Ibiza, Spain

July 20, 2013 | Updated: October 31, 2014 | By Elizabeth | Reply More

The Ibiza Gran Hotel is one of the island’s best and most romantic.

This guest post was contributed by Dan Perdomo.

Is it just me or does anyone else find planning the perfect romantic holiday stressful? One of the most important decisions to make is the destination. Sure, Paris instantly springs to mind, but it’s a little clichéd don’t you think? So I started searching for other destinations around Europe which could be a suitable alternative with all the romance Paris offers – and stumbled upon Ibiza.

It might seem like a weird choice for romance. After all, the island (80 km – about 50 miles – off the coast of Valencia, Spain) is renowned for its all-night party atmosphere. But not all of Ibiza conforms to this notion. Ibiza Town – one of the biggest cities on the island – holds a lot more style and character than I had previously thought. I found this out when my partner and I spent a glorious week there in the lap of luxury at the end of June.

Even though it’s known for wild nightlife, Ibiza can be a romantic destination.

We decided to really treat ourselves and stay at the best hotel on the island – the five-star Ibiza Gran Hotel. If it rained for seven nights we could have happily stayed in the hotel because it really has everything you need. This includes two great restaurants, one of which serves breakfast on a terrace, and two very stylish lounge bars. We also weren’t short of ways to entertain ourselves either, with a casino, gym, two outdoor swimming pools, and a whirlpool at our disposal. But it was the Open Spa that really put the icing on the cake with lots of soothing treatments. We really pampered ourselves!

Fortunately there wasn’t a cloud in sight and the average temperature was 30°C (90°F) every day, which is typical for this time of the year. The hotel also boasts a great location overlooking a charming harbour and only a short stroll to Marina Botafoch, where we found the gorgeous Talamanca Beach. A number of times we took a picnic and dined al fresco in the evenings on the sand with nothing more than the gentle lapping of the waves for company.

The port area of Ibiza Town is also ideal for anyone who loves to shop. There were lots of familiar high street and designer brands, but it was the smaller boutique shops which really got my partner excited. She’s a fashionista and found some unique items on Calle de la Cruz, the popular shopping street.

Dalt Vila, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in historic area of Ibiza Town.

Something that came as a nice surprise was discovering that Ibiza has several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the fortifications of Ibiza City. This became apparent when we walked around the medieval streets, admiring the Renaissance architecture as we went along. We found an interesting mix of art galleries, small palaces and museums that are definitely worth spending a day exploring. The cobbled streets are prettiest at night when the walls are beautifully lit up and seem made for strolling – the only way to end a romantic evening in my opinion. It’s kind of sad, really, that the people who come to Ibiza just for the wild nightlife miss this authentic side of the island.

The island makes full use of its great access to the Mediterranean Sea. We found many restaurants serving a mix of cuisines involving fresh seafood. While there are many choices, our absolute favourite has to be El Olivo. Set in the heart of the old town on Plaza de Vila, the restaurant has been concocting and infusing Mediterranean flavours with French cuisine for twenty years. I highly recommend booking a spot on the terrace which looks over the parade so you can watch the sun set.

In planning the trip, we consulted with a luxury travel company based in the UK and their advice was very good. It turns out, Ibiza Town is the perfect romantic destination for a luxurious couple’s getaway.