Blanc Palace Aparthotel

We were originally booked into the Sa Caleta Apartments but they didnt have a room for us and were sent to Blanc Palace instead. The rooms were nice and cleaned daily with fresh towels. The staff were very polite some quite friendly and the food was amazing. All the reps were German and I would say most of the guests were 97% german which was a problem in the evening as we didnt understand any of the entertainment and they were not prepared to even translate numbers during Bingo so we were very bored at night and found ourselves staying in our room because most of the places surrounding the hotel, pubs and restaurants have closed down since the hotel became all inclusive. The kids club was run by german reps and we didnt know until our last day that one of them spoke quite good english and she was quite happy to look after our son whilst he played there and he did make a couple of german pals during our week there they seemed to communicate somehow but a lot of the parents were quite unfriendly once they found out we were english. The kids park is great, the pools are lovely and the beach is very close but full of italians and is very small and packed out every day. All in all a lovely hotel but the entertainment was awful for us english, car hire is highly recommended although the buses run regularly to other resorts, Cuitadella is about 25mins walk with some nice shops. If you want an unsociable holiday and some early nights then this place is ideal, we certainly won't be returning.

1 reader found this review helpful

After going in aug 2010 we have finally rsolved with thompson the fact that this hotel is not any where near the advertised one in the brochure The restraunt was appaling and some of the food uncooked. Staff overworked frequent delays for crockery etc made for a poor experience .advice for 2011 go somewhere elseyour money would be better spent

1 reader found this review helpful

Just back from blanc palace, we were sold this holiday as platinum, no way flies with your breakfast tea coffee machines not working no saucers generally very dissapointing

2 readers found this review helpful

Just back from two week stay with family. The complex itself is very pleasant-we had a ground floor apartment looking out onto the pools which was great. The apartment itself was adequate and functional although the living area was a bit of a squeeze with-2 kids sleeping on the sofa beds.
The restaurant was completely understaffed with guests having to clear and make their own tables-especially at breakfast. The staff were endlessly running around trying to stock up on plates,glasses,cups,etc. The food was running out faster than the staff could replenish it which resulted in constant waiting/chasing up cutlery,etc...The outside seating area was the most pleasant place to enjoy the canteen style meals however a little more thought and effort could have been given into dressing the area-ie candles,lights to make the experience a pleasant one. The waiter service in the evening was practically non existent and ordering drinks sometimes took a while-we often though of bringing our own wine to avoid the wait and help out the over run staff.
The problem with the restaurant caused us to eat out eight times in out 14night stay-a lot when we had paid for half board! In doing so we found a lovely restaurant on the waters edge just down the road from sa caletta beach called bar Sa Nacra. fantastic sea food and service and amazing views of the bay and sunset-please visit-busy though and reserving a table is advisable. There is another lovely restaurant further around called bahia-also lovely views and amazing food.
we had a lovely holiday despite the issues with the hotel-we would not return to this hotel but definitely to Menorca.
We travelled with Thomson who claimed the hotel was Platinum 4 star. This was definitely NOT the case and we are writing to Thomson accordingly.
We realised half way through our stay that a large apartment block next door was also being accomodated in the hotel restaurant-probable reason for awful restaurant experience. Management should review this. Also sunbeds impossible to obtain by 10am and we were next to the pool!
On a positive note the restaurant did in fact improve the service over our stay as the complaints were noted!

21 readers found this review helpful

The shiny floors and big entrance into this hotels reception is a clear indication of the service you will get here. The apartments are spacious and very clean with fresh towels and sheets delivered every other day as well as the floors swept and mopped. The buffet restaurant is the best I have come across with excellent quality, quantity and varitation. The chef is only to happy to prepare fresh if there isn't enough on display for you! Wine and soft drinks on tap we were amazed to find the cost for two adults and one child to be only 34 euros, thats three courses and drinks! The entertainment facilities are fun and you are invited to partake but never preyed upon, the children adore the hosts. The Kidzone staff are dedicated, caring and the kids love them too, these sessions are run for two hours a day (5 out of the 7 days) allowing parents some relaxation time knowing their kids are having fun and being looked after. The location is fab too being just a ten minute walk from a cheap supermarket and two cove beaches both very clean and with utilities. Nearby restaurants you have to try include a paella at Bahia while the sun goes down and the Ocean restaurant caters well for kids with bouncy castles galore. A short 7 minute bus ride away is the beautiful town of Cuitadella where you can shop until one in the morning or wander down into the harbour and pick out your desired restaurant from the many on display. Cala n Bosch is a 20-30 min bus ride away and is a bit more vibrant but has more great eateries available and the AquaRock park for the kids ( a great waterpark with slides galore). There is so much of this island we never got around to doing, the boat excursions, Mahon, Ferreres to name but a few so we'll be back. This is a great place to stay in and we met many people who visit year on year.

