Menorca - worth hiring a car?

[lovecat]

We have booked a fortnight in Menorca at the Hotel Victoria Playa in San Tomas (all comments/tips about the hotel or the resort very welcome!).

Would anyone be able to let me know if San Tomas is very out of the way, and if it's worth hiring a car to see the rest of the island, or if we can rely on public transport to get around?

Cheers

No-one?

Hi Lovecat, it is a few years since I have been to Menorca but we hired a car whilst there. You can get away with the most basic of cars as the island is not very big. Some of the beaches you may not be able to get to via public transport so, in my opinion, hire a car. You could even get away with just hiring a car on a daily basis or on a few days basis. You won't need one every day. Hope that helps.

Thanks, Candlewax, that's fantastic. DH is of the opinion that you MUST hire a car when on holiday, but last time we went away we barely used it, so I was loathe to go ahead and book it for the entire fortnight. Cheers muchly

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We stayed at that hotel six years ago. The beach is wonderful there, but you will go stir-crazy unless you hire a car for a few days. There is one main road across the centre of the island running East/West and it is easy to find other resorts to explore. I would heartily recommend a day in Cala'n'Bosch in the Western corner of the island. It is a lovely harbour town with restaurants all round the harbour. It has 2 beaches and a very nice waterpark too.

Also, can highly recommend the restaurant on the beach, close to the Victoria Playa, for lunches. Wonderful mussels and calimaris

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Justjules, that's so kind of you, thank you so much for the info!

Thanks also Yorkie and Pestomonster for the tips, we will definitely look into that lunch place - and the waterpark if DH has anything to do with it!

Cod... erm... thanks? Have come to the conclusion as I get older that I am, in fact, a tourist rather than a traveller, so we will have a look at said beach and see...

We are going for the last 2 weeks of July/1st 2 days of August, so we may well see a bit of the Sant Cristofel festival - when we went to Llafranc a few years ago it was the feast of Sant Joan, that was fab (albeit slightly scary given the Catalonian disregard for firework safety!), so I'm quite excited at that prospect

We've paid for coach transfers, simply because we're landing and leaving at stupid o'clock and didn't want the hassle of trying to find a taxi/sorting out car hire there and then.

From what I've seen of it, Menorca looks absolutely beautiful (MIL also said so and she and I tend to have similar pov on that sort of thing) - I love that pine cone smell too! Ooh, I can't wait....

thank you all very much

Ooh, that all looks wonderful! According to the hotel details, it's possible to walk to Son Bou from San Tomas, so we will deffo be paying it a visit.

Thanks so much again - really appreciated!

We've been to Menorca 3 times in the past 8 yrs, only like the quieter bits though. Once went early am to Turqueta, had beach to ourselves until 2 huge tourist boats pulled up and deposited 100s of people!

Don't know how old your Dc are, but one of our fave things was to take a little boat from Es Grau (?) over to a little island, ran out there a few times a day you have to say which one you want to come back on. Really empty quiet beaches, clear shallow water for watching fish/snorkling and not a lounger in sight.

Hi,
Just booked to stay in Cala en porter for 2 weeks.

Similar question whether to hire car for full 2 weeks, transfer not arranged.
Just worried wont have enough space for all luggage, in a small car, then have paid for a big car for the 2 weeks, any recommendations here?

Lady we booked apartment off said auto amigos are cheap, discount if book on line. search on google.

Have you heard of our apartments Vidal Court, Calanporter?

Justjules what is the weather like at the minute we go in a few weeks and the weather seems pretty crap.

Barney that resort is supposed to be nice iv never been before what dates do you go ?

Hi we stayed in Santo Tomas last year, that hotel is very nice. The beach is AMAZING, loads of room, turquiose sea, white sand. It is a very quiet place but there are a few little parks and one or two (expensive) shops. There are a few places to eat and kids discos etc. YES I would hire a car. We did and I also recommend a trip to Cala Galdana..it's beautiful. Also Mahon and Citudela are well worth a visit, lovely harbours. Monte Torro also is worth a visit for the views and statue and history. We also walked to Son Bou from Santo Tomas over the cliffs, hard work but lovely (comes out on a nudist beach though so be prepared for kids questions!).

Hi we stayed in Santo Tomas last year, that hotel is very nice. The beach is AMAZING, loads of room, turquiose sea, white sand. It is a very quiet place but there are a few little parks and one or two (expensive) shops. There are a few places to eat and kids discos etc. YES I would hire a car. We did and I also recommend a trip to Cala Galdana..it's beautiful. Also Mahon and Citudela are well worth a visit, lovely harbours. Monte Torro also is worth a visit for the views and statue and history. We also walked to Son Bou from Santo Tomas over the cliffs, hard work but lovely (comes out on a nudist beach though so be prepared for kids questions!).