Balearic Islands - 22N

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Island Info

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Flights

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Islands -

Menorca - Mallorca - Ibiza - Formentera

Visa -

Being a part of the EU Spain comes under the Schengen area.

Budget -

Not many places in Europe are going to be cheap. However if you are a couple or pair and are sharing room costs you should be able to have a good time on around $150 a day or so per person. Airfares are quite reasonable if you don't have a lot of luggage and many hours quicker than the ferries, trains and buses. Rental cars are quite cheap in Spain. Accommodation isn't, although most of these are arond the $100 a day mark. Drinking and partying could eat through a lot of money.

Population -

MENORCA - 99,037

MALLORCA - 947,804

IBIZA - 159,249

FORMENTERA - 13,333

AKA -

IBIZA - "The White Isle"

FORMENTERA - Ibiza's little sister

Itinerary -

Barcelona 3N - Menorca 4N - Mallorca (Acludia 3N & Magaluf 2N) - Ibiza (Ibiza Town 1N - Portinatx 1N - Sant Antoni de Portmany 3N) - Formentera 5N = 22N

About -

After a few nights in exciting Barcelona fly to the relatively unknown gem of Menorca. More laid back and rural than the two main islands it is the perfect place to start winding down. Hire a scooter to have a look around the island and get to the beaches. Go to Barcelona in 'Cities' for everything you need to know.

A few days later take the ferry to one of the most popular islands in the Mediterranean, Mallorca. Arrive in the north at Alcudia. Hire a car or motorbike for a couple of days to look around the island. Catch the bus down to Magaluf for 2 nights. Change at the main bus station for Magaluf and get off at Pere Vaquis Stop. Or hang on to the rental car and drop it off in Palma. Magaluf is a beach and party town, so you know what to do.

Then another ferry ride to the many faceted jewel that attracts 7 million visitors a year, Ibiza. Spend the night in Ibiza town and check out the famous nightlife. Rent a car for 4 nights and take the scenic route up to Portinatx via the traditional village of Sant Joan. After a night here head down to Sant Antoni de Portmany. It's only a 15 minute drive to Ibiza Town if you don't want the car after a day or two of looking around the southern end of the island. It's a 40 minute trip back on the bus.

Back to Ibiza town to drop the car off and take the ferry to Formentera little piece of paradise just a half an hour away. With some of the world's best beaches you can finish off the holiday doing as little as possible and have the time of your life doing it. Hire a scooter to get around and the world is your oyster.

A short ferry ride and flight and you'll be back in Barcelona.

Go - 300 sunny days a year

You could come here anytime of the year. You will need to think about prices, crowds, parties, warm water and work out which you do and don't want.

March to May for the good weather but low crowds, weatherwise April to September is good.

November to April are low season when prices and crowds drop.

In Ibiza the parties start happening in May June. October is the wettest month. But not that wet.

*Formentera shuts down in mid September

Airports - Cheap Flights to the Islands

Barcelona Aiport (BCN) - has direct flights from 197 destinations in 61 countries on all continents except Australasia.

Mahon Menorca Airport (MAH) - flight from Barcelona

Ibiza Airport (IBZ) - flight to Barcelona

Ferry -

Ferry from Ciutadella de Menorca to Alcudia on Mallorca takes around one and a half hours

Mallorca to Ibiza about 3 times a day and 2 hours

Ibiza to Formentera every half an our apart from a 2 hour siesta between 3pm - 5pm. Takes 35 minutes.

Stay @ or near -

BARCELONA - Cuatro Naciones ** - on La Rambla in the Gothic Quarter

MENORCA - Nao Catedral Boutique Hotel - in the former capital of Ciutadella de Menorca in the old town.

MALLORCA - Acludia Garden Aparthotel *** - by Acludia beach - Apartamentos Vistasol *** - close to the bars and the beach in Magaluf

IBIZA - Casa de huespedes Vara de Ray - in a good location in Ibiza Town 1N - Apartamentos del Rey in Portinatx with free parking 1N - Hotel Vibra Marco Polo I *** - great location with parking for 10 euros per day (must book) in San Antoni de Portmany 3N

FORMENTERA - Apartamentos Roca Plana - great location with sea views, terrace, 1 minute from the beach

Features -

MENORCA - 100 + beaches

MALLORCA - 260 + beaches

IBIZA - 80 + beaches

FORMENTERA - Very good beaches

History -

Signs of inhabitation go back 8,000 years and recorded history 2,000 years.

Different civilizations took over including the Tayalotic (Can still see their remains), Romans, Vandals, Byzantines, Moors, Spanish and now the tourists. They have been an autonomous region of Spain since 1983.

