Frequently asked questions about boat hire in Menorca

In Menorca - as in the rest of Spain - you need a licence to rent a serious boat without a skipper. Depending on the country where the licence was issued, it is valid for driving different boats.

Yes, there are. Boats up to 5 m in length and with less than 15 HP can be rented and driven without a licence from the age of 18. These boats are normally only suitable for local trips to a neighbouring cove, but not for longer trips as they are not very safe. The Spanish government is currently planning to ban this type of exception as many accidents are occurring. In Menorca you can find the ones in Cala Galdana and Fornells. Not all providers are reliable. Be careful.

Apart from taking on the extra cost of €250 plus gratuity, there are only advantages to taking a skipper. Most importantly, you will have a more relaxed day without the responsibility of the boat and its precious cargo (usually your family or friends). Above all, if you are not a routine skipper you are likely to have some uncertain situations. Also a skipper will know the best places to travel, hidden places that are not easy to find, also taking into account the weather and sea conditions on the day. With a skipper you can simply relax, enjoy the day and even enjoy a good drink, an option you definitely should not take when skippering, as the Spanish police frequently stop the boats and check the alcohol consumption of the responsible skipper.

By far the best place to charter a boat in Menorca is Mahon. There are many reasons for that:

• In high season you will want to book your boat well in advance to get one. As in Menorca you have most of the time north winds or south winds, you want to be flexible on the route, as you always want to sail with offshore winds (for less waves, safety and water quality). When booking in a north or south harbour, you want to book in advance in a harbour that serves the north and south coast. That is effectively only Mahon. From Ciutadella there are no pleasant destinations to the north.

• The offer is the widest. The 90% of the charter companies are in Mahón, so the offer is wide and diverse.
• For boats that can be taken without a licence, you want to be very close to a very nice destination, as they are not safe to go very far. The best places are Cala Galdana and Fornells for unlicensed boats.

No, the island government does not give permission to rent jet skis on the island of Menorca. There are two exceptions: 1. guided tours where all participants follow a guide in line and 2. the jetski is an official auxiliary of a motor yacht, as in the case of the Princess 65 "LAYA

The offer of boats for rent is very limited in places like Cala Galdana, Santo Tomás, Son Bou or Fornells. So it is better to rent a boat in Mahón. Also because of the danger of onshore winds on the day of your trip (seequestion #X). Some charter companies will offer pick-up at these locations from 10 a.m. But please note that fuel will have to be paid for from Mahón and back to Mahón. Feasibility depends on the location, the type of boat you hire, especially if the boat has a dinghy that you can disembark, or your willingness to swim a few metres to the boat. In general, setting off from Mahón is a magnificent experience as the port of Mahón is one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean.

That depends a lot on where you are. Generally it should be possible in Es Grau, Fornells, Punta Prima, Binibequer, Es Canutels, Santo Tomás and Son Bou. But the comfort of this exercise depends on the boat you hire. Larger boats and yachts >12m will take you with a dinghy from the beach, smaller ones will be able to reach a jetty (there are few) or pick you up in shallow water. Please note that fuel will always have to be paid for from Mahon and back to Mahon. It doesn't matter if you travel on the boat or not.

Answer: The size of the boat depends on the number of people in your party, the intended use of the boat and your budget. A professional boat rental company can help you choose the right size boat. You will comfortably sail a boat using the following rule of thumb:

4 guests - 5-6m boat

6 guests - minimum 6-8m

8 guests - minimum 8m

10 guests - minimum 10m

12 guests - minimum 18m

14 guests: please note that no charter boat in Spain can legally carry more than 12 passengers. This unfortunately includes babies. If you are more than 12 people you will have to charter a second, smallelr boat and cruise as a tandem. Once in a cove all guests can be on the bigger boat.

Generally, there are three categories of boats in Menorca: Yachts, Sport Boats and Llauts. Yachts are the most luxurious option. They will take you comfortably and quickly to the most pleasant places in Menorca and will welcome you with food and drinks.

Answer: The type of motorboat you should rent depends on the activities you plan to do. If you plan to do water sports, such as wakeboarding or skiing, a high performance boat with a powerful engine would be appropriate. If you plan to sail, a motor yacht or cabin yacht may be more appropriate.

This is possible, but is always charged extra. If you plan to rent your own boat without a skipper, the charter will be sensitive to your experience and skills, as water sports such as waterskiing are extremely dangerous when done by inexperienced skippers. You will assume the risks usually yourself, as some insurances do not cover this.

