Sa Clau

About Sa Clau

Sa Clau is a four-star hotel on Carrer Del Progres in Sant Antoni de Portmany, a few steps from the centre of the town on Ibiza's west coast. It suits travellers who want a base in town rather than a quiet cove: the bay, the promenade and the sunset strip on the north shore are all within walking distance, and the island's western beaches are a short drive away. Couples, friends and families with older children tend to fit this setting best.

Sa Clau is a four-star town hotel rather than a beach resort. The guest score shown is 4.7/5 from 262 reviews, which points to a steady, well-used base through the season. The facilities listed for the property include a swimming pool, air conditioning, a lift, a 24-hour front desk and garage parking, so the stay works for couples on a short break and for families who want the town on the doorstep. It is not beachfront; the water is a walk away.

Location: Sant Antoni de Portmany

The address is Carrer Del Progres 1, in Sant Antoni de Portmany, 0.1 km from the town centre on a straight line. The bay faces due west, which is why the north shore is known as the sunset strip: in summer people gather along the water in the late afternoon and the bars and cafés fill up. The town itself stays open through the year, unlike many of the seasonal businesses on the island, and it has more life in the shoulder months than the coves do.

Everything in the town is on foot from the door, including the bay and the sunset strip. For the coves a car, taxi or seasonal bus is needed: Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta are 3.1 km away on a straight line, Cala Comte 7.1 km and Cala d'Hort 12.2 km. Buses serve some west-coast beaches with more lines in summer; the hotel also lists a car rental service. Traffic on these roads is heaviest in July and August, while May, June and September are calmer.

Rooms and facilities

Rooms at Sa Clau are listed with air conditioning, a television, a minibar, a safe, a desk and a hairdryer, plus toiletries and slippers, which suits couples packing light for a short break. Non-smoking rooms are listed, and a cot can be requested for families. Late arrivals are covered by the 24-hour front desk and a wake-up service. Housekeeping, a laundry service and luggage storage are listed too, along with iron and board on request. A lift serves the floors.

A balcony appears in the facilities list, so it is worth asking which rooms have one and what it faces before booking. Guests needing step-free access should confirm with the hotel that a wheelchair accessible room matches their requirements. Ask about garage and parking space, cot and extra-bed arrangements, and check-in and check-out times, which the property sets and which can change with the season.

Getting there

Ibiza Airport (IBZ) lies 13.3 km from Sa Clau on a straight line, in the municipality of Sant Josep. The simplest transfer is a taxi from the terminal; hire cars are available at the airport and the drive follows the main road west towards Sant Antoni. Buses link the airport with Ibiza Town, Sant Antoni, Santa Eulària and the south beaches, with more lines in summer, so check the island bus operator for the current timetable before travelling. The hotel lists garage and parking space for anyone driving.

Ibiza Town port is 14.1 km away on a straight line, and that is where ferries leave for Formentera (La Savina), as well as for Palma, Barcelona, Valencia and Dénia. Travellers arriving by sea and heading for the west coast should allow time for the transfer across the island. Sant Antoni de Portmany itself is 0.1 km from the door, effectively the same street network. Sant Antoni also has some mainland ferry routes in season. Flights and ferries are fewer in winter, so check operators and Sa Clau's own opening dates before booking a low-season trip.

Beaches, sights and food nearby

The nearest swimming is in the town bay, and the first coves are Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta at 3.1 km on a straight line, the closest coves to the hotel. Cala Comte, 7.1 km away, is the sunset stop on this coast, with shallow water and islets offshore. Cala d'Hort, 12.2 km from Sa Clau, faces Es Vedrà, the limestone islet about 380 m high that is a nature reserve with no landing. The climb to Sa Talaia, Ibiza's highest point at about 475 m, starts 7 km away.

Dining in Sant Antoni de Portmany is a short walk from the door, and the island's fish cooking is worth seeking out. Bullit de peix and arròs a banda, the fish stew served in two courses with rice, appear on many menus on this coast. Eivissa, 14.1 km away, has the walled Dalt Vila above the port, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in 1999 with the posidonia meadows, Sa Caleta and Puig des Molins. The Punta Arabí market at Es Canar runs on Wednesdays in season; check current days.

A day from Sa Clau

Start with an early walk along the bay in Sant Antoni de Portmany, while the town is still quiet. Drive or take a taxi the 3.1 km to Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta for a morning swim, or, if you prefer heights to water, make the 7 km trip to the start of the climb up Sa Talaia, the island's highest point at about 475 m. Both need a car, a taxi or a seasonal bus; check the current lines with the island bus operator or ask at the hotel's front desk.

Back in town for lunch and the slow middle of the day, the late afternoon is the time to head west again. Cala Comte is 7.1 km away and faces the sunset, so the last hour of light is the reason to go. Cala d'Hort is 12.2 km from Sa Clau and looks across to Es Vedrà and its islets, with a longer return. Dinner is a 0.1 km walk from the door in Sant Antoni de Portmany.

Practical tips

Much of Ibiza's tourism business closes roughly from November to April, so check Sa Clau's opening dates before booking a winter stay; the main towns, Sant Antoni included, stay open through the year, but flights and ferries are fewer. July and August are the peak. The Balearic sustainable tourism tax (the ecotasa) is charged per person per night by the accommodation, at a rate that depends on the type and category of the hotel and the season, reduced in low season and for longer stays, with children under 16 exempt. Check the Govern de les Illes Balears for rates.

Questions about Sa Clau