Spain: Ibiza

[bjorn]

It seems like Ibiza has been a favorite playground of the young and attractive since forever. Back in the 1930s, Ibiza was the summer home of Spanish aristocrats. In the 1960's, Ibiza became known as the European hippie escape. The rock group Pink Floyd were among the first to give Ibiza its cool reputation, and their legacy of all-night partying lives on.

Nowadays, Ibiza is firmly established as one of Europe's trendiest summer escapes. Nudist beaches, fashionable cafes, and cute shops make Ibiza a great holiday resort. The island is a place where urban dwellers can flee the dreary climates of their own countries for a beach escape with lots of sex, sun, and sangria stirred in for good measure.

The tanned, toned, and beautiful goddesses and gods who linger at Ibiza's waterfront are just part of the temptations found on the hippest of Spain's Balearic Islands. Late night clubbing, the world's hottest DJs, and idyllic beaches are other tempting reasons to visit this island of excess.

When to go:
The ideal months to visit are May, June and September. At these times you can rely on good weather, yet avoid the sometimes extreme heat - and the main crush of Spanish and foreign tourists.

What to Do:
Daylight hours spent on the beaches. Las Salinas, Talamanca, and Bossa (accessible by bus) or Figueretas (within walking distance of town) are the most popular. If you actually want to do something other than relax, visit the San Carlos Hippy Market. The Market, a collection of blue, red and orange caravan tents, is where you can buy anything from tie-dyed clothing, beachwear, and sunglasses to sneakers and caricatures in charcoal. It's also a great place to people watch.

A late dinner, followed by a bit of window- shopping at the posh boutiques, is the routine before heading to the discos. Spain's nightlife (known as la marcha) is renowned for its late and wild nights.

Most of the bars where you'll begin your evening are in the area around the port. Calle Barcelona and Calle Virgen are two streets to check out. From there, you can wander the side streets filled with shops before hitting the discos. As for discos, even if you haven't heard of Pacha or Amnesia, you certainly will by the time you leave. Some of the most famous, international DJ's like John Digweed, Junior Vasquez, Boy George and FatBoy Slim, have played in Ibiza. Pacha is perhaps the hippest nightclub in Ibiza, but Amnesia, a hard-core techno club with internationally infamous foam parties, is probably the wildest. None of the clubs even open much before midnight, and the dancing goes on until dawn.

Cost:
Spain isn't too expensive. If you are careful, you could probably get by on US$30-40 a day. Staying in hostels, making your own meals or eating at cafes or snack stands, and traveling on public transport can help keep costs down. In Ibiza, most of the cheaper places to eat are in the Sa Pesa quarter. Drinks, and entry fees at clubs add up though.

Getting Around:
Flights and ferries Ibiza depart several times a day and can be booked at a fairly reasonable price. The cheapest way to get to Ibiza from the US is to fly to Barcelona or Madrid, then catch a charter flight or take the ferry from Barcelona or Valencia (around $40 each way) to the island.

Language:
Catalan is the language spoken on the islands.

Party/Social Scene:
Considered by some as the world's best party island, Ibiza is the place to socialize in the Balearic Islands. Try Menorca and Formentera for a more low-key, communing-with-nature sort of experience.

Other Info:
Click here for weather forecast from Weather.com.