Binilaya

About Binilaya

Binilaya is a four-star hotel in Binibeca Vell, the whitewashed hamlet of lanes and steps on Menorca's south-east coast, in the municipality of Sant Lluís. It suits families and couples who want a calm base close to Menorca Airport and within easy reach of Maó, Es Castell and the southern coves. Parking is listed among the facilities, which helps if you plan to explore the island by car.

The hotel has four stars, and the listed facilities lean towards practical self-catering comfort: a kitchen, refrigerator, toaster and washing machine sit alongside air conditioning, a balcony and a television. That mix works for families with young children and for longer stays, where a cot, high chairs and a bath make the day-to-day easier. Couples travelling without children will find the same list useful for a week of short trips and simple meals at the hotel.

Location: Binibeca Vell

Binibeca Vell lies about 1.5 km from Binilaya in a straight line, a hamlet of whitewashed lanes and steps built in the style of a fishing village beside the sea. Sant Lluís, a white village of windmills, is about 3.9 km away, and Es Castell, the Georgian barracks town at the mouth of Maó harbour, about 7.7 km. These figures are straight-line measurements, so the road distance runs a little longer.

The lanes and the nearest water around Binibeca Vell are within a short drive of the hotel, and a torch helps if you walk back after dark. A car makes the most sense for Sant Lluís, Es Castell and the coves further west, and the bus network is denser in summer than in winter, so check current lines with the island bus operator before relying on them. July and August fill the hamlet and the southern car parks early; May, June, September and October are quieter, with easier parking.

Rooms and facilities

For couples, the listed balcony, air conditioning and television cover the basics, and the kitchen, refrigerator and toaster make light meals easy after a day out. Families have more to work with: a cot, high chairs, a bath and a washing machine all appear on the list, and the kitchen helps with early breakfasts and children's suppers. Toiletries, a hairdryer and an iron and board are listed too, so packing can stay light.

Late arrivals should arrange arrival times and key collection with Binilaya before travelling. It is worth confirming whether parking is reserved in advance, whether the kitchen comes with the basics such as coffee and washing-up liquid, and which listed items, the cot and high chairs in particular, need to be requested for your dates. Non-smoking rooms are listed, so ask where smoking is permitted if that matters to you.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is about 5.7 km from Binilaya in a straight line, a short transfer on the road south-west of Maó. Taxis wait at the terminal, and hire cars can be collected there if you plan to reach Sant Lluís and the coves under your own steam. Bus lines from the airport are more frequent in summer, so check current routes and times with the island bus operator before flying.

From Maó port, about 8.2 km from Binilaya in a straight line, the drive south is straightforward, and the same roads serve Es Castell at 7.7 km and Sant Lluís at 3.9 km. Ferry operators run crossings from Maó to Barcelona and Palma, with fewer sailings in winter. Flights also thin out between November and April, so a stay at Binilaya in the shoulder months takes a little more planning.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Binibeca Vell, about 1.5 km away, is the closest place for a swim and a wander, with the sea at the foot of its whitewashed lanes. Sant Lluís at 3.9 km and Es Castell at 7.7 km are the nearest villages for a morning out, and La Mola fortress above Maó harbour, about 8.6 km away, guards the entrance to the port. Further west, the south coast brings white sand coves under pine, from Cala en Porter to Son Bou.

Menorca's kitchen is built on seafood and dairy. Caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew linked to Fornells in the north, is the dish to try at least once, while Mahón-Menorca cheese carries a protected designation of origin and turns up in markets and village shops. A picnic assembled from a market makes a good lunch on the balcony at Binilaya, with the kitchen and refrigerator listed among the facilities.

A day from Binilaya

Start with an early drive to Binibeca Vell, about 1.5 km from Binilaya, before the lanes fill in high summer, then loop back for a late breakfast. Sant Lluís at 3.9 km is a good mid-morning stop for a look at the white village and its windmills, and Es Castell at 7.7 km leads on to the harbour mouth and La Mola fortress at 8.6 km, where the scale of Maó's natural harbour becomes clear.

In the afternoon, a boat trip round Maó harbour, about 7.9 km from Binilaya, gives a different view of the same water; operators sail from the port and times vary by season, so check locally. Finish with a swim near Binibeca Vell and supper back at the hotel. For a longer outing, S'Albufera des Grau at 15 km brings the lagoon, dunes and birds of the Biosphere Reserve's core zone.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so confirm Binilaya's opening dates before booking a winter or early-spring stay, and expect July and August to be the busiest weeks, with the lanes at Binibeca Vell and the southern car parks filling early. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax is charged per person per night by the accommodation; rates depend on the type of accommodation and the season and are reduced in low season and for longer stays, with children under 16 exempt. Check current rates with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Binilaya