ibiza.

When my friend Simon found out I would be traveling through Spain, he told me about this magical little island off the coast. He is a British expat and rambled on about the ridiculous beaches and parties that never stopped. When he began to beg me to bring him along on, I knew then that I had to find my way to Ibiza. 

For lack of a better analogy, Ibiza is Las Vegas to the nth degree – minus the gambling and with the addition of day long beach parties, clubs that hold over 10,000 party goers, and just the small fact that you are on a beach paradise with yachts endlessly drifting by. 

Ibiza is located in the Mediterranean Sea about 80 miles off the coast of Valencia but don’t be fooled – there is nothing here that will remind you of Spain. No Catalan language to remember and no cultural experiences that I will tell you are not to miss. If it is culture you are looking for, you are about to get a crash course in club culture. And that is just the reason you come.  

Hotels will begin to open by April and the end of May will mark the beginning of the club openings as Ibiza is filled with British 20-somethings frolicking about on their holidays from school. They come in droves to sell club tickets and party their days away on a never-ending spring break.  

I will admit that I partied to more house music than I care to admit, in the biggest club in the world, for days on end. But, this was long before the EDM culture took root in the youth of America, when you had to venture to the streets of Europe to find Tiesto as a house DJ in Privilege or Swedish House Mafia every Monday night - so can I get some credit? 

We took Easy Jet from Madrid with two bachelor parties and passengers drinking and partying on the plane – so I knew this was going to be good. We arrived at 10pm and the sun was still up and brutally hot because in Ibiza it doesn’t matter what time or day you go. The summer is a perpetual Saturday night and the weekends linger for days. 

There are two main town centers to stay, San Antonio on the west end and Ibiza Town on the southern shore. San Antonio hosts restaurants, bars, and the “Sunset Strip” that founded party life in Ibiza with Es Paradis, Ocean Beach, and Eden Ibiza. 

•  Walk the strip early to catch great drink specials at Linerks before heading to the clubs where drink prices are as ridiculous as the atmosphere. Employees will be handing out wristbands for free entry before a certain time or free shots to get you in. You can walk the Sunset Strip and never spend a dime.     

             

• Walk to the tip of the island to enjoy sundowners at Cafe del Mar and experience the most beautiful sunset in the world. Honestly, this one will stick with you. Classical music is played from the mountains as the sun slowly dips its feet into the ocean and the beach packs with sun worshipers and night revelers alike.

• If you want to move your party to a boat, check out Pukka Up Boat Party boat parties which are the best on the West End and come with an entry ticket to a club (because in Ibiza everything does).  

• This is an island where there is always a party happening. During the day check out the endless pool parties and beach clubs with favorites being: Santos Ibiza, Bora Bora Ibiza, Blue Marlin Ibiza . You have to come back with a tan from your holiday!

Ibiza Town on the southern shore is home to the port of Eivissa in Ibiza Town will host the grandest yachts from across the world filled with celebrities or royalty that come to party at Pacha Ibiza located in Ibiza Town or any of the massive clubs found in the island’s interior which can’t be missed.

The best way to get around is to take the Disco Bus from  San Antonio or Ibiza Town or between clubs (if you are having one of those nights!) It is 3 euros each way and runs through the night. It is busy, rowdy, and you will think you are already inside so prepare yourself. 

Club tickets for Privilege, Space Ibiza, and Amnesia Ibiza float around 60 euros so if your budget is tight, walk down the strip earlier in the day to score free wristbands for early entry or drink deals. There’s no better way to party at Privilege Ibiza, the biggest club in the world, than with a free entry. It is worth it to make it to these clubs - if you can remember all of this madness. My first summer to Ibiza, Tiesto was the house DJ and played tracks from a floating DJ booth in the club’s indoor pool with 10,000 guests dancing with me. And you just don’t do get to say that twice.