Aloes

About Aloes

Aloes suits travellers who want a quiet base outside Ciutadella rather than a resort strip. The hotel sits on Avinguda De Son Blanc, close enough to the old capital for an evening in the town and far enough for a calm return. Couples touring the island, families with a car and anyone planning early starts for the southern coves fit here. The outdoor pool, garden and free parking make a practical base for days that begin and end on the road.

Aloes is a four-star hotel, not a country finca or a beach club with rooms. It offers the fittings of a self-sufficient stay: air conditioning in the rooms, wifi, an outdoor pool and free parking, with kitchen equipment such as a microwave, oven and refrigerator listed among the facilities. Which rooms carry what is worth confirming with the property before booking, along with cot and family-room availability for the dates you have in mind.

Location: Ciutadella

Ciutadella, the old capital of Menorca, has a cathedral, palaces and a narrow port that faces west, which is why people walk down to the water at dusk. Aloes stands about 1.9 km from the centre, so the town is a walk or a short drive away rather than something you step out into. The address on Avinguda De Son Blanc sits in a low-rise residential edge of the city, quiet at night.

A car makes the most of the position: Cala Turqueta is 8.5 km away, Cala Galdana 11.6 km and the Naveta des Tudons 5 km, with Es Mercadal and Monte Toro at 21.9 km. Buses and taxis cover Ciutadella itself; for the coves, check the island bus operator, as summer-only lines and parking limits at the popular southern beaches change. July and August bring queues on the coast roads and full car parks. May, June, September and October give easier driving and softer light on the port.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms are listed with air conditioning and a fan, a bath and bidet, a hairdryer, a safe, a desk and a TV, plus wifi and internet access. Balconies, terraces and patios appear in the facilities list, and the garden and outdoor pool give families space outside the room. Kitchen and kitchenette equipment, including a microwave, oven, refrigerator and coffee, is listed too, which suits guests who prefer to eat in some evenings. Family rooms and cots appear among the facilities; confirm both for your dates.

Late arrivals should confirm reception hours with Aloes before travelling, since check-in and check-out times are set by the property and change with the season. A washing machine, iron and board and laundry service are listed, which helps on longer stays or after a wet day on the Camí de Cavalls. Non-smoking rooms, smoke detectors and first aid supplies are listed as well. Ask which rooms include the kitchen equipment and the fireplace, and whether parking needs reserving in high summer.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) lies 35.3 km from Aloes in a straight line, on the far side of the island beyond Maó. By hire car the drive runs west towards Ciutadella and then into the Son Blanc area. Taxis wait at the airport and are the simplest option with luggage. Buses run to Maó and, in summer, towards the resorts; for Ciutadella, check the island bus operator for current lines and timetables. Allow time in July and August, when roads are busiest.

Maó port is 38 km away in a straight line, so arrivals on an overnight ferry from Barcelona face a cross-island transfer to reach Aloes. Ciutadella has its own port with crossings to Barcelona as well, which shortens the last stretch; either way, the final run to Avinguda De Son Blanc is short, as the centre is 1.9 km off. Flights and ferries are fewer in winter, so confirm times with the operators and with Aloes before fixing plans.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Cala Turqueta, a white sand cove under pine on the Migjorn coast, is 8.5 km from Aloes, and Cala Galdana is 11.6 km. Both fill early in summer, and the island advice is to arrive by bus or at the start of the day. The Naveta des Tudons, a boat-shaped prehistoric tomb, is 5 km away and easy to combine with a morning on the coast road. The old town of Ciutadella, at 1.9 km, gives an evening walk at dusk.

Menorca's food is part of the reason to stay in the west. Caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew associated with Fornells on the north coast, appears on menus around Ciutadella, and Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin, so markets and shops in the old capital sell it. British rule in the 18th century left a gin tradition in Maó that has spread across Menorca. Fish, vegetables and bakery bread are the constants; check the winter opening of individual places, as many close from November.

A day from Aloes

Start early from Aloes and drive the 8.5 km to Cala Turqueta while the car park still has room, or take the bus if a summer line is running. Walk the pine-backed sand for an hour or two, then stop at the Naveta des Tudons, 5 km away, on the way back towards Ciutadella. Lunch fits into the old town, 1.9 km from the hotel, before the heat of the afternoon. Return to the pool and garden at Aloes for the quiet part of the day.

Late afternoon suits the port at Ciutadella, where the west-facing water draws a crowd at dusk. Walk the old town's streets and cathedral square, then eat in the centre before the 1.9 km back to Aloes. A longer alternative is Cala Galdana, 11.6 km away, for a swim in a cove under pine. On a cooler day, drive the 21.9 km to Es Mercadal and up Monte Toro for views of both coasts.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so confirm Aloes's opening dates before booking a winter or early spring trip; Ciutadella and the other main towns stay open year-round. July and August are the peak, with coast roads and car parks at their fullest. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax is charged per person per night by the accommodation; rates depend on the type and category of the establishment and the season, fall in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check current rules with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Aloes