Aparthotel Seth Isla Paraiso

For a quiet break spent mostly at the hotel, this was pretty good for a three-star place. My wife and I had no problems with room No 466, and the couple of small issues were fixed within an hour. After that, no complaints. The location could be a problem if you struggle with hills or steps. The nearest bar is the Irish bar, five minutes uphill; it shows all the sports, which suited my wife and me. We’re both in our 70s.

The location is ideal for the beach, about five minutes down some stairs, though there’s a slightly longer route along the road. The bus is nearby and handy for exploring Menorca. Our room looked out over the pool and had a lovely balcony. I think all the rooms have the same layout. We’ve stayed here four times over the past few years and can’t recommend it enough. This time we came with a small baby and my mother. The hotel was spotless everywhere, from the room and pool to the common areas, and everything was well looked after. Staff were genuinely lovely, always smiling and ready to help. Breakfast and dinner were excellent, with lots of choice and really good food. The kitchen staff kept checking that the buffet was full, so half board is well worth it. The pool was clean and had plenty of sunbeds, no need to get up early to put towels down!

The location is excellent, just five minutes from a beautiful beach, but I can’t recommend the hotel. The rooms were worn and dirty: sticky dishes, stained towels and sheets, cracked walls, mold in the bathroom, and blood on the balcony that we had to clean ourselves. Trash wasn’t taken out every day, and safety felt questionable since even our two-year-old could open the door. The food was terrible. I’ve never had worse coffee, the machine’s “milk” was watery, the porridge was inedible, and breakfast choices were very limited. Plenty of guests made instant coffee instead. Service was unprofessional. The door lock failed twice, once because its battery was dead and once because of a booking error. The air conditioning was broken, and when it was replaced, we had to leave the room while workers came in. On one occasion the sheets hadn’t been changed and smelled of sweat. We had to ask for clean ones and change them ourselves. Even with all these problems, the hotel offered no compensation, such as a bottle of wine or dinner voucher as other hotels normally do. Accessibility is poor: there are no lifts, very few ramps, and the restaurant is downstairs with no ramp access. The kids’ club only takes children from four years old, and the children’s pool is too deep for toddlers. There are a few positives. The location is excellent, guests can borrow beach toys and umbrellas for free, inflatable toys are allowed in the pool, and there’s a shop across the street. Staff are friendly and helpful, but that doesn’t make up for how dirty and run down the hotel is.

The peaceful feel, spotless rooms, and helpful staff make this a lovely place to stay. It’s an apartment-style hotel, so you get comfort and good value without spending a fortune. Lots of guests come back year after year, and I can see why. I’ll definitely return.