When it comes to holidays I like to go as far away as possible (money/time allowing) and pack in as much as possible, usually staying in two or more locations and filling my days with day trips, sightseeing and active endeavours. You get the picture, I’m not usually one for spending a week lying on a beach.
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But this year, as the months sped by, weekdays, weekday evenings and sometimes weekends were filled with work and my life admin to do list just seemed to get longer, I was feeling increasingly tired and started to crave a zero-effort holiday (to clarify, I’m not complaining, I like to be busy, I was just seriously in need of a rest!). Days doing nothing very much beyond lying on a beach and reading, somewhere not more than a couple of hours away on a plane, started to feel increasingly appealing. When a week with no office days booked presented I felt like it was a now or never (well not never, but at least not until Autumn) chance to get away.

As I went on a surfing and city break holiday to Portugal last year, spent a couple of days in France earlier this year and I was a bit worried about the financial situation in Greece, Spain seemed like the obvious choice. I have a lot of love for the Balaeric islands, having holidayed on Majorca and Menorca as a child and Ibiza and Majorca several times as an adult.

Having considered all the options, Formentera, an island off the coast of Ibiza that’s so small it doesn’t even have its own airport, was top of my list of places to go. I’d visited Formentera twice before, once for lunch and once overnight and, having enjoyed both visits, I was keen spend more time there. A quick research threw up a lack of hotel rooms for more than the odd day here and there and flights that were going up in price at alarming rate. And so, for the first time in ages, I booked a package deal (on lastminute.com) with less than 48 hours from confirming the details to getting on the plane.

After a two-hour flight from Gatwick to Ibiza, a short (not more than 20 minutes) taxi ride to the port in Ibiza town and 30-minute ferry journey we were there. I was adamant that we wouldn’t hire a car (needless expense!) so we hopped on the local bus to take us to our hotel and got around by bike for the rest of the holiday (better for our legs and the environment!), cycling between the white sand beaches and the towns and villages that are dotted around the island.

Instead of a guide book we had a couple of features about Formentera ripped from magazines and over the course of the week managed to tick off around three quarters of the places we wanted to visit (still on my list and bookmarked for a future visit Can Carlos, Can Dani and Chezz Gerdi which, annoyingly, reopened for the summer the day we left). Most days we would get up and jump on our bikes, stopping for brekkie on the way to one of the many beaches (be warned some are clothing optional!). Lunch was either out or, so as not to blow our budget, a sandwich picked up on the way. In the evening we would go for drinks and dinner within walking distance of the hotel so as not to be guilty of drinking and cycling.

The only time I regretted my decision not to hire something with a motor was about halfway through the holiday when my legs were aching, unused as they were to cycling what felt like 50 kilometres every day (but was more like 10), and two thirds of the way up the hill between Es Calo and Pilar de la Mola when it seemed as if the road would never stop going in a upwards direction and my brain and legs gave up. We got off and walked until the road levelled out and very much enjoyed cycling down the hill on the way home.

I came home feeling relaxed and tanned, legs aching (all that cycling!), with a case that was heavier than the one I arrived with as I’d treated myself to a couple of couldn’t-resist kaftan tops that I’m sure will go with me on every beachy holiday for the foreseeable future. It was the perfect mid-year break to set me up for what will hopefully be a busy second half of the year and a lesson that listening to your body and giving it what it needs, especially when doing nothing is what your body’s craving, is exactly what you should do.

Anyone else been away already this summer? Where did you go and what were your favourite places to eat/drink/shop/beach/sleep when you you got there? Got a trip coming up? Where are you going? Planning a staycation? Do share below!

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{My favourites}

Ca Na Pepa, San Francesc
Brilliant for brekkie, on a sunny day sit outside and fuel up with scrambled eggs, coffee and/or fresh juice.

Juan & Andrea, Illetes
Great for a sand-between-your-toes lunch. It’s not cheap, but it’s fun to people-watch and yacht-spot as you tuck into a plate of paella.

Gecko Beach Club
We went for lunch at this boutique hotel. I had tuna salad with a side of chips (yin and yang, yeah?!). Non guests can join the morning outdoor yoga classes.

Pirata Bus Bar
This rickety beach bar is a great place to be at sunset with cold beer and a basket of nachos as you watch the sky change colour to a soundtrack of chilled retro tunes.

Blue Bar
The well-priced menu has Asian and Mediterranean influences. DJs play until sunset and, twice a week, there’s a bonkers but fun alien show.

Sa Figuera, Pilar de la Mola
Until recently Sa Figuera was a stall at the twice-weekly hippie market, now it’s an actual shop packed with covetable beachy clothes and accessories.

Atzavara, Pilar de la Mola
Like Sa Figuera, Atzavara is packed with clothes and accessories with a pretty-hippy vibe.

Can Carol, Pilar de la Mola
Cute cafe where you can sit outside and tuck into burgers, hotdogs or tapas. Don’t miss the ace wall art inside.

Codice Luna, Faro de la Mola
Close to the lighthouse on the east of the island this a chic place to stop for a coffee or something stronger.

Bocasalina, Es Pujols
A chic restaurant on the boardwalk we had a selection of delish if pricy tapas.

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