Chill out zones
IBIZA ROCKS: Whether you’re after a fortnight of hedonism or a family holiday, Lisa Haynes finds there is space for everyone on the White Island.
HOW to strike a balance between hedonism and family time in Ibiza? The new Grand Palladium White Island Resort & Spa is a happy mix – like a beach club mixed with a kids’ club.
Opened earlier this summer, with more than 400 rooms, this gleaming white five-star has a fresh and modern feel with white tile wet rooms and flashes of magenta and mosaic prints in bedrooms. Master suites with private roof terrace and Jacuzzi overlooking the sea are a wish-you-were-here highlight.
Positioned next to its older sister hotel Grand Palladium Palace, and joined by a wooden bridge, the double act allows for more choice when it comes to picking a pool or one of the four themed all-inclusive restaurants. The union makes the hotel complex the largest resort in Ibiza – complete with minigolf, spa, tennis courts and vast outdoor entertainment theatre to keep families, groups and couples entertained.
It’s possible to dip into all three large pools in the same afternoon (we know, we tried). Kick back on Balinese-style loungers around White Island’s lively pool with DJ-spun tunes; relax in cabanas at the wooden decked Bossa pool; or take little ones to the large family pool to splash in shallow waters. Huge sunken mosaic pool loungers at White Island prove especially popular in the searing midday sun.
The resort’s Playa d’en Bossa location puts it in prime position for guests to enjoy the white sand beach, set just behind the hotel. A quick stroll through the gate and you hit exclusive beach club restaurants like Nassau, but DJ beats are barely audible from the hotel grounds and there’s a strict midnight shutdown policy.
For parents who fancy a chilled daytime sangria minus distractions, the hotel’s Kids Club is on hand. There’s plenty to keep all ages occupied with shady indoor and outdoor spaces and different room ‘zones’ catering for toddlers, juniors and teens, with countless Wiis and PlayStations.
The Zentropia spa is a must, minus kids (access approx. £14.50 for hotel guests) with treatments like aromatic balance
The penthouse suite is where Leonardo
DiCaprio once checked in to party.