Answer: The cost of renting a motor boat varies according to the size and type of boat, the duration of the rental and the location. Some companies charge by the hour, while others charge by the day. Expect to pay a deposit in advance and additional fees for fuel, cleaning and insurance.

Answer: Yes, most charter airlines allow you to bring your own food and drink. However, some may prohibit glass bottles or require you to use plastic cups and plates. Good charter airlines will offer convenient catering options.

Answer: In most cases, the cost of fuel is not included in the rental price. You will be responsible for filling the tank at the end of your rental, and the charter company may charge you for the fuel you use.

Answer: The charter company will monitor weather conditions and may cancel or reschedule your charter if it is unsafe to go out on the water. If your charter is cancelled due to bad weather, you may be offered a refund or the option to reschedule.

Answer: You should bring sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and a towel if you don't want to rent some from the charter company. It's also a good idea to bring a change of clothes in case you get wet. Don't forget to bring any food and drink you wish to have on board, and be sure to check with the charter company if you need to bring additional items.

You have to know that you should always go for the coast that has onshore wind. That should be your first criterion when choosing a destination. Starting from Mahón, the north and south coast have beautiful spots. You'd better hire a skipper to make sure you find them.

On the north coast our favourite beaches and coves are: Mongofre,...

On the south coast our favourite coves and beaches in Menorca are: ...

Bear in mind that in July and August 90% of the people want to go somewhere very nice like Macarella, Macarelleta, Son Saura, Cala Turqueta. These coves are overcrowded in high season and also far away. A skipper or boat charter company can advise you about equally special and less crowded places.

Especially in high season it is almost impossible to find a boat for only 4 hours. It is also unadvisable as it will probably take 30 to 70 minutes to get to the really nice places. Also the harbour of Mahon is the largest (and most beautiful) natural harbour in Europe with 6 km between the mouth and the end of the harbour where most of the moorings are located. So count about 25 minutes just to get out of and back into the harbour. There is a speed limit of 3 tickets.

Boat rental prices consist of several components. The boat rental itself, which has a value of Euro per day. Make sure that 21 % VAT is included in the quote you receive. Charter companies now take a number of different additional cost items:

• AlwaysFuel. Here it is like a rental car (full/full) which is transparent and clear or by engine casing. The more professional rental companies will have digital trackers that will tell you the engine hours your boat had during the day. The fuel consumption of boats is indicated in litres/hour. Normally the boating company will have an amount of € per hour of engine running.
• SometimesFinal cleaning: Some companies charge a considerable additional cleaning fee. This can make a big difference.
• AlwaysExtras: From towels to water toys or catering. These things are always at extra charge. An extra can also be that the charterer's staff refuels the boat instead of going to the fuel station and doing it yourself. Extra time beyond the contracted 8 hours is also charged extra.
• NeverInsurance. Some companies charge extra for insurance. This is unusual and you should probably avoid such companies.

The charter is usually for 8 hours from 10am to 6pm. This includes the time needed to refuel the boat and return to your berth. Half days in Menorca / Mahon are rarely offered, as 4 hours is not enough time to leave the port of Mahon, go to a really nice place, enjoy it and come back.

Some companies offer "Sunset" tours from 7:30pm to 9:30pm. These are proportionally more expensive as the staff work VERY long hours.

Bad weather is bad luck for everyone in Menorca, especially as the island often experiences 1 to 3 days of Tramuntana winds which can make sailing uncomfortable. Good charterers in Menorca will allow you to change the day or give you a refund of 100% if that is impossible. The charterer must define the bad weather. Usually it is not some clouds or even rain, but conditions that make the charter uncomfortable or unsafe. Usually, it is more than 1m of swell on any possible route. For larger yachts, that number can be as high as 1.5m.

• AlwaysFuel. Here it is like a rental car (full/full) which is transparent and clear or by engine casing. The more professional rental companies will have digital trackers that will tell you the engine hours your boat had during the day. The fuel consumption of boats is indicated in litres/hour. Normally the boating company will have an amount of € per hour of engine running.
• AlwaysExtras: From towels to water toys or catering. These things are always at extra charge. An extra can also be that the charterer's staff refuels the boat instead of going to the fuel station and doing it yourself. Extra time beyond the contracted 8 hours is also charged extra. SometimesFinal cleaning: Some companies charge a considerable additional cleaning fee. This can make a big difference.
• NeverInsurance. Some companies charge extra for insurance. This is unusual and you should probably avoid such companies.