I've just arrived back from 2 weeks on Ibiza. Most hotels were opening for the season whilst I was there, with Wednesday 13th being a main opening day.
Last year I spent 13 days in one hotel, which was a bit monotone. This year I wanted to try several different places, and changed hotels every 2 or three days. Since the main purpose of the holiday was cycling I stayed in the San An area all the time.
There were a few days (typically before the 13th, and over the weekends) when prices were ridiculous. I have about 8 weeks holiday each year, and can't afford to spend 8 weeks in 150 euro a night hotels.
One advantage of switching hotels is that the holiday seems to last forever. There are constantly new impressions and experiences.
Here goes:
WEST END-ish:
One thing that always baffles me is how hotels look completely different IRL than in the pics online. Hotels, in particular in the shabbier parts of towns, are almost always must worse IRL than online.
Hostal Rosell Boutique is a small hotel in the upper parts of the West End that distinguises itself by being exactly like the pics online.
It really is as modern, delicate and feminine as the pics indicate. It's recently been completely refurbished, with the exception of a few doors and the light fittings in the stairway. There's no garden, no pool and no views from the lower floors - just a small hotel with a small and rather dull bar/lounge area. But who visits San An to spend more than 1-2 hours + the sleeping hours at the hotel anyway? I would definitely recommend this place if you want a nice and quiet place in crawling distance from the West End.
Hotel Tarba is one of those places that gets good reviews, a bit of attention, and a lot of visitors. The bar has 5 comfortable chairs and a good atmosphere. I spent a few hours here reading and drinking wine whilst watching the rain pouring down outside. The hotel has a somewhat cramped pool, a sun bathing deck and a small garden with plastic grass - which we can't complain too much about at a hotel in this price range. Any pool and garden is a bonus. The main problem are the rather outdated rooms. They could do with a refurbishment.
FUNFACT: 4 days before arriving at Hotel Tarba I received an email from Booking.com informing me that I must pay a deposit of Euro 100 when checking in. The deposit must be payed by credit card. The deposit would be returned to me within 7 days once the hotel (not just the room) had been checked for damages.
But when I checked in no one asked for a deposit. I guess I didn't look the type.
Part 2 later.
news.sky.com
www.diariodeibiza.es
www.noudiari.es
www.periodicodeibiza.es
