Seven Reasons To Stay… At Palladium Cala Llonga

With the winter weather closing in, we've abandoned the shorts and t-shirts for another year and with heavy hearts reached for the black tights and boots. Before the sun set on the summer of 2014 though, Her.ie payed a visit to Ibiza for a week of blissful relaxation in the sun at the Palladium Hotel, Cala Llonga. Formerly known as the Fiesta Hotel, this 151 bedroom four-star resort is nestled into a little piece of Paradise. Check out the seven reasons why you should stay here too, below. ______________________________________________  Location, Location, Location If you want a resort that offers rest, relaxation, sun and sea along with fabulous facilities, you’ll find it here. If you still want to be close enough to the famous Ibiza parties to dip your toe in, you’re all set. Cala Llonga offers its own sandy beach (a mere 50m from the hotel). The town centre is 400m away. Here you’ll find a frequent bus service to take you to Ibiza town, but taxis are plentiful and reasonable and car rental is easy to arrange also. For golfers, you’re a mere 4km from the island’s only course. You’ll get to Cala Llonga from Ibiza Airport in about 40 minutes or so by coach. The town , nestled in the pine covered hills and sloping to the sandy cove, is a little piece of heaven… but Space is never too far away. Nor Pacha, Amnesia or Booom…. People Power It’s difficult to choose, but if there is one thing that makes the Palladium an outstanding summer destination it has to be the staff. Whoever recruited and trained the team here knows what they are at. The constantly smiling, friendly professionals cannot do enough for guests at any turn. Whether it’s the waiter who fills you in on the local drinks to try or the receptionist who tells you where to buy the best souvenirs, you have an unassuming font of local knowledge at every turn, and they’re only too happy to help. Rooms With A View The hotel’s spectacular setting means that many of the 150+ rooms offer stunning views of the cove, the sea and the surrounding mountains. Travellers have the option of twin rooms or twin rooms with a sea view to start. Those in search of an upgrade can opt for a superior twin rom with a sea view, which boasts a whirlpool bath on a private terrace, or a Suite, which sleeps three and has a separate lounge. Eat, Drink and Be Merry There is only one way to truly enjoy this hotel and it’s All Inclusive all the way. You can opt for half board, but trust us – you’ll regret that once you see the quality of the food. The large Buffet Restaurant boasts an enormous selection every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served from 7.30 to 10.30, lunch from 12.30 to 3.30 and dinner from 7pm to 10pm. We initially worried that we may become bored of dining in the same surroundings so often. Now, having left, our great regret is that we didn’t get to sample everything. Visitors also have the option of a la carte dining in the on-site Italian restaurant Vista Mare or some al fresco foodie goodness at Natsumi Sushi bar. The pool snack bar is another great alternative if you plan on staying in your bikini and in the sun for lunch. The drinks options on the All Inclusive packages are more than fair too, whether you fancy a refreshing glass of rosé at lunch or a warming amaretto as the sun goes down. Time To Play After eating your fill, you may just want to lie and read until it is time for the next meal (which is totally fine, you’re on holidays). If you fancy getting a little more active, though, you can opt for a dip in the pool, looking out on the bay. Or, indeed you can swim in the sea directly from the rocks the hotel sits on. Perhaps a game of tennis is more your thing? You’ll find courts on site, as well as a pool table and tennis tables. You also have the option of taking part in several daily games and classes, including aqua aerobics and Pilates. Let Me Entertain You Evening entertainment in resorts can be incredibly cheesy… and a lot of fun. The Palladium offers guests nightly entertainment in the lounge with dancers, magicians and musician guests, as well as the like of quizzes held by their extremely affable on site entertainments staff. You Must Be This Tall To Enjoy the Ride An adult’s only resort was a new experience for this traveller. While I don’t have children of my own, I’m used to the splashing in the pool, the occasional tantrum at mealtimes and the one child who always OWNS the dance floor come the evenings! So, it was odd for the first day or two to look around and remember that there would be no small people in the vicinity for the duration of the trip. While I love children, it has to be said that there is a different level of relaxation that comes with AO resorts and this is immediately evident at the Palladium, where we became convinced that stress doesn’t actually exist.   Bonus marks: For free WiFi, an onsite gym and a spa for those who really want to treat themselves.  Her Thoughts: The particular Her.ie nomad on this trip is somewhat restless at the best of times and finds it very hard to switch off and stay in one place. After trips to The Canaries, the Spanish, Portuguese and Italian coastlines and sunspots in Morocco and Tunisia, my OH and I turned to each other and agreed for the first time ever that we would happily stay in the exact same place for another week. Several Her.ie teammates turned a little green when they saw our pictures and are already planning trips for next year. For service, food, facilities and sheer chill-out, blissed-out loveliness, the Palladium gets full marks in every sense. We cannot wait to return.   Thomson Holidays are currently accepting bookings for the 2015 season. Offers include 27^th  May 15, Dublin to Ibiza, Fiesta Hotel Cala Llonga, 4T, Half Board, €859pp and 23^rd  Sep 15, Dublin to Ibiza, Fiesta Hotel Cala Llonga, 4T, Half Board, €829pp. For more, see here.