We’ve just got back from TUI Magic Life Cala Pada and it was brilliant. I’d seen some negative reviews before going so I was a bit apprehensive, but we absolutely loved it.
We got a good September deal and went as a party of five for seven nights: my mum and dad, plus three of us in our early to mid 20s.
Why we chose it
The location sold it for us: a beautiful, quiet, shallow beach just a two minute walk away, with a beach bar included. The price was also very reasonable for Ibiza.
Booking and getting there
We booked online through the TUI website. Getting there from the airport was really easy, about 40 minutes, with beautiful scenery on the way.
The rooms
We stayed in room 505 in block 23, a two bedroom apartment with a big balcony. It was an amazing room and we could see the sea in the distance from the balcony. It was super clean and cleaned every day apart from Fridays.
Inside, the rooms felt modern. I loved the two sinks, the beds were really comfy and it was very spacious. The apartment blocks themselves aren’t brand new and polished, but I preferred that. They’re beautiful and full of character.
We didn’t pay to choose a room before going. I’d read in the hotel’s Facebook group that the 20s blocks were good, so I asked at check in whether there was a room free in one of those. There was, and they swapped us straight away. My parents stayed in a one bed in block 16 and were happy, though the balcony was smaller.
One thing you might see in photos online is bin bags around the complex. When the cleaners change the towels and sheets, they bag them up and staff collect them in a van, because the complex is so big.
Air con: brilliant, better than some 5 star hotels we’ve stayed in. We also had a ceiling fan, which was lovely when we wanted more of a breeze.
The pools
We always managed to get sunbeds, whatever time of day. Most days we got the same ones on the front row by the activity pool.
The pools were clean. I went for a walk at 6am one morning while it was still dark and staff were already cleaning them, and the pool hoovers go on at the end of each day. Some of the yellow sunbeds were marked and probably need replacing, but the black ones by the pool were fine.
The pool bar staff work so hard. Even when there’s a queue, it goes down in minutes.
The beach
It’s literally a two minute walk, and we loved it. It’s calm and never too busy, and the bay is shallow, so it’s great for kids.
Beaches can’t be privatised in Spain, so sunbeds are €10 each for the day. We never paid. We just laid our towels down and popped into the beach bar for shade if it got too hot. The beach bar is amazing for sitting outside with the view, and the piña colada was delicious. There are clean hotel-only toilets at the beach too.
Food and drink
It’s typical all inclusive food. There’s a live pizza station and plenty of choice, including salads and cheeses. It wasn’t the best but it wasn’t the worst. Some dishes were lukewarm at times, never stone cold, and there’s a microwave by the kids’ station if you want something piping hot. I never needed it and was always spoilt for choice.
The pool bar does chicken nuggets, hot dogs and burgers, which is great for kids. I loved a hot dog with crispy onions and a salad on the side for lunch. It’s not fine dining, and my parents ate in the restaurant, but us “kids” were very content.
For drinks, there are soft drink machines, juices and cold water around the complex, and Amstel on draught. The wines were fine, though the bottle of Pinot Grigio we ordered at the Italian was definitely a step up. The coffee house does really nice coffee, plus fresh crepes and cakes in the afternoon, and it has a lovely quiet, chilled vibe. I took an insulated water bottle and refilled it through the day.
Allergies: worth knowing
This wasn’t the best. Not all the food was labelled. My brother has a severe nut allergy and spoke to the chef, but it didn’t really make a difference. Luckily he eats quite plainly anyway (pizza, pasta, hot dogs, chips), but it did stress my mum out. If he were more of a foodie it would have been far more stressful and risky. He’s 22, and I don’t think my parents would have risked it if he were younger.
There were lots of veggie, vegan and gluten free options.
Staff
The staff were absolutely brilliant and always happy to help. The reception team were amazing and so lovely.
Location and getting around
The location is brilliant. The buses are easy, €1.70 for a single, and take about five minutes to Es Canar or Santa Eulalia. Just tap your card, and Google Maps will give you the times.
One tip: if you get a bus to Santa Eulalia whose final stop is the airport, tell the driver where you’re getting off, or you’ll be charged the €4 airport fare. You can also walk along the coastal paths, or along the road, which is quicker.
For eating out, we loved Jacaranda Lounge in Es Canar, with great views and Thai food. Santa Eulalia has so many places to choose from, and the buses make it easy to get there.
Entertainment and activities
The evenings have a great atmosphere. The kids seemed to love the disco, and the silent disco was fab, with three live DJs doing different sets. We also saw a dance show, which I enjoyed. Most evenings we played cards and chatted at the Wunderbar, so we didn’t take in all the entertainment.
There are so many activities. We played water polo, which was really fun and competitive, with all ages joining in. There’s also tennis coaching, archery, yoga and loads more.
One safety warning
Please be careful on the stairs in the restaurant veranda area after dark. We saw someone have a nasty fall and others nearly trip, and some tables sit right on the edge of the steps. Strip lights on them would really help.
Would we go back?
We had an amazing stay and I’d highly recommend it. The gardens are beautiful and well kept, the staff work incredibly hard, and we loved staying in a bigger, characterful complex that never felt too busy.
We were worried at first as a family of all adults, but there was so much for us to do as well as time to chill. September had a great mix of people: families with kids, couples and groups of friends.
We didn’t have young kids with us, but I’d definitely recommend it for families who do. There’s so much for little ones to do that it’s impossible for them to get bored, and we heard the kids club was amazing too.
I understand the debate about the 4 star plus rating. Personally I’d say it’s a good 4 star, and with Ibiza getting so expensive, it was definitely worth it for us.