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Slow Lane Magazine, May 2019
Insights and stories from across Europe and beyond
  • favourite (but oft-forgotten) festivals
  • Nepal's secret valley
  • boutique beauty in Drôme Provençale
  • carving out a future in southern Italy
  • Inntravellers' Tales – our new writing competition
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A Taste of the Mediterranean

Menorca's picturesque coast & tranquil interior
 
From coastal paths to rolling hills, and pretty fishing villages to grand ports, explore magical Menorca on this self-guided walking holiday, with hire car included. Stay in a high-quality hotel and indulge in delicious regional cuisine en route.
A Taste of the Mediterranean. 3 nights
A Taste of the Mediterranean. 3 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday on Menorca

Reminiscent of England's rural counties, the unassuming beauty and charm of pretty Menorca will come as something of a surprise. This is perfect country for gentle walks that lead down to the coast, itself a wonderful place to explore and discover ancient watchtowers and historic forts that have guarded these strategic seaways for centuries. With grand ports, pretty fishing villages and traditional market towns, Menorca has so much to offer, not least the excellent cuisine and fine wines.
On this break, you gain a real appreciation of this magical island as you savour the sights, aromas and flavours of the Mediterranean's crowning jewel. From your high-quality base in the south-eastern corner of the island, you are perfectly placed to walk along one of the many inviting paths that explore this extraordinary coastline of tiny, pine-fringed coves guarded by crumbling watchtowers; or to cycle down quiet lanes to discover a fascinating history of Bronze Age Talayotic remains, Moorish culture and British imperialism.
 
Gallery
 

Walking & More

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights. There’s no fixed itinerary, so take your pick of our suggested walking routes as the mood takes you.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.

    The best time for flowers is March, April and May, when there are also lots of butterflies.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 14 14 15 17 21 25 28 28 26 22 18 15
    mm 61 52 50 45 32 17 5 23 61 99 84 78
  • An introduction
    We provide detailed notes for several walking routes and sightseeing options, all easily accessed with your hire car.
  • Choice of routes: 8km to 13.5km

    Alcaufar Vell to Sant Esteve & Fort Marlborough (grade 1): 13.5km, 4.5hrs
    Forget the car today, with this relaxing walk that leads through the hotel grounds to the Morro watchtower on the coast. After visiting the small harbour of Alcaufar, continue along the Camí de Cavalls and via country lanes, to reach the impressive ruins of Fort Marlborough set in a vast ditch. This 18th-century British fort is well worth a visit before lunch in nearby Cala de Sant Esteve. You can shorten the walk by returning from Cala Rafalet or by catching a bus back.

    Alcaufar Vell to Punta Prima (grade 1): 8km, 3hrs
    This gentle stroll weaves through pretty farmland before heading south along one of the most spectacular stretches of the Camí de Cavalls to the bustling seaside resort of Punta Prima. Perfect for a leisurely morning or afternoon.

    Es Grau to the S'Albufera Natural Park (grade 1): 10km, 4hrs
    This circular walk begins in the sheltered bay of Es Grau and crosses a headland to the bay at Tamarells before swinging inland along farm tracks to return via the lake at Albufera in the wetlands of the Natural Park where there are many opportunities for bird-watching.
    Walk from Alcaufar Vell to Punta Prima
    En route from Es Grau to the S'Albufera Natural Park
  • Charming cities & ancient history

    Mahón
    Visit the handsome port-city of Mahón, or Mao, just a 10-minute drive away. Take a walk along the harbour or visit the museum and the Arch de San Roque, the only remains of what was once the wall that encircled the town. With narrow streets to wander along; shady squares with friendly pavement cafés; and shopping that ranges from a twice-weekly market to designer boutiques, Mahón is a fascinating place for a day’s exploration. While you are there, it is well worth taking a boat trip (pay locally) around what is one of the largest natural harbours in the world.

    Ciutadella
    Don’t miss the opportunity to visit the elegant port of Ciutadella, the island’s former capital, where historic buildings, stylish shops and fine restaurants line the colourful harbour. Here we include a detailed city walking tour.

    Talayotic Culture
    Menorca shares a common history with mainland Spain and the other Balearic islands – Phoenician colonisation, Roman conquest, 300 years of Moorish occupation (from 902) and eventual Christian re-conquest (1287). However, perhaps the period of most interest to the casual visitor is the Megalithic culture of the pre-Talayotic and Talayotic peoples that extended from 2500BC to the Christian era. This period is named for the distinctive cone-shaped towers that were built almost exclusively here and in Mallorca. The people who built them lived a pastoral life and occupied walled settlements though it’s not known why they built the towers. Some were built as solid constructions whilst others were built with multiple chambers. The Talayots also built large T-shaped structures made of dressed stone called Taulas, peculiar to the Menorcan Talayotic culture and always found close to a village. The Es Grau circuit visits one of the simplest and most unspoiled Talayotic sites on the island.
    Visit Ciutadella
 

Accommodation

Your base is the Alcaufar Vell, located in an idyllic rural setting, a short drive from the small bay of Alcaufar, an unspoiled fishing hamlet with reminders of times past, where you will find a few small shops, cafés and restaurants. We include one dinner of four courses with wine. If you are spending a day walking or cycling, or down on the beach, you can choose your own picnic (pay locally) from the hotel’s picnic menu.
Alcaufar Vell
  • 4-star agriturismo
 

Extend your stay

 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.
Currency converter

We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.

