | limestone gorges, strange yet beautiful rocky coastal |
| mediterranean that can offer so many prisitine natural | | | | landscapes on the north coast and lovely coast paths |
| beaches in such a small area as Menorca. If you | | | | with stop off beaches for a refreshing dip-always |
| wanted to find fine white sands beaches then | | | | pack water bottle, a swimsuit and a towel! You don't |
| normally you'd have to fly much longer than the two | | | | have to be a history buff to appreciate the dramatic |
| hours to Menorca. The resort beaches are free from | | | | prehistoric stone sies scattered all over this island- A |
| annoying beach traders and while the beach rats | | | | real sense of being back in a different world. |
| might make sand castle obstacle courses at the | | | | Of course nothings beats relaxing at cafe and just |
| waters edge due to the restricted tourist numbers | | | | watching the world go by picking at Tapas in the |
| the beaches are never over full so that you can't find | | | | early evening with the fashionable locals. Charming |
| a good spot away from the little darlings. | | | | Ciutadellas' old town is a delight with its labyrinth of |
| Beach visitor numbers to the island's trademark virgin | | | | medieval streets and water fountain plazas with their |
| beaches are restricted either by access point for | | | | Cafe Bars. Mahon the capital is more cosmopolitan |
| those reachable by car and by a half hour hikes for | | | | with motor yachts as big as houses in the yacht |
| those only reachable on foot. Once experienced, | | | | harbour and many waterside restaurants to suite all |
| never forgotten. I never tire of these beaches. | | | | tastes and pockets. |
| Active Holidays | | | | A real eye opener is to visit the island in Spring ( April |
| Menorca has finally woken up to two wheel tourism. | | | | early May ) when the island is in full bloom, the |
| There are criss crossing miles of pretty single track | | | | colours more vivid and the early summer sun a big |
| lanes called 'Camis' connecting the island small hamlets | | | | contrast to grey wintery skies back home- A |
| and towns - the original road network of the island. | | | | deserted virgin beach in April is a real tonic! |
| These roughtrack road surfaces are ideal with | | | | |