From The Times in the UK this appeared recently:

For a completely different world, head to Menorca, the second biggest of the Balearic Islands, largely undeveloped and rich in Neolithic taulas (T-shaped stone monuments) and talayots (stone cones). Mahón, one of the main cities, was established as the island’s capital in 1722 when the British began their 80-year sojourn.

Four-storey Georgian town houses with sash windows still remain. The Scientific, Literary and Artistic Centre is filled with paintings and mementoes of Menorcan writers, poets and musicians, along with natural artefacts from seashells to stuffed birds. The Principal Theatre, built in 1824 as an opera house, is a miniature La Scala.

Menorca’s main cultural events are Mahón’s international opera week and the Capella DavÍdica concerts at the other main city Ciutadella, along with the summer organ festivals in Santa Maria Church, Mahón, and Ciutadella cathedral. Easter week in Mahón brings out spectral penitents, while in late June Ciutadella’s dancing horses perform in honour of St John the Baptist.

To read the full article visit The Times at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/specials/artistic_spain/article5904117.ece

For holidays in Menorca visit yourmenorca.net

The number of property sales in Menorca and the other Balearic Islands has slowed down - no surprise there.

Majorca has seen a 50 per cent drop.

Here is an extract from the article we saw at the movechannel:

Long a favourite with the rich and famous, Mallorca is traditionally the most popular of the Balearic Islands.

Stunning coastlines and months of mellow sunshine provide the perfect backdrop to its role as the super yacht hub of the western Mediterranean. The true jewel in the crown is the capital city of Palma which offers a far more cosmopolitan and cultural twist that most holiday hotpots.

The other Balearic Islands, namely Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera, are also popular with holidaymakers and investors and, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute, the number of foreigners living in the Balearics rose by a whopping 17.2 per cent last year.

More than 32,000 foreigners arrived to set up home on one of the islands last year, with Germans heading up the exodus. German nationals now account for the largest single group of immigrants to the Balearics, swiftly followed by Brits, Moroccans and Italian citizens.

Mallorca’s stunning capital city of Palma is the most populous town, followed by Calvia, where over 33 per cent of residents are foreign. Ibiza Town came in third place with 11,604 foreigners, or almost a quarter of its inhabitants.

But, local estate agent Engel & Volkers which specialize in selling luxury second homes, said that Mallorca endured one of the most challenging financial quarters at the end of last year.

To read more click here

http://www.menorcaprops.com

There’s seven new photos of Arenal and Addaya at the photograph galleries of http://www.yourmenorca.net - here’s an example:

The latest travel industry news from holiday companies in the UK confirms that Spain should be the number one destination for holidays in 2008, despite the Pound falling against the Euro, and prices typically some fifteen per cent more expensive than last year.

A survey found that once in Spain, if the holiday is based in a resort, three quarters of British tourists stay in the resort for the duration, apart from getting to and from the airport. It would appear that the majority of British tourists aren’t interested in finding out about where they are staying, and perhaps Spain is more popular than countries like Greece simply because the flight is shorter.

And while the internet has taken the travel world by storm, the package holiday, which started en masse in the 1960’s, is still very much alive and kicking.

A package holiday is when both flights and accommodation are booked with the same company, for example expedia - and often the flight and hotel aren’t owned by the travel company handling the booking.

Part of this can be put put down to the fact that the successful chains of travel agents in the 1960’s onwards who would have a shop on every town’s high street in the UK have also successfully mirrored their success on-line.

‘A holiday is a major expense for most families’, comments one British company with travel sites for Majorca and Menorca, ‘and people grew up with travel companies who could be trusted - and those companies have used their brand awareness to great effect on-line, with the result that given a choice many people will book their holidays to places like Menorca and Majorca with the same company they have always used - but instead of doing it in a shop they are doing it on a computer in their office or at home.’

In today’s world where the interests of the environment is being promoted by governments as being paramount, the switch from shop based holiday companies to the internet is a plus for the travel market.

