W Ibiza in Spain [In-depth Review]

Ibiza, Spain has long been on my travel bucket list. An island famous around the world for all-night raves and mega-nightclubs, my first experience with the party paradise featured exactly no partying and, instead, a whole lot of relaxation — and I loved every minute of it.

I recently embarked on a whirlwind, month-long trip to Europe during which I visited France, the U.K., Italy, Spain, and the U.K. again (long story).

I was fortunate enough to be invited to a wedding in Italy and afterward I decided I wanted to visit Madrid to visit friends who I hadn’t been able to see for several years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, due to their travel schedule, I was left with a 3-day gap between the end of the wedding festivities and when I could arrive in Madrid.

I wanted to stay at a luxury resort at which I could relax by the pool or beach, order room service, and sleep well, as it also happened to be the mid-point of my month-long trip and I was overdue for some quality downtime.

Finally, I had a nice stash of Marriott Bonvoy points to use, so I looked into Spanish islands on which I could redeem points.

I initially looked into Tenerife, as I’d read positive reviews about The Ritz-Carlton, Abama and it looked like it would fit my desired vibe perfectly. However, that resort — and, strangely, all others in Marriott’s portfolio on Tenerife — were not available to book during my dates. I checked this numerous times and nothing ever changed.

I considered Mallorca, but I had visited the island just a few years before this trip, so I saved that as a last resort (pun intended).

Then, I remembered that Marriott had opened a W hotel in Ibiza during the pandemic that I had been wanting to check out, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity to do so.

Much to my delight, the property had award availability for my dates, and the rates were decent. I wasted no time in booking a 3-night stay and began waiting impatiently for my stay to arrive.

Read on for impressions from my stay at the W Ibiza and what you can expect if you have a stay booked in the future.

Hotel Location

The W Ibiza is located near the town of Santa Eulalia, on the eastern coast of the island. It’s known to be a quieter area of the island and where families and anyone looking for a relaxing, rejuvenating island vacation choose to stay.

Santa Eulalia has plenty of amenities on offer, including a busy marina with numerous shops, restaurants, bars, and more, as well as a beachfront promenade that proved popular especially in the evening when the sun’s heat wasn’t as intense.

If you wanted, you could also roam into the town center, which would offer a taste of local life on the island, but I didn’t get around to it on this trip.

The W itself has a beachfront location, though you’ll have to cross the promenade to reach the sand. It’s situated about 22 kilometers (~13.5 miles) from Ibiza Airport (IBZ). The drive took only about 15 minutes and cost me about €30 (~$30) each way. Taxis can be on the expensive side in Ibiza, but you don’t have much of a choice if you’re not renting a car — so be prepared for a slight amount of sticker shock, especially compared to much of the rest of Spain.

Booking

As previously mentioned, the hotel was available to book with Marriott Bonvoy points during my stay. To my surprise, the rates weren’t as astronomical as I was expecting in the wake of Marriott Bonvoy ditching its award chart and moving to fully dynamic pricing.

I paid a flat 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night and redeemed a total of 180,000 for my 3-night stay. Cash rates were around €515 per night, so my redemption achieved 0.85 cents per point, a touch higher than our valuation of Marriott Bonvoy points at 0.7 cents per point.

Immediately after booking, I applied 3 Suite Night Awards (that I was able to choose as a benefit of my Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status) to my reservation in hopes of being upgraded to a suite before I arrived. And sure enough, a few days before my stay was due to begin, I received a notification letting me know that I had been upgraded to a Studio Suite! Since I was traveling alone, I had no practical need for the suite, but nevertheless, it was exciting to get the upgrade and upped the “treat yourself” ante that I was aiming for with this stay.

I put my incidentals on my Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant^® American Express^® Card to earn 6x Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar spent on purchases at the property.

Checking In

I arrived around 2 p.m. on a Monday afternoon in mid-June after a flight from Naples, Italy. Immediately, I was struck by how empty the hotel felt, and immediately chalked it up to it being a Monday.

However, as soon as I reached the check-in desk, I was informed that it was still the “off-season” in Ibiza, and things wouldn’t heat up fully until early July. So I guess the confirmed suite upgrade and relatively reasonable redemption rates made sense after all.

The friendly check-in agent asked for my passport and credit card to get the process started. She reminded me that I had been upgraded to a Studio Suite and ran down the list of elite benefits I was entitled to throughout my stay.

If I’m being honest, I typically tune out the benefit rundown until I hear the words “complimentary breakfast,” as that’s far and away the benefit I value most as a Platinum Elite member.