5 readers found this review helpful

I was very impressed with the accommodation. Unbelievably clean, staff helpful and friendly. We were a bit apprehensive because the hotel is recommended for young families and we are a retired couple but the high standard of the accommodation made it worthwhile. We wanted a quiet resort and this fitted the bill perfectly. We ate in the hotel a couple of times and found the food excellent quality and great value at 12 euros for three courses. there were plenty of places to eat and we were a short bus ride from a large selection of restaurants.

2 readers found this review helpful

i found the prices on average were similar to gran canaria (been in June this year) maybe add 10 euros to your dinner but saying sa caleta is a quiet resort is misleading its not a resort its a residential area and quiet as in its a ghost town
Pick this hotel up and drop it in cala n bosh, then youve got a good hotel and id give it 8
Its just im comparing it with better located hotels, and better priced hotels
it is a good 3 star, its got 4 keys or whatever because of the facilities
if its your first time abroad with a small child its a good destination short flight and transfer child freindly and no one bothers if your terrible 2s tantrum kicks off,
as said before its safe for your toddler to run around the staff are top notch,
probably the best staff iv had, my girl even got a present
they are helpful, and friendly, Diva della and cheeky charlie did their best my kid loved them.
the kiddies pool although unbearably cold at this time of year was large square and knee deep all way around. the hotel has inflatables for you to use, suitable for babies to toddlers.
the room is good, clean and big enough for speedy imps. we had a roadside view and it was quiet enough with the windows shut. Dont forget to ask at reception to see the dvd list and they will put a kids film on for you to watch in your room.
Go elvis i enjoyed the show n dellas rendition of bat out of hell was good too go kiddo and good luck in cyprus and lapland
the downside
not much choice for kids, its chips n something else not much veg/fruit when eating out everywhere, and that was my plate too i craved vegertables
the reason why ive scored a 7
the pool wasnt heated
if you go on holiday for food,like me, well youll struggle here if you want to eat well and get back for entertainment at the hotel for the kids disco, all the kids loved this we couldnt do both. it was one or the other. the apartment restaraunt is poor but cheap 15 euros set menu each for 3 courses ( swordfish looked and tasted like salmon vegetables cold and boiled to oblivion)
we ate a few times at the ocean it was passable hit and miss, the suckling pig was lovely and a good portion, but we could relax as my girl played on the bouncy castle. 20 euros 3 corse set menu each. cheap n cheerful we ate there several times so the tot could enjoy the disco
its a 10- minute walk to cala n santandria but with a buggy the paths are crap and poorly lit at night. i was lazy and kept missing the buses which came every 40 mins or so but sometimes one wouldnt turn up or come 10 mins early so i got taxis.
cala n santandria is a beautiful beach cove, (shallow n safe for toddlers quite small n narrow) and 2 very good but expensive restaraunts, bahia bistro and la quaddra, 100 euros for 2 courses and jug of sangria for 2. but the food was very good its a la carte ( seabass and cous cous and wild boar with truffles), ask the staff that is the only 2 they will recommend, and the only 2 id recommend too.
there is also 2 bars here and you can get a good burger at the nordic mist. you can walk but with a buggy the paths are crap and poorly lite at night i was lazy and kept missing the buses every 30mins or so but sometimes one wouldnt turn up or come 10 mins early so i got taxis.
most of menus are not british they are all local (in citudella harbour its very samey)i thaught great as i love seafood and trying local cuisine, but if you are a meat n potato man your gonna struggle and youll be travelling on the bus to cala n bosh everynight (sa negro is good too)
id probably not go back to the hotel even if it was anywhere in menorca as the world is a big place. i enjoyed my stay but each to thier own as people iv talked to have came here several years on the trot.

