Ibiza: Welcome to club central!
OK, so there may be other places in the world that could take exception to this description of Ibiza, but even it if is not, it is really close! The island of Ibiza has long been a lodestone for party-lovers – hardly surprising when you consider the place is busting with clubs and bars to keep them happy. The availability of short haul flights to what is fairly small island means accessibility comes at a handy price too – perfect for clubbers on a budget.
All well and good, but once you're there, what's the hottest ticket in town? To be honest, 'ticket singular' is a bit of a bum steer. Licklist reckons there are loads of hot tickets and the best way to start enjoying them is to get down to Ibiza Town or San Antonio at a decent time, as the bars start to get busy around 7pm.
Clubbing cribbing
Clubs in Ibiza include Privilege, Pacha, Amnesia and Eden. Sorry to sound like your Dad when he's trying to justify why he can't take your Mum out for dinner on their anniversary, but getting in and necking a few drinks is not cheap. That being the case (and as this is probably a once a year trip), it's definitely a good idea to put a few quid away before you go. It's worth the short-term pain - these clubs regularly entertain some of the best DJs around in week-long residencies.
The Jockey Club and Malibu are both located on Salinas Beach and are among the most popular clubs on the island. Pacha is widely considered to be the most expensive club on the island and these days much of the club has been turned over to ‘VIPs’, making it an even more expensive option. Alternatively you can head over to Playa d’en Bossa for the Space nightclub. This is an award-winning establishment and the clubbing season in Ibiza is unofficially marked by its opening and closing weekends.
In San Antonio, Gatecrasher and Es Paradis are located next to each other. Gatecrasher has the distinction of being a newer club but ideal for those who want to see the big-name DJs. Es Paradis has been given a Roman theme and the water party here is legendary – prepare to leave the place very wet! A real must is the island’s biggest club, Privilege. With a top DJ on all the time it is reported to have the largest dance floor in the world – no excuses for sitting on the sidelines!
For techno music there is DC10 but if you want live music you need to consider Ibiza Rocks. This is actually a hotel but it is the top location on the island for live music. Keep Wednesday nights free and you will be sure to see a top quality band. In the past bands such as The Prodigy, Kaiser Chiefs and the Arctic Monkeys have appeared here.
Time to chill
So there you have it – a great choice of places to bust some serious moves. But what about daytime? Well plenty of partiers will be resting and recharging their batteries for the next night out, so most will be relaxing by a pool or on the beach. Luckily there are plenty of beaches to choose from. The larger beaches have beach chairs for hire and the club hawkers will also spend a bit of time on the beaches letting visitors know which clubs have offers on for that night.
Staying on the island means that you have a choice of accommodation but if you are paying for the more expensive clubs and relaxing on the beach during the day you might want to save a bit by going for the budget option. There are plenty of hostel-type hotels that are ideal for those travelling with a group of friends, but if you do want to push the boat out a bit there are always the luxury hotels where you can really enjoy the best of everything!