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Love island DISCOVER A PEACEFUL, ROMANTIC HIDEAWAY – FAR FROM THE MAD-FOR-IT CROWDS
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biza might have a reputation for parties – but it’s also home to the sexiest hotel in the Mediterranean. Push aside those images of drunken teens on their first holidays without mum and dad and head for a hideaway so cool and relaxing, you won’t want to leave. It’s called Es Vive – and it takes a holiday on this beautiful Balearic gem to a new level. We’ve been to the White Isle many times and its natural beauty has always taken our breath away but we’ve fallen in love even harder this year. And we’re not alone. Ibiza has been visited by so many celebs this year it’s untrue. This is where newlyweds Abbey and Peter Crouch spent two blissful honeymoon, where Kylie partied all night with Tinie Tempah and where Sarah Harding and Kate Moss let their hair down every year. Even the Duchess of Cambridge and sister Pippa are regulars.
Where to stay The hippest place to stay in Ibiza is the beautiful stretch of coastline in between the island’s airport and the historic Ibiza Town. Playa d’en Bossa is the longest beach in Ibiza and the stars have started to flock there. More chilled and sophisticated than the 34
wandering around the hotel chatting to guests too. Part of the recent revamp has included the creation of a small but perfectly formed spa. Set at the quieter back and side of the hotel, Anesis offers treatments for both sexes in an ambient setting. Make sure you try the “Relax and Unwind” package, which is perfect for combating the effects of the night before. Under waving palms and azure blue sky, you’re treated to a full hour deep tissue massage. The second part of the package includes a deep hydrating facial that left even skin that had gone without sleep looking remarkably fresh. Es Vive has made sure that men can join in too though, with a special selection of treatments for the man in your life. Even if he’s not the sort for all that “girlie stuff”, in Ibiza it’s strangely acceptable. To witness your typically stressed Brit bloke looking so blissed-out is just lovely. And even better as you get a complimentary glass of ice cold bubbly after the treatment. If your man is more of a chilled pint of lager type, then Es Vive has thought of that too. The new Heineken Bar has become one of the hottest places to party since it opened this year. Intimate, sexy and very grown-up this is where the island’s movers and shakers come when they want a big night out without big club madness. Some of the best-known club DJs have played the bar, which opens at 11pm and goes on until 9am. Then you can stagger outside to the pool restaurant and carry on the party. Music is never far away at Es Vive, whether it’s the chill out tunes played around the pool or the dance tunes of the Heineken Bar. In fact the constant tunes have proved so popular that the hotel has started its own radio station, Radio Es Vive.
rowdy San Antonio on the north of the island, anniversaries. It really is that loved up. this upmarket area is now rivalling the south Open from May to October, the owner of France for high-end summer holidays. Jason Bull and his four fellow British Es Vive is set in a quiet road at owners recently spent millions the Ibiza Town end of Playa refurbishing the hotel so that it d’en Bossa. A stunning is unrivalled on the island. vision of Miami-style Rooms range from singles art deco architecture, to luxury suites (all en the boutique hotel is suite) and include a celebrating 10 years at delicious breakfast in the top this year after the poolside restaurant being founded by five and bar. The quieter friends from the UK. rooms are set at the A mere 10-minute back of the hotel, taxi from the airport, where you can watch walking through the the sunset over the exclusive and iconic distant Ibiza hills. turquoise and white If you want to party Main picture: Es Vive gates of Es Vive instantly 24/7 ask for a room Above: Inside the transports you to a different overlooking the pool, where luxury hotel world – an intimate, adultsthere is always someone only world where you can really willing to join you for a delicious be yourself and chill. The palm shaded Champagne sangria, even if it is 9am. plush sun beds around the chic pool instantly Chill Time encourage you into holiday mode. Whether you’re there with friends, looking for love or there with your lover, this is the place to be. It is actually impossible to be anything but In fact many of the original holidaymakers chilled in Es Vive. The staff are all lovely and who met boyfriends and girlfriends at the friendly and Jason, his charming Spanish hotel come back to celebrate their wedding fiancée and cute baby daughter are often
