Sirenis Tres Carabelas & Spa

The Sirenis Tres Carabelas is a medium-size all-inclusive with a fun yet relaxed vibe. Offering several kid-friendly amenities, it draws its share of families, but its location in Playa d’en Bossa -- an area known for its world-class nightlife -- also brings in a young, sometimes noisy crowd of couples and friends. The hotel is housed in a nondescript, white boxy building, and the lobby, with its wood paneled walls and front desk, and marble pillars and floors looks as if it could be anywhere, but a spread of salmon-colored couches scattered throughout the space provide plenty of cozy seating niches. Rooms are slated for renovation, but in mid-2015, only the seventh-floor Superior Rooms and Superior Junior Suites have been updated. 

The hotel is located between a small stretch of Playa d’en Bossa -- Ibiza’s longest beach -- and a wide street lined with hotels. There are a few restaurants, bars, and shops nearby, and another bigger beach is down the street. Ibiza’s most famous clubs -- including Ushuaïa, Bora Bora, and Space -- are within a 20-minute walk of the hotel, and the airport is within a 10-minute drive. The town of Ibiza is within a five- to 10-minute cab ride, and guests can get a boat to gorgeous Formentera island, as well as to Ibiza and other parts of the island, at the nearby ferry dock.

Most of the 245 large-windowed, air-conditioned rooms are awaiting renovation, and still have generic wooden furniture, cream-colored floor tiles, and old-fashioned bedspreads, although abstract artwork and light-blue accent walls are nice touches. Rooms on the seventh floor, which include Superior units and Superior Junior Suites, have undergone extensive renovations, and have contemporary decor with lime bed runners over crisp white linens, rain showerheads, and splashes of color that make these rooms cheerful and appealing. All rooms have balconies, and come with mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs; Junior Suites have lounge areas. Most rooms get at least a partial sea view, and a few have panoramic vistas of the Mediterranean. Wi-Fi comes with a fee, unless reservations are booked on the hotel's website, and safes also come with a fee.

The Tres Carabelas offers direct access to a small stretch of mostly unshaded beach, save for a few palm trees. The outdoor pool has plenty of loungers, and a bar serving drinks and snacks, such as hot dogs, burgers, chips, and ice cream. For larger meals, the main restaurant serves a good buffet. The fitness center has up-to-date cardio- and strength-training machines, and there are several tennis and paddle courts on the property. Guests can use the heated swimming pool and whirlpool, and hydrotherapy area of the spa for free, but other services and massage treatments come with a fee. Kid-friendly amenities include a kids' pool and a playground. Wi-Fi, unless reservation is made on the hotel's website, comes with a fee, as do airport transfers. Guests can use the facilities at next-door sister property Sirenis Hotel Goleta & Spa.