SO you want a short flight with guaranteed sun, sea and sangria at the end of it.

Majorca and Ibiza are great options but don't overlook another sparkling island in the Balearics- Menorca.

ROMANTIC: Couples love Menorca

Just 21 miles from big sister Majorca, it has avoided the mass trail of tourists and boasts as many beaches as Majorca and Ibiza combined.

The island's interior is still wonderfully rural, with working farms and pine forests. Head to the north to discover the wilder part of the island with towering cliffs and little bays.

The South is the focus of tourism and contains many of Menorca's prettiest villages, holiday villas and sandy beaches.

My friend and I wanted all the fun of a popular tourist area so went with Thomas Cook to Cala Galdana, 50 minutes from the airport, on the southern coast.

The wide bay, lined with pine trees, is one of the most beautiful in the western Mediterranean and has a great beach, the Santa Galdana, which is an ideal place to relax, sunbathe, read your book and enjoy the view.

It's also good for families and those who like to be active with scuba diving, pedalos and other water sports available. And there's a golf course not far away.

Cala Galdana is wonderfully laid back, and couples will love the romance of taking a night-time stroll along the starlit beach.

Calm

With just a few cafes, bars and restaurants the nightlife is quiet, but the two main hotels offer evening entertainment which usually finishes at 11pm.

That is what's so nice about this place- the peace and tranquillity which leaves you feeling calm and refreshed.

SPLASHIN': Pool at relaxing Hotel Sol Gavilanes

Our hotel, the Sol Gavilanes, is popular because of its position by Santa Galdana beach. The staff are very friendly, the rooms are a good size and it is well presented and clean.

Along with the great view you get from your balcony, the hotel has good facilities including a pool, sun loungers (towels provided), gym, and spa. And the three restaurants-one a la carte and two buffet-offer a wide selection of good food.

There's also a terrace bar where you can watch the evening's entertainment while enjoying the Menorcan tipple of Pomada (gin and lemon) or maybe a few cocktails.

Hotel drinks cost 4 (£3.50) or 5 (£4.30) each for alcoholic ones, and about 2 (£1.75) for soft drinks-not outrageous, but the dire exchange rate makes them pricier than normal at the moment. The the surroundings make it worth it though.

Children are also well looked after and many activities are laid on throughout the day giving adults time to enjoy the peaceful surroundings.

The only noise I ever heard from the children was laughter which is never a bad thing!

Menorca (sometimes spelt Minorca) was once occupied by the British as well as the Moors, Catalans, French and, of course, the Spanish, so it has a true cosmopolitan feel.

Mahon (or Mao), the walled capital, has a remarkable natural harbour and one of the best ways of viewing it is from the deck of a boat on one of the many tours. If you like a tipple, visit the gin distillery which produces a special brew mixed with locally-grown juniper berries.

There is a lovely park and gardens, Es Freginal, in the centre of the city, and if you visit at the right time of year you might catch a music festival.

BOOTIFUL: Alaior is famous for its shoe-making

Other towns worth exploring are Alaior, famous for making cheese and shoes, and the prehistoric area around Mercadal at the foot of Monte Toro, the highest peak on Menorca.

Ciutadella, the old capital in the west, is undoubtedly the loveliest town on the island with winding streets and gorgeous old buildings.

If hiring a car isn't an option, Thomas Cook lay on many excursions that will help you see the island by land and sea to experience its many delights.

However you spell it, Menorca's a corker!

GETTING THERE: THOMAS Cook offers seven nights half-board at the four-star Hotel Sol Gavilanes, Menorca, from £448 per person, from Gatwick, October 16. Also flights from other airports. See www.thomas cook.com or call 0844 412 5970. Thomas Cook Publishing has travel guides including Menorca from £4.99. See www.thomascookpublishing.com or call 01733 416477.

EasyJet has flights to Ibiza from various UK airports from £52.78 return (www.easyJet.com). B&B at Hotel Es Vive from £110 per night, suites from £295 per night, www.hotelesvive.com or 00 34 971 301902.

IBIZA

CHALLENGES and holidays go hand in hand for me. Scuba-diving in Thailand, skydiving in Australia, camel-riding in the Sahara desert during a morning sand storm-I've taken them all on and conquered.

CLUB LAND: Go partying in Ibiza

So when my boyfriend invited me to spend a weekend with him in Menorca's more lively neighbour Ibiza, I didn't hesitate.

I wanted to see if I could party, relax and discover the "real Ibiza" in just two days and nights. A holiday, in essence, on fast-forward.

After a frantic Friday at work, I raced home to grab my one piece of hand luggage and rushed to Gatwick to catch my no-frills flight.

On board, I used the three hours wisely (yes, full image overhaul including outfit change, make-up application and hair styling IS possible in an aircraft cabin loo).

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By the time I checked into the adults-only Es Vive, it was gone midnight, but you wouldn't know it from the buzz about the place. There's a bar open from 11pm to the early hours, which bypasses the new ban on 24-hour bar opening hours with sound-proof, padded walls and ceilings.

Es Vive is the hotel that never sleeps, which is good for the party animal but a nightmare if you're craving shuteye.

During the day, though, there's no disputing that Es Vive is THE place to hang out. With a poolside DJ spinning tunes on Saturdays and chill out tracks playing at other times, the comfy sun loungers render it the perfect spot to ease a hangover. And after a night knocking back Es Vive's cocktails, I can testify to that.

Fuzzy head aside, there's something in the Ibiza air that makes it hard to stay put for long. Lucky, considering the amount of things to do.

Spanning 28 miles by 15 miles, nowhere is further than an hour's drive so you get your money's worth from hiring a car for the day. A visit to the 100,000-year-old Can Marca caves in San Miguel-the island's oldest village-is a must. The golden walls set off the beautiful stalactites and stalagmites, and the cool, damp air is a refreshing break from the scorching heat outside.

For the sun worshipper, the famous Bora Bora beach is the place to be seen. It's lined with watering holes, including the Bora Bora Bar- a cross between a beach bar, chill-out area and club.

But unlike other Ibiza clubs, which charge around £45 to get in, this one has free entry and cheaper drinks (about £2.50 a pint).

If you can tear yourself away from the crowds, there are 80 beaches to choose from including Cala Benirras on the northern tip, a hippie haunt. It's worth a visit on Sunday evenings when drummers play on the sand as the sun goes down.

I opted for the more energetic alternative to celebrate the day of rest, at Space-a club awarded the title of "best in the world".

In recovery from Saturday night's antics, it was hard to imagine how I'd endure another session. But as soon as I stepped inside Space the uplifting dance music reminded me of just why I'd gone to Ibiza in the first place-to rise to the challenge.

So, in my quest to succumb to the Ibiza adventure I decided rest could wait . . . until the flight home later that night, at leas

By Gemma Calvert

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