Aparthotel Orquidea

From the outside, Aparthotel Orquidea looks like a dated condominium property, due to the gold lettering and marble signage and walkway. For the same reasons, walking through the sliding glass doors feels akin to entering a downtown office building. The lobby has a similar vibe, with lots more marble, mismatched in shades of gray, tourist pamphlets, and an additional tour-booking desk down a few steps in a sunken area. Here, the decor starts to become more contemporary, thanks to brown-wicker loveseats topped with beige cushions, though for the most part, the public spaces of the hotel feel old and in need of an upgrade to match the look and feel of the contemporary apartment-style rooms, which were renovated in 2014 and 2016. 

Still, this hotel is a great bang-for-your-buck. Most guests are from Western Europe and stay anywhere from a few days to a month. Those looking for a beachfront, optional all-inclusive spot with better-reviewed entertainment options should consider the Hotel Playasol The New Algarb in Playa D'en Bossa, though they don't have self-catering room options. 

This hotel has a great location in Santa Eulalia, being an 11-minute walk to the town center’s many shops, a clean and beautiful beach, and celebrated restaurants. This area of the island is a favorite among families and those looking to escape the rambunctious party areas of San Antonio and Playa D'en Bossa, though it's a bit of a drive from other popular tourist spots and may not be the best choice for folks looking to do frequent sightseeing without a car. If the hotel parking lot across the street is full, there’s a large free lot on the corner. 

• Two-minute walk to Santa Eulalia
• 20-minute drive to Talamanca 
• 24-minute drive to Ibiza Airport
• 27-minute drive to Playa D'en Bossa
• 30-minute drive to Es Cavallet Beach
• 35-minute drive to Dalt Vila
• 35-minute drive to San Antonio 

All of the hotel’s rooms were completely renovated in 2014 and 2016, and designated as Premium Studios and Premium Apartments. The 198 spotless rooms have a gray and neutral color scheme, and are outfitted with IKEA-style wood furniture, wood-effect ceramic tile floors, and soft faux-suede converter chairs and couches. Standard features include flat-screen TVs, AC, and balconies with wooden cafe-style dining sets. The pool-view rooms also provide peaks at the sea.

Each Studio Apartment consists of one room, two beds, a desk, and a cushioned chair that converts into a single bed. Upgrading to an Apartment means a separate living space with a pullout loveseat and eat-in bar in the kitchen, though they lack the work desk. Every kitchenette has a stainless-steel microwave and ceramic two-burner hobs, a mini-fridge with small freezer compartment, and a supply of basic plates and cookware. 

Bathrooms are a bit snug, but they stay stylish with a mosaic accent wall, large framed vanity mirror, and glass walk-in shower with large rainfall showerhead. Amenities include hairdryers, magnifying mirrors, bar soap, and toothbrush kits. As with most hotels in Ibiza, rooms have two individually sheeted twin beds pushed together.

Even though this is a self-catering spot, several guests opt for one of the available meal plans, which range from bed-and-breakfast to half-board and all-inclusive. All meals are served buffet-style in the main restaurant and daily snacks are available out at the pool bar. Guests can grab a drink at the restaurant bar during mealtimes, pick off the center buffet, or check out the live-cooking station in the back before sitting down at one of the four-person tables. The buffet gets mixed reviews, but is on par with the expected quality (good selection for a European hotel, though slightly repetitive) of a three-pearl property. Once the pool bar closes for the day, a spacious and casual lobby lounge area opens up with bar seating, several wicker couches, and views into the game room. It's worth nothing that guests on the all-inclusive plan have a truncated menu at the pool. 

Visitors to the Aparthotel Orquidea have easy access to the golden sands of Santa Eulalia Beach. Located just behind the hotel, down a few steps from the boardwalk, there’s ample space (especially in low season) to plop down with a towel. Next door, the Marsol hotel rents out and services loungers and umbrellas for a good price, though they shutter the beach club in early October. The water here is shallow and there’s a lifeguard on duty at the Marsol. 

During the summer, the Aparthotel Orquidea’s pool area becomes crowded, as the first-come, first-served white plastic loungers are a hot commodity, and the pool is often filled with splashing kids. As the season starts to taper off, the pool becomes a more tranquil space with plenty of loungers and easy access to the bar. The pool itself is a decent size (though it can feel small in peak season) and it has a separate shallow kids' area. There's a daytime snack and drink bar serving up premium spirits, daily drink specials, and eats like hamburgers, salads, and pizza. 

The hotel does its best to keep guests entertained with a board of daily activities for different age levels (though older guests and smaller kids tend to enjoy them the most), which include everything from arts and crafts and a mini-disco for kids, to group exercise and dance classes for adults. There's also nightly entertainment that is cycled through every two weeks with magic shows, comedy routines, and live music, though don't expect Vegas-quality performers. Additional kid-friendly features consist of a small game room with arcade games and a pool table off the lobby, babysitting services (fee), and highchairs on request. There used to be an on-site squash court, but the hotel phased it out since it wasn't that popular. 

Freebies include touch-and-go Wi-Fi and a 25-spot parking lot across the street. There are no laundry facilities or services, fitness center, or massage services at the hotel, but these are all available within walking distance.