I enthusiastically selected the complimentary breakfast as my choice of amenity and was told that while breakfast is typically served at La Llama restaurant, it would be served in the Ve Cafe on the beach promenade for the first morning of my stay.

I was also told that, unfortunately, the Glow rooftop pool and bar would be closed for the duration of my stay, as it was still closed for the season and would not open for a few more weeks. I was disappointed to learn this because I was very much looking forward to enjoying a cocktail at sunset up there. And, frankly, it seems to me that it should have been open in the middle of June. But, hey, I don’t make the rules!

While I was checking in, another member of the staff offered me a welcome beverage, with or without alcohol. I went for the with-alcohol option and was presented just a few moments later with a so-called “poptail,” which is essentially a boozy popsicle. This one was mango flavored and was so refreshing — it got my stay off to a great start.

Lobby

W Hotels are known for not having a traditional hotel lobby, but rather spaces designed for socializing, drinking, being entertained, and more.

The Ibiza location is no exception to this rule. Situated around the check-in desks near the entrance were several sofas and chairs on which you could sit and relax if someone in your party was up at the desk.

Next to the front desks was a very long bar that I never saw anyone sitting at, but it looked like it served coffees and juices in the mornings and alcoholic beverages in the evenings.

Beyond the check-in desks was the pièce de résistance of the space, a massive sunken living room-like area that featured massive concrete stairs with comfortable cushions spread about them.

The stairs cascaded down to a central bar area which also featured small tables with bench seating on one side and chairs on the other.

The bar itself was long and continued to the outdoors. The indoor portion was separated from the outdoors by massive glass panels, some of which could open entirely to the outside. It was a fun feature and I felt it was appropriate for taking advantage of the balmy weather in Ibiza.

Amenities

While the W Ibiza is without a doubt a full-service resort, it occupies a relatively compact footprint, so don’t expect a sprawling property with 5+ pools, lazy rivers, or anything like that. That being said, this W packs in everything you’d need on vacation, and you’ll definitely feel like you’re spending time at a proper resort.

Here’s a look at what you can expect to enjoy on the property:

Parking

I didn’t rent a car, but there is parking on-site which costs €20 (~$20) per day, and valet parking is complimentary, excluding tips.

Wi-Fi

The Wi-Fi worked well throughout my stay, and I especially appreciated that it reached to the pool with no issue — perfect for getting some work done while enjoying the sun.

Pool(s)

The main pool deck — known as the Wet Deck — is found in a sort of courtyard formed by the building itself — there are 2 irregularly shaped sections of pool surrounded by a deck and split by a walking path running through the middle of them.

This pool area is on the ground level, and you have to ascend a few stairs to reach the beach promenade, so there aren’t direct views of the beach from this pool area — instead you see the multicolor awnings from the guest rooms and a row of palm trees when looking out toward the beach.

Surrounding the pool are a number of daybed-style loungers arranged in pairs or in groups of 3. I say daybed-style because these were no ordinary pool loungers — they felt like proper beds and were large enough so you could spread out as much as you like. I definitely took a nap or 2 under an umbrella during my stay.

On the edge of the pool deck directly fronting the beach, there were cabanas set up that could be rented.

Each section of the pool had a number of plastic loungers set up in the shallow parts that would allow you to cool off while not getting completely wet. I noticed that these got a lot of use, though I preferred to dive all the way in when I needed to beat the heat of the Spanish summer sun.

Each afternoon, a DJ would set up and spin tunes for several hours. This reminded me that even though I was on the quieter side of the island, I was still in Ibiza, after all.

Beach

The W Ibiza has a small section of beach dedicated to hotel guests. It’s staffed by workers who will set up chairs for you and you can order food and beverages as you please.

I didn’t spend much time at the beach other than my evening walks on the promenade, but I loved that the W provided sturdy chairs with comfortable-looking cushions rather than cheap plastic loungers that many resorts — even luxury properties! — are guilty of using.

The beach is set in a gorgeous bay that features stunning blue water, soft sand, and vistas of the surrounding landscape.

Fitness Center

Also found on the ground floor, the W Ibiza has a “FIT” studio, otherwise known as the gym.

It’s a relatively small space, but what it lacks in square footage it makes up for in the design. It’s outfitted with mirrored orange glass all around and an equally funky mural on the far wall. I’m not entirely sure what the intended vibe was for this space, but to me, it fits with the W brand’s overall aesthetic, which is generally “loud.”

You’d have no problem having everything you need for a vacation workout here — there were numerous cardio machines as well as lifting machines and free weights.

Near the entrance, there was a station providing water and towels for guests to use.

Spa

The W Ibiza has an Away Spa, just like you’d find at the vast majority of the brand’s other properties.