· See -

MENORCA -

Explore the Old Town of Ciutadella (Cafes, Bars, Restaurants, Shopping)

MALLORCA -

Acludia

Calo Des Moro beach

Magaluf

IBIZA -

Hippy markets / UNESCO listed Necropolis / Ibiza's Stonehenge

FORMENTERA -

The island by bicycle or scooter / Hippy markets / The Lighthouse (In a Jules Verne book at the end of the earth)

· Do -

MENORCA -

Sailing day tour / sea kayaking and snorkelling / Snorkelling with a sea scooter / Visit Quarantine Island (Bubonic Plague) / Hike or cycle to the top of Monte Toro for the amazing views

MALLORCA -

Quad Biking / Rent a car to explore the island / Ride the vintage tram in Soller / Check out the beaches / Swim with sharks at the Aquarium / Island tour on a classical motorbike / Donkey hike and picnic / Helicopter lesson / Cliff jumping / Explore the amazing cave systems

IBIZA -

Visit the Island of Es Vedra / Diving (High water clarity) / Horse Valley (Rescues mistreated horses - near sant Joan traditional village) / Explore the island by car - scooter / Pirate Cave tour / Visit Atlantis / Kayak in the Moonlight / Dive with dolphins

FORMENTERA -

Visit the little fishing village of Es Calo, find a private cove to go skinny dipping and then have a long and lazy seafood lunch (Have to book ahead for Paella and Spiny Lobster Casserole which is expensive and very good - see Eat below) / Go snorkelling

· Highlights -

MENORCA - is an UNESCO Biosphere

MALLORCA - Stunning beaches, little hilltop villages, wild nightlife - A bit of everything

IBIZA - Dalt Vila UNESCO site / UNSECO Necropolis

FORMENTERA - Not much to see or do or nightlife just some of the world's best beaches

Eat -

MENORCA -

Long lazy seafood lunch in the Port / Foodie walking tour / Fishballs in white garlic sauce / Lobster Stew / Wine flavoured ice cream / Cooking Class / Restaurants

MALLORCA -

Lunch at Es Verger (The best lamb Rick Stein has ever eaten) / Lunches in little villages (Santanyi) / have an ice cream in Soller - Trampo (Fish tomatoes and peppers) / Tumbet (Potato, Eggplant and Capsicum) / Frito Mallorquin (Fried meat and veg) / Cremadillos (Custard filled empanadas) / Arros Brut (Dirty rice) / Restaurants Alcudia / Restaurants Magaluf

IBIZA -

Pintxos - (Finger food bar snacks) / Croissant Show (A must for people watching) / Fish Shack (Remote and Fresh with no menu) / Paloma (Garden Restaurant in the middle of the island) / Ibiza Tapas / Mixed seafood grill / Restaurants

FORMENTERA -

Paella on the beach at Playa Illetes / Juan y Andrea (Book - One of the best in Europe) / Aigua / Restaurants

Drink - Nights out start late in this part of the world

MENORCA -

Although not as noisy as it's neighbours Mallorca and Ibiza, Menorca still has plenty of action for young and old - mostly in the two main centres and around the resorts - many open rooftop terraces in the Old Town / Check out the venue mentioned in Sundowners / Wine and Cheese in the vineyards of the local Winery

MALLORCA -

Lots of live music / Every village has somewhere for a drink, usually around the town square / Iced Coffees with ice cream / Magaluf is Party Central / Over 70 wineries for tastings / Cowboy night with Sangria, BBQ and Country music

IBIZA -

Provides a level of Clubbing not available anywhere else in the world - Superclubs / Beach Bars / Pool and Boat parties / Anita's Bar the original Hippy Bar / Elrow at Amnesia -The craziest party on the planet / Pikes Hotel -The home of Hedonism / A racy raucous night out at Lio Ibiza

FORMENTERA -

Beach Bars / Sant Ferran de ses Roques (For Night Market and lively bars) / Es Pujols is the nightlife area / Blue Bar / Kiosco 62

Sundowners - Beach bars

MENORCA -

in the cave bar with a Pomada

MALLORCA -

Hot Air Balloon Ride

IBIZA -

Cafe del Mar / Cafe Mambo / Cala Conta bar in a cliff / Es Vedra / Sunset Ashram / Berrinas Beach (Hippy Drumming) / Elements (DJ Soundtrack) / Hostal La Torre (Countryside magic)

FORMENTERA -

PIRATABUS (Local Institution) / Flipper y Chiller (Owned by Spain's most famous porn star) / 10.7 (Great roof terrace) / Cala Saona beach (The Best) / Gecko Beach Club / Beso Beach

Specialties - Sofrit Pages (Combo Meat Stew)

MENORCA -

La Pomada (Local Gin and cloudy Lemonade) / Ancient sausages

MALLORCA -

Coca de Patatas (Potato rolls - sweet) / Mallorcan Ensaimada (Europe's first sweet pastry)

IBIZA -

Sobrasada (Sausage) / Arroz de Mantanzas (Rice, meat, saffron, mushroom) / Seafood Paella / Zarzuela (Seafood stew) / Greixonera (Bread Pudding) / Hierbas Ibicenas (200 year old aniseed digestive)

FORMENTERA -

Bullit de Peix (Fish Stew with rice and saffron) / Piex Sec de Formentera (Artisan Dried Fish) / Liquid Salt

Tips -

Book hotel well ahead, because if something is not available the next alternativemay be much more expensive.

MENORCA - Car hire is cheap and a good way to get around or get a scooter

FORMENTERA - most of the beaches are unofficially nudist

Famous -

MENORCA -

Making Queso de Mahon (Cheese) for over 1,000 years

MALLORCA -

The most beautiful of the Balearic islands / Chopin's House / For Cycling / Tennis champ Rafael Nadal is from here / Love Island is filmed here

IBIZA -

Mentioned in Life on Mars - Bowie / World's best DJ's in Summer / The World's greatest party island / Es Vedra (Home of the Sirens)

FORMENTERA -

Unspoiled and Stress free / Crystal clear waters / Pink Floyd (Performed at the local club) and Bob Dylan spent time here in the 70's / Other visitors include Mick Jagger and Kate Moss