The Ultimate “Ibiza with Kids” Guide

Where to Stay with Kids in Ibiza

Things to do with Kids in Ibiza

One of the joys of being on holiday in Ibiza is that, no matter where you are, especially when driving,you are never far from one of the many wonderful beaches or secluded little coves. At the age my children are, water and sand are enough to entertain them. We visited three beaches (there are plenty of small beaches along the coastline) during our one week stay in Ibiza: las Salinas, Cala Bassa and Benirras. Las Salinas is one of the largest beaches in Ibiza, with a few high end restaurants. Food and water are not cheap at the local beaches. However, the service was impeccable .The local beach authority provides the sun deck chairs, kids food menu and lifeguards are stationed at every corner.

White clean sand and greenish blue water are the main features of this part of the med. What was also surprising is that the beaches are mostly shallow till a good distance into the sea, so children can swim/wade in quite a large area really giving them a fantastic feel of the natural seas. We spent 6 hours soaking in the sun while watching our kids make perfect sand castles.

Tip: Try and get to the beaches as early as you can, spots get filled up and parking is very difficult post 1pm.

For older kids, there were plenty of water spots like canoeing, jet skilling, water slides, para sailing and boating. I was pleasantly surprised at the number of children in the age of 1 month to 5 years. They came in all sizes, newborns, toddlers, infants, grown ups… wow!

If you are not a beach fiend, there are several other activities such as horse riding, port biking, outdoor games and carnival at the marina, mountain climbing and mini golf.

Where to Eat with Kids in Ibiza

When it comes to restaurants Ibiza has become renowned for having the best in style and flavours.Whether it’s a simple beach side lunch or sophisticated candle lit dining, you’ll be spoilt for choice.The food is heavenly. So are the prices. There are cute beach pizzerias and delicatessens perfectly suited to our children’s taste buds, but it was difficult to take them out at night.

There are some world class restaurants with cuisines from different parts of the globe and the gastronomical experiences are quite varied if you let the purse strings loose. Some of our favourites were:

• Cicale for a good wood fired oven pizza experience
• Blue Marlin Lounge for the ambience, apple martinis and tapas (in that order)
• Bambuddha Grove for thai food
• The newly opened Ushuia Hotel has a fantastic Japanese restaurant which has received rave reviews

Price : Medium to expensive

Check out this video of the Blue Marlin’s launch party on FTV!

Babysitting Services in Ibiza

For the week we were there, we used a nanny service for our children through a concierge service called Deliciously Sorted, which I give full marks to. From organizing our reservations, getting us chefs to cook meals, last minute changes, to booking tables at nightclubs and arranging baby sitters, they are a one stop shop for couples or families visiting Ibiza. They also provide a chauffeur service, where they give you cars with drivers or drivers only (in case you have your own rented car) at a reasonable cost. The driver is English speaking and is totally familiar with the island’s dos and don’ts. The staff at Deliciously Sorted is friendly and helpful and they do deliciously sort you out.

Contact details: Ceri.roberts@deliciouslysortedibiza.com

Nightclubs in Ibiza (see “Babysitting” above!)

Ibiza caters to the wildest party animals on this planet as well as the person who wants to have a laid back beach holiday. The nightclubs are huge mainly warehouses of music, erotic dancing and bars which never run out of alcohol. The lines can get long in peak season months of July and August. The water is more expensive then a regular vodka drink (200 ml of water bottle costs 6 euros, whereas a drink of vodka tonic will cost around 4 euros). The island sleeps from 10 pm to 2 am. At 2 am our alarms went off, the driver rung the door bell and we were off to witness music and dance mania. The hot nightclubs to visit are Es Paradiso, Amnesia and of course, Pacha for Cathy and David Guetta (Thursday nights exclusively in Ibiza). The nightclubs have 30 foot high ceilings from where the dancers are performing acrobats. The music is thumping with the crowd wanting more every second. You reach out to the open-to-sky terraces of the nighclubs in the wee hours of morning to witness one of the most gorgeous sunrises in the world…. truly fantastic!

Shopping with Kids in Ibiza

The access to supermarkets is easy, however if you want to order it online, supplies are at your doorstep in one hour.

Ibiza town as its popularly known is in the centre of the island. It is famous for some of its boutiques and shops. The shopping can vary from cheap finds to expensive to exorbitant luxe brands.

Tip : Post lunch (around 1 pm) to late afternoon (5pm) shop owners shut shop and go home for siestas. The shops are usually open till late (some until midnight).

Things to avoid with Kids in Ibiza

• The mediterranean sun is very harsh where temperatures can go up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with almost absent humidity. If you are not at a beach under a shaded umbrella, my recommendation is that you keep your kids and yourself indoors for the mid afternoon hours or invest in a large fedora.
• For family fun, stay away from tourist spots for accommodation. Villas are a better choice over apartment hotels or hotel rooms.
• Although many of the beaches will rent sunshades and parasols, you are best advised to take your own. The sun is very hot here in summer, and I can’t stress enough the importance of shade for young children, babies and the fair-haired.
• Never leave bags unattended! Leave your credit cards, passports and tickets in the bedroom safe and don’t take lots of money to the beach, only what you need for for some drinks and lunch. Don’t leave any valuables in the hired car.
• Most of the beaches boast soft, sandy floors. Perfect for splashing around near the shore. Do be careful before rushing and plunging headlong into the water – there are some beaches with stones and underwater rocks.