Costa Arenal

The big pool area stayed uncrowded, and the beach and plenty of nice restaurants were only a short walk away. Nights were pretty quiet, too. The apartments are spacious and nicely cleaned, though basic and a little dated, and we thought they were good value. There’s a miniclub at the sister hotel down the road, and guests can use its pool as well, but the sunbeds there can turn into a bit of a battle. We rented a car from the hire company beside that hotel for a low price and got to see a lot of the island. There’s also a bus stop right outside, so getting around is easy enough. A great option for a family holiday.

The apartment was spotless, well organized, and just where we wanted it, and the hotel felt peaceful and well looked after. Still, our stay at Seth Sa Mirada in Menorca was affected by the timings: check-in was very late and check-out far too early, so it felt like we lost part of our stay. The Wi-Fi was another real problem. It was weak and kept cutting out, making even simple things like checking maps or booking online difficult. We’d still recommend the hotel for its comfort and location, but keep those hours and the unreliable internet in mind if they matter to you.

It’s a shame, because this is otherwise a nice hotel. We stayed before and enjoyed its family-friendly feel, but this time there seemed to be groups like bachelor parties. On Sunday morning, eight women were shouting noisily outside our apartment and woke us, including the children. If that’s the kind of place it’s becoming, fair enough, but I wouldn’t return with kids.

The staff were the brightest part of our stay. At the sister hotel, they made us feel so welcome and carefully explained the food and ingredients each day to help our son with his food intolerances. The snack bar lady was especially lovely, though she could use another pair of hands in the busy season. The hotel and its location have so much potential, which makes the state of things a real shame. We stayed here in 2018 and it was dated then. It’s sad that so little seems to have been done by 2024. The pool was the best feature, but its lights were coming loose and water leaked over the perimeter wall every day. The paving slabs around it were uneven and lifting. Our top-floor room meant no ants, but the balcony handrails felt dangerous, as if they might fall apart. The woodwork needs attention, with damp and gaps filled using expanding foam. Inside, the rooms still feel very dated, and the air conditioning was ineffective and smelled bad. Evening entertainment needs rethinking too. The magician was mediocre, and the volume was far too high for such a small place. I really loved this hotel, but unless repairs happen soon, I can only suggest avoiding it. There’s better value in the same area.