Travel Boho-chic retreat Petunia now welcomes kids, but remains heavenly for grown-ups, says Lucy Halfhead To most travellers nowadays, it’s clear that Ibiza isn’t just about super clubs. Harking back to its original legacy in the 1970s as a destination for hippies and spiritualists, the Balearic island attracts people looking for relaxation and rejuvenation, just as much as an all-nighter on a sweaty dancefloor. And now there is a welcoming retreat for families with children of all ages that doesn’t compromise on the White Isle’s bohemian magic.
Meet Petunia, a boutique bolthole in the heart of the Cala d’Hort nature reserve, which has opened its doors to kids this season. The property is one of the newest additions to the stylish French hotel group Beaumier, whose portfolio also includes Insta-favourite Les Roches Rouges near Nice, and a trio of postcard-perfect Provence hotels. Petunia occupies arguably the best plot in Ibiza, sheltered from all the hustle and bustle on the south-west coast of the island facing Es Vedrà, a 400-metre-high limestone rock that juts out of the glittering Mediterranean sea.
It is allegedly the third-most magnetic point on Earth (after the Bermuda Triangle and the North Pole). The mystical views from the hotel are extraordinary and you’ll hear the words, “It just doesn’t look real,” multiple times during your stay as you stroll from breakfast on the terrace to yoga classes overlooking the sea and sunbathing by the pool. Despi.
