I thought I’d made a mistake with a family holiday to Ibiza – I was wrong

When our Friday night no-frills flight to Ibiza was delayed, my nine-year-old asked me why “all of the adults are acting like children.” I was beginning to wonder exactly what sort of holiday memories were being formed on what was meant to be a happy family holiday. When we did eventually board, we were one of only a small handful of families on the flight – everyone else was dressed for the club scene and getting into the party spirit. So much so, some had to be separated. We eventually landed just after 1am, and the queue for taxis snaked for miles. My husband was pulling a silent “I told you so” face and I was quietly panicking that I might have scarred our daughter for life. Shorts But I needn’t have worried. Yes, the White Isle is (nearly) all about clubbing in summer, but that is not all it has to offer. According to a recent survey by Co-op Travel, Ibiza ranked in the top 10 family holiday destinations for Britons, beating popular sunspots Parga in Greece and Sunny Beach in Bulgaria to take eighth place. As Claire Evans, chief operating officer at Co-op Travel, said: “It’s encouraging to see perceptions changing. Ibiza has quietly developed a fantastic family offering in recent years.” The new Coral Star hotel welcomes families to the White Isle with its ‘adults and kids only’ policy A new concept in Ibiza Among those is the newly opened Coral Star Hotel and Apartments in San Antonio Bay, on the fringes of one of the island’s most well-established party hubs. In the relaxed Cala de Bou area, it’s a far cry from the sunset strip, bars and clubs of San Antonio town where I holidayed during my twenties. Coral Star has a “kids and adults only” concept, putting families at the forefront of their accommodation, dining and activity offering. Opened in June following a complete refurbishment by a new management company, the four-star Coral Star is all about enhancing the holiday experience for kids and their parents, rather than feeling that one group is constantly compromising in order to keep the other happy. The Coral Star combines Mediterranean influences with Nordic-Japanese minimalism, resulting in a playful yet clean aesthetic. Fun touches include gummy bear and dinosaur artworks on the walls and high-end spun rotating chairs in the lobby. The hotel has two swimming pools, plus a splash zone and a playground for younger children There’s also the flexibility to book all-inclusive, room only, B&B or half-board. We went full flow with all-inclusive in a one-bedroom apartment that featured a basic kitchen (with fridge full of drinks), a dining area and a sofa bed in the living room. There was a balcony overlooking the hotel’s two pools and the air conditioning was perfect for afternoon siestas. With loads of space for luggage and clothing, we really liked the fact that there was a breakfast bar that we could gather around in the morning for a drink before heading down to breakfast. Getting stuck in Spread out in an apartment with separate spaces for kids and adults Buffet meals were served in the restaurant. While the kids’ section was modest – usually sandwiches and salads – my daughter loved the self-serve pick-and-mix sweets and there were the usual suspects of pizza, nuggets, chips, pasta and a huge salad bar. Theme nights – including Chinese, Mexican and Indian – offered a bit of variety throughout the week and while the mass catering was fairly standard food, the croquettes on Spanish night were as good as any I’ve had in a tapas bar. The British-inspired Sunday lunch raised a few smiles – roast beef and potatoes with gravy in 32C heat? We’ll stick to the salad bar, thanks. The entertainment was pitched just right – background music created a fun atmosphere without ever being overbearing, while activities were varied but not overwhelming. Our family favourite was water bingo, for which everyone had to jump into the pool when their number was called – leaving the only remaining dry person the winner. There was also a twice-weekly foam party (in one pool only, so easily avoided) and daily exercise classes including water aerobics and poolside yoga (during which I discovered I could do a headstand). The kids’ club offers free-flow and supervised sessions – and respite from the heat There was a mini disco each evening, as well as karaoke, interactive quizzes and a wine-tasting experience. The kids’ club was free play in the morning, followed by supervised sessions in the afternoon. Twice a week, the visiting spa offered massages and pedicures among other beauty treatments, and my daughter nearly drifted off during her 20-minute children’s massage (€20/£17). Doing things differently While I love all-inclusive resorts (I’ve visited at least 10 in my lifetime), it does mean you can spend a week feeling like you haven’t really seen or experienced any of the country you’re visiting. This problem was solved for us when, just outside the hotel, we found the authentic Café Ibiza. It’s rustic and when we’d managed to squeeze in among the packed tables of locals, we enjoyed delicious tapas, strong sangria, a buzzing atmosphere and loud Spanish chatter. We also caught the water taxi from the Amàre Beach Hotel jetty, a five-minute walk from the Coral Star. For €5 (£4.30) each, the taxi takes you across San Antonio Bay to the main port in San Antonio Town. With breathtaking views and an on-board bar, it’s a bit of an upgrade from an Uber. From here, we had booked a snorkelling and paddleboard beach and cave tour via GetYourGuide (£52 adults, £35 children). Charismatic captain Marcello sailed us seamlessly to the quiet coves of Cala Bassa and Cala Comte where we could dive directly off the boat to explore the rainbow of marine life below. As I floated lazily on a paddle board while my husband snorkelled near-by and my daughter finally built up the courage to jump off the top of the boat into the crystal-clear Mediterranean, I breathed a sigh of a relief that these were exactly the sort of holiday memories I had been hoping to make. Rooms at Coral Star Ibiza start from €175 (£150); coralstarhotel.com/en to book.