Never heard of Cala Morell before? Don’t worry – it isn’t one of the best known resorts in the whole of Menorca. For that reason it is worth considering as a possible venue for your Menorcan holiday.

Size wise Cala Morell is pretty small and for that reason it doesn’t tend to get overrun by tourists. This makes it a potential destination for you if you happen to be looking for somewhere that is quiet and less touristy than some other destinations in Menorca.

Cala Morell is perhaps best known for its caves rather than its tourist scene. The caves can be explored quite freely and indeed many tourists make the trip here from other places in Menorca to see them. The most stunning aspect of them is that they are not made by nature. Instead they were carved and hollowed out by man. When you take a closer look at the caves you can see the various marks on them that illustrate this.

These caves were in use many centuries ago so it is really like going back in time when you step inside them and see how they were created. A necropolis, as you may know, is used to bury the dead. You will see various cavities and other smaller holes there as well, and although we don’t know what they were used for, many suspect they were used for burial urns after a cremation.

It might sound quite macabre but in fact a visit to the Cala Morell Necropolis is an eye opening thing to do while you are in the area. Even if you decide not to stay close by in Cala Morell you should certainly go there to see back into history as it was many centuries ago. There are fourteen caves in all, so it isn’t just a five minute visit either. You can see how they are all close together and look at the columns that hold up the ceiling. It is quite safe to enter these caves, and if you think about how long they have already been there, the chances are good that they will still exist many centuries into the future.

Many areas of Spain and the Balearic Islands are renowned as the venues to go to if you want to sunbathe by day and party by night. But in Menorca there is an altogether different atmosphere waiting for you.

This is the island of the beaches. We can call it that because despite its relatively small size it has beaches which number into three figures. Can you imagine having that many beaches to choose from when you visit this small island?

As you might expect they are dotted all around the coast, and there is something here for you no matter what you demand from a nice beach. Make no mistake though, Menorca offers a more relaxing and laid back view of the Balearic Islands, rather than the excitement of Majorca. If this suits you, let’s take a look at some of the beaches you could soon be laying back on.

Cala’n Porter is a good place to start as it is relatively well equipped without being packed with tourists. It does depend on when you go of course, but you can reasonably expect a relaxing time here. You can either drive down to the beach or brave the steps that go down there – but since there are nearly two hundred of them make sure you go prepared!

Santo Tomas is a great bet if you really do want to go to the beach for the day and be relatively uninterrupted. This is traditionally a quiet spot to visit but it does have facilities for you to use as well, which make it even more pleasant.

Punta Prima is about as far to the south east of Menorca as it is possible to get without wading into the sea. You can do that here too of course but be careful as the location of the beach makes the sea very exposed. And when you have had enough of the beach and of swimming you can visit one of the restaurants for a bite to eat.

And these beaches merely touch the surface of what Menorca has to offer. Which one will you pick?

If you are going to visit a sun soaked island for a summer holiday, you have to head into the water sooner or later. It’s one of the best ways to keep cool, relax and have some fun as well.

But the sea isn’t the only option you have when you go to Menorca. You also have the Los Delfines Aquapark – and it provides a great day out for the whole family, regardless of what age your kids are or what kind of water rides you enjoy the most.

Let’s take a look at just some of the great examples you have to enjoy yourself while getting wet. For starters there are the water tunnels. Climb to the top of the rock, head down the tunnels inside and find yourself splashing out into the big pool below. There is more than one tunnel and you can climb back up to the top and enjoy them as many times as you like.

If you want something a bit more challenging than that, the Los Delfines Aquapark has everything you could want. Try out the Giant Slide that gives you the chance to head down a huge slide in a giant tube – it cannot be beaten.

Except perhaps by the Kamikaze ride; this is a long tube that heads straight downwards. Be prepared for the fast speeds and the quick journey to the bottom!

