Ibiza in 72 hours

When I have the option to travel I always will.  We had been promising to visit friends in Ibiza all summer and crunch time finally came with the last direct flight out for the season…  we were on it.  Even though it was only three days and over in a flash, we had an amazing time and of course vowed to back in spring to see more of this beautiful island.

One of my top, top tips to make the most from a short break is to base your stay in two different hotels.  This way with minimal effort you get to experience two different sides to your trip without having to make day trips…  just lie back and soak it all in.  This post is a biggie because we really did cram a lot into those 72 hours so I’ll (insert DJ noise) break it down…

DAY 1

The first day was all about the relaxing and the sunshine, as day 1 of any holiday should be.  Recharge, breathe, snooze, sangria, smile.  We stayed at the incredible Hacienda Na Xamena which was so good it deserved a whole post but, even if you don’t stay, you have to book yourself into the spa to experience the Cascadas Suspendidas.  Just take a look…

DAY 2

Recharged we hitched a lift to the old town of Ibiza which turned out to be just as breathtaking as the coastline.  Obviously I had taken advantage of the dregs of the summer sales and covered myself in blue and white… when in Ibiza ‘Sí’?  Totally in love with this Free People top that thinks it’s a dress even if it’s entirely redundant in Scotland in November…

…
top – Free People (ON SALE!) :: shorts – Gap :: sandal – Next
wrist candy pack – Casual Sparkles :: bag – Next

  

  

The wrist candy comes c/o my very good friend Carrie who has just launched her own Casual Sparkles shop – also perfect for Ibiza (and it’s called the Wendy collection – how awesome is that?!).

Next up – lunch.  Absolutely a highlight was the Fish Shack on Talamanca beach; right on the coast and cooked in a trailer, the freshest fish is chosen via the waiter’s four specials and comes with incredible local tomatoes and potato salad.  The waves crash, the sun shines and the fish is insanely tasty.

  

I can assure you that it was completely by accident that we wound up in Ibiza on the weekend of the Amante closing party.  Just when I thought my clubbing days were behind me (give me a couple of sangrias I’ll happily tell you all about the time I met Peter Stringfellow on the opening night of Manumission at Privilege circa. 1999…  seriously).  But honestly, any ‘club’ that has an icecream bar and a crepe stand is my kinda place.  We danced by the beach, watched the sunset, ate crepes (obviously) and toddled off to bed around 10.30pm.  Winning.

  

DAY 3

Our final day was all about exploring because you really can’t go home filling your mum and dad’s Ibizan stereotype of only clubbing and lying on a lounger.  The weather wasn’t quite so hot that day so I rugged up in the best jumper I’ve ever owned.  True story.  This knit by Old Harry is amazing.  I wear it almost every day at some point.  I was lucky enough to receive it through the blog but within 24 hours I had ordered one for the husband too.  (His is navy because twinning would be a tad awkward – he also wears his ALL the time).

Aaaaanyway – exploring.  We wandered the old streets and pretty villages and visited the cafe in San Carlos were Bob Dylan wrote his songs and ate the best jamon and sobrasado bocadillos on the island at Bar Costa in Santa Gertrudis and I instagrammed old doors covered in pretty flowers and quaint churches and we ate paella by the sea in Talamanca (Spanish holiday essential) and by this point I was feeling even more smug with my roomy jumper choice…

…

jumper – Old Harry :: leather short – Theory
metal clutch – Asos :: espadrilles – Flossy

  

  

And then of course there was dinner too.  Bambuddha is like an uber cool slice of Thai heaven right in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by bamboo and decked out in chandeliers.  And the food is out of this world.  It’s not cheap but for a special night, it’s well worth the treat.

And then we wandered some more…  because, aside from our second hotel being crazy beautiful, it was also just 20 steps from this guy – right at the top of the hill in the old, old town.  It was so romantic being surrounded by these streets and old bricks and it was quiet – sometimes we felt like we were the only ones there.  Mark your calendars for October next year because it was te perfect time to visit (although I have a feeling I might just check April for you too…).

  

  

From the cobbled street you push open a giant wooden door to enter La Torre del Canonigo and this whole place is like a fairy tale.  100% ticked the box for showing us the traditional side of Ibiza with it’s white washed walls, princess beds, old bricks and artefacts and those views.  From every window, either onto the cobbled street or out over the old town and across the marina… perfect.

…

dress – Topshop :: jean – Banana Republic
bag – Furla :: espadrilles – Mango

  

The pool was stunning, surrounded by olive trees and perched up on that hill, with those views, too cold for toes by this time of year but we did manage to steal half an hour one evening on the roof terrace to watch the sunset and it was sooo beautiful up there.  And just as a sidenote – the ham and cheese plate they prepared post Amante was ah-mazing.

Until next time Ibiza… x