Hostal Mar y SAL

We weren’t even staying at this hostel, we’d been at the beach all day and couldn’t get a taxi and the bus never turned up so the hostel very kindly drove us back to Playa d’en Bossa. Very helpful and massively saved us! They charged 40Euros which is more than a taxi but between 4 of us it was fine and meant we weren’t stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Having lived on three continents and eaten in numerous countries, i have never eaten such a pathetically poor hamburger for 29 euro as i have eaten this afternoon at Mar y sal. There was no garnish. None. The so-called french fries were cooked in obviously very stale stinky oil. The mayonaise i had to ask for came in a dirty old plastic dispensary bottle. I advice everyone to walk just a few meters further onto the beach and get better worth for your money. This place is a joke.

From the moment we were greeted by the wonderful Susannah we fell in love with this gem of a place. The team at Mar y Sal could not have been kinder or more welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble. Our room was practical and chic. The decor is very “Ibizan” -lots of white and rattan with a splash of colour from the really cool art work. We did not totally agree with other reviews that there was nowhere to hang clothes as there is plenty of hanging space. The bathroom set up maybe a little “intimate” for some but there is a loo downstairs if you feel shy! The only issue we had was with the doors slamming at night and in the early morning but the team resolved this. The restaurant (the grilled monk fish tail is the best meal we have ever had!) and bar area is outside the property and as the flow of beach traffic (foot fall not cars) runs between the bar and the actual accommodation the people-watching is great fun. There is also a very cool wee boutique next to the hotel as well as a supermarket across the road and a pizza place. We would recommend mosquito repellent if dining outside or sitting on the beach at night. There are some bars on the beach but we found them a little noisy and manic for our liking. There are plenty of other places to visit nearby which are more chilled and classy -Experimental Beach being one. We also liked Chiringuito beach and Club Tropicana. Defo rent a car! We very much hope to stay at Mar y Sal again.

Hostel Mar y Sal which means Hostel Sea & Salt is a small boutique hostel located at the very edge of the most beautiful beach in the whole of Ibiza. Ses Salines is that beautiful beach and it hosts 5 or 6 famous beach clubs where the wealthy go to see and be seen. The best beach club/restaurant is Malibu whilst by far the worst in terms of service and food is Beso Beach - avoid Beso Beach Club at all costs Anyway back to Hostel Mar y Sal. Here you can enjoy the beach and eat wholesome food and good drinks at a fraction of the cost of the beach clubs/restaurants. The rooms of which there are just 8 are small, compact and have everything you need including the sound of the waves as you drift off to sleep after a hard days sunbathing. The breakfasts are good, the lunches excellent and the mainly young staff are attentive, respectful and polite. There is a wonderful laid back vibe in the restaurant and quite a bohemian feel to the bar at night where many of the itinerant beach workers mix with the tourists and banter, laughter and fun times ensue. The absolute star of Hostel Mar y Sal is Maddie the English manageress from Stoke on Trent of all places who welcomes every guest with a warm smile and a kind word. A lady for whom nothing is too much trouble, who commands the respect of her work force and runs the whole show with efficiency, style and grace. Myself and my South American wife Lili will definitely be back and would recommend this hostel and restaurant to anyone.