The Adventure River is a popular ride as you can grab a figure of eight style tyre to sit in along with someone else. So if you fancy one of the best tube rides in the park and you don’t want to experience it alone, grab your best friend, your partner or your child and experience it together.

There’s plenty for the smaller children to do as well, with water slides and chutes to find in the dedicated children’s area. The Water Castle is another firm favourite as well, so as you can see you’ll find plenty to do and enjoy here, regardless of who you arrive with and how long you spend there.

We all know that sunbathing is a key part of any summer holiday spent abroad. But some islands have some surprises in store for those who love the beach – and Menorca is a great example of this.

If you fancy the idea of journeying back to the Bronze Age, head for Cales Coves. They aren’t the easiest of places to access but the effort will certainly be worth it. Perhaps surprisingly the area is not very well catered for so it will pay you to hire some transport to reach the caves themselves.

But what can you expect to find once you get there?

Well, there are a hundred or so caves in the area, although you won’t always be able to see them all – even if you have a whole day to spend there. As with all caves not all of them can be safely accessed.

You might be surprised to hear that these caves were once burial caves too. And the caves are not all near the water. As you clamber down the gorge to reach the beach at Cales Coves, watch out for caves as you go. You’ll see some smaller ones that make the journey down to the beach and the water that bit longer!

As you can probably tell, this is ideal territory for anyone who loves exploring. One thing to remember though is a torch. Even if the weather is spectacular remember that the sun won’t be able to find its way into all the caves. It might be an idea to give your kids a torch as well, so they can see more of the caves that were burial chambers in another lifetime.

Be sure you go prepared when you pay a visit to the caves though. Despite the fact that they are a popular haunt for tourists there are no snack bars or other facilities of any kind in the area. Needless to say then a packed lunch is a great idea, plus anything else you would need to enjoy a quick dip in the sea before heading back to your apartment or hotel once again.

The four main islands of the Balearic archipelago – Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera – are famed for their beaches and 300 days of sun each year, but they also offer a surprising range of cultural opportunities.

In Palma, the Balearics' capital, important places to visit include the Pilar and Joan Miro Foundation, the Muesum of Spanish Modern Art, the cathedral with its Gaudi altarpiece, and the Gothic Maritime Exchange. The Es Baluard Modern Art Museum overlooking the port has three floors of galleries containing works by Miro, Picasso, Magritte, Tapies and Calder. The King's Garden, with its fountains, is a pleasant place to sit and watch the world go by.

A tour of Majorca reveals a variety of cultural treats, beginning with the Alfabia gardens, in the Traumuntana mountains, where a 12th-century Moorish viceroy constructed a lush oasis with some 40 species of trees and flowering plants.

The town of Soller, north of Palma, has Modernist gems such as St Bartholomew's church and Can Prunera, a house dating from the start of the last century with an eleborate facade, while The Station Building Gallerie-sart gallery at the railway station on Placa Espanya displays Joan Miro engravings and Picasso ceramics.

In Deia, southwest of Soller, literary buffs can browse through Robert Graves's house, now a museum where the writer's books, personal items and printing press are displayed.

Son Marroig, west of Deia, was the retreat of the Austrian archduke Luis Salvador who died in 1915. His mansion displays Mediterranean ceramics, antiques and paintings. The Deia International Music Festival holds classical concerts here from April to October.

Valldemossa, 18 km north of Palma, is the site of the Royal Carthusian Monastery founded in 1339. It was here that Frederic Chopin and Baroness Amandine Dupin – the French novelist better known as George Sand – spent three months during the winter of 1838-39.

Treasures include the frescoes over the nave, painted by Goya's brother-in-law, the perfectly preserved pharmacy and the Chopin and Sand apartments, including the original piano.

Pollensa, 55km northeast of Palma, is a pretty town inhabited since Roman times. Its international music festival held in July and August has attracted starts such as Rostropovich and Jessye Norman to perform in the St Domingo's Convent cloisters.

