Roger Munns asked:


Just when the Menorca holidays market was worrying about the impact of the Euro against the British Pound, two airlines operating out of London’s Gatwick Airport have scheduled extra capacity for this summer’s tourist season, bringing the cost of a typical flight to Menorca’s Mahon Airport down in price.

A development by the UK’s biggest low cost airline means they now have four UK airports serving Menorca’s Mahon airport, the all important London Gatwick, Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport serving the North West of England, notably both Liverpool and Manchester, Bristol for the South West and Wales, and Newcastle for the North East of England.

The good news for those thinking of taking a holiday in Menorca who live in London and her Home Counties is that the low cost airline’s departure and arrival times for Mahon Airport from Gatwick have improved a fair bit too, and instead of arriving on the island close to midnight, the summer schedule sees flights depart Gatwick at either 6am or 6.30pm, depending upon the day of the week, and leave Menorca in time to touch down back in London before lunch time, or late night, allowing flexibility on the same airline not often seen at low prices with no penalty prices to pay for a low cost Menorca flight.

But further good news as has come from the well known airline Monarch, who are also now increasing the number of seats available for Menorca for the summer.

With over 140,000 seats available from Monarch the price of a flight to Menorca could well be lower in 2008 than 2007, despite increased costs of aviation fuel and government airport taxes.

Gatwick Airport serves London and the counties of Surrey and West Sussex, some of the most affluent areas of England, and Menorca often is a choice of the well to do who prefer a villa holiday with its own private pool to a hotel one on a complex.

And the combination of the two airlines increasing their flights to Menorca is a real boost for Menorca not just for the villa holidays but across the board as apart from London’s Gatwick, between them they serve different airports across the UK, meaning hotels and holiday companies who deal with Menorca holidays should all benefit for this summer’s season.

The airport for Menorca flights is Mahon, capital of Menorca. Mahon is rife with splendid hotels and fine restaurants, clubs and bars.

However, visitors who want to experience more of this spectacular island may want to consider spending time at Son Bou or Cala’n Porter. These two resort developments, located near the city of Alaior, are on the island’s central southern coast. It is about a 20 minute drive from the airport in Mahon. Only a short distance away from these is the resort of Santo Tomas in the district of Migjorn Gran which is also well worth a visit.

All three of these resorts feature gorgeous beaches; in fact, Son Bou boasts the longest beach on the island, with an astounding two miles of white sand for visitors to enjoy.

Although the scenery and terrain may be enough in itself to keep holidaymakers busy for an entire vacation, Menorca is also rich in culture and history.

This is visible in its renowned collection of ancient stone monoliths which bear tales of prehistoric times. Although Menorca has been a territory of Spain for over 200 years, there is still much evidence of its British roots; some English-style architectural influences are still apparent even after the passage of centuries.

Whatever the reason for a trip to Menorca, the extra competition in the skies could mean the cost of getting there is less for 2008 holidays - enough perhaps to compensate for the strength of the Euro.



Anurag

Roger Munns asked:


Blissfully located in the Mediterranean and less than two hours flight time from the UK, Menorca has carved herself a niche and is known for peaceful family holidays, while her sister Balaeric islands of Mallorca and Ibiza are busier - and some would say definitely noisier!

But like any other holiday destination, tourism plays an important part in Menorca’s economy, and she wants to maintain and if possible improve on the number of visitors as Europe’s economy follows the U.S. in a downturn.

The good news for Menorca as the summer season approaches is that new routes from the important UK market have started, making Menorca not only more accessible but likely to bring the cost of a flight to Menorca down due to increased competition.

Britian’s biggest low cost airline easyJet now have four UK airports serving Menorca’s Mahon airport, the all important London Gatwick, Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport serving the North West of England, notbaly both Liverpool and Manchester, Bristol for the South West and Wales, and Newcastle for the North East of England.

The good news for those thinking of taking a holiday in Menorca who live in London and her Home Counties is that the low cost airline’s departure and arrival times for Mahon Airport from Gatwick have improved a fair bit, and instead of arriving on the island close to midnight, the summer schedule sees flights depart Gatwick at either 6am or 6.30pm, depending upon the day of the week, and leave Menorca in time to touch down back in London before lunch time, or late night, allowing flexibility on the same airline not often seen at low prices with no penalty prices to pay for a low cost Menorca flight.

Menorca is also served by two UK airlines that offer scheduled flights apart from the low cost carrier that offers cheap flights to Menorca. But there are a high number of holiday companies who offer chartered flights in the summer months, and these companies have helped reduced prices for holidaymakers visiting the island. Menorca’s closest neighbour Mallorca attracted most UK tourists for 2007, beating off competition from low cost destinations in Eastern Europe, and Menorca has also benefitted last year from an increase in visitor numbers.

Despite their geographical closeness and being part of the same group of islands - the Balearics - Menorca and Majorca attract a different type of tourist from each other, and with Ibiza the third of the islands each has its own appeal, and each her unique selling points when compared to each other.

Ibiza is known in Europe for her clubs and nightlife, with 18 to 30’s and their high disposable incomes preferring the island to quieter Majorca and Menorca. A survey by the island’s tourist board sprung a surpise for many in the hotels and holidays industry with a report showing of the three islands that Ibiza’s visitors spent more on their holidays than those in Majorca and on holiday in Menorca.

Majorca is a favourite holiday island for both the British and Germans, and as well as having a cosmopolitan feel to it offers both nightlife for the young with luxury hotels and villa holidays for older visitors. Plans are in place to build Spain’s top luxury hotel on the island.

The island of Menorca, also known as Minorca, is regarded as the quietest of the three holiday islands, and family orientated, with tourists just as likely to be taking a villa holiday as they are staying in a hotel or holiday apartment. The island is at her best in May and September when the island’s roads are quiet but everyone is geared up for the season.

The new flights will see an increase in holidaymakers from the UK, but tourist authorities will want to make sure Menorca retains her character of a peaceful holiday haven for this summer’s holiday season.



Elex

Pinkpeagle asked:


Family with 3 children under the age of 6 want a villa holiday in Europe, last week July, first week August. Can annyone suggest some good sites? Anywhere in Europe, but preferably where a low-cost airline flies to!

Gail