Apartments Bini Cudi Reviews

We (3 single women) booked our holiday approx 4 weeks prior to departure (it was not cheap), explained to tour operator that we would not be hiring a car and that we did not want a resort that was too quiet.

The travel agent explained that binibeca was well served by buses and that getting around was not a problem, the Sunset brochure also described the resort as quiet but with 'a selection of shops, restaurants and bars',
We arrived in binibeca early evening, VERY disappointed with the apartment which was dirty, very basic and crawling with ants. We unpacked and then decided to explore the 'nightlife'. We walked for 20 minutes in the direction signposted 'restaurants' and never saw another person (other than passing motorists).

We ate at the DP restaurant which was good and then walked back to the apartments- still no sign of civilisation!
The following day we had our welcome meeting and explained to the rep that we had no toilet rolls (she said we had to ask for this at reception) and only hand towels -we also mentioned the ants but were told to buy some spray from the supermarket. She explained there was no maid service and that we would have to empty our rubbish into the bins across the road.

We booked an excursion which covered the market at Mahon, leather outlet, gin distillery and boat trip which cost approx £35 euro. The excursion was ok but we later discovered that the bus journey to Mahon costs 1 euro, the boat trip 8.50 and the gin distillery does not include a tour so you may as well go there yourself.

**word of warning**1st day on the beach we were approached by a man asking for money for sunbeds/parasols, we had no change so we gave him a 20 euro note, he said he'd be back with change but never saw him for dust!, we had no ticket etc. the following day we went there was an official person collecting money and issuing tickets, - cheaper option is to take towels and buy a parsol for 8 euro from supermarket. Binibeca beach is good, beach bar does a great chicken salad! Pedro's restaurant is good and the pizza place in binibeca ville.
There are buses which go to Mahon 3 times per day -10am,11am and 5.30pm, Tuesday and Saturdays are good days to go (market day).

OVERALL the accomodation was very run down (letter of complaint with photos winging there way to Sunset at this very moment)- a couple we spoke to who own a villa in binibeca said that last year they thought the apartments had closed down because it was so run down and empty!! The 2 staff we saw were obviously 'overworked' and underpaid, manning reception, bar and 'cleaning' the aparments, there appeared to be no grounds maintenance and the pool looked filthy - DEFINATELY WOULD NEVER GO BACK TO THESE APARTMENTS. Binibeca is a beautiful - if small - resort, ideal for couples looking to get away from it all but not ideal for 3 friends hoping to have some fun!!!!

As a single mum, and the only holiday I will have this year, I was very very disappointed with Binibeca, not to mention the apartments!

This place is SO CHILD-UNFREINDLY it isn't true! On a ground floor apartment, we had a clear 4 ft drop to the left and just an peice of scaffolding to stop your wee one from toppling over the precipice! As far as the apartments go - forget it! The microwave didnt have a near plug socket so they provided an extention that reached only above the sink!!! My daughter developed a cough as the place was so damp. SHAME on Thomas Cook for calling this a 2* - this should have been condemned many years sooner.

We had to walk at least a mile to the nearest supermarket and beach, and when we did the bar there asked for 4 euros for a plate of chips...that is £2.80 ????
A main couse is about 14-16 euros ( £12.00)

Also watch out for the Thomas Cook excursions...especially the leather outlet! Called Industrias Artesanas. I bought a bag from there at 59 euros only to get it back to my apartment to find that the stitching poor, and I would have been better off buying an inferior item at the Mahon market for a 5th of the price. BE CAREFUL! Thomas Cook endorse these people and but do not accept responsiblity for the products they sell.
All in all, I couldn't wait to get home...I felt ripped off and brow-beaten.

Binibeca is a lovely little village for 5 minutes. BE A DIESIL TOURIST as one resturant owner told me...they come but dont cost much! Pretty on the outside but as far as being outside the resort, unless you have strong calves and a good pair of Clarks...forget it! I won't be going back there again! EVER!

A reply from Paul Clough Binixica Menorca

I felt it important to write a reply toMiss Susan Tunnicliffe of Coventry. I am the owner of the Company, Industrias Artesanas here in Menorca and would like to advise Miss Tunnicliffe that if she was not happy with her handbag, she should take advantage of our guarantee and return it for a replacement or a refund. We sell 6000 handbags during the season and this is the only adverse comment we have ever come across. In fact it was pointed out to me by another, but satisfied client who comes to Menorca ever year. If Miss Tunnicliffe sees my reply please send me the handbag and I will refund her 59 euros. Paul Clough. Managing Director Industrious Artesanas Menorca.

Binibeca is a wonderful little place to visit and although there is nothing to do apart from eat at the few restaurants there are in the vicinity which are all very nice especially The Palomino Bar which isnt far to walk but a little further along past Binibeca beach we found five together the best and friendliest we found was Baloos both English run and very friendly.

If we hadnt hired a car Binibeca would have lost its appeal very quick simply because there is nothing at all to do or rather what there is can be seen in ten minutes. Having said that it is picturesque and without doubt beautiful but probably more appealing to the retired couple not a family with growing children.

Now on to the Binicudi Villa Apartments, I dont really no where to start to say we as a family were disappointed is a major understatement. The three girls that run the complex are utterly wonderful they are always smiling and helpful, they work very hard but it cannot hide the fact that the apartments are damp, the beds are the most uncomfortable we have ever slept on in our life and that includes camping in tents, there is two rings to cook on and a microwave that wasnt any good so having a self catering meal was impossible unless you didnt need a grill or oven so other than fried eggs (very healthy) or cheese and ham omlettes which you can easily get sick of.

The pool was never cleaned in the two weeks that we were there our apartment was over the pool and I was up at 6 am every morning (couldnt stand to be in the beds any longer) a week after we got there I complained to the rep about the pool being dirty and like pond water it wasnt until we were going a week after I had complained that a pool man came out that was one week of arguing with my children that they couldnt go in the pool incase they got an ear infection or worse.

Forget about taking travellers cheques or using your bank card also as there is no change bureaus in the vicinity, closest is Punta Prima three miles away or 7 Euros return on the train there is a mini bank machine in Binibeca Vell about a mile away but it didnt work and the Exchange Bureau there had been shut for two years after going there three days running to see if it was open we found out off a local.

All in all we found the apartments to be in dire need of upgrading, the beds too uncomfortable to sleep on (leaving you tired and ratty all the time) the lack of entertainment in Binibeca a let down, the Rep was no help at all and I can honestly say I will never in my lifetime book another holiday through the same tour operator again.