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 ‘Travel’
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.
The Rough Guide to Mallorca and Menorca (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)
Thursday, November 12th, 2009
Independent on Sunday, London, UK
Comprehensive and up-to-date.
–This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
The Daily Telegraph, London, UK
Best general guide.
–This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
See all
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Mallorca (DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide) (Paperback)
Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
Review
‘Thank goodness for Top 10 guides.’ Mail on Sunday
DK Eyewitness Top 10 Mallorca is your ticket to this Spanish island of spectacular natural beauty. From the delightfully cosmopolitan capital of Palma to the tiny coastal fishing villages, all the must-sees are covered in trouble-free Top 10 lists. This full-colour and richly illustrated guide is both detailed and pocket-sized – and with a free pull-out map, it is the ideal travel companion. Packed with stunning photography and clear user-friendly maps, you’ll find everything you need, whether you will be clambering over the island’s numerous monasteries or soaking up the relaxed Spanish culture. There are dozens of Top 10 lists: from Mallorca’s Top 10 hidden coves and magical villages to the Top 10 unmissable museums and galleries, fun places for children, and the best restaurants, bars and hotels in Mallorca. And to save you time and money, there’s even the Top 10 (more…)
Cheap Flights Slows Majorca Property Drop
Saturday, October 31st, 2009Majorca has long been one of the favourite holiday destinations for Europeans, especially British and German tourists.
And enough have liked the island in the past to buy a second home for holidays, or to buy an apartment or villa to retire to the sunshine island.
But with property values declining in important markets like the UK, the number of buyers has slowed, and Majorca too is seeing her property prices drop along with much of the rest of Europe, and the US.
But thanks to low cost airlines offering bargain flight prices to the island’s Palma Airport, Majorca is now even more easily accessible despite the recession in the housing market on both sides of the Atlantic..
Britain’s top low cost airline based at Luton Airport but flying to Majorca from around the UK’s regional airports now offers less expensive, more frequent flights to Majorca.
And more flights to the island each week makes it more realistic for the British who do still have money to consider buying an apartment or villa in Majorca, and with some buyers still interested it has helped prices in Majorca from going into a huge drop in value.
Many Brits enjoy the atmosphere of the Balearic Islands so much that they visit several times per year. So far, British investors haven’t been reluctant to take advantage of this new opportunity. The Daily Telegraph, a leading British newspaper printed an article revealing 11,000 Brits now own a home in Majorca.
Real estate investors do anticipate prices dropping to a degree in Majorca, and know they are in a stronger position to negotiate than anytime since the late eighties, and owners are more willing to consider offers than just a year ago.
Majorca prices started the property recession in a strong position, and has been one of the most expensive places to buy real estate in Spain. Investors believe Majorca is one of the safest property investments you can make. Majorca is an island with limited land available for new construction. This means the existing properties could rise quickly in value once the downturn in the European and US property markets are reversed.
Because of its more remote and secluded location, it’s not surprising that many celebrities have homes on the island. One of Hollywood’s favorite couples, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, own a holiday home in the village of Deia. Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, Boris Becker and Claudia Schiffer also own homes on Majorca.
Villas and apartments within easy walking distance of the Mediterranean could rise more in value than other Majorca locations once the downturn is over – for several years there has been a ban on any type of construction within 25 metres of the coast. Those who already own beachfront property know this means if they decide to sell, they will have the ability to command a very high price. Beachfront homeowners know they’re living in a potential gold mine.
Majorca sees 300 days of sunshine per year, making it one of the most widely sought-after tourist destinations in the world. Millions of people per year visit Majorca and neighbouring Menorca. Majorca plays host to 23 golf courses and 25 marinas where, on any given day, you can see hundreds of boats and yachts.
Less expensive and more frequent flights open up several doors for businesses such as wedding planners as well. Many couples looking to begin their lives together look for the perfect, picturesque place for their wedding ceremony. The new prices and frequency of flights to the island could quite possibly make many couples’ dreams a reality.
Rich in Spanish culture, Majorca has all the luxuries of a large city with a small town atmosphere. Tourists love the relaxing atmosphere, the salty breezes and the spectacular holiday celebrations. The low cost airlines are making it easier for European tourists to escape their everyday lives more often.
When some confidence comes back into the European economies and property starts selling again, those buying during the downturn could have made a good investment.