Bellavista Mar

About Bellavista Mar

Bellavista Mar suits families and small groups who want a base on Menorca's north coast with the practicalities sorted. The three-star hotel sits in Arenal d'en Castell, 0.4 km from the pale sand of the near-circular bay, so the bay is a short walk rather than a drive. Kitchens in the units help households keep meals simple, and free car parking makes the rest of the island easier to reach.

Expect a relaxed, self-sufficient kind of stay rather than full-service resort polish. The listed facilities include a kitchen, oven, microwave, dishwasher and refrigerator in the units, alongside a swimming pool, air conditioning and free wifi. With three stars, Bellavista Mar keeps things straightforward: a pool for slow afternoons, a terrace or patio for evenings, and parking included for days out towards Fornells, Es Mercadal or the Favàritx lighthouse.

Location: Arenal d'en Castell

The bay at Arenal d'en Castell is close to circular, a curve of pale sand on Menorca's north coast, where the rock is darker and older and the wind blows more than in the southern coves. Bellavista Mar has an address on Avinguda De S'arenal, with the bay 0.4 km away. Fornells, the fishing village known for lobster stew, is 6 km off; Es Mercadal sits below Monte Toro at 8.5 km.

The bay and the streets around Avinguda De S'arenal are walkable from Bellavista Mar, and that covers most evenings. Anything further needs wheels: Fornells at 6 km and Es Mercadal at 8.5 km are drives, not strolls, and the figures for Monte Toro at 7.2 km and the Favàritx lighthouse at 7.5 km are straight-line distances on minor roads. Free parking at the hotel helps; high summer fills this coast, while the shoulder months bring quiet roads.

Rooms and facilities

Couples can treat the kitchen as a convenience for breakfast and picnic lunches, while families get more from the dishwasher, oven and microwave when self-catering keeps costs steady. Air conditioning and non-smoking rooms are listed at Bellavista Mar, and a cot is available for younger children. Late arrivals should confirm arrival arrangements with the hotel in advance, because the bay is quiet after dark and the drive from the airport is 17.8 km.

Ask Bellavista Mar directly which units have the terrace or patio, how the kitchen equipment is arranged, and whether a cot needs booking ahead. Confirm pool opening dates for your travel window, since seasonal timetables on Menorca vary, and check how often housekeeping visits. Smoke detectors are listed; mention any access needs or floor preferences at the time of booking, particularly for a July or August stay.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) lies 17.8 km south-west of Bellavista Mar in a straight line, on the edge of Maó. A taxi covers the run directly, and a hire car collected at the airport gives the most flexibility for the last stretch to Arenal d'en Castell. Buses serve Maó and, in summer, the resorts; check the island bus operator for lines and timings that suit your arrival time.

Maó port is 16.2 km from Bellavista Mar, useful if you arrive on an overnight crossing from Barcelona. From the harbour the drive north to Arenal d'en Castell is straightforward with a car; without one, plan a taxi or a connection through Maó. Fornells at 6 km and Es Mercadal at 8.5 km are the nearest practical stops for supplies, and free parking means a hire car is easy to keep.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Arenal d'en Castell's near-circular bay, 0.4 km from Bellavista Mar, is the obvious daily swim. Beyond it, Fornells at 6 km has a sheltered harbour, and Es Mercadal at 8.5 km sits at the foot of Monte Toro. The Favàritx lighthouse at 7.5 km marks dark slate country inside S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, the core zone of the island's Biosphere Reserve.

North-coast cooking leans on the sea: caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew associated with Fornells, is the dish to look for, and Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin across the island. Kitchens and refrigerators at Bellavista Mar let you eat simply on local produce, or drive 6 km to Fornells for a longer lunch. The gin tradition in Maó, 16.2 km away, suits an evening in town.

A day from Bellavista Mar

Start with a swim at Arenal d'en Castell, 0.4 km from Bellavista Mar, before the bay fills. Drive to Es Mercadal at 8.5 km, then continue to Monte Toro, 7.2 km from the hotel, where the sanctuary sits at about 358 m and both coasts come into view. Return through Fornells at 6 km for a late lunch by the harbour, and use the pool in the afternoon heat.

For a second day, head east to the Favàritx lighthouse at 7.5 km and walk the slate paths of S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park. Kayaking on the north coast, roughly 7.8 km away, suits calm mornings before the wind rises. End with supper cooked in the unit's kitchen, or walk down to the bay, and check the next plan against the Camí de Cavalls, which circles the island.

Practical tips

Much of the island's tourist trade shuts roughly from November to April, so check Bellavista Mar's own opening dates before booking a winter or early-spring trip; the bay is busiest through July and August. Bellavista Mar collects the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, per person per night, and the rate varies with unit type and season, with reductions in low season and for longer stays and children under 16 not charged. Check the Govern de les Illes Balears for current rules.

Questions about Bellavista Mar