V. Lona

About V. Lona

V. Lona suits families and couples who want a calm base on Menorca's north coast, with the sand of Arenal d'en Castell about 0.4 km away and a car park for days out. The four-star hotel has gardens, an outdoor pool and a kids pool, so children have space and adults have room to settle. The village sits close by, while the rest of the island is reached by road.

This is a four-star hotel rather than a large resort, and the listed facilities include a kitchen, oven, dishwasher and refrigerator, which points to longer, self-catering friendly stays; confirm which units have them when you book. Air conditioning, free wifi, a safe and a TV cover the basics. It is a place for pool mornings, coast afternoons and quiet evenings rather than a busy strip, and couples and families both fit the pattern.

Location: Arenal d'en Castell

V. Lona sits at 10 Carrer Des Baladres in Arenal d'en Castell, a near-circular bay of pale sand on Menorca's north coast. The bay itself is about 0.4 km away, an easy walk, and the surrounding streets hold the everyday shops and places to eat of a small holiday village. The address sits on the village side, a few minutes from the water. This is the Tramuntana coast, with darker, older rock and reddish sand, and it feels quieter than the south.

The bay, the sand and the village centre are walkable from V. Lona. Fornells, a fishing village on the same coast, is about 6.6 km away by road, and Es Mercadal, at the foot of Monte Toro, about 8.5 km; both need a car, a taxi or a bus. Maó and its port, at about 15.5 km, are a longer run. In July and August the bay fills early, so mornings are calmer; May, June and September are gentler, with more room on the sand and easier parking.

Rooms and facilities

Couples can treat V. Lona as a quiet, four-star base: air conditioning, free wifi, a safe and a TV are listed for the rooms, and a garden and terrace give space outside them. Families will note the kids pool, cots, high chairs and family rooms, which make the hotel practical with young children. Late arrivals should confirm reception hours and how to collect keys before travelling, since those details change by season.

The facilities list is broad, covering a kitchen, oven, dishwasher, toaster, coffee making and a refrigerator, plus a DVD player and CD player, but not every unit necessarily has all of them. Ask V. Lona which rooms include a kitchen and whether cleaning and laundry service run daily or on request. Free wifi and free car parking are listed; confirm cot, high chair and iron and board needs in advance. Smoke detectors are listed too, which is worth noting for families.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is about 17.2 km south-west of V. Lona on the straight-line measure, so the transfer is a short one by Menorca standards. Taxis and hire cars are the simplest option with luggage; buses link the airport with Maó, and summer resort services reach the north coast. Check the island bus operator for current lines and times, since services thin out in winter. Allow extra time in July and August, when roads and the bay are busiest.

Ferries from Barcelona arrive at Maó port, about 15.5 km from V. Lona, and the road from Ciutadella crosses the island from the west. Fornells is about 6.6 km away, a short taxi ride, while Es Mercadal at about 8.5 km is a practical stop for supplies on the way in. Summer brings more sailings and buses; in winter flights and ferries are fewer, so confirm with the operators before booking.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The sand of Arenal d'en Castell is about 0.4 km from V. Lona, a near-circular bay that suits swimming and easy days with children. Fornells, about 6.6 km away, is a fishing village on the same north coast and a natural stop for a wander and a look at the boats. Inland, Es Mercadal sits about 8.5 km off at the foot of Monte Toro, about 7.1 km from the hotel, where a sanctuary and views across both coasts reward the climb by road.

Menorca's food is part of the reason to stay on this coast: caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew associated with Fornells, is served in village kitchens around the north, and Mahón-Menorca cheese with protected designation of origin appears on most menus. The Favàritx lighthouse, about 7.1 km from V. Lona, stands on dark slate inside S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, the core of the Biosphere Reserve, and makes a half-day outing. Talayotic Menorca joined the World Heritage list in 2023, so the island's prehistoric sites are another reason to take the car out.

A day from V. Lona

Start with a swim at Arenal d'en Castell, about 0.4 km from V. Lona, before the bay fills in high summer. Drive to the Favàritx lighthouse, about 7.1 km away, and walk the dark slate paths of S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park. Lunch in Fornells, about 6.6 km from the hotel, then return for the pool through the hot hours. Allow half an hour to wander the village before driving back.

In the late afternoon, head inland to Monte Toro, about 7.1 km from V. Lona and about 358 m high, for the sanctuary and the view over both coasts. Es Mercadal, about 8.5 km away, is a natural stop on the way back. Kayaking the north coast, at about 8.3 km, is another option when the wind is light; check conditions and book with a local operator. Back at V. Lona, the pool and garden close the day quietly.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so check V. Lona's opening dates before booking a winter trip; July and August are the peak, when the bay at Arenal d'en Castell is busiest and the north coast wind is at its most noticeable. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax is charged per person per night by the accommodation; rates vary by category and season, children under 16 are exempt, and the Govern de les Illes Balears sets them.

Questions about V. Lona