The generational allure of Can Talaias
This stunning boutique hotel in the bohemian north of Ibiza celebrates 20 years of welcoming hospitality and familial vision in 2024.
After passing it on to his son years later, Can Talaias is now an exquisite boutique hotel, this year it celebrates two decades of unparalleled hospitality.
Back in the 1960s, off-the-wall raconteurs convened in Ibiza like bees swarming to sweet, rich nectar. Drawn to the authentic, salt-tinged simplicity of the island, they followed the promise of a more authentic life. World famous actor and comedian Terry-Thomas was among these cohorts and when he arrived in 1968, young family in tow, he went in search of the ideal property to lay down roots for good. Eventually finding land near the northern village of San Carlos, little did he know that he was setting a chain of events in motion that would reverberate for generations to come.
A loveable rascal with big ideas and the aptitude to pull them off, Terry-Thomas had grand plans for his family’s new San Carlos home. A gorgeous, hilltop plot, 600-feet above sea level, with spectacular sweeping views towards the distant bay of Cala Mastella, he set to work transforming the old farmhouse and surrounding grounds. It was a labour of love that didn’t magically happen overnight, but once completed, it was named Can Talaias, and along with his wife and two sons, Tiger and Cushan, he spent many happy years tucked away amid the heart of Ibiza’s idyllic countryside, fun and frolics never far away.
The Can Talaias journey takes a meandering path over the coming decades, at least until 2004, when it eventually came into the hands of Terry-Thomas’ son Cushan and his wife, Laetitia. Keen to ensure that the home in which he’d grown up and made memories in stayed within the family, the pair decided to convert the property into a beautiful boutique hotel, and in doing so ushered in a new era for the one-time family. “We took it over quite last minute,” Laetitia explains. “So, we didn’t have any time to plan ahead. Our thinking was very much, ‘let’s open the door and see what happens.’”
Fast forward 20 years later, and Can Talaias is considered one of Ibiza’s most beloved boutique hotels. Serenely peaceful but with a warm, welcoming atmosphere, breathtakingAfter passing it on to his son years later, Can Talaias is now an exquisite boutique hotel, this year it celebrates two decades of unparalleled hospitality. views, and a clutch of stunningly designed rooms and suites, it’s a place that’s fully formed and yet simultaneously been a lifetime in progress. “In the beginning, we were just getting from one day to the next,” Laetitia recalls. “Which probably explains why it felt so homely. That worked in our favour because guests really enjoyed that element. Now, so many of them come back year after year, always commenting that they feel instantly at home.”
Since then, running Can Talaias has become second nature for Laetitia and Cushan, and though its traditional charm has remained resolutely the same, little tweaks have ensured a process of constant evolution. “The essence of the place hasn’t changed,” Laeitita explains. “But we’ve added a lot more services to make it comfortable for guests.” There’s a restaurant serving lunch and dinner now, for instance, where two talented chefs cook up delicious dishes like Brazilian fish stew and (the much-admired) slow-cooked shoulder of lamb each day, and plates are relished alfresco on the panoramic terrace, the Mediterranean Sea glittering and dancing below.
Meanwhile, Terry-Thomas’ indelible mark can still be seen and felt everywhere you look at Can Talaias – a poster here, an object there – which means the rooms reflect the chic comfort guests have come to expect from a boutique hotel with a stylish man-about-town as its inspiration. The iconic Terry-Thomas Suite, for example, with its unique circular shape, polished wooden floors and exquisite terrace with sea views is the ultimate location for unwinding (many guests return to this room in particular time and time again), while the luxurious seclusion of his former studio amid the pine-scented woods is certain to arouse creativity.
Just recently, Laetitia and Cushan embarked on the valiant quest to return the Can Talaias pool to its former glory. Born from Terry-Thomas’ imagination all those years ago, its unique shape and distinctive orange tiles (replicas of ones he once spotted in the toilets at Palma airport) have always been a feature at the hotel adored by guests. “We tried to recreate it exactly as it was,” Laetitia says. “It took a lot of time and energy but it was worth it! It was important to us to remain faithful to the original idea.”
Terry-Thomas’ indelible mark can still be seen and felt everywhere you look – a poster here, an object there – reflecting the chic comfort guests have come to expect from a hotel with a stylish man-about-town as its inspiration.
That Laetitia and Cushan have respected Terry-Thomas’ vision is testament to both them and him, but Can Talaias has also become imbued with deeper meaning over the past two decades. It’s a place into which they’ve poured much care and attention, where they’ve grown and flourished as a couple, and where they’ve had two children of their own. “Our kids were always around over the years and that’s why, especially during holidays and summer, it became more of a family-focused hotel,” Laetitia says. “We have weddings and honeymoons here during quieter periods, but we’ve always extended a warm welcome to everyone.”
Laetitia expected that dynamic would change over the years, as the children of guests grew up. She assumed they would seek out more central, busy hotels, closer to clubs and activities, but that never came to pass, and instead they’re still all devoted to the tranquil Can Talaias formula. “It just didn’t happen,” she says with a smile. “So now all the teenagers who’ve known each other for years all hang out by the pool in the evenings. There’s a definite feeling of community among our returning guests and that’s something we’re very proud of.”
With two decades now behind them, the prospect of what lies ahead inevitably comes to the fore, and much to Laetitia and Cushan’s delight, their children have shown interest in conserving Terry-Thomas’ legacy and carrying on the family torch. “The idea is brewing,” she says. “There’s a large chance Can Talaias will remain in the family.” Regardless of whether that idea comes to fruition, loyal guests needn’t worry: no one has any intention of going anywhere. “It’s a little piece of heaven,” Laetita says. “We couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. We’d rather stay right where we are.”