For those of you interested in ancient ruins, Menorca has a greater quantity than probably any other Mediterranean island. It has been described as a huge open-air museum. The taulas, massive T-shaped rock monoliths, the talyots, prehistoric watchtowers on the top of hills, and the navetas, prehistoric burial chambers, abound all over the island. The naveta of Es Tudons is a short walk off the main trunk road just outside Ciutadella and is one of the oldest buildings in Europe.
Anyone with a hire car should take the opportunity to drive up Monte Toro, the highest point on the island, just outside Mercadal. Splendid views of the island are guaranteed and on a really clear day the mountains of Majorca can be seen.
Menorquins are great music lovers and there are always opportunities to hear and see choirs, chamber music groups, organists and even opera.
Menorca has much to offer her visitors – from quiet unspoilt coves and prehistoric villages to sub-aqua diving in underwater caverns and shopping in historic towns.
Menorca is prized for the tranquility of its numerous beaches. This works out to well over a hundred of them. From tiny coves to vast stretches of sand. Even the most populated beaches are relatively unspoilt and the water is normally crystal clear and aquamarine – exactly as advertised on the postcards and brochures.
Menorca boasts a lovely Mediterranean climate with hot and sunny summers that are just perfect if you’re looking for a family beach holiday or a secluded beach to get some peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
However, if you want to be more active during your holiday, then there is no shortage of things to see and do. Why not explore the island by foot? There are plenty of opportunities to take in the beautiful landscapes and you get to see so much more this way than you would if you were in a car.
Other activities on offer in Menorca include sailing, water sports (including water-skiing, parasailing, canoeing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and banana boat rides), scuba-diving, horse-riding and cycling. You will be spoilt for choice on the island.
While you are staying on the island of Menorca, try to witness one of their traditional fiestas. They are great fun to see and provide a great atmosphere, with parading horses, singing, dancing, firework displays etc. If you’ve got kids in tow, they will love it.
If time will allow, try to visit the Menorca’s historic capital city, Mahon. It boasts a large, natural harbour and offers a good selection of restaurants and bars. It also has some great shopping opportunities. The town of Ciutadella, which was the island’s original capital, is another great place to check out. You can take a stroll and discover its charming narrow streets or just relax in one of the many cafes in the area.
Rental properties are easy to find if you search on the Internet. It is best to go self catering for the best cultural experience. Self catering apartments or house rentals direct from the rental properties owner will usually be the most affordable.
Whether you are looking for a long or short term rental, you should be able to find your ideal property in Menorca.
Posts Tagged ‘Apartment’
Holiday Apartment Rentals in Menorca, Spain
Saturday, December 12th, 2009Finding the Best Rental Villa Deals Online
Saturday, November 28th, 2009Holiday villas and apartments have become a popular alternative to Hotels and B&BS for tourists going on holiday. Advantages include greater privacy, the opportunity to cater for oneself, a more homely feel, more space and better value for money for groups and families. With so many opportunities to rent holiday accommodation in location like Majorca, Florida and the Algarve how do you choose just one property and get the most bang for your buck?
The first step is choosing a destination. If price is important then opt for a destination where rental accommodation is more affordable. Such destinations include Turkey, India and Nicaragua. In Europe there are often better deals in the north of Portugal and Spain than in the south and even cheaper properties in nearby Morocco.
Consider renting accommodation in an inland location. Often one can book larger villas with their own swimming pool at a lower price by avoiding the most high demand locations by the beach. Benefits can include a quieter, more rural location and with a hire car many beaches can still be reached after a short drive. As always location is everything when it comes to property so if you are prepared to compromise you can often get a better deal.
Renting in the shoulder seasons, in the spring or autumn is another excellent way to save money. With less demand for holiday villas and apartments during these periods you will be able to choose from a wider selection of properties and rates are usually a good 30% less then they are in the peak season. Furthermore it is often possible to get considerably better deals on hire cars and flights during the shoulder season so your total savings can add up.
Keep an eye out for accommodation rented directly by the property owners! Many rental properties are advertised by agencies who will take a proportion of the rent as their fee. Renting with the owners direct can save you money as some of these savings may be passed on to you. Property owners can often offer added value by providing you with insiders knowledge on the best places to eat out, places of special interest nearby, the best local beaches etc. and it can be reassuring to form a relationship with the owner and to have their contact details should any problems arise during your trip.
