Hotel Playa Azul

It's hard to find too much to fault at the Hotel Playa Azul. The hotel occupies a gleaming whitewashed building with understated, 70s-era architecture, though some areas could use a refresh. It joined the Minorca-based Set Hotels chain in 2010 when it underwent a full renovation. Stepping into the lobby, however, it feels more recently spruced up with a fresh and contemporary look. There's a combination of purple and turquoise set against a backdrop of leather-effect seating, crisp white walls, and wall-to-wall windows overlooking the road and scenic cove below. Numerous cheerful vacation-themed paintings add to the upbeat vibe. Stairs lead down from reception to the bar patio and to a bright and open pool terrace, where guests (mostly made up of British couples) lounge and soak up the sun. Behind the main building, several low-rise bungalow blocks sit amongst peaceful gardens dotted with pine trees. Friendly staff, well-maintained facilities, and a relaxed sunny atmosphere make this deservedly one of the more popular hotels in the resort. 

The hotel is positioned on the main road that skirts the cliff overlooking one side of the gorgeous cove of Cala'n Porter. This beautiful sandy beach with crystal-clear waters is accessible via a steep footpath of around 180 steps or a 10-minute walk on the more gently slopped road. A small tourist train also does the journey both ways in summer months. The buzzy though laid-back center of this small resort is just a few minutes away on foot, with a few family-friendly restaurants, car rental agencies, and a cozy Irish bar. About 15 minutes' walk in the other direction is one of the island's most famous bars, Cova d'en Xoroi, hewn out of the cliff with terraces that provide some wonderful views of the sunset. Day trips to the capital Mahon involve an easy 20-minute drive, while Menorca Airport is even closer at 15 minutes by car.

The 126 guest rooms are spread over four floors, and all identically styled in an unfussy mix of wood veneer floors, simple modern furniture, and striped curtains. In all but a few rooms, glass doors provide plenty of sunlight and slide open to balconies or spacious terraces with views over the gardens, pool, or street and surrounding hillside; many also feature partial views of the scenic cove below as well as some lovely sunsets. While pretty basic and a little on the small side, rooms are clean and well maintained.

Amenities are similarly simple, with little beyond air-conditioning, key-operated safes (for a fee), and 18-inch flat-screen TVs -- with a handful of British channels. There's no mini-fridges or coffee- and tea-making facilities. In-room Wi-Fi is available but for a (fairly reasonable) charge. Bathrooms are clean and modern, with soap/shampoo dispensers, wall-mounted hairdryers, and walk-in showers in most (four rooms per floor have shower/tub combos).

The 16 bungalow units are larger (sleeping up to two adults and two kids), with sofa beds, 32-inch TVs, and bathrooms with shower/tub combos. 

The hotel's main dining room is modern and spacious, with wraparound windows providing lots of natural light and scenic views. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served buffet style, with the usual mix of cold and pre-cooked dishes. There's no live cooking stations though a weekly gala dinner features local food. Most guests praise the quality and variety of food on offer. Half-board comes as standard (covering breakfast and lunch or dinner), plus an all-inclusive plan is available which also includes self-service drinks. There's also a snack bar offering fast food staples like pizza, onion rings, and chips, as well as daily drinks promotions and occasional live music (all-inclusive guests get discounts on branded spirits and cocktails). 

The sun terrace is the main hub of the hotel, with a good-size U-shaped pool with ramp entry points, swan neck jets, and enough loungers to go around (all new for 2017). A separate splash pool and playground help keep the little ones happy, though there's no kids' club or game room. The hotel also lacks fitness or spa facilities, however they do organize twice weekly yoga sessions on the lawn. Free Wi-Fi is only available in the lobby lounge area.