Hotel Fiesta Palmyra, Ibiza
Friday 17th October 2008 – 14 nights

Ibiza's scenery is captivating – dotted around its dazzling shoreline are countless beaches, ranging from expansive sweeps of sand to exquisite, miniature coves beneath soaring cliffs. The island’s hilly, thickly wooded interior is peppered with isolated whitewashed villages and terraced fields of almonds, figs and olives. The cosmopolitan capital, Ibiza Town, has most of the island's architectural treats, including the spectacular walled enclave of Dalt Vila, and a historic port area with hip bars, stylish restaurants and fashionable boutiques.

The isolated, remote northwest is Ibiza's least developed region, with a rugged coastline ideal for hiking, the two small resorts of Portinatx and Port de Sant Miquel, and a smattering of spectacular coves including the cliff-backed bays of Cala d'en Serra, Benirràs and Portitxol. Inland, the scenery is equally impressive, dominated by the lofty pine-clad Els Amunts hills; between these peaks lie a succession of diminutive, isolated settlements such as Sant Joan and Sant Miquel, each with its own fortified whitewashed church and a rustic bar or two. Ibiza's bohemian character, rooted in 1960s ethics, remains particularly strong in the north of the island, where you'll find yoga retreats, ethnic bazaars and a large population of hippy-minded residents.

By contrast, on the western coast you'll find a selection of mellow chillout bars on the much-touted Sunset Strip, home of the legendary Café del Mar (not far from our hotel). Cala Conta and Cala Bassa offer luminous water and fine, gently shelving sands.

The wildly beautiful south of the island boasts over a dozen beaches, from tiny remote coves like Cala Llentrisca and Cala Molí to the sweeping sands of Salines beach and Es Cavallet on the outskirts of Ibiza Town – two of Ibiza's most fashionable places to pose. San Antonio is one of the most popular and well-known resorts in the Mediterranean. It is 30 minutes drive from Ibiza Town and the airport, has great transport connections to the rest of the island and offers an incredible diversity of entertainment for young and old.

The resort is dominated by the beautiful palm-lined promenade which skirts the harbour, constantly busy with yachts, speedboats and ferryboats. This harbour, called Portus Magnus by the Romans, is one of the most beautiful and famous natural harbours in Europe. It has an ancient and illustrious history.

The Hotel Fiesta Palmyra

The Hotel Fiesta Palmyra was the first 4-star hotel to be built in Ibiza, and it has maintained those consistently high standards amidst an air of tranquility on this busy tourist island. The hotel is situated directly on the sea front of San Antonio and only 300 yards from the town centre. The hotel has 166 spacious and comfortable rooms, which are recently refurbished. All the rooms have a fully-equipped bathroom with hairdryer, air conditioning, ceiling fan, telephone, satellite TV, fridge, safety deposit box (on payment), room service and terrace/balcony.

The Weather

The average maximum daily temperature in Ibiza in October is a very pleasant 23° (compared to 16° in London).

Our Opinion

When we visited Ibiza in May 2007, the Fiesta Palmyra Hotel stood out as a genuine 4-star hotel with a touch of class. It was obvious that a lot of care and attention had recently gone into restoring it to its former glory. It sited on the long promenade in front of the sandy and gently shelving beach.

San Antonio is not a resort that we would want to visit in mid-summer as it is the centre of the clubbing scene, but this aspect of the resort closes down towards the end of September, leaving it for families and more mature holidaymakers to enjoy.

Your holiday will be directed by Bill & Angela West (1st week) and Mike Swanson & Carole Yates (2nd week).