I didn’t splurge for a treatment this time, but having had an amazing massage a couple of years ago at the W South Beach, I imagine I would have been very happy had I decided to get one.

The Room

As I mentioned above, I used 3 Suite Night Awards to confirm an upgrade to a Studio Suite at the W Ibiza — let’s take a look at what my suite was like!

Typically, I’d separate this part of the review into 2 smaller sections covering the bedroom and bathroom portions of the room, but this is a W, and they like to do things a bit differently, so half of this suite’s bathroom was actually in the main area of the room.

When I opened the door to room 405, I was greeted with a spacious living area at the end of which was a bright yellow awning providing protection from the blazing sun.

There was a large sofa with a colorful wooden back and a large and very involved mural on the wall behind it.

There were 2 coffee tables, one of which featured the stunning “Ibiza Bohemia” coffee table book published by Assouline, as well as a nice welcome note from the hotel staff, a couple of delectable treats, and 2 cans of still water.

I’m going to go off on a little tangent here: I was so confused by the cans of still water my entire stay. For some reason, every time I opened one I was expecting sparkling water or even something with flavor because that’s what I’m conditioned to experience when drinking out of a can. But nope, just still water — every time!

This isn’t a bad thing at all — and I appreciate the nod to sustainability with the easily recyclable cans — I just found it funny that I was so surprised to be drinking still water each time I opened a can.

Now, back to the suite!

In the main portion of the suite, next to the door, was the single vanity. The backsplash was a yellow-tinted mirrored glass (similar to what was found in the fitness center), and there was a tall rectangular mirror behind the sink. It had a fancy light-up outline, too, so if you wanted to get up close and personal with your face, you could certainly do that.

Underneath the sink were plenty of plush towels, and there were a few amenities provided as well, like a shaving kit, a dental kit, makeup remover pads, and more.

Across from the sofa was the minibar area, which featured a number of small-format liquor bottles, wine glasses, a cocktail shaker, and the room’s Nespresso machine.

The bar’s top drawer housed several Nespresso pods, mugs, and a few snacks available for purchase.

Below that was the minifridge which offered soft drinks, beer, wine, and a few shots of assorted liquors.

Next to the minibar was a mirrored door that opened into the other half of the bathroom, containing a toilet and stand-up shower behind yet another mirrored, multi-colored glass door.

I loved this shower. After a couple of weeks in Airbnbs with unreliable hot water and abysmal pressure, I was delighted to experience a 5-star shower with excellent pressure and temperature control.

Inside the shower were a number of mini-bottles of Grown Alchemist shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel, all of which were replenished generously each day of my stay. They felt high quality and smelled great, too.

Back in the main room, the patio featured views of the pool and ocean, though they were obscured by the giant yellow awning. The patio had a comfortable chair and a smaller sofa, which I used to catch up on a few hours of work each morning.

Come to find out, around dusk, the awnings automatically retracted, providing even better views!

The bedroom (though it wasn’t a true bedroom as there was no door separating the sleeping area from the sitting area) was similarly spacious and featured a minimalist boho-chic design (I don’t know if that’s really a thing, but that’s what immediately came to mind).

The bed sat on a simple wooden platform and the headboard was the same colorful wooden design as the sofa. On each side of the bed were side tables, plenty of power ports for all the devices, controls for the lights, and a Bluetooth speaker on 1 side.

The sleeping area of the suite also had a large closet that opened to reveal a dresser with a shelf for a suitcase on 1 side and an open portion with 2 hotel-provided robes that I put to the test.

I’m happy to report they were very comfortable and generously sized.

Food and Beverage

The W Ibiza features several on-site restaurants and bars, though unfortunately, I didn’t get to sample them all as I wanted to venture out of the resort for a few meals.

Here’s a look at what’s on offer — and you can check out the menus and pricing for a number of the resort’s outlets here.

Glow

We’ll start out with the rooftop bar and restaurant that I wasn’t able to try even if I had wanted to. Sadly, it was still closed during my stay as it hadn’t yet opened up for the season. It should be in full swing now, however.

Glow serves hand-crafted cocktails and light bites alongside a rooftop pool with stunning vistas of the bay below.

The bar and restaurant is typically open every day from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Chiringuito Blue

I, unfortunately, didn’t have the time to have a meal at Chiringuito Blue, but its setting is stunning — it sits directly on the beach with views of Santa Eulalia Bay.

Chiringuito serves Mediterranean cuisine and is open from 12 p.m. to midnight each day.

W Lounge

Serving as the W Ibiza’s lobby bar, the W Lounge is set in a sunken concrete space with descending seating areas outfitted with plush boho-chic cushions lining the way down from the check-in area. The W Lounge’s bar is open to the outside via giant sliding glass doors, and the bar flows from inside to outside.

