Petit Xuroy

About Petit Xuroy

Petit Xuroy suits travellers who want a quiet rural base in south-east Menorca, with the coast and the capital within a short drive. The hotel is a two-star property at Cala Alcaufar, outside the main resort areas, and holds a score of 3.4 out of 5 from 262 reviews. Couples and families looking for simple accommodation, a garden and a pool instead of a lively strip will find the position practical: Maó port is 7.1 km away and Sant Lluís 3.8 km.

This is a small, unpretentious two-star hotel rather than a full-service resort. The listed facilities are a bar and lounge, breakfast, a garden, internet access, an outdoor pool and self parking, which covers the basics for a short or a longer stay. It suits a first visit to Menorca, walkers following the south-east lanes, and anyone who prefers a rural setting to a purpose-built resort. Late arrivals should confirm arrival arrangements with the hotel before travelling.

Location: Sant Lluís

Petit Xuroy stands in the countryside at Cala Alcaufar, outside the main resort areas of Menorca, in the south-east of the island. The address places it between Sant Lluís, 3.8 km away, and Es Castell, 5.3 km away, with the whitewashed lanes of Binibeca Vell 5.7 km off. This is a quiet corner of Menorca: scattered white villages, dry stone walls, windmills and a coast of small coves, with Maó and its harbour a short run north.

The hotel is rural, so everyday needs mean a short drive, a taxi or a bus. Sant Lluís is the nearest village for shops and services at 3.8 km, Es Castell is 5.3 km and Maó port 7.1 km. In July and August the south-east coves and Binibeca Vell fill early, so set out in the morning; in May, June, September and October the lanes are quieter and the sea is typically about 18-19 °C in May and 23-25 °C in September.

Rooms and facilities

Facilities at Petit Xuroy are listed as a bar and lounge, breakfast, a garden, internet access, an outdoor pool and self parking. For couples the pool and garden offer an alternative to the coast, while families get room to spread out and a pool that keeps children busy between outings. The bar and lounge serve in the evening, and breakfast removes the need to drive out first thing. Self parking helps in a rural spot.

Room types, outlook and whether breakfast is included in every rate should be confirmed with Petit Xuroy when booking, as only the facilities above are listed. Ask about cots and extra beds for children, about pool towels, and about arrival arrangements if a ferry or a late flight brings you in after dark. Travellers with limited mobility should check access to the pool and the layout of the grounds before reserving.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 7.4 km from Petit Xuroy in a straight line, the shortest of the arrival points listed. Taxis wait at the terminal and the transfer is quick; a hire car gives the most flexibility from a rural base, and self parking at the hotel avoids hunting for a space on return. The airport buses serve Maó, with summer resort routes too, so check with the island bus operator for anything towards Sant Lluís.

Maó port stands 7.1 km away in a straight line, which makes Petit Xuroy convenient after an overnight ferry from Barcelona or a crossing from Palma; ask the hotel about reaching Cala Alcaufar when the boat docks. Sant Lluís is 3.8 km off, Es Castell 5.3 km and Binibeca Vell 5.7 km. Winter brings fewer flights and sailings, so confirm both before fixing dates and check seasonal bus timetables with the operator.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest villages are Sant Lluís at 3.8 km, a white village of windmills, and Es Castell at 5.3 km, the Georgian barracks town at the harbour mouth. Binibeca Vell, the whitewashed fishing-village-style hamlet, is 5.7 km away, and the limestone coves of the south coast under pine are a short drive further. La Mola fortress, the 19th-century Isabel II fort, is 5.4 km from Petit Xuroy and guards the harbour entrance.

Menorcan food follows the sea and the fields. Mahón-Menorca, the island's cheese, has a protected designation of origin and turns up on most menus, often with olive oil and honey. Fish and shellfish are central, and the lobster stew called caldereta de llagosta belongs to Fornells on the north coast, a longer drive from Petit Xuroy. Gin, a legacy of 18th-century British rule, is still drunk in Maó, 7.1 km away.

A day from Petit Xuroy

Begin with breakfast at Petit Xuroy and drive the 5.3 km to Es Castell for a walk round the Georgian barracks town, then continue to La Mola fortress, 5.4 km from the hotel, for views over the harbour mouth. Lunch fits in Sant Lluís, 3.8 km away, before an afternoon at Binibeca Vell, 5.7 km off. The boat trips round Maó harbour, 6.5 km away, fill a late afternoon when sailings suit.

An evening back at Petit Xuroy can start with a drink in the bar and lounge after a swim in the outdoor pool, with the garden for the cooler hours. For a longer outing, S'Albufera des Grau natural park lies 13.6 km away, a lagoon and dune reserve at the core of the Biosphere Reserve, with the Favàritx lighthouse on dark slate beyond. Travel between these points by car, since the figures are straight-line distances and the lanes add time; a taxi suits an evening in Maó, 7.1 km off.

Practical tips

Between about November and April, many hotels, beach bars, boat trips and seasonal buses on Menorca shut down, though Maó and Ciutadella stay open all year. Check Petit Xuroy's opening dates before booking a winter stay, and expect the south-east coves and Binibeca Vell to be busiest in July and August. Petit Xuroy charges the Balearic sustainable tourism tax per person per night; the rate depends on the accommodation type and category and the season, is reduced in low season and for longer stays, and under-16s are exempt. Confirm the current rate with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Petit Xuroy