Lauren Tabbron shares her favourite things to do in Manchester
Jess Astbury regales tales of festivities in warmer climates.
The sweltering heat of the hot Mediterranean climate, the smooth, serene beaches of San Antonio...I had landed on the fabulous island of Ibiza. Famous for its notorious partying scene, I was desperate to discover just what was so special about this Spanish island that draws in thousands of tourists every year.
An ‘Ibiza virgin’ I had to discover the secrets for myself, along with a few friends. After my week in Ibiza I was met with a new-found desire to go back every summer to do it all over again. I found myself constantly giving anecdotes in conversation with the line, ‘When I was in Ibiza...’
The easiest way is to fly. This is also usually the cheapest option available, provided you book the flights well in advance. As Christmas approaches, this is the best time to start organising your holiday, considering the overall cost and when you want to go. I would recommend looking at the package holidays available; it is often cheaper to book your flights, accommodation and transfers together. Ideally, the best time to visit Ibiza is in the height of summer, when the party season is in full swing. Therefore, you should aim to book your holiday early next year; most travel agents will offer special discounts for January bookings. Last minute flights can often work out very cheap.
From experience, the best place to stay has to be San Antonio (Sant Antoni), situated just 20 minutes from Ibiza Town, with close links to the majority of the clubs, as well as its variety of bars, restaurants and beautiful beaches.
Ideally, you should stay in one of the many hotels or apartments in San Antonio, and not necessarily a 5 star, ridiculously expensive one. Many of the lower rated hotels simply can’t score any higher due to their smaller size or their location in louder areas of the town -so don’t be put off!
If this is what you’re interested in, then Ibiza is the place for you! The island is famous for its variety of top nightclubs – including Amnesia and Pacha - showcasing world-famous DJ’s such as Tiesto and David Guetta. The highlight of course is Privilege, holding the Guinness World Record for being the world’s biggest nightclub; with its truly mind-blowing atmosphere, this is definitely not one to miss. The only downside with the big clubs is the price, tickets for most events between 40-50 Euros.
So if it’s a cheaper alternative you’re looking for, try the West End in San Antonio - this is packed full of bars with various drinks offers. Or for something a little quieter, the Sunset Strip -as the name suggests, it’s brilliant for chilling out and watching the sun set in one of the more relaxed bars or cafes.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not all about the nightlife in Ibiza! There are plenty of daytime activities; you could book an 18-30 holiday and take part in their daytime trips including booze cruises and beach parties.
Aside from all this mayhem, you could relax on the seemingly never-ending number of beaches, or perhaps head up to Ibiza town for some shopping! Here you’ll find lots of small, local shops perfect for souvenirs, clothing and much more.
In terms of food, I would recommend heading out to eat a little later than at home, to experience the beauty of the lit-up Ibiza restaurants in the night-time heat. I personally enjoyed those around the San Antonio area, ranging from Italian to Mexican - there really is something for everyone here.
Heading into Ibiza town to find something to eat is another option. For drinks, it goes without saying that you must try a jug of sangria at some point; you’ll find it sold everywhere! In terms of pricing, however, remember to stick to the local bars for the drinks offers and happy hours. I particularly found the West End bar ‘70’s 80’s 90’s’, a lively bar specialising in music from the decades mentioned in its name, to be a hit due to their amazing vodka slush puppies -the novelty will never wear off.
For all those fun-loving, party hard students out there, Ibiza is the place to go for the holiday of a lifetime! However, don’t forget that there’s so much more to the island than the nightlife; don’t miss out on the quieter yet just as thrilling aspects of Ibiza too!
Thanks for the advice, noted it down for a future trip.
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