Where's best in Menorca?

[lisbapalea]

Does anyone know Menorca really well?

I'm planning a villa holiday in July for me, DH, DD (will be 16mths when we go), my M&D, my DSiL and my nieces (aged 9 and 10). I don't think any of us want to be somewhere really busy (ie. not full of British teenagers getting shitfaced after doing their A levels - like I did in tenerife in 1995!), but it would be good to be reasonably close to amenities. We're happy be a drive away from a beach as we will have our own pool and we'll hire cars, but it would be good if any nearby beach was toddler friendly.

I have found 3 villas which look good but am trying to work out which one is the best area - can anyone tell me anything about Son Bou, Son Park or Calan Forcat?

Also, while I'm asking for advice, does anyone have any opinions on James Villas or Villa Plus? Have never used either before and have generally booked villas using sites like owners direct, but I thought it'd be easier to get someone to package it all up together for us this time round....

Thanks in advance for any opinions!

I have been a lot but stay in Cala n Bosch which is perfect for what you are after. Of the 3 you mention I have only been to calan forecat and wasn't keen.

We've been to Cala Galdana and would really recommend. Quiet resort with a nice restaurants, few hotels not too big) and villas. It's a little steep but the beach is lovely. We stayed here and it was perfect for us - our boys (8 &6) always want to go back.

When they were smaller, we stayed in Cala Blanca and it was much more commercialised, but there was a water park on the main road, lots of places to eat (OK nothing startling but fine enough) Presence of a Burger King on main road might give an indication

Friends have stayed in Son Bou and Santo Thomas and loved those resorts. REally nice beaches.

Calan Forcat was a bit too commercialised and I don't think would be what you are looking for. Don't know about Son Parc.

Cala n bosch is lovely, been twice, would go every year if dh woukd go.
I think cala n forcat is a bit of a chavvy nightmare if its the place i think, with a waterpark and a burger kibg

I have been to binibeca twice and love it Quite chilled no crazy bars etc and very pretty and relaxed.

Binibeca is lovely, but a bit to far out and with not much to do there to stay unless you want to do completely nothing IMO.

Thats true we do do nothing!

Son Bou has the most gorgeous beach and a fair bit going on at night in the resort centre. Water park as well.

Son Parc is very quiet and wouldn't be my first choice. The Island's only golf course is there. I think it's only got 2 or 3 decent restaurants.

Calan Forcat doesnt really have a beach, but is lively and near the old capital Ciudadella.

Also nice are Arenal D'en Castell, Santo Tomas, Cala Galdana.

I love Menorca and have been going for years, we hire a villa through Owners Direct in a tiny place called Son Vitamina, hire a car and go all over the Island the different beaches. I like peace and quiet on an evening so it suits me perfectly.

Cala'n Porter is a bit English for my taste and I'm not really a fan of Cala'n Bosch, but everyone has different tastes.

We've been to Cala n Bosch and Binibeca, and both are great.

Have you also looked at Meon Villas - we booked through them last year and the villa was first class, and the customer service fantastic.

Good luck with your search.

Out of the 3 resorts you mentioned, I'd go for Son Bou.

I used to work in Menorca 8 years ago, so did know the resorts quite well back then, but obviously a lot has changed (apart from my love for the island! )

Cala n'Forcat is the probably one of the more busy resorts; there aren't many groups of teenagers about in Menorca, but if they were they'd probably stay here. The beach isn't very good either.

Son Parc was always very quiet, not that much to do - a handful of bars and restaurants but you'd probably grow tired of them after a few days. I never went to this beach, but I think it was one of the better ones.

Son Bou has a fantastic beach, the best one there is. There has been more amenities added in the past couple of years and quite a few things for the children to do. (ten pin bowling and a maze are a few things if I remember correctly!) If I was going back on a family holiday I'd definitely stay here and it's only a 30 minute drive from the airport.

Hope you enjoy Menorca anyway from where ever you decide to go!

Son Bou is nice and supposed to have a great beach. I've been to Punta Prima - that was lovely but very quiet. The beach was ideal for young children.

Cala n Bosch is lovely.

Son Bou beach is gorgeous. Really quite busy at the end near the hotels, watersports, banana boats etc.....

then for us, a 10 minute walk along the beach towards Santo Tomas and there's literally no-one there apart from a few nudists. Great snorkelling, fine white sand, azure sea ...... 2 months and counting.

If you take a villa you have a good choice though:

(the below is true in most locations: villa owners had the prime location choices before hotels came on the scene-also the newer the villa the worse the location-Again best places taken long a go (building restrictions are very severe)

Take at look at this site I found as really does know it's stuff and is full of pictures which tell you the most.

Holiday Guide to Menorca

Son Bou: The villas are on the back ( as its quieter, have better views ) than the apartments/hotels areas, so further to beach

Son Parc: Same as above so, check location on google map

Cala Forcat : Check location carefully. The Els Defins area is most commercialised area on Menorca so might have the type of UK residents you are trying to avoid(only place on island likely too as will have lower price hotels offers )