Just ten years ago the majority of people looking to book a summer holiday would visit one or two bricks and mortar based travel shops, and come away with three or four printed brochures from each. The volume of paper saved by the internet from the hotels and holidays industry alone must by now be very significant.

One island popular both ten years ago and today for European holidaymakers is Menorca, especially for family holidays.

Menorca is the second largest of Spain’s three Balearic Islands. This island is in the Mediterranean, between Spain and the North African coast. The other two islands are Majorca and Ibiza.

Daytime summer temperatures hover around 27C in the summer months. Lovely peaceful days are on the menu on this island, a pace that differs from the party atmosphere of Majorca.

The beach area in the holiday resort of Santo Thomas for example offers popular busier stretches and quaint hideaways - at 3 km long, it’s never overcrowded and offers protection with its surrounding sand dunes. The beach, patrolled for safety, is long and narrow. It offers an excellent swimming habitat, fine sand and warm surf. Scenic countryside and woods provide a backdrop to the sand and the Mediterranean waters.

As long as Menorca remains popular, people who have booked package holidays in the past will probably continue with the habit, and package holidays will remain a feature of the travel industry in 2009 and beyond too.

Menorca, home to many resorts and towns in eight municipalities, is very rich in history and culture. Several celebrities visit Menorca year after year for fun, relaxation and family time. Museums, art galleries and musical events are among the attractions that draw people to the Balearic Islands and Menorca.

Binibeca is on the south coast of Menorca, only five miles from the capital city of Mao (Mahon). It is considered to be one of the quietest resort areas on Menorca. Some say it is too quiet to suit their tastes. Binibeca offers more privacy than the larger areas of the island because it consists primarily of residential housing as opposed to large resorts and hotels. Most of Binibeca’s tourist housing is self-catering, with a variety of supermarkets to supply daily needs. The few hotels and clubhouses in Binibeca are outnumbered by the privately owned Menorca villas - rental villas in Binibeca vary from one to three bedrooms and most offer spectacular views of the sea from nearly every room. Villas offer added privacy for a more worry-free family vacation. Most rentals in Binibeca are within a five-mile walking distance to the Med and her beaches.

Many fun activities await tourists in Binibeca. Diving classes and tours are available for novices and experienced divers alike. The crystal clear waters around Binibeca are perfect for snorkeling and diving. Binibeca also has a very nice yacht club. Sightseeing tours are abundant, both by land and from the air. Small, light aircraft tours offer a bird’s-eye view of the entire island. In addition to air tours, the airfield also boasts a go-kart track that appeals to the young and the young at heart. With a short trip to Sant Climent, you will find an equestrian school where you can pay to ride the horses. The school often fills up weeks in advance, so it is best to book your ride ahead of time.

Binibeca Vell is the primary town in the area. It was created in the image of a traditional fishing village. The village is whitewashed and always freshly painted. All patios are perfectly decorated in an effort to capture the traditional feel. The village itself is constructed with authentic cobbled streets and arches. Due to the family appeal, the village’s nightlife is relatively low-key. There are several clubs and bars, though they do not stay open until dawn like clubs in the more populated resort areas.

The coastline from Cala Torret holds several sheltered coves. The rocky coastline has many paths and steps that lead to specific swimming platforms. These coves and private areas are great for families who don’t wish to be disturbed by large crowds. Swimming and diving are very good in these areas. Be sure to follow all safety measures and double check for rocks before diving into the water.

The quiet, peaceful nature of Binibeca isn’t for everyone. Some people look for a more lively vacation spot. Menorca offers a very wide variety of resort locations to fit nearly every need. Some resorts offer golfing, go-kart rides, guided tours and musical performances. The 2008 jazz festival kicked off in March and is expected to last through the summer and into autumn. Many museums, theme parks and water parks also await.

If you’re wondering where to go for your 2009 holiday, if you want a good family vacation, take a look at Menorca as it could be just what you’re looking for!