Menorca

Our 10 Days in Menorca: A Summer of Celebrations

This summer, Leslie and I had the chance to spend 10 wonderful days on the island of Menorca. It was our first time visiting, and from the moment we arrived, we knew it would be a special trip. Here’s a summary of our holiday:

19th July: A Very Early Start
We left home at 2 am to catch our 6 am flight from Exeter to Menorca. Once we landed, we picked up our rental car and drove straight to our first destination, Santandria. We stayed at the beautiful Playa Santandria Hotel & Spa, which offered stunning views and a relaxing atmosphere. After a nice lunch on the beach at Restaurante Es Bruc, we settled in for the evening. Dinner was a real treat, dining at Pez Limon in Ciutadella, where the food and service were impeccable.

20th July: Arrival of the Family
After a peaceful morning at a local cala, we made our way to Son Bou, where we checked into a villa with sea views. The villa was nice but didn’t quite live up to its price tag. Nevertheless, we were excited as the family Cox arrived from London that afternoon. We enjoyed a lovely dinner at Es Jardi des Temple in the local shopping center, which pleasantly surprised us with its excellent food and service.

21st July: A Birthday to Remember
It was a special day—my birthday! We celebrated in style at the stunning Santa Ponsa Fontenille. The plan was to dine in the garden, but the weather had other ideas. Instead, the 10 of us enjoyed a fabulous dinner indoors in a cozy barn. It turned out to be a fantastic evening, full of great company and unforgettable memories.

23rd July: Family Beach Day
We loved Santandria beach so much that we decided to return, this time bringing the family. It was the perfect spot for a relaxing beach day, and everyone loved it as much as we did. We had lunch again in Restaurante Es Bruc, in the hotel Platja Santandria and it was the perfect lunch on the beach. Big thanks to Kike, our sunbeds man who booked 10 of them for us in a busy period, with drink service under the umbrellas.

24th July: A Hot Evening in Son Bou
We had dinner at Casa Andres in Son Bou’s shopping center. Unfortunately, the heat was intense that evening, which took away from the experience. The food was good except for Heather’s plate which had to be returned and hence Heather had a later dinner than wanted, but it wasn’t a night we’d rush to repeat.

26th July: A Special Day for Leslie
This day was all about celebrating Leslie’s 70th birthday. We kicked things off by renting a boat, courtesy of Ben, and spent the day exploring the beautiful local beaches and coastline. That evening, we had a special dinner back at the villa while watching the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Although the ceremony wasn’t particularly impressive, the birthday celebration, food, and company more than made up for it. We capped off the evening with a “Happy Birthday” serenade at midnight.

27th July: Exploring Mahon
With the family Cox heading back to London, Leslie and I drove to Mahon via Fornells, where local festivities were in full swing. We checked into a lovely hotel Catalonia Mirador des Port by the port with nice views and spent a relaxing day by the pool. That evening, we dined at El Romero, opting for their tasting menu. While the atmosphere was lovely, we found the food a bit overpriced and not as exceptional as expected. Still, our evening stroll through Mahon’s charming streets made for a perfect end to the day.

28th July: A Cruise in Mahon
We spent the day cruising the beautiful and unspoilt port of Mahon. It was a fantastic way to get to know the capital of Menorca and enjoy its natural beauty. We ended the day with a peaceful dinner at our hotel, with stunning views of the port, which made for a relaxing close to the trip.

29th July: A Bumpy End to a Great Trip
Our holiday came to an end as we checked out early and headed to the airport. Unfortunately, there was a bit of drama as I realized I had left my prescription glasses in the rental car. Despite efforts to retrieve them, we had no luck. But glasses aside, we had an amazing time and would be delighted to return to Menorca.