Book your flights early. By booking your airline tickets well in advance you should be able to secure a good deal. Research which low cost airlines (e.g. Easyjet and Ryanair) fly to your preferred destination and sign up with their mailing lists so they can notify you when flights go on sale. As a general rule it is always best to book flights at least two weeks in advance and midweek flights are often more affordable then those on the weekends or during holiday periods.
Use long tail search phrases. Search the internet using detailed search phrases rather than simple short terms. Try using quotation marks to force the inclusion of important attributes such as ?internet access?, ?a swimming pool? or a ?garden? in your search. Also, try including words like ?affordable?, ?value?, ?owner? and ?discount? in your search.
Prepare an email in notepad or your word processor with details of your holiday plans, the dates you would like to book and any important requirements. It never hurts to ask if it is possible to get a discount especially if you intend to stay for 2 or more weeks in the low or shoulder season and you could ask about feedback from previous guests. When you see a property you are interested in paste your email into the web form or your email program and send out plenty of emails. You should then receive further details about properties that are available and get a feeling for which renters are most responsive and helpful.
The next step is to telephone the owners of properties on your short list. Find out as much as you can about each property and get to know the people renting the property. Often you will find someone who you get on well with and feel comfortable doing business with.
Follow your instincts. If you feel good about a certain property and trust the person you have spoken with you should be confident to book with them. Once you know in your heart that you are working with trustworthy people and are happy with the offer you have been made you should be ready to reserve your rental villa or apartment and enjoy the final preparations for your holidays.
Do plenty of reading on the destination you intend to holiday at. There is a wealth of information online that will help you make plans for your holidays. Consider what you are going to do with your time and decide on some things you would like to do. Print out or jot down notes so that when you are on holiday you are prepared to make the most of your holidays. Finally when you set off on your vacation sit back and relax with the positive intention to enjoy your entire trip as much as possible.
Buying Cheap Majorca Real Estate
Friday, November 6th, 2009Are you out to buy a property in one of the most popular tourist destinations in the UK? If you are, we most definitely recommend that you check Majorca, the island paradise of Spain. If you need a holiday home where you can relax and enjoy the sun, the sand and the water, this is the best place you should be. We also prepared a short list of the myths and truths involved in finding Majorca properties to serve as your guide.
Myth: If you are not fond of the beach, Majorca is not for you.
Truth: While Majorca is best known for its beaches and sunny weather, it has a lot more to offer. It has parks, gardens, fashion shops and technology stores, bars and night clubs, and even museums! There is a wide variety of entertainment for the whole family. Whether you like to celebrate during the day or at night, there are activities that you and your kids can enjoy.
Myth: Majorca is only for those who need peace and quiet.
Truth: The place may be near the beach, where you can enjoy the calming sound of water rushing, but do not be led to believe that there is no party in the island! Mallorca can provide you both tranquillity and festivity. As part of Spain, it does not run out of feasts to celebrate. Depending on where you are in the island, a balance of peace and party is for you to benefit from.
Myth: The sports activities in Mallorca are limited to what you can do in the beach, like diving, jet skiing, wind surfing and water skiing.
Truth: Well, yes, you can do all those water sports in most major beaches in the island, but you can do more off the beach. Golf enthusiasts will find the place a good venue to practice their swings. Cyclists can pedal up mountain slopes to amplify the challenge. More than a dozen clubs offer horse riding facilities to those who would love to stroll around on a horse. For those who prefer to simply watch racing horses, at least 2 race tracks have been made available. Do you want to fly? Then, you will find its flight training schools and aero clubs interesting.
Myth: Mallorca properties are expensive and overpriced.
Truth: You pay for what you get. Mallorca has several amenities to offer. It has beautiful scenery to enjoy. It boasts of friendly weather all year. The international market has seen these advantages and has shown interest on the island ever since. Although it is now a very popular destination, its price has remained reasonable and buying cheap real estate is still very much possible. You can ask locals about the different villages, beaches, destinations and practices to get a better feel of the value of the properties. You can also visit their local tourism office and local real estate companies to ask about available villas and apartments that you can check for possible purchase. They can also assist you with the possible requirements as you go about buying a Mallorca property.