Sa Casa Alta

About Sa Casa Alta

Sa Casa Alta suits travellers who want a self-contained stay on the south coast of Menorca. The villa offers a private swimming pool, a garden and a terrace, with a full kitchen and a washing machine for longer holidays. It is not a hotel with reception or a restaurant, so guests manage their own meals and timetable. The property works well for families, couples or a small group who prefer a house base over a resort.

This is an apartment or villa, not rated with stars and without a guest score. The accommodation is a single unit on Carrer De S'anguila Torta in the whitewashed hamlet of Binibeca Vell. The listed facilities include air conditioning, free WiFi, a fireplace, a DVD player and a cot on request. The sea is listed as a facility, meaning the coast is within reach, though the villa is not beachfront.

Location: Binibeca Vell

Binibeca Vell is a whitewashed fishing-village-style hamlet of narrow lanes and steps by the sea on Menorca's south coast. Sa Casa Alta is 1.1 km straight line from the centre of Binibeca Vell, a short walk or drive down to the water. The area is quiet and residential, with a few small shops and restaurants in the hamlet itself. In July and August the cove and its lanes fill with visitors, but the villa's private garden and pool offer a retreat from the crowds.

The nearest village with more services is Sant Lluís, 3.5 km straight line away, with a supermarket, bakery, banks and a medical centre. Maó, the capital, is 7.8 km straight line to the north-east, and Menorca Airport is 5 km straight line north-west. A car is recommended for exploring the island, though a taxi can reach the airport or Maó port. In the shoulder months of May, June and September the area is quieter, and many restaurants and shops in Binibeca Vell reduce their hours or close outside the main season.

Rooms and facilities

The villa is listed with air conditioning, a fan and a fireplace, so the interior can be kept comfortable across seasons. There is a kitchen with an oven, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, toaster and coffee maker, plus a washing machine and iron and board for self-catering stays. A DVD player, radio and TV are provided, and free WiFi is included. The bathroom has a bath, a bidet, a hairdryer and toiletries. A cot is listed, which suits families with a baby.

Guests should confirm the exact number of bedrooms and the layout directly with the property, as these details are not given here. The presence of a kitchenette and a separate kitchen suggests the villa may have a living-dining area and a kitchen zone. Late arrivals are possible with a self-check-in arrangement; check the property's policy when booking. Non-smoking rooms are listed, and a smoke detector is fitted.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 5 km straight line from Sa Casa Alta. A taxi takes about 10 minutes by road. In summer, buses run from the airport to Maó and to the southern resorts, but a hire car is more practical for reaching the villa directly. The airport is open year-round, though flights are fewer between November and April. A hire car collected at the airport gives flexibility for shopping and day trips.

Maó port is 7.8 km straight line from the villa, reachable by taxi or car in about 15 minutes. Ferries from Maó connect to Barcelona (overnight crossings of several hours) and to Palma on Mallorca. There is no regular direct ferry between Ibiza and Menorca; most travellers connect through Mallorca or fly. Buses from Maó to Sant Lluís and Binibeca run more frequently in summer; check the island bus operator for current timetables. In winter, services are reduced.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Binibeca Vell is 1.1 km straight line from Sa Casa Alta, a whitewashed hamlet with a small cove, a rocky shoreline and a few places to eat and drink. Sant Lluís, 3.5 km away, is a white village with windmills and a weekly market. Es Castell, 7.5 km away, is a Georgian barracks town at the mouth of Maó harbour, with a waterfront promenade and the Cales Fonts cove. Maó, 7.8 km away, has the harbour, the fish market, the covered market and the historic centre.

A boat trip round Maó harbour is listed 7.5 km straight line away, departing from the port. La Mola fortress, an 19th-century Isabel II fortress guarding the harbour entrance, is 8.6 km from the villa. S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, the core of the Biosphere Reserve, is 14.5 km north-east, with a lagoon, dunes and the Favàritx lighthouse. The south coast coves such as Cala Macarella, Cala Turqueta and Son Bou are within a 20- to 30-minute drive. Mahón-Menorca cheese is a local speciality.

A day from Sa Casa Alta

A day from Sa Casa Alta could start with breakfast on the terrace or a swim in the private pool. Drive 7.8 km to Maó for the morning market and a walk along the harbour. The fish market and the covered market are open in the morning. Walk up to the town centre past the Georgian windows and the church of Santa Maria. From Maó, take a boat trip round the harbour (listed 7.5 km straight line from the villa) to see the naval base and the cliffs.

After lunch in Maó or back at the villa, drive 8.6 km to La Mola fortress for views over the harbour mouth and the open sea. In the late afternoon, return to Binibeca Vell, 1.1 km away, to walk the lanes and steps down to the small cove for a swim. The sun sets over the water from the rocks at the edge of the hamlet. Evening is a quiet dinner at the villa or a short drive to Sant Lluís for a meal.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April; check Sa Casa Alta's opening dates when booking, as some villas operate year-round while others are seasonal. July and August are the busiest months, with higher demand for hire cars and more visitors at the southern coves. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax (the ecotasa) is charged per person per night by the accommodation; the rate depends on the type of accommodation and the season, is reduced in low season and for longer stays, and children under 16 are exempt. Check the current rate on the Govern de les Illes Balears website.

Questions about Sa Casa Alta