Ibiza is continuing to challenge its long-standing image as a destination focused almost entirely on nightlife, with a new travel feature highlighting the island's growing appeal for families.

A recent family trip published by The i Paper focused on the Cala de Bou area, where the family stayed at the recently refurbished Coral Star Hotel & Apartments and explored the surrounding coastline, restaurants and activities.

The experience offers another look at the side of Ibiza that can be easy to overlook when the island's famous clubs dominate its international reputation.

A family stay in Cala de Bou

The family stayed at Coral Star Hotel & Apartments in Cala de Bou, an area of San Antonio Bay that is particularly convenient for beaches, restaurants and family-friendly accommodation.

The property has been refurbished for the 2026 season and offers hotel rooms and apartments, alongside pools and facilities aimed at families.

Current accommodation information lists the property at Carrer des Caló, 87, 07830 Sant Josep de sa Talaia.

The hotel offers different board options, including all-inclusive, giving families flexibility over how they organise their stay.

Designed with families in mind

The 2026 refurbishment has given Coral Star a more contemporary look, while the property continues to focus on families.

Facilities include swimming pools, children's areas and activities aimed at younger guests.

The property also offers a kids' club, while the family feature describes supervised activities, a mini disco, karaoke, quizzes and pool-based entertainment during the stay.

There are also options for adults, including spa treatments and activities designed to make the resort suitable for parents as well as children.

Family entertainment without leaving the hotel

One of the advantages of a resort-style family holiday is having activities available without needing to organise a separate excursion every day.

During the family's stay, activities included water bingo, foam parties, water aerobics and poolside yoga.

Evening entertainment included a mini disco, karaoke and interactive quizzes.

The article also describes a children's massage provided during one of the hotel's visiting spa sessions.

These experiences are particularly relevant for families looking for a holiday where children have activities available while parents can also have some downtime.

Exploring beyond the resort

The family did not spend the entire holiday inside the hotel.

One of the attractions of staying around Cala de Bou is the ability to combine resort facilities with easy access to the rest of San Antonio Bay.

The family visited a nearby local restaurant, describing an experience centred on tapas and Spanish food rather than the international resort environment.

This combination of hotel facilities and independent restaurants is one of the practical advantages of the area for families who want some flexibility during their stay.

A quick trip across the bay

The family also used the water taxi service connecting the Cala de Bou area with San Antonio.

Recent visitor information confirms a €5 water-taxi fare from the Amàre Beach Hotel area to San Antonio, providing an alternative to travelling by road.

For families staying around the bay, the service can make it easier to combine accommodation on the quieter western side of San Antonio Bay with an evening in the town itself.

Ibiza from the water

The family's trip also included a private boat excursion along Ibiza's western coastline.

The boat travelled towards Cala Bassa and Cala Comte, with time for swimming, paddle boarding and snorkelling.

For families, boat trips can offer a different way to experience Ibiza's coastline while combining sightseeing with activities that work across different age groups.

The experience described in the article included the family's daughter eventually jumping from the boat into the Mediterranean, providing one of the memorable moments of the holiday.

Ibiza's family offer is becoming more visible

The i Paper article is part of a broader trend in travel coverage that increasingly recognises Ibiza as more than a nightlife destination.

The island has long offered beaches, villages, restaurants, boat trips, nature and outdoor activities that are suitable for families.

The accommodation sector has also developed more family-oriented options, particularly around areas such as Cala de Bou, Santa Eulària, Cala Llonga and the northern coast.

A 2026 family-hotel guide from Condé Nast Traveller similarly highlights Ibiza's range of family accommodation and activities, from beach resorts and water sports to countryside stays and village-based holidays.

The changing perception of Ibiza

The i Paper article cites a Co-op Travel survey that placed Ibiza eighth among its top 10 family holiday destinations for British travellers.

The survey claim should be understood in that context rather than as an official tourism ranking for Ibiza as a whole.

What it does illustrate is a changing perception among some British holidaymakers, with the island increasingly being considered alongside more traditional family destinations.

Beyond the nightlife image

Ibiza's nightlife remains an important part of its international identity, but it represents only one element of what visitors can experience.

Families can spend the morning at a beach, take a boat along the coast, visit a traditional village, explore local food markets or enjoy outdoor activities before returning to a family-oriented hotel.

The island's relatively compact size also makes it possible to combine several different experiences during a single holiday.

For visitors staying around San Antonio Bay, that can mean moving between resort facilities, beaches, local restaurants and the wider coastline without travelling long distances.

A different kind of Ibiza holiday

The family's experience described by The i Paper shows how an Ibiza holiday can look very different when the focus is on travelling with children rather than nightlife.

A family-friendly hotel provides the base, while the island itself supplies beaches, boat trips, restaurants and outdoor activities.

For parents who have previously associated Ibiza mainly with clubs and late nights, that combination may offer a very different reason to visit.

The island's family appeal is not new, but the growing attention from travel media suggests that more visitors are beginning to discover it.