Grupotel Mar de Menorca

We loved seeing both the sunrise and sunset from our room. We went in early September and it wasn't busy, so there were always plenty of seats at the restaurant and by the pool. I can imagine it might be different in high season. We stayed for a week and had a smooth, really nice time. The location worked perfectly for us with a rental car, and buses stop outside the hotel. The facilities were good, and the staff work hard to keep everything clean and tidy. There was entertainment day and night, and it felt very family and kid friendly. The buffet breakfast had lots of choice and good quality food. We ate dinner at the buffet restaurant twice, and the food met our standards. The price felt very reasonable for how much you could eat. I'd definitely recommend this place.

For an all-inclusive stay, I still can't get over having to pay 1.50€ for bottled water. The tap water is horrible, so it's bottled water or nothing for me, even though you can drink as much booze and soft drinks as you like. Make it make sense. I was surprised by how spacious the "studio" apartment was, as I'd expected something much smaller. The two outdoor pools are a plus, especially if you want to avoid the little ones. Service was mostly friendly, though sometimes the staff could pay more attention to customers instead of finishing conversations with friends. The food is edible, not great, but you get what you pay for, I suppose.

Food was what let the hotel down for me. Dinner was hit and miss, probably really good Thursday to Saturday and a bit rubbish the rest of the time. The kids mostly lived off pasta. Breakfast wasn't great either. I love omelettes, but the two I tried were bland and tasteless, so I didn't bother after that. We'd maybe return if the food improved. We saw no cockroaches, just one cricket roach. There were loads of sunbeds, with hardly any taken when we got up around 9am, so no sunbed wars. Entertainment was average, with a couple of good nights and some poor ones. Shout out to Joseph and Maurice, who were friendly and kept everyone entertained. The hotel was in good condition, with excellent pools, especially for families. Reception staff were helpful when we needed them. The hotel is in a quiet area, though, with hardly anything nearby for drinks or food. There are a couple of little shops close by, well stocked with snacks, and a lovely cove a three to five minute walk downhill. It has a small sandy beach and is good for snorkelling. The kids saw a lot of fish around the rocks. Our room was in good condition and the air con worked, even if it sometimes got too cold. The bar had plenty of drinks to choose from and quick service, with four or five people working in the evening. The included snack bar served hot dogs, pizzas, chips and teddy bear ice creams. The hotel is about ten minutes from the airport. If your travel company hasn't arranged a transfer, taxis outside the airport are easy to get and cost no more than €20. We hired a car at reception through autos amingo’s, with no issues. It was €60 for a car or €120 for a seven-seater or minibus, including insurance, child seats and additional drivers, with no hidden extras.

The only reasons I'd give it four stars instead of five are the wasps and the late dinner service. There were so many wasps that we were constantly swatting them away, and our eldest actually got stung. Evening meals don't start until 7pm, which is late for young children. By then they're hungry and tired, so dinner wasn't enjoyable. Otherwise, it's a great hotel with a modern room, decent food, and excellent pools and facilities. The location is perfect, with a very short walk to a lovely little beach with clear water and lots of fish. Everything was clean.