Minorca

Minorca the jewel in the crown of the Balearic Islands

Minorca or Menorca is the second largest of the Balearic islands and yet even today remains the least developed, this in the sense that you will not find the place booming out lound music day and night, even today there is only one true discotheque on the island yes they still refer to it as a discotheque not night club, you will find more bars and restaurants serving authentic Spanish meals as opposed to burger and chips, although as they cater to the English tourist then English meals are readily available. The main diet of Menorcan’s themselves unsurprisingly is fish, one dish they are famous for is their lobster casserole (recommended). Minorca is also famed for it’s special blend of gin’s the best known of these is Xoriguer , and has been distilled on the island since the 18^th century, the gin is made from grape and not grain as traditional London gins are.

Pay a visit to the distillery near the port of Mahon and get to try all the locally-produced liquors , of which at the last count there was about 12 .

Who ever the custodians of Minorca were when General Franco died in 1974 , i believe a decision was made by them to keep Minorca as close to it's roots as possible, and who ever has been in charge since has carried this on. You will not find the 18 to 30 hordes partying all day and night here. That's left for it's cousins Majorca and Ibiza, what you will find is the more mature tourist and young families who enjoy the many beautiful and safe beaches. Please do not get me wrong there is night life here, in may of the bars and hotels you will find the normal mixture of music, karaoke and live entertainment including flamenco dancing, most of this entertainment finishes at 11pm but if you fancy dancing till the early hours then the place to go is Cova d'en Xoroi ,The Cova d'en Xoroi is a large complex of caves which has been converted to a discotheque, you will find this halfway down the cliffs, about 3/4 of the way along the south coast, (going from west to east) the Cova d’en Xoroi is open seven day’s a week in full season (check times out of season) from 10am till the early hours, this is well worth the visit for the spectacular views and especially the sunsets

The island is 50km long (north-west to south-east) and 20 km wide. The capital Mahon (which is also the name of the airport) boast the second largest natural harbour in the world (Pearl Harbour being the largest).When i first started visiting Minorca in the late 70's the airport was no more than a shack, today to cope with over 1million visitor's, Mahon airport is one of the most modern in the Balearics.

Although there is a spluttering of tour operators hotels on the island the majority of tourist that come to the island are of the self-catering variety and rent one of the many apartments or villas on the island, but even here the present day government has stepped in and stopped any more developments, one knock on effect of this is that the price of property is some of the most expensive in the Balearics.

The best time’s to visit Minorca .

As stated earlier this beautiful island has a huge pull for families this means children and lot’s of them, now I have nothing against children I was one myself once , but you need to be aware that between the last two weeks in July and the first two weeks in September (the English school holidays) then there will be lots of young families on the island, as I have said I have nothing against young children , in fact both of my children loved going to Minorca when they were young and because of the safe beach’s there they learnt to swim in the sea at a very young age. But like me if you are of a more mature age and just want a break and enjoy the peace and quite of a beautiful island then I have found the best time to visit Minorca is June or the backend of September.

I usually take the second week in June, and have found the temperature to be around the low 70s in the day which is quite pleasant, however I would suggest you pack a couple of sweaters or light jacket as the evenings at this time of the year can get quite chilly

The other pluses going this time of year is you will generally be able to pick up a cheap flight ,(flight time from Gatwick or Stanstead is about 1 hour 45 mins) and also secure a discount on your accommodation , and car rental , a lot of the holiday accommodation on the island is privately owned and as the season does not get into full swing until July owners are only to pleased to be able to get a week or two extra bookings and will generally offer a discount, as will the car hire firms , and of course as the island is not yet into full holiday mood you will find dinning out to be a more relaxing experience with less crowded bars and restaurants.

Minorca is not an all year round holiday island, it is known as the windy island and while this can be quite pleasant in the heat of the summer the breeze can be quite deceptive as to how hot the sun really is so beware the sun burn especially for the little ones . In winter the wind can and does bring it’s fair share of rain.

I could give you a list of must see and things to do on Minorca but I think the best way to do is just hire a car and explore.

Author Chris - Alan copyrighted 2007

http://travel.chris-allan.com/

Credit Card Travel Tips

Credit Card Travel Tips: Some Do's & Don't's

by Raquel Manuel

Most people would never think of traveling without credit cards -and for many good reasons. Credit and charge cards can certainly give you an edge while on the road .

You do not have to carry as much cash - a definite security advantage - and you WILL receive a record of all your transactions when your credit card statement arrives.

If your credit cards are stolen and used by a thief, and you report the loss promptly, you generally cannot be held responsible for more than a specified dollar amount in fraudulent charges (usually $50).

You also stand a better chance of getting your lost credit cards replaced promptly...and this certainly cannot be said for losing cash! Most major credit cards are accepted worldwide, and in many countries, are preferred as currency over travellers checks.

Most people carry at least two types of cards, ideally from two different financial institutions; if one card does not work, the other one is usually accepted. Make sure to keep the cards in separate places. Keep in mind that in some countries, one type of card is preferred over all others.

Consider these examples: in Germany, Mastercard is the card preferred by most businesses; in fact, many stores refuse to take any other card. Note also that some fine restaurants will take only American Express cards - an unpleasant situation if you find yourself having polished off a gourmet dinner with nothing else but a Visa card to pay for it! When in an unfamiliar place, it is a good idea to ask about credit cards accepted before ordering.

When you make a purchase overseas, make sure you check the bill to ensure you are being charged the correct amount. In many countries, periods are used instead of commas in numbers, so 1,000 may appear as 1.000, 45.00 may appear as 45,00. Familiarize yourself with the local currency and its approximate value in your country of origin's currency before you finalize a purchase.

Credit cards also make it easier for the holder to handle certain types of problems that may occur when paying for purchases. Although there is no guarantee that you can secure a refund on goods purchased abroad based on unsatisfactory quality or delivery of merchandise, it is possible your credit card company may allow you to withhold payment while they investigate.

It is a good idea to research policy before you leave. Also keep in mind that if you are purchasing goods that are disallowed in your country of origin, your credit card company many not be able to secure a refund for you. Before you leave, make a list of your credit cards and the international phone numbers to call in case they are lost or stolen.

Keep in mind that the toll-free numbers that are normally accessible from your home country may not be valid from the country you are travelling to. Ask your credit card issuer for the appropriate toll free numbers. Leave one copy of your credit card list with a trusted friend or relative and keep the other copy with you, in a safe place, separate from your cards.

You may want to encode the credit card numbers to make them more difficult for a thief to guess. Give yourself every opportunity to contact your credit card companies easily for replacement cards in case you lose your cards. Also make sure you have checked your credit cards' expiry dates and their credit limits. You may want to pay down the balances or request an increase to the limit, to ensure you have enough to draw on while you travel.

Lastly, here's one really simple but often forgotten tip: After paying for your purchase, make sure you take your credit card back. Credit cards can make - or break - a trip. Do your homework before leaving. It will be worth your time!

http://travel.chris-allan.com/

Copyright October 2005: All Rights Reserved. About the author:A trip should never go wrong from lack of planning. Raquel Manuel, the Author, an incurable travel fan, compiles a resource to help others take the hassle out of traveling. Circulated by Article Emporium