Jeez – November has almost passed us by in the blink of an eye and the cold is well and truly creeping in isn’t it! To bring a bit of light (reading) on these dark and gloomy evenings I thought I’d get settled on the sofa armed with a cup of tea and a pack of biscuits and take us all back to warmer weather with some Ibiza inspiration following my recent trip.

Now, as you can see from the throwbacks below, I’m no stranger to Ibiza but this time around I’ve swapped the pool parties and club nights (and associated hangovers!) for an Ibiza adventure where, in a trusty Mini Countryman (I like to stay loyal to my roots!), we set about to explore the islands picturesque places and beach hangouts.

Accommodation – Alua Soul Ibiza, Es Canar

We stayed at the Alua Soul Ibiza in a little resort called Es Canar overlooking the small harbour and seafront. The hotel is an adults only hotel and has been recently refurbished, featuring clean and modern rooms, numerous swimming pools and a number of chill-out areas throughout the hotel. We stayed in a Superior double room overlooking the pool, which was very bright and spacious with a Mediterranean vibe.

TOP TIPS: Use promo code ALUABLACK in November-19 for a discount of upto 40%. It’s worth noting that this hotel probably isn’t for you if you’re travelling with a friend as there is no wall between the bathroom and bedroom – intimate to say the least.

Places to visit:

Portinatx

Portinatx is a small picturesque fishing village resort in the north of the island. It’s got a relaxed and peaceful vibe about it with a couple of small sheltered beaches and a handful of bars and restaurants. We stopped off here for a bite to eat whilst driving around the island – it’s great for an afternoon but is fairly isolated and so I’d only look to stay here if you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle completely.

 

Cala D’Hort

Cala D’Hort is said to be one of the most iconic beaches in Ibiza. Not quite sure why this small beach was getting rave reviews we decided we needed to check it out for ourselves and can confirm that the reviews weren’t wrong! It’s located on the southwest of the island looking out onto the small rocky island of Es Vedra. There are a couple of restaurants looking out to sea (reservations recommended) and these are a prime spot to watch the sun set over Es Vedra. And if that’s not enough –there’s the PERFECT insta shot if you’re brave enough to walk the plank onto a small, wooden jetty that looks out to Es Vedra.

TOP TIP: There’s very limited parking available at Cala D’Hort so the earlier you arrive the better – it’s a long hot walk up that hill after a day on the beach otherwise (as we discovered!!)

Sant Joan de Labritja

Sant Joan de Labritja, more commonly referred to as Sant Joan, is a beautiful little rural village in the north of the island. It has one main street lined with whitewashed houses and small independent cafes and restaurants which really comes to life on Sundays when the local craft market takes place – perfect for anyone like me who loves to rummage for unusual finds!

Santa Eularia

Santa Eularia – One of the larger tourist areas of Ibiza, Santa Eularia, is as you’d expect, more commercialised than some of the smaller rural areas. The palm fringed promenade is lined with a range of restaurants and souvenir shops and craft stalls often line Paseo de S’Alamera and the main square, Plaça d’Espanya (Where you can also find the town hall). However, wanting to be adventurous Dave suggested we climb to the site of the Old Church. Going into navigator mode he races off (we more a brisk stroll) up a hill but as is often the case, got his bearings completely wrong and we ended up at the top of the hill on a cliff edge! Despite not seeing the Old Church, the views out to see and to Santa Eularia below made it worthwhile!  

Cala Tarida

Cala Tarida – A sheltered bay at the tiny resort of Cala Tarida is another one of our stop offs as we worked our way around the island.  Like most of our stop offs, there aren’t many amenities at these small coves but the colours of the sea here are amazing – azure blue and emerald green.

Eivissa

Ibiza Old Town (Eivissa) – No trip to Ibiza would be complete without a visit to Old Town. Being the Capital it has all of the shops, bars, restaurants and nightlife you’d expect but it is also stooped in history (The clue is in the name Old Town right!). The ancient walled fortress  of Dalt Vila is worth exploring (although be warned it involves a lot of walking and climbing of steps!) and if after the climb up and back down you are in need of a well-earned drink and some tapas, then venture to the marina or the cobbled square Plaza de Vila.

Sant Antoni Portmany

Sant Antoni Portmany is known for the party scene and the strip, which is were I used to stay in my youth. But there is some very pretty parts of Sant Antoni, the church, harbour and famous Cafe Mambo sunset to name just a few. If you head over to Sant Antoni Bay make sure you check out the Paradiso Art Hotel – its just stunning.

 

It was so good to go back to Ibiza as its a place that hold so many memories for me! But this time it was like seeing a old friend through new eyes. Ibiza may be known as a party island, however don’t let that put you off because as you can see there is more to Ibiza than the clubs!