Every time I told someone we were taking the kids to Playa d'en Bossa I got the same worried face, because it has such a party reputation. I needn't have panicked. By day it is a proper family beach resort, and the wild side only really shows up long after our two are asleep. Here is how our week actually went.
How we booked
We booked an all inclusive package with a UK operator (we used Jet2holidays, but Fergus Style Bahamas is also on TUI and On the Beach). Doing it as a package just made life easier: flights, transfers and food all in one payment, which with two children is exactly what a tired parent wants. I would do it the same way again. You can book the room on its own direct with FERGUS, but for us the all inclusive package worked out cheaper once I added up what the kids get through in snacks and drinks alone.
Getting there
This was the bit that sold me. Ibiza airport is only a couple of miles from the resort, so there is no long, grizzly coach journey at the end of a flight. Our transfer took about 25 minutes with a few drop offs, and a taxi does it in 10 to 15 minutes for around 15 to 20 euros, which is money well spent when everyone is fractious. One thing to know: the hotel is right under the flight path, so you do hear the planes. My little one thought this was the best thing about the whole holiday. If you are a light sleeper, be warned.
Where we stayed
Fergus Style Bahamas is a four star all inclusive right on the seafront, and for families the layout really works. The pool is big and warm and kept the children busy for hours, there is a snack bar, and there is some daytime and evening entertainment. The bit I loved most was the gated path onto the beach that you open with your own room key, so I could let them run ahead to the sand without that constant knot in your stomach, because nobody gets in or out without a key.
Now the honest part. The rooms are dated and a bit pot luck. Ours was clean and perfectly fine, but the air conditioning is old, and there is no kettle or tea and coffee tray, so pack a travel kettle if you like a cuppa. Housekeeping was hit and miss, and check in had a long queue, so do not expect to be whisked to your room. What makes up for it is the staff, who were so kind and had learned the children's names by day three.
You barely need transport. The beach, the promenade and Aguamar water park are all right there. The only thing to think about as a family is that the clubs are close, so you will hear people wandering home in the small hours. None of it is on show during the day.
What we did
Honestly, the beach did most of the parenting for us. It is long and sandy and stays shallow for ages, so my youngest could paddle happily while I actually sat down. The pool sunbeds vanish early, towels down before breakfast, so we mostly used the beach instead and never fought that battle. Aguamar water park is a short walk and swallowed a whole happy afternoon, with baby slides for the little ones and a couple of bigger ones for my brave six year old. There is also a play park, Gran Piruleto, for burning off the last of their beans.
The two day trips were what they still talk about. A fast ferry goes from the Playa d'en Bossa pier to Formentera in about 30 to 55 minutes, and the beach at Ses Illetes is like something off a postcard, so book it ahead in summer. We also drove to the Ses Salines salt flats just down the coast and spotted actual pink flamingos, which went down a storm. If you fancy something for the grown ups too, the old town of Dalt Vila in Ibiza Town is a lovely wander.
Where we ate and drank
We ate in most nights, and for all inclusive the buffet was better than I feared. There are themed nights, fresh pizza and pasta the kids inhaled, and proper dishes like grilled chicken and paella. It does get a bit samey by the end, mind. The snack bar opens around 11am for toasties, burgers and chips, a lifesaver when we missed breakfast. Two things to flag: there is no food included late at night, roughly 9pm to 7.30am, and ice creams at the pool bar are about 3.50 euros a go, so I bought a tub from the local shop and saved a small fortune.
The cocktails are the resort's running joke, weak and watered down, so I stuck to wine and the self serve soft drinks. For a night out of the hotel, Ohana Ibiza at the quiet end of the promenade does lovely paella and is relaxed enough with children, and Dunes Ibiza is a fun two storey spot for burgers. The smart beach clubs like The Beachouse and Nassau Beach Club are gorgeous but pricey, so we did that once as a treat rather than every day.
What it cost
You do not need the exact figures, but as a rough steer a summer all inclusive week for a family of four comes in at the low thousands of pounds, dearest in the school holidays. Once you are there the board covers the basics, so the extras were manageable: the water park at around 33 to 35 euros an adult, the Formentera ferry at roughly 40 to 50 euros an adult and about half for children, and paid sunbeds on the sand. The real bargain is the location, which saves you a fortune in taxis. The only thing that felt like a swizz was paying again for a decent cocktail because the free ones were so weak.
The verdict
We would absolutely go back. Playa d'en Bossa genuinely surprised me as a family base: a safe shallow beach, a gated path to the sand, a water park across the road, and Formentera and the flamingos within easy reach. Go in knowing the rooms are basic and the nights are noisy, and you will have a brilliant, affordable week. I would recommend it to any family wanting a beach holiday on a budget who do not mind a lively resort, and I would gently steer away anyone dreaming of a quiet, luxurious hotel. My tips for first timers: ask for a refurbished room, get down to the beach early for a shady spot, take a travel kettle, and do not judge the place on those cocktails.