"Enjoyed a lovely week at the Globales Binimar.
Requested a first floor sea view room and that is what we got - perfectly positioned and quiet area (except being near the delivery entrance there was some early morning noise from the many trolleys being pushed over the rough tile surface that occasionally woke us).
The apartments are amazing, very spacious and a separate bedroom meant a perfect option for children to sleep while adults still have use of the rest of the apartment and balcony - plus dining table, fully equipped kitchenette (one electric hob, great fridge/ freezer compartment, microwave, kettle, toaster, full range of crockery, cutlery, pans etc). Beds extremely comfortable. Large LG TV has loads of channels including BBC/ITV/Channel4 etc. Room air con was brilliant and much needed in a week where temps hovered around 30 degrees still at night. Outside was like a furnace but the two air con units worked very well in living area and bedroom. Had to ring reception once for a small lizard on the bedroom ceiling and they quickly sent someone (at midnight) to remove and release back outside! Very light and airy apartment. Pull out bed under sofa was made up (though we didn't use). Bathroom a bit dated, no window/ working extractor and taps/ shower a bit old but all fully functional.
Sadly there was no chance of a late check out as the hotel was full (understandable in peak season), despite all the signage in the room advertising this. The courtesy room/ space had no air con and was sweltering and not very comfortable to get ready/ changed for pickup due to how hot it was in it - but great that this facility is still available (clean showers/ toilets/free towels/ boiling luggage room/ there is also a space in this area to do your own laundry).
The staff are all very nice. From the entertainment staff (special shout out to Ruben who made the activities extra fun with humour for the kids) and to Nuria in the main restaurant by the pool who worked so hard and with a smile snd greeting (and she found our 'all inc' cups that we accidentally left on our table one morning).
Pools all great, liked that they were deep enough to be able to properly swim (all warm too), and had shallow ends and children's pools in all three pool areas. The splash park pool was amazing for kids, such a good facility (although the paint rubbed off onto my daughter's costume). Lifeguard at each pool. Usual 8.30am rush to get a sunbed at main pool - but if you were there for them being unlocked you always got a bed.
Bars work well for all inclusive with the cups/ tokens - never a long queue. Variety of food in both restaurants was great. We preferred the main restaurant by the pool (it served breakfast, lunch and dinner) but still used the one by reception (it served breakfast, snacks all day 11am-6pm, then dinner until 9.30pm - which was great having the later option). The restaurant by reception is a bit chilly after sitting in a while. Drinks (juices, fizzy pop, beer and white/rose/ red wine) are self serve in both restaurants - all tasted nice. All inclusive ice pops were free from the main bar, while different flavoured ice cream in tubs were available in the snack bar 11am-6pm (but you need to sit in the snack bar to have/ be dressed as it's in the restaurant). The snacks available all day were good - just a slightly smaller scale of the dinner/ lunch but plenty variety: chips, fish, meat, cold meats, cheeses, salads, nachos, desserts etc - you can never go hungry.
Day time and evening entertainment was good. Activities every hour from 10.20am until 4.20pm with a break at lunch. My daughter loved taking part - whether a pool activity (water walk, volleyball, water polo, aqua fit) or in the entertianment stage area. Certificates presented every night for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. Kids mini disco 8pm every night which included the hotels mascots 'Globy' - mainly singing/ dancing for smaller kids. Then a fun bingo (2 euros per strip of numbers) and then the main entertainment act at 9.30pm. The seating area for the entertainment wasn't quite large enough for size of hotel (over 400 rooms) - we usually managed to get a seat but had to really search sometimes. Karaoke was great fun on a Sunday night. We had just missed the Michael Jackson 'Smooth Criminal' show when we arrived (think it may be on every other Thurs at the hotel) - so we watched the same show instead at Jimmy Hills (where the full MJ show is on every Wed) - highly recommend for MJ fans - unbelievable show!
Waterpark was included with our stay. Ask reception to print off the weekly paper pass. We went three times for parts of the day and had an amazing time - the pool here was quieter than hotel pool, plenty sunbeds (though busy for finding one too - but can put towel on grassed areas), lots of child friendly slides and 4 main big slides (snacks here not included as part of Binimar all inc). The waterpark is an easy ten min walk from the Binimar.
There are supermarkets on doorstep of hotel (nearest is immediately to left when come out of reception), but the hotel minimarket/souvenirs has just about everything you'd ever need at reasonable prices - great shop and friendly staff! Ideal for all inflatables for pool etc.
There is a bus (number 61) that runs half hourly to Ciutadella (the old Menorca capital) - we didn't visit but wish we had after reading reviews of harbour, rustic streets and cathedral.
The beach coves next to hotel are excellent for swimming/ snorkeling in. The one right next to hotel (Cala Piques) is a very short but quite difficult walk to (not signposted after leaving hotel which path to actually take down.. but once on the beach you can find easier way back...). There is a beach bar and sunbeds/ parasols for hire here. Recommend pool shoes as stony getting in and out sea. Cala en Forcat is another 10 min walk and has more swimming opportunities and an unbelievable amount of fish - definitely recommend here for snorkeling (two small sandy coves and lots of rocky ledges/ walkways to put towels down on).
The only let down for us was kids club (age 4-12, couple hours in morning and afternoon). My daughter was so excited to try it but maybe we just hit it unlucky as there was only 5 kids there, no planned activities (lots of options to colour in, play with lego, the ladies running it seemed friendly) - but my daughter was very bored and ended up just lying on the floor watching an ipad in French and she couldn't wait to be picked up! She said the ladies sat on their phones alot - so we never returned.
The kids park was lovely, though we didn't use much, it had climbing frames and slides and was on nice sand (no swings).
The hotel grounds were extremely well kept, beautiful flowers and the one storey buildings all well maintained and felt like a little village. A hotel photographer offers mini shoots.
Would recommend a stay here. It is a fantastic 3 star hotel and we had an excellent time (felt safe as a solo parent travelling too)."