I visited once for a couple of beers (€8/$8 at current exchange rates)  — during my visit there was a live music show happening.

W Lounge is open from 10 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Wednesdays and Sundays, and from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. from Thursdays through Saturdays.

WET Deck

WET Deck is the main pool bar and restaurant at the W Ibiza and serves a variety of snacks, meals, and beverages throughout the day.

I spent a considerable amount of time at the WET Deck during my stay, which means I got to try several items on the menu.

The first day I arrived, I went directly to the pool to catch some sun. I was famished, so I was eager to order a late lunch. I settled on the sea bass shawarma tacos (€18/~$18) and an order of patatas bravas (€9/~$9) that came with 2 sauces: 1 spicy and the other garlicky. It’s a beautiful combination, trust me.

The following afternoon, I was back at the pool and decided to try the Hawaiian Poke bowl (€36/$36), which came with sushi rice, salmon, seaweed, cucumber, edamame, and spicy mayo. It was delicious and satisfying, though the price tag was enough to make me look twice.

I washed it down with the so-called “Margaibiza,” essentially a mezcal margarita, that cost €15 (~$15).

WET Deck is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but you can still get food from the W Lounge inside until midnight daily.

La Llama

La Llama is W Ibiza’s signature steakhouse by night and the breakfast restaurant by day.

I visited only for breakfast on 2 of my 3 mornings at the property. On my first morning, breakfast was served at Ve Cafe (more on that below) because the property was finishing up some minor renovations at La Llama.

The restaurant itself isn’t terribly large, but featured very cool decor and a neat communal table indoors just in front of the wine cellar, which I imagine would make quite a setting for a large group dinner.

There was also an outdoor terrace, which is where I chose to eat both mornings.

There was a plentiful buffet set up, with all the offerings you’d expect at breakfast at a high-end hotel.

There was a juice station with 4 options, along with infused, still, and sparkling water for the taking.

This is Spain after all, so there was a station set up with plenty of cured meats (Jamón Iberico included, don’t worry!) and cheeses.

There were plenty of pastries and bread on offer each morning, as well.

Moving right along, there were several hot items, which I enjoyed the most. There was shakshuka, bacon, sausage, Tortilla Española (Spanish omelet), and more. My personal favorite was the pide, a Turkish flatbread pizza-style dish that had a mixture of cheese and an egg. I kept going back for more.

Breakfast tends to be a highlight at high-end hotels such as this, and the W Ibiza delivered on this expectation.

La Llama is open for breakfast daily. It’s closed for dinner on Sundays and Mondays, and open for dinner from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Ve Cafe

Ve Cafe is the resort’s “health food bar” that specializes in healthy, vegetarian options.

I loved the cafe’s location fronting the beach promenade, and it had fun bench seating similar to what’s located throughout the hotel. It’d be perfect for someone who wanted to relax with a juice or smoothie after a morning workout.

The cafe is smaller than La Llama, so I could imagine it would get pretty crowded had that been the normal breakfast spot. But, as I said, it was just 1 day that breakfast was served there, and I had no issues finding a seat.

The buffet was largely the same as what I found at La Llama, and it was equally delicious.

Ve Cafe is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., though it did open earlier the day I had breakfast there.

In-room Dining

To me, there’s nothing quite like ordering room service at a hotel. Of course, I was going to try it out at the W Ibiza. After agonizing over the menu, I went with the club sandwich and french fries (€28/~$28), which were both fantastic. In fact, this is one of the best club sandwiches I’ve had — ever.

You can order room service from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily.

Service

The staff at the W Ibiza were friendly and eager to make sure I had everything I needed throughout my stay. I made frequent calls for more water and they were brought up within just a couple of minutes each time. Also, my room service order was quoted a delivery time of 30 minutes, but it arrived in just 10.

The wait staff by the pool were also attentive and made frequent rounds to make sure I was set with water, other drinks, and food.

I had nothing but positive service experiences with this hotel, though it is worth noting that it was not very crowded when I stayed. I don’t anticipate anything changing even when the hotel is busier, but it could impact a few things.

Final Thoughts

I loved my stay at the W Ibiza. It’s a beautiful, fun property that captures the essence of the famed Balearic island but pairs it with a more relaxed, wellness-focused energy (when you describe a W hotel as “relaxed,” you know you’re in one of the party capitals of the world).

I’d be interested to stay again in the heat of the peak season here, to see if more of the island’s famous party scene spills over into this hotel, but until then, I found it to be the perfect place to recoup before the second half of my European summer vacation.