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APPENDIX A
INFORMATION FOR VISITORS
How to reach Minorca
One may fly direct from London’s airports, the journey taking just
under two hours. There are also scheduled and charter flights from
several regional airports, Manchester, Norwich etc.
Travel agents can usually arrange a charter flight inclusive of hotel or
villa to most of the main tourist spots already described, and this might
be cheaper than independent travel. Try your local travel shop, or SAGA www.saga.co.uk/travel
There are firms specialising in Minorca, such as Travel
Menorca +44(0)1530 564174 www.travelmenorca.co.uk
Meon Villas www.meonvillas.co.uk
Menorca Villa holidays +44(0)8702 402669 www.menorca-villa-holidays.co.uk
www.menorcagold.co.uk to
mention just five. There are more on the Internet and in the Sunday
paper Travel sections.
The official Tourist website for Minorca
is www.emenorca.org
and it links to www.visitmenorca.com
where you can book accommodation direct with the hotels' Association.
Alternative ways of reaching Minorca from the UK are by car across
France to Barcelona, and then by ferry from there to Mahon.
A more leisurely route is by Brittany Ferries from Plymouth to Santander, or P & O Ferries
from Portsmouth to Bilbao in northern Spain and then drive (with one night
stop) the 400 miles to Barcelona.
The cheapest way from London is by coach from Victoria Coach Station to
Barcelona (thirty-six hours).
From the United States one may either fly to London and use any of these
methods, or fly to Madrid, and from there to Mahon
the whole journey taking about eight to nine hours.
Hotels
Your travel agent and the website www.visitmenorca.com will guide you. Three long established
four-star hotels are Port Mahon Hotel (Mahon), Hotel Audax
at Galdana beach, and Santo Tomas Hotel at the beach of the same name.
There are numerous three-star hotels at the main tourist playas. SAGA
offers attractive packages for over 50's at two popular hotels. www.saga.co.uk/travel
When to go
The season runs from early May until the end of October. July and
August are the busiest and hottest months, and there is much to be said for
an early or late holiday. October, and even November, are
delightful, and costs will be lower. January and February can be very
wet, windy and cold. Occasional snow is not unknown!
Car hire
There are numerous self-drive hire firms on the island, international and local. The former
all have desks at the airport. For
July/August it is advisable to book early.
Currency
The Euro is the unit of currency. Money may be carried by
travellers' cheques, or use made of one's Bank Cards. Multiple-
language Cash machines (Telebank) are
everywhere.
Local travel agencies
There are a number of these in Mahon and Ciudadela.
These agencies can, amongst other tours, arrange local excursions by sea.
This is an interesting way of exploring the coastline.
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