Can Talaias

Rooms

Bedrooms are painted in cream, ochre, burnt orange and terracotta, and come with country antiques - a gilt-framed mirror, a white wicker chair, a Moroccan sofa. Curtains - wild silk, white muslin, striped cotton - draw across simple, elegant, wrought-iron poles. Big beds are dressed in white, and pillows are huge.

Bathrooms are simple and understated, with lovely old terracotta floors or big pale-stone slabs, deep baths or drenching showers, and colour-washed walls in pale biscuit, light aqua or deep ruby.

The Terry Thomas Suite is amazing, spacious and sublime, with a kingsize wicker bed and windows for the view (rumour has it, the best view in Ibiza is from the bathroom!). Tiling in the bathroom is exquisite and there's a vast terrace overlooking the sea, so sink onto a wooden lounger, kick off your Diana Rigg kitten mules (she stayed here) and sip your martini. Glamorous is the word.

If you come with kids, choose the Girasol Suite, a big circular tower room with a ceiling rose shaped like a sunflower and a bunk room adjoining. Alternatively, the Superior with Lounge has space for extra beds.

Features include:

• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• WiFi

Eating

You'll probably eat out on the terrace, in the shade of an olive tree, looking over woodland and the distant sea. A full breakfast is included in the price and served from 8.30am until noon - eggs, ham, cheese, a basket of croissants and breads, a juicy fruit salad with yoghurt and honey, marmalades, jams and orange juice. If you’d like to pay for something fancier, you can ask for a filled omelette.

Snacks are available all through the day: chicken and feta salad; goat’s cheese and rustic bread; a mushroom omelette; pasta with tomatoes, garlic and basil. Or a tasty selection of tapas including excellent bruschetta. Cushan and Laetitia love cooking and their food is simple and good. The produce comes fresh from the market or local farms, the herbs and vegetables are from the garden, the eggs are from their hens.

If you fancy going out to lunch or dinner, you can walk to the village of San Carlos - 25 minutes down… only for the hearty on the way back up! There are some great restaurants within a 10-minute drive and Laetitia can advise - just remember there’s a steep, dusty track on the way home.

If you'd prefer to stay put, have a Mediterranean/Spanish-inspired dinner on the terrace beneath the stars, accompanied by candlelight, lanterns and soft music - seriously romantic. You can order in advance, though there's usually always something available: baked Segovian lamb, paella on request, fish dishes and Pulpo a la Gallega. On our last visit we enjoyed a delicious sharing platter of cold meats, padrón peppers and cheeses washed down with a cold glass of French rosé. Drinks are from the outdoor honesty bar and the wines are mostly Spanish.

Features include:

• Bar
• Dinner by arrangement
• Organic produce
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Take a beer from the rustic honesty bar and loll by the gorgeous pool in which Laurence Olivier and Vivien once swam (Terry Thomas's 60s parties were legendary)
  
• While away the afternoon at Anita’s Bar in San Carlos (a hop in the car, or a hike down). Spanish lager or homemade hierbas? This is the real Ibiza! The tapas is authentic, too, and tasty. San Carlos is where the hippies used to go and it’s great for people-watching in the sun. The hippy market remains, on Saturdays
  
• Las Dalias village is nearby, which has a low-key party scene, with plenty of events on if you want to avoid the nightclubs
  
• Cushan and Laetitia are a fount of local knowledge and can sort you out with bikes, horses or anything else you might want to ride. Shake off your city stress and hike through the valleys or ride in the hills
  
• Local beaches? They’re sandy and secluded, and, on the whole, uncrowded except in July and August - and definitely much quieter than the southern beaches. Cala Mastella has woodlands on either side while Cala Llenya is a little cove, perfect for kids (as is Cala Nova); both are a 5-minute drive. Benirras on the northwest coast has black sands and impromptu drumming sessions at sunset; Cala Salada (on the west coast) has turquoise waters and is good for snorkelling. For nudists (non-nudists also welcome) Aguas Blancas is the one
  
• Eivissa (Catalan for Ibiza) is the island’s most beautiful town, all cobbled streets and bustling cafes, with the ‘high town’ (Dalt Villa) perched on top of the hill. As darkness falls, the marina area down below fizzes with clubs and bars - often open until dawn
  
• In the heart of the island is the boho-chic village of Santa Gertrudis, at its peaceful best in winter: try Bar Costa for jamon serrano, manchego cheese and log fires. Around the whitewashed main square are galleries, shops, restaurants and bars, and the international bookshop, Libro Azul
  
• Come evening, play a tune on Can Talaias' piano, pick a book from the sitting room’s (artistically tumbled) display, or nod off on a leather sofa as logs smoulder in the ancient fireplace

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Golf
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Nightlife
• Sailing
• Scuba diving
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Swimming
• Well being
• Windsurfing
• Yoga

Best Time to go

Our Top Tips

Location

Can Talaias is situated just above San Carlos (also called Sant Carles), inland in northeast Ibiza. It’s a 30-minute drive from the airport, 20 minutes from Eivissa and 30 minutes from Sant Antoni.

By Air
Ibiza (35km away) is the nearest airport - click on the links below for a list of airlines serving it.

From the Airport
There are loads of taxis at the airport; expect to pay around €40. The hotel can also arrange a private taxi transfer. Most guests hire a car, however (see below).

By Car:
We’d recommend hiring a car when you’re in Ibiza as it’s by far the easiest way to get about. The roads are relatively quiet, and you soon get to know the main routes around the island. It also means you can reach the secluded beaches and more rural areas, all of which are beautiful. See our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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