Osprey Menorca Hotel

The rooftop pool was a lovely quiet spot in the late afternoon and evening, with comfortable loungers and plenty of sun. Breakfast was tasty and good value, though the single coffee and tea machine meant a long, slow queue. Another machine at the other end of the counter would help. We also enjoyed dinner at the hotel restaurant, with delicious food and lovely beach views. Despite quite a few problems, our three-night stay at the Osprey Hotel was somewhat pleasant, and the location really is hard to beat. Cala en Porter’s sandy beach and clear water are just a few minutes’ walk away. The small town is accessible along a scenic uphill road, but it can be a tough climb for older people or anyone with arthritis. The lobby is large, and the staff we met were friendly, helpful and professional. Reception can be reached by stairs or by a lift farther to the left, but there was no sign pointing out the lift, so we struggled up the stairs on arrival. Since the lift doesn’t require a keycard, anyone can enter the hotel at any time, which made the place feel less secure. Our first room, No.212, looked recently renovated and was modern, clean and comfortable. It had two single beds pushed together, a small fridge and a small tabletop TV. But I couldn’t lock the door from inside because the mechanism didn’t line up properly. Kicking the door didn’t fix it. When I went to reception, the staff had changed. A young woman was sitting beside another woman who said she was the Manager. The Manager told me all the rooms were like that, though my daughter was in another room and I knew that wasn’t true. The young woman came up to see the problem, and I showed her how the lock worked in my daughter’s room. She said she’d see what she could do. A few minutes later the Manager returned with the Housekeeper. I asked to move rooms, but the only option she offered was an inferior room on the first floor, which I wouldn’t accept. She tried to reassure me that Menorca was quite safe, but didn’t seem concerned, apologise, or offer to fix the lock the next day or find us a better room. I sent a complaint through the hotel’s contact page. A little later, I received an apology and a promise of a room with extra facilities the following day. When we returned that afternoon, I collected the keycard for room No.101. It had a double bed, a wall-mounted TV three times the size of the old one, a coffee and tea maker we couldn’t use because there were no instructions, two beach towels, and two bottles each of water and apple juice in the fridge. I didn’t complain about the issues in this room, but there were tiny black ants in the bedroom and bathroom, the toilet seat was loose on one side, and the mattress wasn’t orthopedic. It caused me severe lower back pain on both nights I slept on it. The caretaker should inspect every room thoroughly and sort out any problems before guests have to complain. The hotel offers good value for money, but a few basic things need attention.