You don’t even need to leave the hotel for a fix of culture. Scattered throughout the immaculate white-washed corridors is a photo exhibition featuring pictures from the early days of Ibiza clubbing – in the early Nineties. While some of the fashions leave a bit to be desired, there’s no getting away from the fact it’s a fascinating time capsule of a clubbing era. For real culture though, Es Vive is just a 15-minute stroll along the palmfringed promenade to Ibiza Town. The old part of town with its magnificent boulevards and Spanish architecture is stunning but it’s the Dalt Vila that really takes your breath away. A world heritage site, this amazing ancient walled city perches on a hillside overlooking the bustling Ibiza port and is
one of the most iconic views in the whole of the Mediterranean. It’s particularly beautiful to wander around at night when the Above: Ibiza’s Old Town steep cobbled Below right: A luxury room at Es Vive streets are Below left: Sarah Harding romantically lit and the bars and restaurants, built into the walls, come alive. you’ve got a big night ahead and the prices It’s also packed with galleries, unique craft are very reasonable. shops and traditional Spanish restaurants. We have so many favourite restaurants on If you really want to get away from it all the the island that it would be impossible to list Ibiza countryside offers the perfect escape. them all but for a beautiful day on the beach A sunrise walk along the two miles of with top notch food and hip DJs head to the Playa d’en Bossa beach, gazing over the stunning Blue Marlin at Cala Jondal. lapping waves to the neighbouring island of The freshly caught fish is melt-in-theFormentera, is heaven. mouth gorgeous and the location second to At the opposite end of the beach to Es Vive none. For a really special occasion try the is a remote and rugged pine forest covered newly opened Lio in Ibiza Town. headland on which you can walk for hours A restaurant come burlesque cabaret without seeing another soul. With the waves come nightclub, it has to be seen to be crashing against the craggy cliffs and the sea believed. Be prepared to pay 300 Euros for birds wheeling overhead you really do feel at two but it is a full night of entertainment. one with the spirituality of the island. It helps that the walk finishes at the Get there stunning Las Salinas beach too with its popular and classy beach bars and British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com/ restaurants serving yet more cold beer. ibiza) flies direct from London City from £300 return from April to October. During peak season you can also get flights from Shop and drop every main UK If there’s anything airport using that Ibiza excels at operators such as more than partying, Ryanair, easyJet, it’s shopping. Ibiza Thomson, Jet2, Town is a warren Monarch and more. of cool boutiques We stayed at Hotel selling unique Es Vive (00 34 971 lines as well as 30 19 02; hotelesvive. big name com). You can follow brands like the hotel on Facebook Ed Hardy. I and Twitter for managed to pick all the latest news and up a stunning events. SwarovskiStandard double trimmed denim mini-skirt that was perfect rooms start at 108 Euros including all taxes for clubbing while the other half invested and breakfast. The hotel has many special in a crisp white linen shirt, which offers and deals available depending on your made him look cooler than we thought length of stay. possible. For more details on visiting Ibiza including Ibiza first became famous back in up-to-the-minute reports on clubs, events, DJ the Sixties, discovered by hippies en appearances, restaurants, bars, beaches and route to India. Most of them loved it shopping, visit essentialibiza.com. so much they simply never left. Many REPORT BY BOBBIE ELISE, EDITED BY ELLA BUCHAN of them can now be seen selling their PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHARLES TURNER PHOTOGRAPHY, REX, wares at the weekly Es Canas market. PHOTOLIBRARY It is a tourist trap with coach parties of package holidaymakers but Where is Ibiza? it’s worth it for the sheer nuttiness. Plus you can get some nice traditional souvenirs at haggled, bargain prices.
Eat, drink and be merry Once you’ve shopped yourself out, Ibiza has a wealth of restaurants throughout the entire island to choose from for replenishing your energy levels. From McDonalds to fine dining you will be spoilt for choice. Es Vive’s intimate and casual poolside restaurant serves yummy light meals and tapas all day. Fresh olives, Spanish cheese and local ham make a superb light lunch if
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