N Antiga

About N Antiga

N Antiga suits travellers who want a simple, self-contained base in Menorca's south-east corner rather than a resort with a full programme. The two-star hotel sits on Carrer de s'Alatxa, a short hop from the whitewashed lanes of Binibeca Vell. Couples who plan to drive out to coves each morning fit here, and so do families who want a pool and a kitchen at the end of the day. The garden and terrace give somewhere to sit once the car is parked.

The stay is straightforward: two stars, an outdoor pool, free parking and kitchen equipment among the listed facilities. Anyone expecting a spa, an on-site restaurant or a staffed bar should check what N Antiga actually provides before booking, because the listed amenities are the reliable guide here. Air conditioning, a fan and free wifi appear on that list, which matters in July and August, when the south coast turns hot and still.

Location: Binibeca Vell

Binibeca Vell is 1.8 km away: a whitewashed fishing-village-style hamlet of lanes and steps by the sea, and the reason many people pick this corner of the Migjorn coast. Sant Lluís, a white village of windmills, is 3.5 km off, and Es Castell, the Georgian barracks town at the mouth of Maó harbour, is 7.3 km from N Antiga's address on Carrer de s'Alatxa. Maó port itself is 7.8 km away.

Not much of this is on foot in any practical sense. Binibeca Vell at 1.8 km is a walk for some and a short drive for most, while Sant Lluís at 3.5 km and Es Castell at 7.3 km mean car, taxi or bus; island buses serve the south-east more often in summer, so check the operator and the hotel for current lines. In high summer the hamlet's lanes fill early and parking goes quickly, while May, June and September leave more room to move.

Rooms and facilities

Couples get a practical set-up: air conditioning and a fan, a bath and bidet, a TV and CD player, and wifi with internet access. Families have more to work with, since family rooms, a cot and high chairs all appear on the list, alongside a kitchen with oven, microwave, toaster, refrigerator and coffee, plus a washing machine. The outdoor pool, garden, patio and terrace are the shared spaces for the end of the day.

With two stars, treat the listed facilities as the guide and confirm what matters for the trip: whether the kitchen is in the room or shared, whether the pool is open, and what arrival time N Antiga expects. Cleaning, laundry service, an iron and board, a hairdryer and a safe are listed too. Free car parking and non-smoking rooms are worth asking for in advance, particularly in the height of the season.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 5.5 km from N Antiga in a straight line, the closest reference point on the list, so a taxi from arrivals is a short run and a hire car taken from the airport brings the car to Carrer de s'Alatxa soon after joining the Maó road. Airport buses run to Maó and, in summer, to the resorts; whether one passes near Binibeca Vell changes with the season, so ask the hotel or the island bus operator.

By sea, Maó port is 7.8 km from N Antiga and takes ferries from Barcelona and Palma, while Es Castell sits 7.3 km away at the harbour mouth. Sant Lluís at 3.5 km is the nearest village for supplies on the way in. Flights and crossings thin out between November and April, when several summer routes stop, so confirm timetables with the operators and with the hotel before fixing dates outside the season.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Swimming on the Migjorn coast means white sand coves under pine, reached by road south from the hotel, with car parks that fill early in high summer and summer limits at some. Binibeca Vell, 1.8 km away, is the nearest place for a dip and a wander through the lanes. Sant Lluís at 3.5 km has the windmills and a village centre, and Es Castell at 7.3 km stands at the harbour mouth.

Two stops suit a half-day out: the 19th-century Isabel II fortress of La Mola at Maó, 8.2 km off, which guards the harbour entrance, and the boat trip round Maó harbour from 7.5 km away, on one of the largest natural harbours in the Mediterranean. On the plate, look for caldereta de llagosta, the lobster stew of Fornells in the north, and Mahón-Menorca cheese with its protected designation of origin. The 18th-century British period left Maó a gin tradition.

A day from N Antiga

Start early with the short run to Binibeca Vell, 1.8 km away, before the lanes and steps fill, then drive to Sant Lluís at 3.5 km for a coffee and a look at the windmills. Carry on to Es Castell, 7.3 km from N Antiga, and take a boat trip round Maó harbour, boarding 7.5 km from the hotel, in the middle of the day when the sun is highest.

In the afternoon, head for the fortress of La Mola at Maó, 8.2 km from the hotel, for the 19th-century walls and the harbour views, or drive north-east to S'Albufera des Grau, the lagoon and dune park at the core of the Biosphere Reserve, 14.6 km off. Back at N Antiga, the pool, garden and terrace hold the last of the light, and the kitchen equipment among the listed facilities means dinner at the table rather than another drive.

Practical tips

N Antiga works best as a summer base. Much of Menorca's tourism business, from beach bars to seasonal buses and many restaurants, closes roughly from November to April, and the height of the season falls in July and August, so check N Antiga's own opening dates before booking a shoulder-month trip. The ecotasa, the Balearic sustainable tourism tax, is charged per person per night by the accommodation, at rates that vary with category and season and are reduced in low season and for longer stays, with under-16s exempt; the Govern de les Illes Balears publishes current rates.

Questions about N Antiga