Cala n Forcat, Binimar Resort Review

Overall Rating

Initially we had booked to go to the Cala N Blanes Hotel which we were informed a couple of months before we were due on our family "Honeymoon had been closed down and First Choice had booked us in at the Binimar Resort on the same All Inclusive deal.Initially I was worried at the size of the hotel with there being over 400 apartments, I thought it may be very busy and chaotic, and after reading some reviews on here even more worried.
HOWEVER we had a fantastic time, I must admit that I think it was on full but the only time we ever had to queue was one night for bingo tickets, we hadn't gone with the mind we wanted to play Bingo but you tend to get swept away with all the fun.

Food was fantastic, we do enjoy European food but if you are very picky, they have chips, but surely everyone eats rice and Pasta dishes too these days, the choice was vast and wine available along with soft drinks in the Restaurant all through the meal and we ate so well that we never went in during the 3 snack times they also run between main meals. The food on the servery was a little luke warm, but its so hot in Menorca this didn't seem to bother anyone

The complex is immaculately clean, maids working throughout the day cleaning room, tables and plates tidied constantly, the staff were very hard working.

Rooms are of the standard you expect from a 2-3* hotel, slightly dated but lovely to have the use of a fridge for bottled water & having a 16 month old with us that decided he couldn't eat in the heat and reverted back to bottles of milk so at least we knew it was fresh. In hindsight when the complex was built installing air conditioning would have been a god send, but we locked the shutters and kept the glass doors open, even with the children sleeping in the living room it always felt very safe.

All 3 pools are beautiful and you did find some towels in the morning, mainly baggsing the palm tree parasols but there were always plenty of spare loungers at all times and the ones that had been "saved" were always being used by 10am.

British run entertainment from 10am till11pm and the team worked there socks off and knew all the childrens names within a couple of days of them arriving. Bar service was excellent, small plastic glasses for the all-incs but you could order as many as you wanted, we used to get 3 at a time between the 2 of us, which became the in joke, paid drinks aren't that cheap, I think about 3 euros for most things, but this is definitely a Menorcan thing not just at the Binimar you do get them in a glass for that though, all the bar staff spoke perfect English, though we alwys feel it polite to give the obligatory, Por Favor or Gracias gets you remembered.

Cala N Forcat has plenty of restaurants and Bars if youre self catering or fancy a wander and all the souvenir shops, though it is a modern resort, Cuitedella the old capital is only about 15 mins by hourly bus for the architecture, serious shopping or the cigarette smoker it cost 4.35 euros for 2 adults and 1 child each way.
The water park is literally a 5 min walk from the Binimar, we didn't go due to the complexities of the baby and for the truelly picky eater there are 2 Burger Kings - though couldn't confirm whether they are cooked in Spanish oil or taste like they do at home!!!

Our Rep was lovely, saw her a couple of times each day if anyone needed her and always had a smile and a chat available.

The beach probably isn't for beach lovers, that part of the island tends to have lots of little shallow coves that are ideal for parents with small children for the calm of the sea and the smallness of the area you need to watch, we went down to the nearest beach which can be got to in the hotel on foot with no buggy but it didn't take us more than 5-10 mins to walk the road way, there a caf which seemed to be run by a british lady and got big portions, everything was 3 euros, and there were about 10 parasols with 2 sunloungers on the beach, each was 5 euros, but worth it for the day rather than rouging it on the shingle.

In summary we all had an absolutely fantastic time and although we have never been back to the same place twice due to the world being to big and a little scared places may not be as good on return, we are seriously thinking about going back for 2010. The day before we left a family arrived that all the staff remembered from the 7 previous years they have been and insisted on the room next to the entertainment!!! We were overlooking the childrens park near reception and it was lovely and quiet

I think the only people who would have a problem with Binimar are people that expect too much before they go, we paid £1000 for the 4 of us All Inclusive and it was wonderful value for money. It is a 3* resort not 5* and although possibly a little holiday parky, only for the very best reasons when you have children. Cant recommend the place highly enough. Hope you have as wonderful a time.

Members' Comments onmrsmorton69's Review

• Peter Murray on 26th Aug 2009

  I found this review very helpful because...her comments sounded honest. We have booked this holiday and are a bit worried after reading some reviews. Hopefuly, will be able to tell you all about it. We are expecting it to be cheap and cheerful.