Sol House Ibiza

The four-pearl Sol House Ibiza strives for a trendy, relaxed space that helps bring guests back to life after a late night out before getting them ready to do it all over again. Housed in a decades-old building along the quiet San Antonio Bay beachfront, this property was completely renovated in 2016. Its sleek new interiors feature polished tile floors, refurbished tables, shabby chic seating, and colorful Mexican blankets. Local art, including painted murals and sculptures, accents decor, and the lobby has a DJ booth, vending machine stocked with tech supplies, and an open, stadium-style pillow lounge area keep it trendy. 

This spot is hip without being pretentious and tends to draw couples, friends, and single folks in their 30s and 40s. Though it markets itself as a family-friendly hotel, there are few features outside of a kids pool to back this up, and most children tend to be infants. 

Sol House Ibiza has a beautiful beachfront location on Cala Pinet. Along with views across the San Antonio Bay, guests also get fantastic summer sunset views. The hotel is located a block down from the area's main road, Sant Augusti Avenue, and there are several bars, shops, and restaurants within walking distance. A ferry is available from May through October between San Antonio and Playa Pinet. 

• One-minute walk to the beach of Cala Pinet
• 12-minute drive to the San Antonio Sunset Strip
• 25-minute drive to Ibiza Airport
• 27-minute drive to Talamanca 
• 28-minute drive to Playa D'en Bossa
• 32-minute drive to Ibiza Golf Course
• 33-minute drive to Es Cavallet Beach
• 35-minute drive to Santa Eulalia Beach
• 35-minute drive to Dalt Vila and the Old Town

Sol House Ibiza has 275 clean and contemporary guest rooms and suites with fresh, modern decor, featuring sophisticated neutral tones, wood laminate floors, comfy beds, and renovated bathrooms. House Rooms are entry-level, and they have the basics like AC, 42-inch flat-screen TVs with satellite channels, small furnished balconies, mini-fridges, Bluetooth speakers, and free Wi-Fi, but they skimp on extras like bathroom toiletry kits and they tend to have less desirable views unless you request a House Front Sea View. Beware that partial sea view rooms don't always meet expectations. Also, guest rooms are on the small side, and it's a tight squeeze for more than two people. 

For those with more to spend, upgrades are well worth it here. Xtra House Party Suites and Junior Suites come stocked with party packages that include branded tote bags filled with sunglasses, flip flops, free drink tickets, and wristbands good for 20 percent off drinks at the hotel bars. Guests in these rooms also get one free bottle of cava and welcome snacks, plus free minibars for the first round of bottled water, soft drinks, and rehydration drinks. The free in-room beach and pool towels mean you get to skip the wait downstairs, while the dental and hygiene kits and waffle robes give more comfort. The open-plan Junior Suites have picture windows with beanbag chairs to soak in the ocean views, large, half-circle terraces, glass walk-in showers, and separate soaking tubs. 

The hotel is located off Cala Pinet where the beach area is quiet, small, and beautiful. The sand here is soft and there is noticeably less seaweed than on the larger beaches like Playa d'en Bossa. Though the beachfront is public, guests can either throw down towels or rent peddle boats with waterslides in the back. Ferries to and from San Antonio leave about every 30 minutes in the summer, though service slows down in the fall and stops completely by the end of October. 

Sol House Ibiza manages to combine a fun atmosphere with live music, art, and booze without creating a nonstop party. Live music starts right off the bat with a DJ spinning in the lobby at check-in, while another DJ spins out by the main pool and yet another upstairs on the rooftop deck. Called RooftopNine, this sunny and hopping area is packed in summertime by guests and non-guests, slinging cocktails and smoothies, spinning music, and hosting live art events. Guests have free access to the white stretched loungers, padded loungers, and four-person beds. There's a sleek infinity pool built into the corner of the deck, and glass barriers afford uninterrupted views across the bay. 

The hotel's main pool has a beachfront location, and has the Playa Bar where guests can grab snacks like barbecue and hot dogs and load up on frozen Oasis drinks, beer, wine, and cider. Guests in House rooms take free towels from the lifeguard area and plop down in one of the free, umbrellaless loungers. Sunbeds cost extra and they're sold in various all-day packages that include drinks and snacks. There's also a jetted kids pool that's often used by adults. 

All rooms come with free breakfast the hotel's main buffet, Food Factory. The spread is decent, with lots of medium-quality options, live omelet station, and a large bread section. There's also an a la carte Playa Bar breakfast menu served late, for an extra fee. Half-board options are available, though several guests have commented on its low value. The hotel also has a Mexican dinner spot called Canella that serves up Mexican street-style tacos and drinks; this spot usually closes about two weeks before the hotel's season ends. 

There's a nice gym with TechnoGym machines and free group exercise classes, but no spa on-site is a drawback. Other amenities include a  mini-market open late, and limited parking spots for a fee (gate must be lifted upon entry and exit), and concierge service accessed by tweeting and using hashtags. Wi-Fi is free and pets under 18 pounds are accepted.