I just hate it when people start arguing on the forum

slatkins47- sorry you had such a poor time in Menorca earlier in the summer, and I hope that you will give it another go, as the island is one of our favourites.
So much so that we have just been for the 7th time in 18 years. However, before you think: Saddos, let me explain that there had been a 7-year gap since the last visit and, like you, we were not best pleased with several aspects of the place this time round.
First, though, about the weather, it was an unfortunate time you chose to go, as Menorca in early season can be decidedly wet - our first visit was the second half of June in 1988 and, although we were very lucky with the weather while there, it had apparently been raining virtually non-stop for the previous fortnight, and the consensus was that this was often the case. For glorious blue skies the best time to go is July, as August - when we went this year - can also be a bit hit and miss.

As regards Menorca itself, we were so delighted when we first discovered the island in 1988, when our children were very young, that we went three years on the run, then a break of 5 years, when we found our particular resort - Santo Tomas - had grown a bit, but not too much, and was still the same lovely place we remembered it. We again went in 1997, and visited just for half a day when our cruise ship arrived at Mahon in 1999, and since that time have been regular visitors to the USA.

We decided to go back to Santo Thomas this summer and pushed the boat out for a villa. Driving into the resort, our first thought was just how crowded it had become, especially with Spanish people, and the same can be said of everywhere on the island. Instead of being a sleepy little backwater, the place is now crawling with tourists. This is not to say you can't still find a quiet place away from the crowds, you can, but it's a bit harder. The best example we have of this is Cala Pregonda in the North. Last time we visited, about 16-18 years ago, there was just our family and a few others - when we went last week there were hundreds of people making the long trek to the beach and back. This was quite a shock, although the beach/cove itself is still magnificent. It is even signposted now, along with other remoter attractions, such as the Cavalleria lighthouse and people are coming in droves. The island has obviously decided to make use of its sites and make it easier for visitors, which is understandable, but the result is that these places are no longer the romantic spots they once were not so long ago.
The worst aspect of this influx of people is the poor service we found at virtually every restaurant we visited, it's as if the people serving no longer have time for you, but just see you as another till ringer. We lost count of the times we waited endlessly to be served, and for the bill, plus, the food was not as good as we remembered. Several of the places we ate at were also quite unfriendly, particularly those eateries where Spanish people were eating, maybe even a hint of resentment from them, we detected. This is a sad state of affairs generally, but understandable as mass tourism arrives.
And I agree that the supermarkets were very expensive too, but I always seem to recall they were anyway, so maybe that has not changed so much.
Travelling between east and west, we were also horrified at the number of cars now traversing the main route, with congestion even! This is not what we were used to, and a bit sad to see.
Of course, we are tourists and we have no right to deny other tourists the chance to sample the delights of menorca, but anyone else who has been visiting as long as us will comprehend our feelings.
I would still very much like to go back, but I think it best to go sooner rather than later, because I believe in the not too distant future, the island of Menorca will be as busy as its neighbour Ibiza and catching up with Majorca too.

I think you have a valid point Helen

There is no doubt that certain parts of Menorca are getting more and more commercialised and crowded - however we just avoid those places or for the kids sake sometimes just visit for the day

We base ourselves in s'algar which is a great relaxing place to return to every night

the one thing that may stop the rot is the fact that flights to Ibiza and Majorca are far more plentiful and cheaper than to Menorca which may prevent it becoming overrun to the extent you are worried about

richard, I think the main influx of tourists has been from the Spanish mainland, who never used to go to menorca, other than to work there (most of the service people we met in years past were from Barcelona), but now they see it as a holiday resort, which makes sense, seeing as it is so close and very beautiful.
None of the things I mentioned will put us off returning to what we still regard as our favourite holiday isle, but given the 7-year gap between visits, the changes we saw were rather alarming. had we being returning every year they would have been much less noticeable - so maybe the answer is to go every summer from now on!
Never been to S'Algar (other than perhaps for a passing visit) - what's it like?

Hi Helen
We visited 3 years ago, staying in the excellent Las Palmeras apartments. Its hard to explain it, but its like a large man made village. There is a 3* high rise hotel called the San Luis which gets great reviews (although the pool area is cramped) and the 4* hotel S'Algar, 3 sets of attractive low rise apartments, all interspersed with private villas some with pools. Very pretty.

We enjoyed our holiday in Las Palmeras, but my kids are now young teens so we wouldn't return. The only downside was that villa residents get "pool passes" to the hotels and apartments and this means that in July/Aug the pool areas get very busy as they are being used by more than the residents of your apartments (of course Tour Ops never tell you this!)

You also need a car unless you like a very quiet holiday, the nearby village of Binibeca Vell is lovely with good restaurants, although expensive and you are close to Mahon which is great.

We thought S'Algar was nice with an upmarket feel to it, but I have read other reports where people feel its a bit false/sterile because it's purpose built. There is no yob element, it's suited to young families and couples.

Hi Doepsmc and Richard,
So glad that you and your families enjoyed your holidays in tranquil S'Algar. As a former resident there, I agree that S'Algar has an 'upmarket feel to it.' It's acknowledged as being the best maintained Urbanization on the Island. Obviously that standard of care requires funding. Villa owners and residents aren't automatically supplied with 'pool passes' Those wishing to use the main pool (near Hotel S'Algar) purchase 'passes' annually at a cost of 210 Euros,( approx:£142) for a minimum of two. If additional passes are required obviously the cost is increased accordingly. Although the pool is open for most of the six month tourist season ,swimming during early or late season is often decidedly chilly.
Property owners in S'Algar pay 'Rates' both to Urbanization S'Algar and to San Luis Council. Although I left S'Algar several years ago, for family reasons. I greatly enjoyed living there.
It is a well managed and beautifully maintained development. Come and enjoy !