For a completely different world, head to Menorca, the second biggest of the Balearic Islands, largely undeveloped and rich in Neolithic taulas (T-shaped stone monuments) and talayots (stone cones). Mahon, one of the main cities, was established as the island's capital in 1722 when the British began their 80-year sojourn.

Four-storey Georgian town houses with sash windows still remain. The Scientific, Literary and Artistic Centre is filled with paintings and mementoes of Menorcan writers, poets and musicians, along with natural artefacts from seashells to stuffed birds. The Principal Theatre, built in 1824 as an opera house, is a miniature La Scala.

Menorca's main cultural events are Mahon's international opera week and the Capella Davidica concerts at the other main city Ciutadella, along with the summer organ festivals in Santa Maria Church, Mahon, and Ciutadella cathedral. Easter week in Mahon brings out spectral penitents, while in late June Ciutadella's dancing horses perform in honour of St John the Baptist.

Ibiza, long famed for sun, sand and hard-partying, is not without its share of music, dance, architecture and archeology. The walled medieval upper part of the town of Ibiza is a Unesco World Heritage site. The Contemporary Art Museum has interesting permanent and temporary exhibits, while both the Ethnography Museum and the Archaeological Museum show evidence of the many cultures that have inhabited the island over the past 3,000 years.

In mid-August Ibiza temporarily sheds its party image with opera nights held in the cloister of the Town Hall.

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One million Britons have abandoned Spain's bars and beaches in the last year after the pound dived against the euro and the financial crisis took hold, Spain's main tourism trade body said on Wednesday.

Spain, the world's second biggest tourist destination after France, relies on tourism for around 10 percent of its GDP or some 100 billion euros a year. It welcomed 16 million Britons, or 28 percent of all foreign arrivals in 2007.

But, in 2008 the pound weakened to near-parity with the euro - a 22.4 percent fall - and cost-conscious Brits looked to holiday in non-single currency destinations to the east.

"Spain has lost 1 million British tourists in 2008. The British are being turned more towards Turkey or Egypt," said Sebastian Escarrer, the chairman of trade body Exceltur and also chief executive of Spain's biggest hotel group, Sol Melia.

He said for the first time he could remember, no British tour operator was operating flights to Spain's Balearic islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza this winter.

Exceltur said Spain's tourism income would fall 5.7 percent this year as the global economic crisis deepened. Spain will earn 40.5 billion euros (36.5 billion pounds) from foreign tourists this year, Escarrer told reporters, down from 42.2 billion two years earlier, according to balance of payments data.

Earnings for the first 10 months of 2008 dropped by 4.1 percent. "Bad figures registered in November and the expected figures for December look like producing a bigger fall up to the end of the year," Exceltur said.

Exceltur, whose members include Spain's main airlines, hoteliers, travel agents and car hire companies said not only was demand falling among foreigners, but also from Spaniards.

It said the number of nights spent by Spaniards in Spanish hotels will fall 5 percent this year. It added that even among the best performers, hotels' key revenue per available room (RevPar) indicator had fallen between 5 and 7 percent over 2008.

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Menorca is a particularly peaceful Holiday destination during the low season, according to a travel expert.

The claim that Menorca has the best beaches in the Mediterranean "may very well be true", suggests Paul Richardson, writing for the Observer.

It is a fairly flat landscape on the island, with a gentle routine of market shopping and quiet dinners to be enjoyed outside its busiest months of the year, he adds.

"Many of Menorca's hotels and restaurants close for the winter but enough stay open to make for a perfectly wonderful low-key, low-season break," enthuses the travel expert.

The Balearic island has something of a "quirky charm", he concludes.

According to menorca.world-guides.com, the popular holiday destination is the second-largest of the Balearics after Majorca.

It states that tranquil family-friendly holiday resorts can be found on the south coast of the island, while fishing villages are waiting to be discovered on its rockier northern shores.

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