Paradis

About Paradis

Paradis is a three-star hotel just outside Cala Blanca, a small village on Menorca's west coast within easy reach of Ciutadella. It suits families who want space, a pool and a kitchen rather than a resort strip, and couples who prefer a quiet base away from the busiest summer crowds. The garden, the outdoor pool and the solarium give the day a slow shape, and self-catering in the apartment keeps mealtimes flexible. A car helps, though the old capital is close.

The stay is simple and practical: a three-star hotel with a long list of everyday facilities rather than polished extras. Air conditioning, wifi and a washing machine cover the basics for a week or two, and family rooms with cots and sofa beds take the pressure off packing. Pets are allowed, which is worth confirming early. Treat Paradis as a base for a Menorca holiday built around the coast, the prehistoric sites and Ciutadella.

Location: Ciutadella de Menorca

Cala Blanca sits on the west coast of Menorca, a short run from Ciutadella, the old capital, which is 3 km away in a straight line. The village is quiet and outside the main resort areas, so evenings are calm. Ciutadella holds the cathedral, the palaces and the narrow port where people gather at sunset, and the Naveta des Tudons, a boat-shaped prehistoric tomb, is 4.9 km from the hotel.

Walking into Ciutadella covers 3 km as the crow flies, though the road route is longer than that figure suggests; a car, a taxi or the local bus are the usual options. A hire car opens up the south coast, with Cala Turqueta 7.3 km away and Cala Galdana 10.6 km. Summer buses serve beaches around Ciutadella, but timetables thin out outside the season, so check with Paradis before relying on them.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms and apartments at Paradis are listed with air conditioning and fans, a kitchen or kitchenette with microwave, refrigerator and toaster, and coffee making facilities for the first morning. Terraces and the garden extend the living space outdoors, while the outdoor pool and solarium handle the hottest hours. Wifi, a TV, a safe and a hairdryer are listed too, along with an iron and board, so a longer stay does not depend on packing light.

Families can ask about cots, sofa beds and family rooms when booking, because layouts vary between units. Couples and late arrivals should confirm check-in times, key collection and how cleaning and laundry service work for their dates, since these are listed but may differ by apartment. Pets are allowed, so check the conditions before travelling with a dog. Non-smoking rooms are listed; ask for one when reserving at Paradis.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 34.4 km from Paradis in a straight line, on the far side of the island near Maó. The drive crosses Menorca from east to west, and collecting a hire car at the terminal is the simplest way to arrive with luggage, especially if you want the car for the week. Taxis are available outside arrivals; buses run to Maó and, in summer, towards the resorts.

Maó port, 37.1 km away, is the arrival point for overnight ferries from Barcelona. Ciutadella, 3 km from Paradis, has its own port with crossings to Alcúdia on Mallorca, which saves a long transfer for anyone coming via Mallorca. Flights and ferries are fewer between November and April, and seasonal buses stop running, so confirm times with the operator and with Paradis before travelling in winter.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Beaches are a short drive from Paradis rather than within walking distance of the door. The white coves of the south coast are the draw: Cala Turqueta is 7.3 km away and Cala Galdana 10.6 km, and car parks at the popular coves fill early in summer, with vehicle limits on some. Ciutadella, 3 km off, adds the old town at dusk, and the Naveta des Tudons is 4.9 km away.

Menorca eats plainly and well. Menorca's Mahón-Menorca cheese has protected designation of origin status, caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew, belongs to the fishing villages of the north, and a gin tradition survives from the long British rule in the 18th century. Self-catering at Paradis keeps costs down, and Ciutadella, 3 km away, is the nearest town for supplies. Es Mercadal, at the foot of Monte Toro, is 21.4 km off.

A day from Paradis

Begin at the Naveta des Tudons, 4.9 km from Paradis, a boat-shaped prehistoric tomb and one of the talayotic monuments that put Menorca on the World Heritage list in 2023. Continue to Cala Turqueta, 7.3 km away, for a morning swim before the car park fills. A car makes the loop easy; without one, a taxi from Cala Blanca covers the same ground, and summer buses serve some southern coves.

Spend the afternoon at the pool or on the solarium at Paradis, then take the 3 km run into Ciutadella for the old town at dusk, when the cathedral, the palaces and the narrow port are at their best. Eat in town or back at the apartment. A longer day reaches Es Mercadal and Monte Toro, 21.4 km away, for the sanctuary and views over both coasts.

Practical tips

Menorca's season runs from spring to autumn, and much of the island's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, when flights and ferries are fewer too. Check Paradis for opening dates before booking outside summer, and expect Cala Blanca to be busiest in July and August. The accommodation charges the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, per person per night; rates vary with season, category and length of stay, children under 16 are exempt, and current rules are on the Govern de les Illes Balears site.

Questions about Paradis