Valentin Son Bou

With a casual entrance set into a low-rise building overlooking its car park, the Valentin Son Bou provides little fanfare upon first arrival. Inside, the hotel's reception is an understated and straightforward combination of polished wood paneling and gray marble floors, with smartly-dressed staff providing a professional and friendly welcome. A quiet and understated atmosphere pervades, with decor leaning toward conservative and old-fashioned (despite being relatively-recently built at the end of the '80s) with the last major renovations completed in 2004. The complex comprises the main four-floor "hotel" building that curves around a separate central bar lounge, plus five story apartment blocks housing four to 25 units in each. Gardens are peaceful, pretty, and well-tended with tidy lawns dotted with sculpted shrubbery, ancient olive trees, and tropical plants; the only noise on our visit was from the abundant local birdlife. Clientele tends toward older couples either side of high-season, with plenty of families with kids joining in the summer months. Brits also make up the bulk of guests, followed by German, Italian, and Spanish travelers. 

While the semi-remote hillside setting gives a feeling of quiet seclusion, few would  say its location is the hotel's forte. It is set in the Torre Soli Nou development just on the edge of the San Jaime Mediterráneo -- a village mostly comprising vacation rentals and villas on the south coast of Minorca. The nearby beach of Son Bou is the longest on the island and a 15-minute walk down a steep hill, so most guests use the free regular shuttle bus back up. The nearest restaurants and shops around the Son Bou resort area are around 10 minutes on foot. Located halfway up the island's south coast, it's about a 25-minute drive to Minorca's capital, Mahón, and 40 minutes by road to the islands other city Ciutadella. Ferries are available from either Majorca and mainland Spain, while Menorca International Airport is just 20 minutes by car. 

The Valentin Son Bou offers a mix of standard rooms and one-bedroom apartments totaling 312 in all. While certainly clean, many units are showing signs of age, with old-fashioned decor that includes floral-printed fabrics, dark-wood furnishings, and traditional artwork. The apartments sleep up to four, so they're popular with families, with separate bedrooms and lounges with double sofabeds. All units open to balconies or terraces, with apartments mostly offering garden views and guest rooms either overlooking the pool, gardens, or (from the top two floors) partial sea views. Some rooms overlook the car park though the countryside sits just beyond.

Amenities include 32-inch flat-screen TVs (showing a handful of UK-based channels among others), mini-fridges (with free bottled water on arrival), and manual safes (fee), plus all units are air conditioned and offer pillow menus. Apartments add kitchenettes with microwaves, fridge-freezers, electric burners, kettles, and toasters. Marble-topped bathrooms are clean and traditional, with shower/tub combos, decent wall-mounted hairdryers, and chain-branded toiletries. Room service is also available (for an added charge) and while Wi-Fi is free it can be spotty. 

The hotel has a good, but by no means outstanding, range of facilities for both adults and kids. The main pool is large and lagoon-style, with a zero-entry edge and plentiful loungers and parasols meaning there's no early-morning scramble to snag a free spot. The next tier down is a good-size splash pool, while inside is a heated (in the cooler months) pool. There's no real spa, though a petite massage room can be booked. Two supervised kids' clubs operate over peak seasons, which are free of charge and cater from 2 to 10 years, and a playground is on the premises. For adults there's a basic animation program that includes the likes of yoga, aquarobics, and archery; there's also a small adults-only gym, and courts for tennis, volleyball, and football.

The hotel's main dining area is bright, clean, and spacious (though decor is a little dated) and opens for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is a highlight -- especially the freshly made omelets and pancakes -- while food is generally good quality throughout the day and includes themed buffets three times a week. Plans range from breakfast included to all-inclusive, though some complain out-of-plan drinks can be expensive. The Tropicana poolside bar serves hot snacks and ice-cream, plus there's a quiet adults-only bar. Entertainment takes place every evening (except Sunday) in the main large-but-cozy bar lounge, and includes tribute acts, acrobats, and magicians. Practical facilities include an on-site mini-market and plenty of free parking. Wi-Fi is also free, though the signal isn't the most consistent, and an internet corner has a pair of public computers.