Sol Menorca Hotel

“ The Good.

Location.
Beautiful position looking out to sea with gorgeous sandy coves next to the hotel- or within minutes walk. The whole area is very clean. Very relaxing and quiet (probably too quiet for some). 'Promenade walks' - 300 yards right and 600 yards left; after that, going can be rocky and awkward for the less mobile/elderly. The sea is warm and welcoming, and sunbathers will be in their element.

Hotel.
Lovely, clean rooms- all with lateral sea views. Enough sunbeds to go round and pleasant seating areas outdoors and indoors.No hassle, no rowdiness.

Elderly couples.
Predominantly elderly couples stay here and most of them love the quiet relaxation.

The Bad.

The air conditioning just does not work. Ensure you have a lateral sea view room facing the road/North. Our room included the pool in its view (nicer) but it was south facing and unbearably hot all day and night during a very hot October week.

To me, the food was the worst I've experienced in 30 years of four star hotels.
The soup was mainly watery consomme type- with little goodness.
The main course presented poor quality 'tinned tuna' every night; veal every night(either stew or slices); We only had decent chicken once in our11 day stay. Awful hamburgers on one night. Small, fatty and grizzly pork chops on 3 or 4 occasions. The fish tended to be literally scraps of bachalau (cod), hake, or dry swordfish- terribly presented dog ends and dried up.
Vegetables were dried up, and most servings cried out for some good gravy.
Desserts were atrocious. No ice cream. Small squares of cheap cake with ersatz cream. No gateaux. Hard, unripe fresh fruit. Tinned peaches and pears OK.
Every night the food was tepid or cold! One of our group was told three days ago to use the microwave- which he did! What can you say about that?
What you find is that you tend to 'mix and match the food' to ensure that you get something edible.
Also, only relatively small portions were put out for the guests, Once it had gone, then it may not be replaced at all-or with some poor substitute.
Breakfasts.
Watered down orange cordial. Fatty, cheap streaky bacon rolls- no slices. Awful red spicy or cheap pork sausages. Fried eggs OK. Beans cold. Useless toasters which only brown one side and take 3 revolutions/5 minutes to brown. Good fresh chocolate and fruit buns- but do you want these for breakfast?
PROBLEM!!

The hotel is due to close for the winter on October 29th. Throughout this week, everything was sadly being run down. Not just the food, but certain areas were locked up on Monday, and the outside lights in adjacent to the garden/promenade were left off also. I think this practice sheds a bad light on the Sol Melia Group.

Entertainment/Activities.
I expect mediocre entertainment, but this was the bottom of the pile- 50's records; sax player; piano player; bar staff singing. Audiences of 10-20 at most, making one drink last all night.
No activities carried out at the prescribed time, The girl who ran them favoured Yoga but always turned up late and overran her schedule. I waited for an hour to play French Boules one day- and she never arrived. Next day she was turned up half an hour late and only had four people. Personally I would have sacked her.


Summary.
I shall E-Mail the Sol Melia Group about the poor food and this hotel's practice of "running down" everything towards the end of the season.
If you want a beautiful, quiet relaxing location, then this is A1.
If good food and entertainment are important, then do not go here.

“ Top Tip: Euro.
The Euro is KILLING everything! Examples.
Bag of crisps...2 euros.
Beer...3-4 euros.
Omelette & chips...8 euros
Ice cream Mars Bar....2.80 euros
Magnum..3.50 euros
Cheap local brandy....15 euros
I met a family of six who spent over £300 in two days on food and drinks.
The cost of the Euro abroad is killing package holidays- unless you book all-inclusive.