holidays in Menorca

2:16pm Friday 25th June 2010 in Holiday information

The Gem of the Balearics

Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands bobbing gently in the Mediterranean Sea. The most demure of the three, holidays in Menorca are totally laid back and all about relaxation. The island is favoured mainly by families with young children, couples and groups of friends desiring a chill out break.

The island is a perfect mixture of stunning natural beauty with stretch upon stretch of lush landscapes and culture to keep you overwhelmed. Tradition and culture is evident throughout the island from its breathtaking architecture to its magnificent cathedral in Ciutadella.

With 120 beaches scattered around the coastline of this pretty little island you are more than spoilt for choice during your stay. From wide sandy beaches surrounded by bustling promenades to secluded rocky coves, you can easily find your own piece of paradise here.

Mahon is the capital of the island built around a spectacular natural harbour, the second deepest in the world to be precise, and should definitely be on your to do list wherever you stay on the island. The traffic free city streets make shopping trips here extremely pleasurable and calm, which is great considering the amount of souvenir shops, swish boutiques, cafes and cake shops that are waiting to be explored. Afternoons can be spent strolling around the harbour or enjoying delicious meals in one of the many restaurants overlooking this natural beauty. The harbour really comes to life as the sun goes down. Whether you want a romantic meal followed by a chilled out bar, a club to dance the night away in or just a stroll along the harbour savouring the atmosphere, this is the place to be. There is enough nightlife in the capital to keep party goers entertained although it is not on the same scale as San Antonio in Ibiza or Magaluf in Majorca.

All of the resorts within Menorca are carefree, relaxed and just the thing for sun worshippers and beach lovers. Cala' n Forcat on the western side of the island is lively in a family orientated way. With small sandy coves and calm shallow waters beach days are perfect for all the family. A wide assortment of restaurants that cater for even the fussiest of diners prepare delicious meals daytime and evening and the selection of fun pubs, karaoke bars and nightclubs is enough to keep everyone entertained, young and old. The resort has a great water park which is an exciting day out for all the family and a nice change from the usual ritual of hotel pool or beach days.

On the other end of the scale is S'algar on the south east coastline. Extremely tranquil this is the place to head if you want to get away from it all and recharge your batteries. Although be warned you may never want to leave this peaceful retreat where holiday makers spend their days soaking up the suns glistening rays on the rocks by the waters edge soaking up the views of the swaying palm trees. The resort offers a small selection of shops, varied bars and delicious eateries without being to busy to ensure you can enjoy your relaxing stay here. A short stroll along the coastline will take you to the spectacular sands of Cala Alcaufar should you want a little beach time during your holiday.

There are many more resorts on the island to choose from when taking your holidays in Menorca the only downside being that you can't stay in them all.