Anmar

About Anmar

Anmar suits travellers who want a simple, self-catering base on Menorca's west side rather than a big holiday complex. The two-star hotel sits near Cala en Blanes, outside the main resort areas, so evenings are quiet and Ciutadella is a short run away at 2.9 km. Couples touring the island, small families and anyone arriving late off a flight fit here best, because a kitchenette and a fridge mean the first meal does not depend on finding an open kitchen.

Anmar is a two-star hotel, which in practice means a plain, practical base: listed facilities take in a garden, a terrace, a garage and internet access, and rooms come with a kitchen or kitchenette. Expect straightforward comfort rather than hotel services, and plan days around the coast and Ciutadella rather than around the building. The garage is useful if you pick up a hire car, and the garden gives somewhere to sit after a long beach day.

Location: Ciutadella de Menorca

Cala en Blanes is a small coastal area south of Ciutadella, and Anmar stands outside the busiest built-up strips, so the setting is calmer than the main resort zones. Ciutadella itself, the old capital, is 2.9 km away, with its cathedral, its palaces and a narrow port made for evening walks. The address is on Avinguda Calés Piques, a road that ties this western stretch of coves to the town, which keeps most hops short.

Anmar sits outside the main resort areas, so most outings beyond the immediate streets are made by car, bus or taxi; Ciutadella, 2.9 km away, is a reasonable walk for some and a short ride for others. A hire car opens the south coast, with Cala Turqueta 11.9 km off and Cala Galdana 14.9 km off, and the Naveta des Tudons 7.2 km away. In high summer the popular cove car parks fill early; in May, June and September the same drives are easier.

Rooms and facilities

The listed facilities point to a self-catering stay: kitchen or kitchenette, fridge, microwave, coffee-making kit, safe and TV, with a balcony or terrace for the evening. Connecting rooms help families who want space without splitting up, and a launderette on site is useful on a two-week trip. Practical extras include internet access, a garden, a garage for a hire car and wheelchair accessibility. Pets are not allowed, so plan around that if you travel with a dog.

Confirm the details that matter to your party before booking: Anmar lists both kitchen and kitchenette, so ask which applies to your room, whether the balcony faces the garden, and how the connecting rooms are laid out. Check arrival arrangements if you land late, since check-in times are set by the property. Ask too about garage space in high summer, about internet access in the rooms, and about the launderette. Payment by credit card is accepted.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 38.5 km from Anmar in a straight line, south-west of Maó on the far side of the island. The simplest transfer is a hire car picked up at the airport, which also covers the drives to the coves during the stay; taxis make the run across the island, and buses reach Maó and, in summer, the resorts, with a change likely. Confirm the current options with Anmar before travelling, since summer and winter timetables differ.

Maó port is 41 km away, so arrivals by sea from Barcelona or Palma involve a cross-island transfer to the west coast. From Ciutadella, 2.9 km from Anmar, the last stretch is quick by taxi or car. Coming from Es Mercadal and Monte Toro, 24.3 km away, the road runs west across the middle of the island. Winter brings fewer flights and sailings, so check times with the operators, and ask Anmar about arriving after dark.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala Turqueta, 11.9 km away, is one of the white sand coves of the Migjorn coast, set under pine. Cala Galdana, 14.9 km away, is the best known of the southern inlets, a deep bay with hotels and places to eat. Closer in, the coves around Cala en Blanes serve for a quick swim. Ciutadella, 2.9 km from Anmar, is the place for an evening: the old town at dusk is 2.8 km from the door.

Menorca's kitchen is plain and coastal: Mahón-Menorca cheese, which has a protected designation of origin, fish and shellfish, and the lobster stew associated with Fornells on the north coast. Ciutadella's narrow port is a good place to eat in the evening, 2.9 km from Anmar. Village shops and markets stock a kitchenette well, so breakfast before a coast drive is straightforward. Many restaurants outside the main towns close from about November to April, so check before driving out.

A day from Anmar

Start early with the 7.2 km drive to the Naveta des Tudons, the prehistoric tomb on the Ciutadella road, before the day heats up. Continue south to Cala Turqueta, 11.9 km from Anmar, and walk down to the water while the car park still has room. Return for a late lunch made in the kitchenette. In the afternoon, drive the 14.9 km to Cala Galdana for a swim, or stay closer to the coves around Cala en Blanes.

Give a morning to Ciutadella, 2.9 km from Anmar: the cathedral, the palaces and the narrow port at the foot of the town reward a slow walk. The old town at dusk is 2.8 km away, so an evening return costs little. For a longer outing, Es Mercadal and Monte Toro, 24.3 km off, give views across both coasts. Move between these points by car or taxi, and ask Anmar which buses run locally in season.

Practical tips

Ask Anmar for its opening dates before booking a winter stay, since many hotels, beach bars and seasonal buses on Menorca shut roughly from November to April, while Ciutadella stays open all year. July and August are the crowded months on this coast. An ecotasa applies, the Balearic sustainable tourism tax charged per person per night by the accommodation; rates depend on the type and category of accommodation and on season, are reduced in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rules.

Questions about Anmar