azuLine Club Cala Martina Ibiza

The history of azuLine Club Cala Martina Ibiza can be traced back to the 1970s when it started as a bungalow timeshare property. Over time, as tourism finally reached the northeastern portion of the island, many of the units were purchased from their owners in order to open a hotel. The property grew slowly to cover a lot of ground -- 262,467 square feet to be exact (so be prepared to walk). In 2006, azuLine hotels entered the picture and the hotel (then named Club Punta Arabi) became a place for tourists to party hard. But as all things age and grow up, 2016 renovations saw the hotel that once had the largest club in the Mediterranean transform into a seasonal family hotel. However, there's still some hangover from the hotel's more wild and social days, like the famous weekly Hippy Market where the property is flooded with thousands of folks perusing hundreds of booths of local wares. 

The vibe is fun but not rambunctious, and rooms are mostly filled with older couples and families with kids and babies. There are rock ponds off reception stocked with resident frogs and its easy to spot a handful of cats roaming the grounds. 

The hotel is located along the cliffside of Cala Martina, a small beach with lots of water-sport opportunities. This northeast area of the island is quiet and tends to draw more families than partiers. It's not as touristy as other areas in the south, aside from the crowds that come in for the hotel's Wednesday Hippy Market. Punta Arabi can be seen from the hotel's pool level and there are a few small restaurants just a five-minute walk away down by the beach. For anyone looking to explore the tourist areas of the island, they are all about 20 to 30 minutes away by car. 

• Four-minute drive to Es Canar
• 12-minute drive to Santa Eulalia
• 18-minute drive to the golf course 
• 25-minute drive to Talamanca 
• 26-minute drive to Old Town
• 30-minute drive to Ibiza Airport
• 32-minute drive to Playa D'en Bossa
• 33-minute drive to Es Cavallet Beach
• 35-minute drive to San Antonio 
• 36-minute drive to Dalt Vila

All 356 rooms are located inside orange adobe-style bungalows that house up to five separate units each. In the 2016 revamp, rooms got a facelift and came out fresh with a sandy color scheme, white laminate furniture, and upgraded bathrooms. Still, a few hangovers from their previous lives remain, like the shuttered French doors in Premium Rooms, the old doors and dated tile floors in Standard Rooms, and metal room keys. IKEA-style furniture and bright solid colors in Standard Rooms keep them feeling a bit basic, though still largely attractive, while Premium Rooms are noticeably more stylish thanks to pale wood floors, patterned accent fabrics, and slightly better-quality furniture. Standard amenities include flat-screen TVs and air-conditioning, while Premium Rooms have extras such as kettles alongside tea and coffee, mini-fridges, hairdryers, pool towels, and decently sized front terrace areas lined with fake grass and furnished with loungers and dining sets. 

As all units used to be separately owned timeshares, there are some differences in the sizes and layouts available. Certain rooms, views, or configurations can be requested, though only the category -- Superior or Premium -- is guaranteed. All rooms come with free Wi-Fi. Bathrooms lack bidets (common in renovated properties) and bathtubs, but they have walk-in showers with upgraded showerheads and come stocked with shampoo, body gel, lotion, and vanity kits. 

All guests at azuLine Clib Cala Martina are on the all-inclusive plan, which includes mandatory fabric wristbands, drinks at three of the four bars (including a small bar down by the beach), an average buffet restaurant, ice cream scoops, and one night per week at the mediocre, albeit more personal a la carte spot, Caprichio. All-inclusive drinks cover fountain soft drinks and juice, bottled water, canned beer, local liquors, espresso drinks, and house wine from the bars, plus self-serve sodas and tap wine, beer, and sangria in the restaurant during meal times. Guests can upgrade to better brands of alcohol or fancier coffee drinks for an extra fee. Daily lunch and dinner menus are posted outside the main restaurant, but standard options include salad, hot starters, a live cooking station for meat and fish, kids' section with mostly pasta, and a dessert bar. Pizza and sandwiches are made-to-order during the day at the Snack Bar La Torre, and at any given time there are at least two bars open where guests can guzzle all-inclusive drinks.

The only bar not included in the all-inclusive plan is the Reception Bar. 

During the day, sun-worshippers can be found out at the pool area (or down at the beach). Intermittent daily activities, recorded covers of popular music, and a bar make the pool area lively, though not rambunctious. The surrounding area is filled with loads of loungers and a few Bali beds on the edges. Both can fill up quickly, especially in summer, and are all on a first-come, first-served basis. There no hot tubs here and the fake-grass sundecks can be a bit of an eyesore, though no one seems too bothered. Both the pool and kids' splash area close nightly for cleaning. 

Cala Martina is a small cove beach just a five-minute walk from the hotel, but for those who prefer a ride, there's a free shuttle every hour to and from the hotel. A small beach bar serves all-inclusive drinks. There are a grassy area just up from the beach with free loungers and independently operated water-sports companies for diving, windsurfing, and sailing. This area also has a sprinkling of good beach restaurants and private beach club bars where guests can rent loungers directly on the sand. 

Entertainment is well-planned and covers all age groups, from the mini-club activities and water aerobics, to dart competitions, karaoke, live music, and even traveling Flamenco shows. The hotel's once-famous nightclub has been converted into a lounge and theater space where most of the shows take place and a few pay-to-play games sit. For those who prefer to be active, the somewhat-tired volleyball, tennis, and multi-sport courts get used frequently. Adults looking for a little space can utilize an adult-only upper deck Sunrise Bar area (no bar service) with Bali beds that overlook the pool and sea. The hotel's small and dated open-air gym is also up here. 

One remnant from the hotel's party past is the famous Hippy Market that takes place on-site every Wednesday. During this time, all available space on the property is covered with vendor booths, and the place is flooded with throngs of folks eager to check out what's for sale. There are also a few spots, like the La Carpa live music tent and Smoothie Bar, that open up just for the Hippy Market. 

Pool towels are free for Premium Rooms, and available for a small deposit for guests in Standard Rooms. This hotel doesn't accept pets, but there are a handful of cats that walk around like they own the place. Free parking is available across the street in a dirt lot. 

Kids love the azuLineKids mini-club's outdoor tiki-themed splash pool with fountains, rafts, and water toys, plus it's got a a sundeck with great views across the sea. Designed for kids ages 4 to 12, azuLineKids also shows movies, runs crafts and other activities, and has a basic plastic playground out back. Family Rooms are available via several configurations of connecting rooms or all-in-one in rooms with a double bed and pullout couch.