Menorca Binibeca by Pierre & Vacances Premium*

The views from the restaurant at breakfast and lunch were beautiful, and it was an easy walk into town. Breakfast was decent, and the staff serving breakfast and lunch were friendly and welcoming. Our room was a real letdown. We booked a junior suite based on the photos and description of an outdoor terrace, but got a ground-floor room at the back of the property with a dark, rather dirty patio. It was beside a noisy communal hallway that echoed, and we could clearly hear guests and staff through the door and walls in the evening and from around 6am. When we asked to move, we were offered a much smaller room facing the internal pool, which was noisy too. The shower pressure was poor and the temperature kept swinging between scalding and freezing. The hotel also felt busy and crowded, with people claiming sunbeds, though that didn't bother us. Reception didn't seem especially friendly or accommodating when we raised the room issue. It felt like a three-star stay in a location that seems more premium. If you want a resort feel, take care choosing where your room is.

The buffet was a pleasant surprise, with plenty to choose from and a nice layout and seating. The area around the hotel is good for walks, with a supermarket and restaurants nearby. We stayed four days and three nights as a couple. Binibeca is quiet and peaceful, and the adults-only setting suited us. Our junior suite was huge, with a balcony, and the bathroom was massive. Soundproofing was 10/10. The shower could be improved: weak pressure, inconsistent temperature, and water that splashes out. The kitchen is too small for much cooking, with limited facilities, and they don't provide cooking spatulas. The front desk staff were friendly and helpful, but the cleaners weren't very respectful or friendly.

The food, cleanliness and staff were all hard to fault, and we'd definitely go back. We stayed for a week and had a nice time, although the room was a bit tired. There were one or two things that might be useful for others to know. On Sunday, after we'd been using the beds around the middle pool since Wednesday, staff came over at noon and said we'd have to pay to stay on them. They didn't explain why, just said payment was wanted. Another guest who'd been coming for years said they'd never been charged before. Our safe was broken too, and despite reporting it twice, it wasn't fixed. Those were minor issues overall.

The balcony sunsets over white-washed Binibeca and the sea were postcard-worthy, and the breakfast spread was a feast, with custom omelettes, plenty of choice and a great sea view. Our junior suite was huge and spotless, with good A/C and such effective soundproofing that I slept like a log. There are three pools, scooter rental, and free parking 50 m away. The bay and a mini-market are a short stroll away. Staff were lovely and sorted out my missing “Do Not Disturb” sign in minutes. A couple of small drawbacks: the Wi-Fi struggled with video calls and streaming, though most people probably aren't here to work after a day out haha ;). Breakfast and the restaurant are in the next building, about a 20 m walk. The decor is clean but plain and could use warmer, cozier touches. Would I return? Yes, for the space, views and breakfast.