Please enter an amount Please enter a valid amount British Pound Sterling (GBP)
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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 3 nights: 20 April - 13 July 2019 & 01 September - 31 October 2019

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    20 April - 16 May £395 £190
    17 May - 13 June £525 £315
    14 June - 10 July £598 £375
    1 - 6 September £598 £375
    7 - 21 September £525 £315
    22 September - 5 October £425 £195
    6 - 28 October £375 £155
    3rd & 4th person discount -£35
    Single traveller supplement £35

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Price includes: 3 days' category B car hire (eg Fiat Panda(255, 255, 255) or similar with manual transmission)

    Drive time between the airport and the hotel: 0h20

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Alcaufar Vell
    Junior suite: 20 Apr - 18 May 2019 £24
    Junior suite: 19 May - 15 Jun 2019 £30
    Junior suite: 16 Jun - 13 Jul 2019 £35
    Junior suite: 01 Sep - 07 Sep 2019 £35
    Junior suite: 08 Sep - 21 Sep 2019 £30
    Junior suite: 22 Sep - 05 Oct 2019 £24
    Junior suite: 06 Oct - 31 Oct 2019 £18
    junior suite with terrace: 20 Apr - 18 May 2019 £38
    junior suite with terrace: 19 May - 15 Jun 2019 £50
    junior suite with terrace: 16 Jun - 13 Jul 2019 £58
    Junior suite with terrace: 01 Sep - 07 Sep 2019 £58
    Junior suite with terrace: 08 Sep - 21 Sep 2019 £50
    Junior suite with terrace: 22 Sep - 05 Oct 2019 £38
    junior suite with terrace: 06 Oct - 31 Oct 2019 £30
    'Standard' with terrace: 20 Apr - 18 May 2019 £17
    'Standard' with terrace: 19 May - 13 Jul 2019 £29
    'Standard' with terrace: 01 Sep - 21 Sep 2019 £29
    'Standard' with terrace: 22 Sep - 05 Oct 2019 £17
    'Standard' with terrace: 06 Oct - 31 Oct 2019 £14

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Alcaufar Vell (B&B) Double room Single room
    20 Apr - 18 May 2019 £98 £154
    19 May - 15 Jun 2019 £136 £230
    16 Jun - 30 Jun 2019 £160 £272
    01 Jul - 13 Jul 2019 £168 £283
    01 Sep - 07 Sep 2019 £160 £272
    08 Sep - 21 Sep 2019 £136 £230
    22 Sep - 05 Oct 2019 £98 £154
    06 Oct - 31 Oct 2019 £85 £130
  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Mahón

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Mahon (Menorca) Thomas Cook 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Mahon (Menorca) jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Mahon (Menorca) TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Mahon (Menorca) easyJet,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Cardiff - Mahon (Menorca) TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Doncaster Sheffield - Mahon (Menorca) TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Mahon (Menorca) jet2,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Mahon (Menorca) jet2,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Exeter - Mahon (Menorca) TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Mahon (Menorca) jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Mahon (Menorca) jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Mahon (Menorca) easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Mahon (Menorca) British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Mahon (Menorca) easyJet,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Mahon (Menorca) British Airways 
    Heathrow - Mahon (Menorca) (via Madrid) Iberia 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Mahon (Menorca) easyJet,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Mahon (Menorca) jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Mahon (Menorca) jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Mahon (Menorca) jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Mahon (Menorca) TUI 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

What is included
  • 3 nights
  • 1 dinner
    3 breakfasts
  • 3 days' category B car hire
  • route notes and maps
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 6 reviews
  • Mr C MacPherson
    Horley
    11 June 2018

    We enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the hotel and the coastal path walks were stunning.

  • The Reverend Dunstan Gladbladder
    23 October 2017

    Except for the hassle arising from flight changes, requiring us to fly from Gatwick instead of our original choice of Stansted, the holiday exceeded our expectations, with the hotel being a real gem.

  • Dr A Walker
    03 October 2017

    The walks along the Cami de Cavalls are wonderful - autumn crocus on the path stringing the route, the bleached dry stone walls, the cobalt blue of the sea and the occasional scuttling of a tortoise into the undergrowth will remain with us. The beaches are spectacular. The hotel Alcaufar Vell is a former farm house with a neo-classical facade, and it looked especially romantic in the light of a full moon. The staff are  charming and helpful. The walks are delightfully isolated, so perhaps picnics could be provided.  

  • Anon
    26 April 2017

    The hotel was wonderful in every respect. We especially loved the walk on the north coast. For a cheap but freshly prepared meal try S'Olivera tapas-surf-bar in Sant Luis. Very friendly staff and good value.

    It was a good time of year to go, late April, as it was not crowded and the flowers were beautiful.

  • Mrs G Last
    Reading
    21 April 2017

    On arrival the very friendly & efficient staff made us feel very welcome. The site & room were immaculate. Our file with maps and instructions arrived in plenty of time so there were no last minute panics. These were very clear and easy to follow. 

  • Anon
    21 April 2017

    A warm and friendly welcome to an idyllic island. Staff extremely helpful in a very relaxing location.
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/15/2019 3:01:59 PM