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Review: Marsol Apartments, Santa Eularia des Riu, Ibiza

Renowned as a vibrant and dynamic Meditrranean island, Ibiza is home not only to breathtaking landscapes, but also a rich culture and an energetic nightlife, which combine to provide a unique offering that appeals to tourists from all around the world. And for those looking to experience the quieter, more sophisticated side of Ibiza, there coiuld be few better places than Marsol Apartments at Santa de Elularia, just a 20-minute drive from the airport.

The welcome

We were arriving into Ibiza Airport on quite a late flight and, with security to pass through and a hire car to collect, our arrival at Marsol Apartments was going to be even later. Thankfully, we were able to self check-in through the help of reception who communicated with us via WhatsApp. A physical key was left in a secret location for us to collect, and we were also issued with two electronic keys (using the Assa Abloy – Hospitality Mobile Access app). Both worked a treat and we were warmly welcomed at reception the following morning when we completed the check-in process.

The room

We stayed in Apartment 1B – a ground floor family apartment just opposite reception, with its own terrace. As we entered, there was the main sleeping area on the left with a double bed and super-large LG TV.

Just beyond this was a bathroom (more on this below) before the apartment opened out to a wider living space with a kitchenette, sofa bed and desk area. Beyond this was the terrace.

The apartments themselves are spacious, modern, and equipped with all the necessary amenities to ensure a comfortable stay, and serve as an excellent base for exploring the island.

Although the beach is only a stone’s throw away, having your own small outdoor private space is an added bonus.

The bathroom

Our apartment included a compact bathroom with rainfall shower, basin and WC. Fluffy towels are provided, and there’s a heated mirror as well as a shaving mirror.

There are Hierbas de Ibiza toiletries, a collection of luxurious and fragrant products incorporating the essence of the island’s indigenous herbs such as thyme, lavender and rosemary.

The facilities

As Marsol Apartments come complete with a kitchenette, and are close to a supermarket, you are very much self-contained and have everything you need to cater for your own needs should you wish. At the same time, though, you are among a number of restaurants and bars which it would be a shame not to sample.

Next door, the Marriott’s Hotel Riomar – a Tribute Portfolio Hotel – has the Ocean Brasserie which offers an all day menu for relaxed beachfront dining.

Stand-out starters include the Toro tuna tartar with avocado, cantaloupe melon, nori, rice and delicate wasabi pearls, as well as the super green salad with avocado, edamame, kale, asparagus, lemon and mint vinaigrette.

Keeping it healthy, I chose the delightful grilled sea bass with green beans, succulent cherry tomatoes, red pesto and a touch of fragrant basil oil.

Our desserts included the lemon meringue tart and a rather indulgent Riomar cheesecake with Balearic cheese and a red berry marmalade.

There’s also a pool with sun loungers at the Hotel Riomar where you can purchase a day pass for a very reasonable 60 euros since this includes a 40-euro credit that can be used against food and drinks served from the Ocean Brasserie.

The same all day menu is available at lunch. We recommend sharing the exquisite Iberian ham as a starter, served with a crispy sourdough smothered in a rich and flavourful tomato garnish.

For the perfect lunchtime snack, indulge in the mouthwatering chicken Milano sando-sandwich – a scrumptious creation that combines succulent chicken with the perfect blend of coleslaw, juicy tomato, zesty mustard and crispy French fries.

Ordinarily, there would be free WiFi throughout all the Marsol Apartments. Unfortunately this wasn’t working at the time of our stay, but we were able to use the WiFi of the KOBU by UM restaurant next door.

Location

Marsol Apartments enoys a fabulous spot just 20 metres from the beach at Santa Eularia. This location also provides easy access to many of Ibiza’s a good selection of restaurants and bars, without the hustle and bustle that you’ll experience in livelier parts of Ibiza.

For us, this was a huge bonus, not least because our eldest son was competing in the age graded World Aquathlon Championships (a one-kilometre swim followed by a 5k run, and part of the World Triathlon Multisport Chaimpionships) and the start of his race just so happened to be from the stretch of beach immediately outside Marsol Apartments!