You could tell as a tourist that it was well maintained, and very pretty If I go back to Menorca it will be S'Algar that I will choose.

Doe

Well

S'algar is what I would describe as a great base for someone who is visiting Menorca who hires a car

Basically it is a very laid back resort mainly villa accomodation (we book direct with a villa owner).

There is one large Hotel, the San Luis which is quite lively and has evening entertainment. (We have two young children and visit it about twice in a fortnight depending on which shows they have on at night etc)

There is another quite refined Hotel called the Hotel S'algar which I would recommend for couples only

The Las palmeras apartments are great and have a large pool

There is also a lido with a pool

A superb sports complex with tennis courts, gymnasium, mountain bike hire, bowls etc

A couple of what I would describe as normal restaurants, a bakery, a small supermarket

A superb restauarant called Asia

A diving school with a great reputation

A train that takes you around the resort at night

Just a very peaceful resort (but with everything you might need) which means that no matter how hectic a day you may have out and about you always come back to a relaxing base

Alcalfar is very close by and has a nice restaurant, lovely beach and good tapas bar

Mahon is just 15 minutes drive away - next August we are going for the whole month !!

we're another family that won't be going back to Minorca. That's not to say that we hated it but we made the best of it. Can't remember it being too expensive although it was 11 years ago. We stayed in Santo Tomas and at that time there were no bars and only a handful of restaurants to choose from. It was far too quiet for us. The resort has probably expanded loads by now but we've had terific holidays elsewhere since then so will not be chancing it again. We have various holiday recollections but I can't say that any of our Minorca memories stand out.

It's the 'one man's meat is another man's poison' thing again. My wife and I really like Menorca and the low-key quiet resorts that don't suit some others is like mana from heaven for us. Conversely, we don't really think much of the Costa del Sol for example and doubt if we will be returning to that particular part of Spain anytime soon. Likewise, Lanzarote didn't really hold much appeal to us either yet I know people who go to both these places every year and love it. After 3 holidays to Minorca in 2 years, I'm nearly at the point where I can probably say 'been there, seen it, done it' now but as it's such a lovely little picturesque island I doubt if it will be too long before we go back again.

At the end of the day of course, if everyone liked the same things in life, it would be a very boring world so viva la difference I say

I feel very sorry for the experience you had in Menorca, we have just returned from a last minute week away in mid October 06 (Scottish School Holiday), the resort Cala n Bosch was great for the kids, our accomodation was lovely and luckily our weather over the week was very kind to us. the children were in the sea and in the pool everyday but one. We found the prices in the restuarants were on a par to what you pay for a meal for four with wine to what we would pay back home, and the people were lovely and friendly and great with the kids. It was our first visit and I would definitely return.

I visited Menorca a couple of years ago with my husband and two sons. We had a fantastic time, that good, that we booked for the following year and we have never returned to the same placeup until then. I agree, it can be expensive, but I think all the Balaerics are since the introduction of the Euro. We stayed in Sa Caleta at the Blanc Palace Aparthotel, and people return year after year, in fact, I think they actually do a competition for the family who have returned the most! We visited Cieutadella, Cala n Bosch, Cala Blanca, all lovely! We weren't too impressed with Cala n Forcat, but I've got friends who love it - wouldn't do for us all to be the same now would it! Would defintely return - we couldn't fault it

i love menorca me and my family have been 5 times and are going again in the summer

the years we have been (i was 11 the first time we went)

1997
2000
2002
2003
2005

and have just booked right now

we are going for 2 weeks on the 29th of June 2007!!!

can't wait as ive been there so many times in the last ten years i feel like a have to defend it from the 1st comment in this post
it is not expensive if you go to the right places
the weather has always been beautiful (ok so you get the odd bad day but so does everywhere)
the food is lovely and its my favourite place in the world

Spot on MarzBarz, Menorca is absolutely lovely.Good to see a 20 year old appreciating the island.We have been 8 times in the last 12 years and love it.

I have been visiting Menorca for about 30yrs now and I have seen many changes over the years, I can remember Binibeca Vell being built and all the land around it being scrubland.

Anyway, I read posts about Menorca being expensive to eat out and haven't heard a word about the menu del dia offers that most spanish restaurants have. A three course lunch with a choice of three items for starters, the same for main course and dessert. Included in the price wine or water and bread, cost from 6 euros, how good is that! Yes eating out can be expensive if you let it, the same as eating out in the UK
As for drinks being expensive, I think that a spirit and mixer is about the same as the UK but look how much you get you must get at least two doubles, wine is cheap and beer about the same as the UK.

Poor weather can put a bad slant on any holiday, and shouldn't be considered when judging any holiday destination. Last August in Menorca was awful and very untypical of the normal weather pattern, but so was the UK, we were nearly flooded out in Surrey.

As for football shirts being expensive........buy em at home then

If you want cheap cheap Menorca isn't for you. If travel agents sold holidays properly as in actually aked what people want from their hols then perhaps there wouldn't be as many unhappy tourists.

If you like a quieter holiday with some lovely bars and restaurants to choose from and a distinct lack of groups of young men on football holidays then Menorca is for you.

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Can't say Menorca was one of my best holidays, though it was 12 years ago. I don't remember if it was expensive or not but Santo Tomas where we stayed was a dump. We did enjoy the holiday (We always do), but I'd go so far as to say that it was our least favourite place and I doubt we'll be going back.

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I'm glad to say that things have obviously improved since you last went Shirley because although Santo Tomas is a quiet little resort that might not appeal to everyone, it's certainly no dump. I know you really like Corfu and with good reason to on the whole, but I'm sure Stig of the Dump would feel far more at home in a place like Kavos than he ever would in Santo Tomas.