A few days in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza

Before I dive into our recent trip to Ibiza I feel the need to apologise.

I need to apologise to Ibiza for assuming tackiness and lack of authenticity, and huge apologises to Jared (don’t worry I’ve already apologised) for the argument that ensued when I accidentally found out he had booked a surprise four day holiday minus our boys. His argument – he wanted to do something special for my 30th, he wanted to spend some time with just me…and I would never have agreed to buying the tickets, which is absolutely true.

Ibiza is third largest Balearic island, just off the east coast of Spain, close to Majorca. Jared chose Ibiza because it is small and we could do as little as possible, with no pressure to sightsee or explore (and apparently I’d mentioned that I’d like to go – sometime in the last 7 years). We stayed in a hotel in Santa Eulalia – a beautiful coastal town a few miles north of Ibiza Town, and everything about it was a delight – the weather, the beaches, the scenery, the locals, other tourists, the food – just the whole atmosphere. It was quiet, pretty and not at all what I expected.

We decided to venture into Ibiza Town on the first evening after a five hour nap (!) on arrival at our hotel. We both felt curious and we were pleasantly surprised – the marina is stunning, the buildings quaint, the streets windy and sweet…plus we didn’t spot one unruly partygoer (although I’m sure this won’t be the case all year round). I wanted to go dancing, so we bought tickets to a club, and ended up getting home to our hotel around 4am via the ‘Discobus’, which runs all night, and was quiet and efficient.

I have never booked a holiday with the purpose of sunbathing, relaxing and doing very little. Jared kept telling me off for moving and rustling, but by day three I had managed to embrace the beauty of nothingness. Getting up, eating breakfast, sunbathing, reading, eating ice cream, going for a wander, swimming and using the WiFi around the pool. Our holiday to the Algarve in Portugal last year was our first non-sightseeing holiday as a family, and it was so restorative to us as a unit – days at the beach, daytime naps, swimming, playing games, being outdoors and talking. Nothingness is not nothingness. It is recharging, regrouping and rejuvenating.

Ibiza is beautiful, and a real gem. It is the perfect location for families, couples and groups of friends, and I would absolutely go back in a heartbeat. I was pleasantly surprised around every single corner.

Ibiza – thank you for having us!

E xx