Fall in love with marvelous Menorca

I spent many years on Menorca back when I worked for Cosmos Holidays. I first went in 2003 as a holiday rep, and then spent every summer there, working in many different roles from villa rep, hotel rep, airport supervisor and in administration - you could say I know the island extremely well.  There is something about Menorca that just keeps pulling me back, and after my week’s stay in Cala n Bosch with my husband, I still have a real love for the place.

Menorca is one of Spain’s Balearic Islands, nestling in the Mediterranean Sea, and is generally considered quieter and more laid back than its two bustling neighbours, Majorca and Ibiza. Known for its endless beaches, there is something for everyone on the island, it’s simply a case of choosing the right resort and accommodation to suit your individual needs. Menorca can also be a great option for villa holidays when people don’t want to have to rely on car hire, as there are villas close by to resort facilities too.

We travelled with EasyJet Holidays, and apart from a short one-hour delay coming back, everything went to plan. Booking a package and having a shared airport transfer meant getting to and from the airport to the west coast of the island was very efficient. This was a budget conscious break, so we opted for a self-catering 3 key apartment complex that I was familiar with from when I worked on the island, and I was pleasantly surprised on arrival as it had been refurbished and taken over by another company since I last visited - it was better than I had expected for a 3 key facility.

The pool area is a good size, and we never had an issue getting a sunbed, although I know that’s not always the case in school holidays. There is a kids club, park area, restaurant, and some daytime and evening entertainment around the pool area, but apart from the pool we didn’t use any of the other facilities on this occasion. The accommodation is in a fantastic location, situated right on Cala n Bosch marina, and we booked it for the location, with the idea that we wouldn’t spend too much time there, as eating out and exploring the island was what we wanted to do. It’s a fantastic base for budget-conscious holidaymakers looking for a great location from which to explore.

In Cala n Bosch marina there are loads of really lovely places to eat and drink, and two nice beaches easily within walking distance - Cala n Bosch Beach and Son Xoriguer Beach. I love this resort as it’s about a 15-minute journey to the old capital Ciutadella, which is easily reached by the local bus service, taking around 25/30 mins and costing only a few euros. The buses run quite late, I think we got one back one evening at 23.30. I discovered that the main bus station for the centre of Ciutadella is now in a totally different location, so for people that have been before, bear this in mind as it really confused me! Wandering the narrow, cobbled streets, relaxing with a drink at one of the bars in Placa des Born, and checking out the handmade crafts at market stalls - Ciutadella really is a lovely place to visit.

We did so many amazing things during our trip. The highlight was the Mahon Fiesta, something I had not experienced during my time living and working on the island. Formally known as the Festes de la Mare de Déu de Gràcia, celebrations feature parades, musicians, giant figures, Menorcan horses, and a finale of fireworks over the harbour. I have good friends that are Menorcan, and so to experience the fiesta with them, right in the heart of the celebrations was so fantastic. This was a first for my husband, so see him get involved, having been learning Spanish for just over a year, was fantastic. He really enjoyed Pomada - a drink consisting of gin and lemon - a real must during traditional Menorcan festivities.

We hired a car for the last 2 days of our holiday from a company called Nuracar - their office was based in Cala n Bosch. They were very reasonably priced, with no excess, and a reasonable charge to add an extra driver. As the island is not very big, getting out and about in the car was very easy. We were advised that we had to place a specific piece of paper given to us by the car hire company in our car windscreen, which is something new as I’ve not had to do that previously, and it’s not permitted to drive wearing flip flops so take suitable footwear if you’re planning on hiring a car.

On our travels around the island we enjoyed the crashing waves and gorgeous beach at Son Bou, lunch at Fornells, which is a great place to try tapas, and visited Cavalleria Beach on the north of the island, which is popular with locals and further away from the tourist crowd. I advise setting off early for any of the more secluded beaches, as parking is limited and gets full quite early - we were there just before 09.00. One other top tip is to pack good insect repellent; they really took a liking to me on this trip.

At the start of our stay, we arranged a boat trip with a company called Amigos. This took us from Cala n Bosch marina to the gorgeous beach at Cala Galdana, where we had two hours to relax before heading back. On the return journey we got to sample more Pomada and take a dip in the crystal-clear waters close to Son Saura beach.

My foodie highlights were the crepes and ice cream at the Med Bar and the cocktails at Sa Terrassa Bar - both in Cala n Bosch Marina. And don’t forget to try proper Spanish Aioli with warm crusty baguettes, fresh from the supermarket!

This holiday really was the most amazing time spent with friends, showing my husband the reasons why I love Menorca so much. For me it’s not just one of the Balearic Islands, it’s a place I call home!

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