Looking to take a quick 4 day beach trip from London the first week in June. I'm trying to decide between Menorca and Mallorca but am not having much luck. Given we are only staying 4 days we'd like our accomodations to be central to one or two beach areas including shops and restaurants. We didn't plan on renting a car given the short time frame. Looking for a good balance of r&r and exploring nearby our lodging. We also don't want to be in a highly populated tourist area...like more of the local feel. Any recommendations???
Posted by
Denver, CO USA
492 posts
Save your money so you can take an eight day trip.
And not in June when both are packed with drunken Brits.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5541 posts
Neither are packed with drunken Brits at any time of the year. Menorca is the much quieter of the two islands and smaller but there is less to see than Mallorca.
There are two areas in Mallorca that are to be avoided where you will find plenty of drunk tourists. Magaluf which is near to Palma is popular with young Brits interested only in partying, drinking and sun worshipping and S'Arenal which is also close to Palma and where you find plenty of young Germans interested only in partying, drinking and sun worshipping. The rest of the island is frequented by tourists, primarily British and German, who are more interested in soaking up the Mallorcan life. Magaluf and S'Arenal are easily avoided, I've been visiting the island every year, sometimes twice a year, for almost twenty years and never encountered groups of drunken tourists.
If you want beaches that are also close to shops and restaurants then you are going to be in a tourist area. There's no point in opening a shop or a restaurant if there are no tourists to attract. That being said there are quieter areas but they are still popular, Playa de Canyamel is more low key than others, frequented mainly by German and Spanish tourists and it is a bit more high end than other areas.
Playa Can Picafort is another area popular with families. It's located on Alcudia Bay so the water is calmer and good for swimming, snorkelling etc.
Cala d’Or is a town that is a bit more touristy but it's fairly low key. There are a lot of restaurants and shops to experience and the area, whilst popular, is relaxed and not filled with drunken tourists. There are plenty of beaches in the surrounding area.
I could write for longer as there are many places on the island that would be suitable and as long as you avoid the two places I've mentioned and also Palma as it's way too busy although an absolute must for a visit then you should be able to find somewhere that suits your requirements quite easily.
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1632 posts
If you have four days, then Mallorca is better. It's a bigger island, but there is public transit serving many small towns. In Menorca, you should rent a car. I have been to both and like them both. Also, air fares should be more affordable to Palma than to Mahon.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, USA ☔️
6790 posts
Please go on, JC. Menorca has been on my to-do list for a long time, but I've often shied away and went elsewhere out of concerns that I would find myself trapped in a thumping, 24-hour foam disco party.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
JC super helpful and appreciate you taking the time to call out some specific areas to avoid and others that definitely peak my interest. I had heard to avoid those two more "populated" areas so already on my radar. :) we are spending 3 days prior in London and was hoping to add on a "sun/beach retreat" within a 3 hour flight from London which is why we only have the 4 days. Any other insights on specific hotels or places to stay I'd appreciate!