Mahon

When planning your Mahon holiday it's worth remembering that the resort has two distinct sides – the town centre and the harbour.

In the centre you will find the 16th century Arch de San Roque, where you can see remains of the medieval walls that once surrounded the town, as well as the 17th century Town Hall, the Church of Santa Maria and the Casa de Cultura library on Plaza de la Conquista square.

The always popular town market, taking place every Tuesday and Saturday, now resides in a former convent that has been recently restored and doubles as a venue for musical events throughout the year. More upscale shopping, meanwhile, can be found in Mahon's many boutiques selling shoes, jewellery, pearls and locally distilled gin. For anyone looking to experience the more urban side to Menorcan life, a Mahon holiday will be the perfect solution.

Currency

Spain’s official currency is the Euro often signified by € or EUR.  One Euro is divided into 100 cents.   Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates.  All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops.   ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.  The Euro is used in 12 members of the European Union.  Countries and territories using the Euro include: Belgium, Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Austria, Portugal, Finland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, The Vatican, Martinique, Guadalupe, Reunion, Montenegro, and Kosovo.

Mahon Climate

The summer season in Menorca begins in early May and runs through to October, with the average temperature being 24C, and July and August reaching highs of up to 28C.  With up to 11 hours of sunshine a day in the height of the summer and a high level of humidity, the beaches are the place to be, with the cooling coastal breezes helping to keep the temperatures down.  The spring sees temperatures of between 14C and 18C, with the autumn months being just as warm but a little wetter, and the island experiencing the most rain during the months of October and November.  Winter temperatures drop to around 12C, with roughly 3-5 hours of sunshine per day. 

Time

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October).

Language

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.

Electricity

Electrical current is 220 or 225 volts, 50Hz. 
European-style two-pin plugs are standard.

Tipping

Hotel and restaurant bills usually include service charges, but additional tips are welcomed for services rendered.  In established restaurants tips of about 10% are expected.  Drivers of metered taxis expect small tips and it is customary to tip usually 5-10% for most services, including guides.

Tipping

The international access code for Spain is +34.  The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom).