Formerly the Blanc Palace, Vacances Menorca Resort is your standard, mid-range all-inclusive hotel spread over three distinct sections -- Blanc Cottage, Blanc Palace, and Sa Caleta. Each has its own set of three-story apartment blocks, plus swimming pools and dining facilities. An enthusiastic animation team ensures a buzzy vibe around the pool areas, as do the gaggles of excitable kids fueled on unlimited soda. The low-rise complex has a vaguely traditional Mediterranean village look, with balustrade balconies overlooking swathes of (occasionally patchy) lawns dotted with palm trees and connected by a network of footpaths. With so many guests -- mostly all-inclusive ones at that -- cleanliness can be spotty in places, though general upkeep is good considering the property's sprawling size. Expect a bit of a trek from reception if allocated a room the far side of the resort. Probably the hotel's most distinguishing feature is its healthy spread of various nationalities among its clientele, including Brits, Spanish, French, and Italians -- although zones are often divided by tour operator, so there isn't as much mingling between groups. 

The hotel has a relatively remote location in the purpose-built tourist development of Santandria, on Minorca's western coast. There's very little life in the immediate surroundings, beyond vacation homes, villa rentals, and other resort hotels. The small and pretty Sa Caleta beach, however, is just a six-minute walk away, and the slightly bigger and buzzier Strand Cala Santandria beach is a bit farther at 16 minutes on foot. A bus stop just outside the hotel connects to the picturesque city of Ciutadella in around 10 minutes or to the Cala en Bosc resort area, which has a water park, in about 20. The capital Mahón and Minorca Airport are located at the other end of the island, or around 45 minutes' drive. 

The vast majority of Vacances Menorca's 322 apartments are one-bedroom units, though a handful of two-bedroom apartments are also available. Decor can vary between the three sections, but it's mostly a dated combination of tile floors, old-fashioned wood furniture, and patterned fabrics. Some accommodations in the Blanc Cottage section have been updated with a fresher more modern feel and contemporary furniture, such as Eames chairs and streamlined wood-veneer surfaces. All apartments include living spaces with lounges, dining areas, and kitchenettes with electric burners, fridges, and basic cookware (kettles and toasters are available on request).

Units open to furnished balconies or terraces, mostly overlooking the garden and pool areas though some overlook the quiet surrounding streets. Air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs come as standard (though with no English-speaking channels), and paid Wi-Fi is very poor or non-existent in most units. Most bathrooms are looking dated, with shower/tub combos, weak wall-mounted hairdryers, and basic toiletries; some, however, have been updated with a smart, clean-lined look and walk-in showers.

Each of the three areas of the complex has its own buffet restaurant, which opens for breakfast, lunch, and dinner offering a good range of cold and pre-cooked options, plus some live cooking stations. Most agree the quality of food is decent for an all-inclusive, however flies can be a problem at certain times of year. Each zone also has a bar and snacks around the pool at designated times, including fruit, cake, and ice-cream. Evening entertainment includes the likes of magic shows and live music, with a nightly mini-disco for kids.

All three pools are a decent size with plentiful loungers, plus there are separate splash pools for kids and plenty of poolside animation (though not all areas have their own kids' club). Children can also enjoy playgrounds, and simple sports facilities are available. Basic spa facilities include a whirlpool tub and sauna, plus there's a tiny gym with a handful of cardio and weight-lifting machines. Free Wi-Fi is available around the reception, although it costs a fee to connect elsewhere and most guests find the connection very slow. A small supermarket can be found on site selling basic supplies and vacation items.