Villa Arena Blanca

About Villa Arena Blanca

Villa Arena Blanca is an unrated apartment or villa in the Sant Lluís area of Menorca, set back from the coast near Punta Prima. It suits travellers who want a self-catering base with space, privacy and a car, rather than a hotel with services. The villa has its own outdoor pool, garden and patio, so the stay revolves around the property itself.

The accommodation is listed with a full kitchen, air conditioning and free parking, which makes it practical for longer stays or for families who prefer to cook. There is no guest score given, and the property is not rated by stars. The villa is outside the main resort areas, so guests should expect a quiet residential setting and a need to drive for most outings.

Location: Sant Lluís

The villa is in Avinguda Son Remei, in the municipality of Sant Lluís, about 4.4 km from the village of Sant Lluís itself. Sant Lluís is a white village known for its windmills and a weekly market, and it has shops, bakeries and a few restaurants. The nearest coastal settlement is Punta Prima, a small bay with a sandy beach and a handful of bars, though the villa is not on the beachfront.

Binibeca Vell, a whitewashed fishing-village-style hamlet, is 3.4 km away, and Es Castell is 7.6 km away. Maó, the capital, is 8.7 km straight line from the villa. In high summer, the south coast coves fill early, but the area around Punta Prima is less frantic than the busier bays further west. In the shoulder months of May and October, the pace is slower, and some nearby restaurants and beach bars close outside the main season.

Rooms and facilities

The villa is listed with air conditioning, a kitchen with an oven, microwave, dishwasher, toaster and coffee facilities, and a washing machine. There is a bath, a hairdryer, toiletries, an iron and board, and a safe. Free WiFi and internet access are included, and there is a TV. The property has a terrace, a patio and a garden, plus an outdoor pool.

For families, a cot and high chairs are listed, so the villa can work for young children. The rooms are not described in detail, so guests should confirm the number of bedrooms and the layout with the property before booking. Late arrivals should check the check-in procedure, as the villa is self-catering and there is no reception desk.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 7.1 km straight line from Villa Arena Blanca. A taxi from the airport takes about 15 minutes in normal traffic. A hire car is the most flexible option for this villa, as the property is outside the main resort areas and most sights require driving. Buses run from the airport to Maó, and in summer to some resorts, but they do not serve the villa directly.

Maó port is 8.7 km straight line away, so arriving by ferry from Barcelona or Palma means a short taxi or hire-car journey. The villa has free car parking, so a hire car collected at the airport or port is easy to manage. In winter, flights and ferries are fewer, and seasonal bus lines stop running, so a car becomes essential for reaching the villa and getting around.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest beach, Punta Prima, is a short drive from the villa, though the exact distance is not given. Binibeca Vell, 3.4 km away, is a photogenic hamlet with a small beach and a few places to eat. Sant Lluís, 4.4 km away, has a church, windmills and a market. Es Castell, 7.6 km away, is a Georgian barracks town at the mouth of Maó harbour, with a promenade and views over the water.

The La Mola fortress at Maó is 8.1 km straight line from the villa, and a boat trip round Maó harbour is 8.2 km away. S'Albufera des Grau, the island's natural park, is 15.5 km straight line, so it is a longer drive. For food, Mahón-Menorca cheese has a protected designation of origin, and the south coast is known for its white sand coves under pine trees.

A day from Villa Arena Blanca

Start the day with breakfast on the villa's patio, then drive to Binibeca Vell, 3.4 km away, to wander the whitewashed lanes before the heat builds. From there, continue to Punta Prima for a swim or a walk along the sand. Return to the villa for lunch by the pool, as the kitchen and outdoor space make it easy to eat in.

In the afternoon, drive to Es Castell, 7.6 km away, and walk along the harbour mouth, then head to Maó, 8.7 km from the villa, for a late-afternoon stroll around the port and a look at the Georgian architecture. If time allows, take a boat trip round Maó harbour, 8.2 km away. End the day back at the villa with dinner cooked in the kitchen or on the terrace.

Practical tips

Much of Menorca's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so check the villa's opening dates before booking. July and August are the peak months, with the busiest beaches and the highest demand for hire cars. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax, known as the ecotasa, is charged per person per night by the accommodation; the rate depends on the season and length of stay, and children under 16 are exempt. Check the current rate with the Govern de les Illes Balears.

Questions about Villa Arena Blanca