Casita Estrella

About Casita Estrella

Casita Estrella suits families and couples who want apartment-style space in a quiet corner of Menorca's north coast. The four-star hotel sits near Arenal d'en Castell, a near-circular bay of pale sand 0.8 km away, so days can move between the pool and the water without a long transfer. Apartments with kitchens or kitchenettes make self-catering practical for groups, and pets are allowed, which keeps longer stays simple.

Behind the four stars is a straightforward holiday hotel rather than a resort. Listings include an outdoor pool, a kids pool, a garden and a patio, plus apartments with a kitchen or kitchenette, refrigerator, oven and toaster. Free wifi, free car parking, a 24 hour front desk and family rooms cover the practical side, with a cot, high chairs and sofa beds for younger guests. Rooms are listed as non-smoking.

Location: Arenal d'en Castell

Arenal d'en Castell is a near-circular bay of pale sand on Menorca's north coast, in the Tramuntana stretch where the rock is darker and older and wind is part of the weather. The bay lies 0.8 km from Casita Estrella, close enough to walk. Fornells, a fishing village known for caldereta de llagosta, is 5.5 km away, and Es Mercadal, at the foot of Monte Toro, is 8.1 km inland.

Walking covers the bay and little else. Hiring a car is the practical way to reach Fornells at 5.5 km, Es Mercadal and Monte Toro at 8.1 km, or Maó port at 16.6 km, and Casita Estrella has free parking on site. Buses serve the north coast more often in summer than in winter, so check the island bus operator for current routes. The bay is at its busiest in high summer and noticeably calmer in late spring and early autumn.

Rooms and facilities

Couples can use the apartments, where a kitchenette, refrigerator, toaster and coffee cover breakfast and light meals, with a TV, DVD player and radio for evenings in. Families do better with the family rooms and sofa beds, and a kids pool is listed alongside the garden and patio. Late arrivals are helped by the 24 hour front desk. Washing machine, iron and board, hairdryer and toiletries are listed, and fans and a cot appear too.

Ask Casita Estrella to confirm what each apartment includes: a full kitchen or a kitchenette, whether the cot and high chairs are reserved in advance, and how cleaning is arranged during the stay. Confirm the pet policy before travelling, and request a wheelchair accessible unit if that matters to you. Check arrival and departure times with the hotel before booking travel, since they set the day's rhythm.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 18.1 km from Casita Estrella in a straight line, on the far side of Maó from Arenal d'en Castell. Menorca Airport sits about 4-5 km south-west of Maó itself. Taxis and hire cars are the realistic choice with luggage, and the free car park at the hotel means a rental can stay put between outings. Buses run to Maó and, in summer, towards the resorts; routes change, so check the island bus operator.

By sea, Maó port is 16.6 km from Casita Estrella, with overnight ferries from Barcelona taking several hours; Maó also has a Palma service, and Ciutadella in the west links to Alcúdia on Mallorca. Check the operators for current sailings. Winter brings fewer flights and crossings, so plan the last leg to Arenal d'en Castell in advance and tell the hotel when you expect to arrive.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest sand is Arenal d'en Castell at 0.8 km, a sheltered near-circular bay that works well for short swims. Fornells, 5.5 km from Casita Estrella, is the place to try caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew the village is known for. Es Mercadal, 8.1 km inland, sits at the foot of Monte Toro and is a good stop for Mahón-Menorca cheese, which has protected designation of origin status.

Monte Toro, 6.9 km away, is the island's highest point at about 358 m, with a sanctuary on top and views over both coasts. Menorca has been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993. The Favàritx lighthouse, 8.1 km from Casita Estrella, marks the dark slate edge of the S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, the core zone of that reserve. Kayak launch points on the north coast are about 7.3 km away.

A day from Casita Estrella

Start with a swim at Arenal d'en Castell, 0.8 km from Casita Estrella, then drive inland to Es Mercadal at 8.1 km and on to Monte Toro at 6.9 km for the sanctuary and the view over both coasts. A kitchen or kitchenette back at the apartment covers lunch, or eat in Es Mercadal before returning. The afternoon is yours for the pool, garden or patio.

Late afternoon suits the Favàritx lighthouse at 8.1 km, where a short walk into the S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park shows the lagoon, dunes and birds. Kayaking on the north coast, about 7.3 km from the hotel, fills a couple of hours. End in Fornells, 5.5 km away, for a harbour-side evening, then drive back; the free car park at Casita Estrella makes the return easy.

Practical tips

Opening dates matter more than anything else at Casita Estrella, because outside the main season many hotels, beach bars, boat trips and seasonal restaurants on Menorca shut roughly from November to April; the hotel can confirm which months it takes guests. July and August are the peak. Separately, the island's sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, is charged per person per night by the accommodation; Casita Estrella applies the rate that matches its category and the season, long stays and low season reduce it, and under 16s are exempt. The Govern de les Illes Balears publishes current rates.

Questions about Casita Estrella