Villa Ullastres

About Villa Ullastres

Villa Ullastres suits families and small groups who want a self-catering base in Menorca's south-east, away from the big resort strips. The three-star property near Punta Prima has an outdoor pool and a full kitchen, so days can be shaped around shopping, cooking and swimming rather than a hotel timetable. Couples who prefer quiet evenings and a car for getting about will find the layout and the free parking fit that pattern.

Villa Ullastres is listed as an apartment or villa rather than a staffed hotel, with three stars. Expect independence: a kitchen with oven, microwave and dishwasher, a washing machine, air conditioning, wifi and a terrace, plus a pool outside. Non-smoking rooms are listed too. Beds, towels and cleaning arrangements are worth confirming before arrival, since self-catering properties vary in what is included, and arrival times should be agreed directly with the property.

Location: Sant Lluís

Villa Ullastres stands on Passeig de Sa Marina in the Sant Lluís municipality, on Menorca's south-east corner, outside the main resort areas. Punta Prima is the nearest village and Binibeca Vell is 3.1 km away; Sant Lluís, a white village of windmills, is 4.2 km off. The address puts you in a low-rise coastal strip of whitewashed walls and pine, with Es Castell 7.5 km away and the Maó harbour area 8.5 km.

Nothing here is on the doorstep except the pool and the terrace, so plan on wheels. A hire car covers the airport run, the beaches and the evening trip into Sant Lluís or Es Castell; taxis work for shorter hops and can be booked for dinners out. In July and August the southern coves and Binibeca Vell fill early, and parking at the popular ones goes quickly. May, June, September and October bring lighter traffic and cooler walking weather.

Rooms and facilities

Facilities listed for Villa Ullastres point to a practical self-catering stay: air conditioning, a kitchen with oven, microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher, a washing machine, a bath, a bidet, a TV and wifi. A terrace and an outdoor pool extend the living space. For couples the setup is roomy; for families the washing machine and dishwasher cut the daily chores; for late arrivals, a fridge and a microwave mean a meal is possible without going out.

Confirm with the property before booking: whether the pool is shared or private, whether bed linen, towels and cleaning are included, and how the air conditioning is controlled. Non-smoking rooms, free car parking and internet access are listed, but the exact allocation of bedrooms and bathrooms is worth checking against the size of your group. Ask too about keys or access arrangements if you land at Menorca Airport (MAH) after dark.

Getting there

Menorca Airport (MAH) is 6.8 km from Villa Ullastres in a straight line, the closest of the island's gateways. A hire car collected on arrival makes the transfer simple and doubles as transport for the rest of the stay, with free parking at the property. Taxis are available at the terminal for the short run. Buses serve Maó and, in summer, some resorts; check the island bus operator for routes that pass near Punta Prima.

From Maó port, 8.5 km away, ferries arrive from Barcelona and Palma; the onward drive or taxi ride is short. Arrivals from Es Castell, 7.5 km off, or Sant Lluís, 4.2 km, face an easy run along south-east lanes. Winter brings fewer flights and fewer sailings, so check timetables with the operators before fixing dates, and confirm with Villa Ullastres that someone can meet you at an awkward hour.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

Binibeca Vell, the whitewashed hamlet on the coast, is 3.1 km from Villa Ullastres, an easy morning outing. Sant Lluís, 4.2 km away, has the everyday shops and a windmill-dotted centre; Es Castell, 7.5 km off, is the Georgian barracks town at the harbour mouth. La Mola fortress, 8.1 km away, guards the entrance to Maó harbour, and a boat trip round the harbour starts from the same area.

The south coast around Punta Prima is the nearest stretch of sand to Villa Ullastres, with the white coves under pine that characterise the Migjorn side of Menorca. S'Albufera des Grau Natural Park, 15.3 km away, is the core of the Biosphere Reserve, with a lagoon, dunes and birds. On the plate, look for Mahón-Menorca cheese with its protected designation of origin, and lobster stew, the speciality of Fornells on the north coast.

A day from Villa Ullastres

Start with a swim in the pool at Villa Ullastres before the day heats up, then drive the 3.1 km to Binibeca Vell for a walk through the whitewashed lanes while it is still quiet. Continue 4.2 km to Sant Lluís for coffee and supplies, and press on to Es Castell, 7.5 km from the villa, for a look at the Georgian terraces above the harbour mouth.

After lunch, head for La Mola fortress, 8.1 km away, where the harbour narrows, or join a boat trip round Maó harbour from the same corner of the island. Birdwatchers can push on to S'Albufera des Grau, 15.3 km from the door. Return to Villa Ullastres for a swim and a meal cooked in the kitchen, or drive back into Sant Lluís for the evening.

Practical tips

Menorca's season shapes a stay at Villa Ullastres. Many hotels, beach bars, boat trips and seasonal buses close roughly from November to April, while Maó and Ciutadella stay open all year; confirm the property's own opening dates before booking. July and August bring the largest crowds and the highest demand for parking at the southern coves. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax, the ecotasa, is charged per person per night by the accommodation; rates vary by season and accommodation type, children under 16 are exempt, and the Govern de les Illes Balears sets the rules.

Questions about Villa Ullastres