Summertime sanctuary

After a year of many holiday plans being side-lined or scuppered, it’s not surprising that a record number of people are eager to take flight, set sail or hit the road this summer. According to a recent survey published by the European Travel Commission, 54% of Europeans (predominantly British, French, German, Swiss and Austrian) plan to travel within the next six months, come what may, and the Spanish coasts are their number one option. Perched on a prime piece of Spanish coastal real estate, and ready to welcome this season’s first wave of travellers, is ME Ibiza – the five-star luxury resort looking over Cala Martina on Ibiza’s eastern shores.

As part of the global Meliā hotel group, the resort’s facilities are naturally exceptional, the service second to none and the location worthy of its five-star crown. ME Ibiza takes Ibiza style to a new level, drawing on the colour palette and charm of its surroundings and combining them with the very best of modern living – all rooms and suites have been designed to suit the needs of contemporary travellers. Equipped with an extensive in-room bar, ambient lighting, high-tech accessories, rainfall showers, air-conditioning (naturally!) and much more, your room becomes your sanctuary throughout your stay. Everything else within the resort is a bountiful blessing…

Of course, you don’t necessarily need to be a guest to enjoy the facilities at ME Ibiza – although one can’t argue that it’s a wonderfully easy commute to simply go up or down in the elevator to get to your chosen dining destination! There are four different locations in which to take your meals at ME Ibiza, which means it’s quite easy to spend the entire duration of your island escape within its safe and secure walls – with the spaces between meals punctuated by long, lazy pool sessions (there are two to choose from) or days on the beach, just a short walk from the hotel itself.

New for 2021 at ME Ibiza is Origens Pool and Beach Bar – with stunning views of the pool and across the Mediterranean Sea, it’s the perfect place to while away the hours over a delightfully deluxe lunch or dinner. Here, the passionate food and beverage team combine the much-loved Ibiza bohemian style with creative twists on classic Mediterranean cuisine, with a focus on fresh, organic ingredients and local specialties. By day, lounge on the Balinese day beds and sip on fine wines, fresh juices, bubbles, bespoke cocktails created by the ME Ibiza mixologists, and when the sun goes down, enjoy the sounds of live DJs – it’s set to become one of the must-visit destinations on the Ibiza map this summer.

The resort’s renowned Bianco Mare restaurant has become a locally loved classic in recent years, thanks to its dedication to delivering the full Italian gastronomic experience to ME Ibiza clients. Located by the pool, it’s a casual affair by day – think wood-fired pizzas straight from the oven to your table and healthy Mediterranean dishes for those seeking a lighter meal. By night, Bianco Mare transforms into a sophisticated candlelit, fine dining paradise – upmarket Italian dinners, decadent cocktails and desserts that are well worth saving room for.

On those days and nights when you’re seeking more of a buzz, ascend the ME Ibiza elevator and hit the Radio Rooftop Bar. Here, you can snack on tasty tapas and creative light bites while gazing out over the magnificent Med, while the talented in-house mixologists shake, stir and whip up cocktails that’ll help you ease into the Balearic evenings. Meanwhile, resident DJs spin a carefully curated soundtrack of chillout tunes to complement the panoramic views. And if you want to take it up a notch, don’t forget that Nikki Beach Ibiza is right on the resort’s doorstep. The iconic beach club is where you can dine on inventive cuisine with international flair – the focus is on freshly caught seafood, sushi and healthy salads – as you tap your feet to the DJ’s beats, alongside Ibiza’s A-list, cosmopolitan travellers and local residents alike.

Back in the resort, there’s also a space dedicated to total relaxation and wellbeing – also new to ME Ibiza for 2021. The Thai Room Spa and Wellness concept takes inspiration from Ayurvedic, Thai and other Southeast Asian practices and offers an array of heavenly massages and treatments combined with a full spa circuit that includes a dynamic pool, alfresco Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath and showers. Your experience begins with a divine welcoming ritual that includes fragrant tea and a foot exfoliation, before moving onto the main event. Opt for the classic oil-free Thai massage that focus on acupressure points and works on the body’s energy channels or try a treatment with organic oils and natural scrubs prepared to order by your therapist, or a naturopathic facial to leave the spa glowing.

For a truly indulgent experience, the four-hands massage in the Organic Single Room can’t be beaten, while couples will love being pampered in The Royal Bali Suite. If you prefer your massage to be in the open-air, the Thai Room Spa and Wellness team can arrange for rooftop treatments on request. And speaking of the magnificent rooftop space, the 2021 season sees ME Ibiza introduce sky-high anti-gravity yoga sessions for guests every morning, and visitors on request. A dynamic practice that’s as much fun as it is good for you, you’ll defy gravity using silks as you enjoy the birds’ eye view over the Balearic Sea, finishing with an overall sense of peace and relaxation, ready to go about the day’s adventures – whether that’s simply relocating to the ME Ibiza pool, or getting out and about on the island.

In addition to the aforementioned 54% of jetsetters planning to hit the Spanish coasts this summer, there are also a bevy of brides and grooms-to-be planning their destination weddings. Love is well and truly in the air this spring, and ME Ibiza is fully equipped to create fairytale Ibiza weddings that will make magical memories for both the newlyweds and their guests. The Aura Team – your own personal ME Ibiza event planners, be it a wedding or a special event or occasion – are on-hand to help plan every step of the journey with you, from pre-wedding rooftop cocktails and the big day itself, to post-wedding brunches and everything in between. Menus, drinks, decoration, tablescapes, flowers, sunset ceremonies and romantic, moonlit dances – they can make your dream wedding a reality.

The venue itself couldn’t be more perfect, with a variety of backdrops for photos, many locations for get-togethers, the golden sands of Cala Martina beach on your doorstep, the vast Med stretched out beneath the blue skies, stunning accommodation for your loved ones – when it comes to Ibiza weddings, ME Ibiza ticks all the right boxes. What’s not to love about a five-star resort that has everything you could dream of for a magical and memorable Ibiza holiday conveniently under one (metaphorical) roof? Our top tip is to be quick and book early. With so many people keen to jet off to Ibiza the very minute the season starts, securing that all-important reservation is the first step to holiday happiness in 2021.