Castell Sol

About Castell Sol

Castell Sol suits travellers who want a simple base on Menorca's north coast rather than a resort with a long list of extras. The hotel has one star and the appeal is practical: a pool on site, a kitchen in the room and Arenal d'en Castell 0.5 km away. Couples touring the island by car, small families and guests who plan to be out all day fit that brief, provided they book expecting modest, unfussy accommodation.

Expect a one-star hotel rather than a full-service resort. Castell Sol works as a base: a pool to come back to, a kitchen for simple meals and a balcony for the evening. The listed facilities also include a refrigerator, a television, a hairdryer and toiletries, which covers the essentials for a short stay. Guests who need a lift, an on-site restaurant or a late reception should confirm those points with the property before booking.

Location: Arenal d'en Castell

Arenal d'en Castell is on Menorca's north coast, the Tramuntana side, where the rock is older and darker and the sand carries a reddish tone. The bay is close to circular, a pale arc that gives the urbanisation its shape and its name. Castell Sol stands within that urbanisation, 0.5 km from Arenal d'en Castell in a straight line, so the bay is a short walk from the door rather than a drive.

On foot you can reach the bay and the streets around it. Everything else needs wheels: Fornells is 5.7 km away in a straight line and Es Mercadal is 8 km, while Maó port is 16.3 km. Seasonal buses link Arenal d'en Castell with Maó and the larger resorts in summer and thin out in the shoulder months, so check current lines with the island bus operator. A hire car or a taxi covers evening trips and the airport run.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms at Castell Sol are listed with a balcony, a kitchen, a refrigerator and a television, which puts the emphasis on self-catering. Couples can use the kitchen for breakfast and eat out later; families save time by making lunch in. Coffee facilities, a hairdryer and toiletries are also listed, and non-smoking rooms are available, so ask for one when booking if smoke-free matters. Confirm what the kitchen includes, since cooking equipment is not itemised.

For families, the cot and high chairs on the list suggest young children are expected, though availability should be confirmed with Castell Sol at the time of booking rather than on arrival. A video facility is also listed. Late arrivals should ask about reception hours and key collection before travelling, and anyone with mobility needs should check access to the rooms and the pool in advance.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 17.9 km from Castell Sol in a straight line, south-west of Maó. The simplest arrival is a taxi, or a hire car picked up at the airport, since the route crosses the middle of the island rather than following a coastal strip. Buses run from the airport into Maó, and seasonal services continue towards the north coast; check current times with the island bus operator. Winter flights are fewer.

From Maó port, 16.3 km away in a straight line, the pattern is the same: a taxi is quickest and a hire car lets you stop at Es Mercadal on the way. Ferries reach Maó from Barcelona and Palma, and Ciutadella in the west has crossings from Barcelona and Alcúdia. Fornells is 5.7 km from Castell Sol, so a meal there is an easy evening run by car or taxi rather than a long drive.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Monte Toro, the island's highest point at about 358 m, is 6.8 km from Castell Sol in a straight line, with a sanctuary at the summit and views across both coasts. Es Mercadal, the town at its foot, is 8 km away and handy for shopping. The Favàritx lighthouse, on dark slate inside S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, is 7.9 km off, and kayaking on the north coast is about 7.5 km away.

Fornells, 5.7 km away, is a fishing village known for caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew eaten along this coast. Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin and turns up on most menus, and the British period left a gin tradition in Maó, 16.3 km from Castell Sol. Grilled fish and rice dishes are the easy order in summer. Smaller villages tend to serve earlier than the capital, which suits children.

A day from Castell Sol

Begin at the bay, since Arenal d'en Castell is 0.5 km from Castell Sol and a morning swim needs no planning. Drive to Es Mercadal, 8 km away, then climb to Monte Toro at 6.8 km for the sanctuary and the view over both coasts. Continue to the Favàritx lighthouse, 7.9 km from the hotel, where the slate headland and the S'Albufera des Grau wetland make a windier, cooler stop.

Come back through Fornells, 5.7 km from Castell Sol, for a late lunch of caldereta, then take the afternoon slowly. Kayaking the north coast, about 7.5 km away, suits anyone who wants time on the water instead of the sand. In the evening, Maó is 16.3 km off and holds the widest choice of places to eat, while the options nearer the bay are fewer and fill early in high summer.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so confirm Castell Sol's opening dates before booking outside the summer. The busiest months on this coast are July and August, when the bay fills accordingly. Menorca's accommodation charges the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, per person per night; the rate depends on the type and category of accommodation and the season, is lower in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check the current rate with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Castell Sol