Summer holidays are different from any other holiday, you can spend the majority of your time lounging around the pool and strolling along the beach without feeling like you've wasted valuable time. Having mostly traveled around Asia for my summer holiday, this year was my second european vacation and my first time visiting Spain.
DESTINATION:
Menorca is part of the Balearic island's which include Ibiza and Mallorca. It's smaller than Mallorca but there is still plenty to see. Son Bou is located on the south of the Island and about a 20 minute bus journey from the capital, Mahon.
Since Son Bou was home to the largest beach on the island, I spent many of my days watching the waves crashing down and breathing in the salty ocean air. Avoid straying too far down the beach unless you plan on seeing some full frontal nudity, as the end of the beach I can only described as being unexpected. Although the sun is scorching hot just be warned that the water is much colder then you think between the months of May and June.
FOOD:
The town of Son Bou is reasonably small so it isn't hard to explore everything it has to offer in a couple of days. With a wide range of restaurants to visit, from traditional Spanish Paella and Tapas to Chinese Quizen and everything in-between.
A little tip about Paella is if you are going to order the meat one, it is traditionally made with bones so it's better to choose the vegetarian option if thats not your thing.
My favourite restaurant was a cute beach bar called "Es Corb Mari" right on the beach, which not only did a selection of delicious drinks but had a fantastic menu to choose from.
You can also find a Hawaiian bar located in the middle of the town where they welcome you with a Hawaiian necklace and a hammock on every table to really get you in the holiday mood.
ACCOMMODATION:
My home for the 10 day trip was Son Bou Garden's Apartments which contained over 500 separate houses spread out beautifully over the gardens. Im going to be honest here the entire of the apartment was nothing special but you'll never be inside for very long apart from sleeping to see it. The resort itself had 3 separate swimming pools, 2 restaurants and a supermarket so if you didn't feel like walking the 10 minuet trip to town, you don't have to.
TRAVEL:
Since the island is small it's quite easy to get around and explore if you think you've had enough of tanning and swimming all day. Having a rental car would make traveling much easier but busses do run to all parts of the island for reasonable prices. Just be aware that most trips require you to travel to the capital, Mahon, first before getting a second bus to your final destination.
DAY TRIPS
THE CAPITAL:
A trip to the capital, Mahon, is a must on your holiday if you want to get a real sense of what Menorca is like, with beautiful pastel coloured houses lining the streets, cafe's and bars around every corner and the best shopping you'll do on the island. They also have bakery's filled with fresh and delicious treats to satisfy your taste buds after a day of exploring. Just remember most places closed between 2pm and 4pm for the fiesta but are open again until late into the evening.
BOAT TRIP: EL BARCO ROJO
There are many beautiful beaches on the island that you can only access by walking or by boat such as Turqueta and Macarella. The El Barco Rojo boat trip is a wonderful day out on the water and includes a hearty lunch of paella, which you can watch them cook fresh on the boat and cupfuls of Sangria to keep you going throughout the day. Although lunch is inclusive in the price any other drinks or snacks such as soft drinks and ice-cream you must pay for separately on the boat so bring plenty of extra change or your own drinks if you don't want to be stuck with nothing to drink. The boat docks at certain locations to allow you to explore the beach or cool off in the crystal clear ocean for a few hours. Depending on where you book this trip will cost a little less than €50 per adult. Make sure you arrive at the port of Ciutadella within plenty of time as you don't want to have to run to catch it before it leaves at 9:15am (As I may have had to do..)
BIKE RIDES:
Through the resort we stayed at you can hire out bikes for the day for about €20 each with a €50 deposit. Just be warned that biking to Sant Thomas is difficult to bike to and pretty much impossible to bike back, as it is extremely rocky and mountainous around that area. But if you wish to bike around for the day I'd advise you go in the direction of the town or towards a cove between Son Bou and Sant Thomas.
FORNELLS:
On the opposite side of the island from Son Bou a peaceful and seaside town is located. With a few tasteful shops dotted around and many fancy restaurants it is the perfect place to escape the busyness for the day. We decided to have a meal at Es Mosset de Fornells as the seats were located right on the waters edge and they had a special lunch deal of 3 courses for €12. The food was beautifully presented with a wide choice, my only complaint can be that there wasn't many traditional Spanish options.
Although there are no beaches in walking distance, there are 2 subtle coves with steps climbing into the ocean where you can swim and cool off. The first cove which is located closest to the town is very shallow and in view from everyone walking past, but if you venture up a little further you will discover a secret little one in amongst the rocks.
I was definitely sad to leave this beautiful island and hope this travel guide helps you around a little bit. If you have any questions about Menorca or Son Bou please comment below.
Happy Holidays xx