I’m pleased to report that he came 5th in the world in the 19-and-under age category, and was the 1st-placed GBR, meaning he automatically qualifies for next years World Championships which take place in Australia… maybe another trip we can be planning!

Other nice touches

One of the nice things about Marsol Apartments is that this is serviced accommodation, so staff will come and make up your room for you each day if that is something you would like. Equally, if you’d like more privacy, you can just leave a hanger on your door to say that all is well.


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Cost

Family Deluxe Apartments (45 sq m) with a terrace start from 159 euros per night and can sleep up to 4 people.

Superior Sea View Apartments (30 sq m) start from 180 euros per night and sleep 2 people.

The best bit

Arguably the best bit about Marsol Apartments is its location. Unlike others parts of Ibiza that are renowned for their party lifestyle, Santa Eularia des Riu exudes a laid-back and sophisticated vibe. With its pristine sandy beaches, charming promenade and vibrant marina, the town offers a perfect blend of relaxation and entertainment. The atmosphere is welcoming and tranquil, attracting visitors who appreciate a more tranquil and family-friendly experience compared to the bustling nightlife of other parts of the island. The picturesque waterfront, lined with trendy cafés and restaurants, creates a stylish and cosmopolitan ambiance.

The final verdict

Marsol Apartments offers guests clean, airy and modern accommodation that is perfect for families or for couples seeking a little more space. The inclusion of a kitchenette is a great addition for rustling up a quick snack and the superb beachfront location, in a part of Ibiza that is more refined than most, is the icing on the cake.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Marsol Apartments.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.

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14 Comments

  1. There can’t be too many places as stylish as this where you can get self-catering at less than 40 Euros per head. That’s very good value.

  2. Congratulations to your son on a phenomenal performance. You really do have to start planning for that Australia trip now. Opportunities like that don’t come round very often in a lifetime.

    1. Thank you, Carolyn… he trained extremely hard for the event so it was really pleasing to see him do so well. Incredibly, he only really took up swimming seriously during lockdown, so he’s come a long way!

  3. I really wasn’t expecting to see classic understated Balearic design on Ibiza. I’ve got to apologise I thought it was foam party central, I never knew that it had its quieter side.

  4. When I’m in holiday a kitchenette usually does the job. I don’t go on holiday to slave over a hot stove.

    As long as there’s a fridge for some cool drinks and perhaps enough room for a bit of salad I’m happy.

    And if there’s a coffeemaker too, then I’m totally happy.

    1. Yes, Nancy… I think that’s all you need. There are plenty of lovely restaurants to choose from along the seafront, and even a Michelin-starred restaurant (Can Curreu) just 7 kilometres away, if you’re celebrating a special occasion.

  5. That looks truly wonderful! Love the style and design, and the pool area isn’t too shabby either.
    It’s location is key cause this place would loose a lot of its assets if it were located in one of the busy and loud area’s on the island.

    And congratulations with that 5th spot! A trip down under is just an added bonus :)

    1. So the pool area isn’t part of Marsol, but it is next door at the Hotel Riomar, and a day pass is very reasonable.

      Thanks for the congrats. We will have to see about Australia as there’s also a sailing event in the UK that we typically attend each year, and the dates are not too dissimilar unfortunately…

    2. Your loyalty to the UK sailing event is understandable but how many times in a lifetime fo you get the opportunity to compete in Australia?

  6. I’m so old that I can remember the days when a bar of Lux soap was seen as the height of luxury in a hotel bedroom. Now hotels and self-catering do their best to source the toiletries locally and give a sense of the locality with the aromas.

    1. I’m sure that’s not the case, Judy! Whilst there will always be some who are ahead of the game, some of the changes and advances we’re seeing in deluxe offerings from properties nowadays are more recent than you might think…

  7. The beach club concept at the Hotel Riomar would be very tempting for us, it’s something that we like to do for a couple of days of a holiday.

    Once you’ve paid your money you’re getting your sun loungers, a very good lunch and a very relaxed day. It’s something we’ve done from LA to Dubai.

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