DOWN WITH THE KIDS
Ibiza is a party island... but children can enjoy it too
IF you consider Ibiza as a family destination, chances are you are in your 20s, looking for a hedonistic adventrue full of debauchery... right?
Well, yes, and no. The White Isle, as it’s lovingly known by locals and tourists alike – certainly continues to reel in party-hungry millenials who are eager to experience the high-voltage nightlife of San Antonio and Playa D’en Bossa.
However, I’m not a twentysomething any more, and I’m a big fan of Ibiza, but not for reasons you may think.
In fact, I only really discovered its charm for the first time in my 30s, when I spent a month there studying to be a yoga teacher, in a remote rural location beside a sandy cove outside Santa Eulalia.
The island itself is small and beautifully formed, where woodland meets beaches, whitewashed villages perched on cliffs, surrounded by aqua waters.
It holds a special place in my heart as my now-husband Owen actually proposed there, in a tranquil beach in the bay of Talamanca, after a large gin or two in a ramshackled chiringuito (he’s never regretted it, honestly).
AND I returned again before my nuptials for my hen celebration, but kept away from the mayhem and to the cobbled streets of Old Ibiza town – although we may have paid Pacha a visit. Well, when in Ibiza... And as the party crowd of the 2000s have grown up, so it seems has much of Ibiza, and in recent years the island has become a hotspot of glamour and celebrity hideaways, all boutique hotels, spa and wellness centres, spectacular villas, yachts and private jets.
But, there seems, there’s something for everyone here.
Party lovers, hippies, the rich and famous and families. Yes – families.
I wouldn’t have believed it myself, but last summer, myself and my family went to Ibiza in search of a different kind of club. One that might take two small children off our hands for a couple of hours each day. And we found it, in a hotel in an old port village on Ibiza’s west coast.
You may not have heard of Port d’es Torrent (which, believe me, in peak tourist season is a good thing) – but it’s the exact opposite of its fast-living neighbour, San Antonio Town, although if you’re so inclined, it’s just five kilometres along the coast. This pocket of Ibiza has a more tranquil feel, more conducive to days spent relaxing on its Blue Flag beach (which has a couple of great resturants for lunch), and evenings chilling out at a traditional taverna.
It’s also home to the TUI Family Life Club Aura hotel, which does exactly as it says on the tin. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by TUI’s cuddly mascot, Bamse, who if you didn’t know is the ‘world’s strongest bear’.
We became well acquainted with this fella, alongside his mates Captain T and the Superdogs, during our stay. Children are put first here, and all ages are catered for, from babies to teens. And even though our girls, Layla and her four-yearold big sister Lana-Rose, refused to actually go to the Kids Club, they loved the other fun facilities on offer, especially the nightly entertainment on their stage which kicked off with Paw Patrol on the big screen, a children’s disco and then musical/theatre/magic performances from the talented team. A little different from the Ibizan nightlife of times past, but hey – if the kids are happy... A big draw to this hotel is its waterpark next door, which to be honest, I was not sure how I felt about - could my nerves handle my very small children in such an environment? However, we found it easy to keep tabs on them. We steered clear of the slides and tubes and stayed in the Pirate zone which was more suited to younger children, keeping them safe and my heart intact. The hotel itself has a large pool area, plus a separate kids pool and an indoor pool, so you better get used to splashing, as there’s plenty of it to be done. We found that we didn’t really need to venture far from the hotel during our stay, which is the very idea of an allinclusive option, and ideal if you have small children. That said, if you want to run away from your family, a 30-minute bus ride gets you to one of the the cultural hotspot that is Ibiza Town.
HERE, you’ll find cobbled streets, fashionable shops and restaurants aplenty, a 14th-century cathedral which looks lovely lit up at night, and you can make your way up to and a yacht-filled marina that’s ringed by vibrant cafés and bars.
However, we did enjoy visiting the nearby beach, situated in a secluded cove, which has plenty of comfortable sunbeds and parasols for hire. There’s a really lovely ambience here, and lunch and drinks can even be brought to your loungers from the gorgeous seafood restaurant which opens out onto the sand. The kids loved getting into the sea for a paddle (the location means its a lovely safe spot), and we loved grazing on Ibizan specialities like red prawns and Galician octopus (pulpo), washed down with a cheeky glass of chilled Verdejo.
Back at base, there was plenty to eat too – the hub centres around a buffet restaurant with a designated area for kids to pick their food. We got two visits to the a la carte restaurants as part of the deal – the Taverna, a tapas-style restaurant, and the Japanese Tep-
panyaki, which was really, really good – even if Layla insisted on throwing chopsticks and dropping a bowl of wasabi (we are working on mealtime etiquette).
There’s a pool snack bar which has self-serve sandwiches, ice-creams and snacks, plus local drinks. Food was plentiful and simple, with some nice seafood (particularly the paella), and the desserts are definitely worth a mention.
Accommodation wise, our family room was basic and spacious with kitchenette facilities and a very large bed – thankfully, as the children ended up in there with us most nights. But the good news for people considering visiting this year is that the hotel is undergoing a complete refurbishment including all rooms, a renovated children’s area and restaurant revamp, in time for May and peak holiday season.
With a two and a half hour flight from Dublin airport, this little island may just be the perfect pit-stop for some familyfriendly fun.