Menorca Holidays – The relaxing alternative to Majorca

The quieter, more laid-back sister to nearby Majorca, Menorca (some times spelt 'Minorca') is the most tranquil and least urbanized island in the Balearics. With its seemingly endless secluded coves, this makes a fantastic spot for a relaxing beach break. Holidays here tend to be geared more towards families; those seeking a high octane clubbing break will prefer Ibiza or Majorca.

Cycling, hiking and horse-riding are all enjoyable pursuits here due to the gently rolling landscape, with its numerous fascinating prehistoric sites.  All around the island you’ll find beautiful architecture left over from the island’s colourful past, from 15th century Franciscan monasteries to an 18th century gin distillery. The capital, Maó (also known as Mahon) is located on the far eastern coast, while the main tourist area is found on the south coast and includes the towns of Cala en Porter, Punta Prima, Santo Tomas, S'Algar Son Bou, and Binibeca.

When to go

Menorca is relatively quiet all year round compared to Ibiza and Majorca. Even during the peak months of summer it is still possible to find a large sandy beach all to yourself. As with most Mediterranean islands, the peak season starts in May and begins to wind down in October, with July and August seeing the most visitors.

The best time to visit the island is arguably spring, when the island is in full bloom with wildflowers and blossom, and the sun is not blisteringly hot. The weather will still be warm enough to enjoy a beach holiday, and (Easter period aside) the prices will be lower than in summer. From June onwards prices will begin to rise. Those after a break later in the year will find prices begin to drop again in September, along with the temperature – but the fine weather can continue well into October.

The weather in Menorca

As a rule, Menorca has a slightly wetter climate than the other Balearic Islands and is generally a few degrees cooler. Spring and autumn are pleasantly warm, with daytime temperatures reaching between the late teens and low twenties. There is a risk of rain towards the end of the autumn season, however. Summer can get very hot, with temperatures averaging between 21-28°C between May and August. The winter season is between November-March, when many businesses close. During this period, the island is prone to buffeting tramuntana winds from the north, and temperatures hover around an average maximum of 13°C.

Getting the best deal

The key to getting the best prices on holidays to Menorca is to visit before June or after August. Prices in the spring are relatively low and tend to sky-rocket after the end of May. Similarly holiday prices in September will drop off to their pre-peak season levels.

To get the cheapest prices, avoid peaks time such as Easter and the summer school holidays, and try and book as early as possible (the best offers tend to sell out fast

For some great deals on package holidays to Menorca, take a look at our best deals below or visit our late deals offers here.

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Airport and transport need to know

Menorca Mahon airport (MAH), is a small but busy airport that primarily handles tourist charter flights. It is located just 4.5km from Mahon in the south-east of the island. The airport has just one terminal and is the only international airport on the island. There is a reasonable selection of shops and restaurants here.

Flights to Menorca operate from the UK from over 15 airports, including a variety of regional hubs such as Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool and Norwich. Flights also run from London Gatwick, Luton and Stansted.

Below is a list of transport times to the main resorts of the island from the airport in minutes:

• Binibeca (32 mins)
• Cala'n Forcat (76 mins)
• Cala'n Porter (29 mins)
• Es Castell (31 mins)
• Punta Prima (35 mins)
• S’Algar (30 mins)
• Santo Tomas (51 mins)

The easiest and most convenient way to transfer from the airport is by taxi if you are travelling less than 25km. Taxi’s seat up to 4 adults and operate on a fixed price basis. They are found outside Arrivals.

For journeys over 25km, booking a seat on one of the Menorca Airport shuttle buses is the best bet. These are relatively cheap shared transfer buses that go to various resorts around the island. You can book a shuttle bus from the airport through companies such as Menorca Airport Transfers: http://www.menorca-airport-transfers.com/shuttle/

Using the public bus service is not particularly easy as all buses from the airport will travel to the main bus station in Mahon first before you can change onto the service you require.

Take a look at a selection of our top 3 resorts in Menorca