Have just returned from the Esmeralda. Just as good as when we visited two years ago. Having read through other people's comments, I also agree about the Cosmos Reps. I felt they lacked experience, on talking to them I found that the majority of them had only just been placed at the hotel and so my first day there was also theirs!!! Not so bad at the beginning of the season but i went the last two weeks of August!

The hotel staff were briliant with nothing being too much trouble.

The only complaint that we had was with the parents of the large number of 14-17 year olds that were there. Having a 16 year old myself I realise that they like to spend time away from their parents and make new friends whilst on holiday, but the language and behaviour of some was shameful. Many were left to their own devices and parents only seemed concerned when challenged by the hotel staff as to 'Why their 14 year old was drinkinking alcohol and throwing chairs in the pool!' This is one of the few hotels that actually seem to cater for this age group and don't charge them adult prices. It would be a shame if the hotel had to change this because of the behaviour of a few.

We had a fantastic holiday (4 adults, 5 kids from 10-4)

Fantastic views, varied food (considering the buffet style)

good selection of drinks (The local Cava went down very well, as did the San Miguel- we got our monies worth !)) Friendly hard working staff and very good animateurs in David, Josh and Sylvia and Lili with the kids in the evening. Although the hotel was not near a beach it's location at the mouth of the harbour opposite a C17th castle and with brilliant views was perfect. Regular use of the free beach bus and the hotel picnics worked well and being able to take a 10 minute stroll to the ancient city or the bars and fish restaurants of the harbour was much better than being in a large resort.

The kids loved the pool (even tho it was saltwater) and we didn't need to follow them all day as we lay on the terrace.

Evening entertainment was varied ranging from good homemade fun from the animateurs to a fantastic show from Brazilian dancers. Firmly at the bottom of everything (entertainiment,information) was Cosmos, their reps were largely un-interested in everything except their own private jokes or when they could (TRY) to sell you something. In comparison with the hotel people who went around the pool telling you what activities there were and encouraging you to join in the Cosmos kids lot semed much happier for too few children to turn up so they could cancel that club session. So as people say below ,if you want to go to the waterpark have a look at the information available at the hotel reception and get the free bus, if you want to go for a days beach hopping cruise walk into the port and haggle, do everything to avoid booking Cosmos.

our only other complaint was the air-con which failed 2/3 times altho we were able to borrow a fan on 1 occasion.

to recap -

get seaview on floors 1/2/3

use the free bus for everything

drink lots of cava and San Miguel

get info from hotel reception

don't worry about the kids

Returned on the 02-08-02


After our second year at the hotel. Not much change from last year except for the entertainment. David and Lili (entertainers) worked hard as normal but this year they were joined by two more, Silvia and Josh(professional!!). Food was acceptable but i would recommend the other restuarant which you have to book. Any problems i would advise you to see Maru the deputy manager who is always willing to listen and have a chat. Some activities were changed and for the better, there is not enough adult entertainment but is excellent for families.Go to the water park which was a excellent day out but make your own way there and get free bus tickets from reception, don't go with the hotel package. The pool was salt water which is ok if you dont mind that. there is a pool side bar which is open for snacks and drink, Mikel the barmen is topman. Take a walk down the harbour one evening and dream!!. The Hotel is just 15 minutes walking distance from the town shopping area which has a market on Friday and Saturday.


Overall a good family holiday and i would recommend it.

Just back from the Esmeralda. Had a great holiday.

The hotel & food were good, the pool is salt water & could have been cleaner. The entertainment team were excellent.

Our children were unwell for travelling home, we wondered if it had been the pool, but the adults had all used it frequently as well. The hotel is in a quieter area of the town, but it was a lovely walk to the harbour. I would certainly consider going back.

I have just returned from the Esmerelda Hotel, I am afraid rather disappointed.

But I have to say that most of the disappointment is with our Tour Operator, Cosmos.

Firstly I should warn you that the swimming pool is salt water not freshwater as per the Cosmos 2002 edition Summer brochure. On the day that we left a large amount of children fell sick which delayed a Manchester flight home as the pilot wouldn't take them initially. After discussions between the parents the common denominator was that the children who had been in the swimming pool the afternoon before had all fallen ill. One parent showed me a childs swimming costume which was blue the day before and white the day after (bleach she guessed). The parent said that he had seen guys in white uniforms taking samples from the pool the evening before, so hopefully the problem will be sorted out. However I did feel sorry for the children who had been up sick all night and couldn't keep food or drink down. I would request a higher floor if possible as there were complaints of people on the 1st Floor of the hotel of there being cockroaches in their room. The 2nd and 3rd Floor were fine. I will put in some positives at this point, as it wasn't all bad. The entertainment staff are a scream and brilliant with adults and children, how the ladies hold the attention of large amounts of children for an hour is amazing. The hotel has 2 professional shows a week which we were a bit disappointed with. The rest of the week consisted of the bulk standard, Karaoke, Mr Esmerelda, Mrs Esmerelda, Men v Women challenge, which for the first week was amusing, but rather tedious the next.


A positive! We had a balcony view from the front of the hotel and I have to say the view is breathtaking.


The food is a bit samey, and you will be further limited if you don't like fish, if they could serve it up for breakfast they would. However I would recommend you book the El Greco restaurant as much as you can, the food in there is excellent, but get up early in the morning to book it for the night after that day.

Finally a dig at Cosmos! I have been on a number of all- inclusive holidays in the past, but I will not be going using Cosmos again. They are a rip off and a bunch of cowboys. A trip to the local Water Park for a Family of Four with Cosmos costs over 80 Euros. They are making a profit of 50 Euros per family of 4 on this trip as you can get your family in for circa 30 Euros using the bus which stops outside which takes you there for 1 Euro and takes 20 minutes. If Cosmos can charge you for anything extra they will, 20 Euros each for looking kids in the evening, charges for Face Painting, Chocolote chaos days, hair braiding, going for an ice cream, it goes on and on. I was friendly with one rep who said that they know the trips are a rip off, but they are pushed to sell them anyway. I don't mind paying slightly over the odds for something, but making over 100% profit is ridiculous.

A number of other couples made complaints about the Cosmos ran Menorcan Delights trips, saying that they saw little of Menorca, and were just taken around commercial retail outlets to buy leather and cheese etc.

In conclusion to the hotel group: Sort out the pool problem and find more regular professional entertainment. Your staff are excellent. Oh.... and stop letting 10 year olds shoot air rifles with the adults!

To Cosmos, you are a bunch of wide boys.

My wife and I and our 5 year old daughter have just returned from this hotel. We had a fantastic time. The hotel was spotless and the food and drink was excellent. The staff were very helpful and friendly. The entertainment was also excellent but we did feel it was aimed more towards the children, which was fine because it kept our daughter happy. If you haven't got a sense of humour this isn't the holiday for you because the entertainment staff were a scream. There is a wide range of activities including football, tennis, table tennis, wall climbing, cliff diving, roller blading, french boules etc etc. I also tried the scuba diving in the pool and then went out into the sea - great fun although it did cost 55 euros, but would definitely recommend this. Without a doubt would recommend this hotel to families with young children. Didn't want to come home!!