Sol Falco by Melia -All Inclusive

A row of vintage-style street lamps line a long fountain marking the entrance to Sol Falcó's main building and low-rise reception. Inside, the lobby lounge is spacious and airy, with polished marble floors, another fountain, and big chunky wooden beams that introduce the property's rustic-leaning aesthetic. Much of the complex feels modeled on an old Mediterranean pueblo, scattered with whitewashed buildings roofed with traditional terra-cotta tiles. With names like "Hacienda," "Rancho," and "Finca," the 10 rural-themed accommodation blocks are set among extensive pine-scented gardens brimming with trees, shrubs, and colorful bougainvillea. While the main pool area can get noisy with the splashing and squealing of children, there's always a quiet and secluded spot to relax by one of the numerous sun-dappled pools. This fully all-inclusive hotel attracts mainly families with kids, in a mix of European nationalities from Italian and Spanish, to British, German, and Scandinavian. 

This hotel is set on a wide though lightly trafficked street in the purpose-built tourist neighborhood of Son Xoriguer, part of the Cala'n Bosch resort area. Mostly surrounded by other hotels and vacation homes, Sol Falco has very little of interest in the immediate area beyond a supermarket and the small Son Xoriguer beach, both under five minutes' walk away. Around 10 minutes on foot is the resort center -- a quiet marina lined with restaurants and low-key bars -- plus another pretty sandy beach. A tourist train connects from outside the hotel to various points around the resort, including the Aquarock waterpark set on its outskirts. Located on the southwest corner of the island, the hotel is a 15-minute drive from the picturesque city of Ciutadella, while it's about a 50-minute drive to Minorca's capital, Mahón. Ferries are available to both Majorca and mainland Spain, while Menorca International Airport is up to an hour by car. 

With a total of 450 rooms spread around 10 accommodation blocks, Sol Falco is certainly one of the larger complexes on the island. There are six categories in all, ranging from entry-level standard up to two-bedroom family rooms. All rooms were updated with a fresh, bright, and contemporary look in 2016 which includes wood-veneer floors, simple modern furniture, and a tastefully muted palette of white and cream. Balconies or terraces come as standard, with most overlooking quiet gardens though some have direct access to one of the many outdoor swimming pools. 

Common amenities include 42-inch flat-screen TVs (with very limited English-speaking channels), mini-fridges (filled for charge), and electronic safes (for a fee). In-room Wi-Fi is free of charge and was fast enough to stream video during our stay. Blackout curtains aid sleep and air-conditioning runs over the hotter months. Upgraded (Xtra) rooms add free (soft drink) minibars, tea- and coffee-making facilities, bathrobes, and Bluetooth speakers. Bathrooms are all clean and contemporary, most with roomy walk-in showers (with rainfall and directional heads), decent wall-mounted hairdryers, and a generous selection of toiletries that includes sunscreen, after-sun cream, and in family rooms, child-friendly dental kits. A few bathrooms with tubs are also available on request. 

With a total of seven pools in all, the Sol Falcó certainly features more swimming spots than most. The main pool is triple-tiered, ranging from child-friendly shallows to deep ends, with a toddler- and baby-friendly splash pool to the side. There are several pools dotted around the pretty gardens -- one of which is adults-only -- as well as an Olympic-style pool for swimming laps. Regular poolside and pool-based animation includes the likes of aqua-spin and aquarobics run by enthusiastic staff. Two supervised kids' clubs cater to children from 8 months to 5 years, and up to 12, with three hours free of charge. There's also a games room and playground, though beyond mini-golf and tennis courts, sports facilities feel fairly limited.

The main restaurant is a cavernous dining room where lofty ceilings and heavy beams suggest a barn. And with hundreds of tables over high season, the dining experience can be very noisy and far from relaxing. The hotel also loses points for dining, with a distinctly underwhelming variety of buffet and average food quality. There is live cooking with a choice of meat, fish, and vegetable, plus a pasta station (though this was more vacant than manned during our visit). A Tex-Mex snack bar opens over the summer months, and the neighboring lounge bar has regular evening entertainment, mostly tribute music acts. A simple room service menu is also available during the day. But for such a large complex, the lack of a second restaurant or bar is a definite shortcoming, plus there's no spa facilities. Other on-site conveniences include a mini market, coin-operated laundry facilities, and free reliable Wi-Fi.