3 readers found this review helpful

Menorca
Firstly we were impressed by Menorca, it was greener and more scenic than most other Spanish and Greek islands we've visited. The pace of life there seems very easy-going and relaxed and even touristy places weren't overly busy, although that may be because it was nearing the end of the season. We did find it expensive though, generally a meal and drinks for two adults and a child came to around 40-50 Euros (approx £35-£40). Alcoholic drinks in the supermarket were fairly cheap but in bars and restaurants prices were comparable to the UK (eg: £2.50+ for a pint of lager), and items like bread, milk, eggs etc. cost more than in the UK, although fresh fruit and veg were cheaper and good quality.
Sa Caleta
A lovely scenic area on the west coast of Menorca, it's a quiet residential area with a few hotels and villas, making a nice change from the usual busy 'resorts' but still has good amenities such as shops (including a large supermarket), restaurants, a pharmacy, decent bus service etc. There are a couple of very small but pleasant beaches, the rest of the coastline being very rugged rock, caves etc. It's the perfect place for a relaxing holiday as it's fairly quiet yet close to Cala'n Bosch (which is much busier but has some nice beaches and more choice in shops, bars and restaurants) and the scenic town of Ciutadella (nice shops, restaurants, a marina and historic buildings). In my opinion if you were visiting Menorca for one week and wanted a variety of things to do and see every day then one of the busier resorts would be more suitable, but if you were going for a fortnight, and taking things easy with a few days out to see other places, then Sa Caleta is the perfect location.
Blanc Palace
Although the Blanc Palace is billed as 4 star by Thomas Cook I'd say it falls a little short of that (the cleaning could have been a bit more thorough, the beds more comfortable, the apartment a little more up-to-date). That said, it is actually a very nice hotel with decent apartments, but just not quite worthy of 4 stars in my opinion. All the hotel staff were genuinely pleasant and helpful and also very nice to the children. The apartments are all set-up for self catering but the hotel also has excellent restaurant and bar facilities. There is a large pool, a smaller pool for kids, plenty of sun loungers, a decent playpark area, and an indoors games room.
Thomas Cook
Fairly good service all round. Good flights with only a short delay on the outward journey. Once there we were well looked after by the reps, there was very little in the way of pushy sales tactics for trips etc. that we've experienced on other holidays. The entertainment was quite good and the reps were great with the kids. There was also a Kid's Club facility open for a few hours each day which was free although some sessions (teddy bears picnic, chocolate party etc.) cost extra. My only gripe would be that reps only advised of a small supermarket (I think also owned by the Blanc Palace?) when there was a large supermarket (Hypermercat) only 5 minutes walk away which was much cheaper.
Our overall rating would have to be 8/10, this being one of the most enjoyable holidays we've been on (but also the most expensive!).

3 readers found this review helpful

My boyfriend and I recently stayed for 7 nights at the Blanc Palace and I can honestly say that the accomodation is fantastic.
The staff are extremely friendly and helpful and the apartments are very clean and spacious. The rooms were regularly cleaned and fresh towels and bedding was provided regularly.
We had a gorgeous view overlooking the pool and sea. However, we did notice that some of the rooms overlooked the road but the area was very quiet with little traffic so I don't think this would be a problem.
The pool was lovely with plenty of sunloungers and a good poolside bar. There are some good resturants nearby at Santandria just a 10minute walk from the apartments, serving good food at reasonable prices.
The beach, although close is very small, but again the beach at Santandria is much larger. The town of Citudella is beautiful and only a 10minute drive from the apartment.
Being a couple without children we were worried about the noise, but the site was always quiet and the staff keep all the children entertained so that this place is also suitable for younger couples.
The only bad point I could make about the hotel is that the double bed are two singles pushed together and these tend to come apart once you've lain on them. Other than this I could not fault the site at all as it is so well maintained.
I would definitely recommend this hotel if you are looking for a quiet beach holiday, but if it is night life you are looking for this is probably not suitable as the area is quite quiet.

4 readers found this review helpful

Just returned from a 14 day holiday here (via Thomas Cook).
We found the hotel to be excellent, particularly if you have young children. The staff were friendly, very good facilities and spacious rooms. The entertainment laid on was very much enjoyed by my 3-year-old daughter.
The comment below regarding lack of restaurants just isn’t true, there are over half a dozen nice ones within a pleasant 20 minute stroll, although the exchange rate of the Euro does make them a little pricey. The hotel itself has a pleasant snack bar and evening restaurant, which was ok too.
The nearest beach is a little small, but again ideal for young kids. Others can be reached either by a 20 minute walk or via the buses that step just outside the hotel. (cheap and easy to use)
All in all very pleased and would defiantly recommend to anyone with young children.