Popping your Ibiza cherry this year? Don't worry, with our handy guide for Ibiza Virgins you'll feel like a seasoned pro - and your first time will definitely leave you wanting more.
Mike Warburton
Last updated: 22nd Apr 2015
Image: Space
The season is upon us, and Ibiza is waiting with open arms and baited breath to welcome us all to enjoy its warm Balearic sunshine, cool blue seas, golden sandy beaches - and, of course, to party harder than ever before.
Clubbers' paradise it may be, but a first timer may find the ‘White Isle’ quite daunting. There are so many recommendations, places and events to take in that you won’t even know where to start.
But don’t fear, Skiddle are on hand throughout the season with our Ibiza Guide - full of all the latest Ibiza news, reviews, hot tickets and information to help you get the most out of your summer holiday. And to get you started, here's our Ibiza Virgin's guide to the White Isle.
The season runs from May – October. Most regular bars and clubs open straight away, however major clubs don’t tend to open until the very end of May and the first few weeks of June. Some even later.
Here are some of the bigger 2015 opening parties:
Sankeys Ibiza: 20th - 21st May BUY TICKETS
Circoloco @ DC10: 25th May
Aoki's Playhouse @ Pacha: 25th May
Space Opening Fiesta: 31st May BUY TICKETS
Cocoon @ Amnesia: 1st June BUY TICKETS
W.A.R! @ Ibiza Rocks Hotel: 5th June BUY TICKETS
Hed Kandi @ Es Paradis: 6th June BUY TICKETS
The Zoo Project: 6th June
Together @ Amnesia: 9th June BUY TICKETS
There are three main resorts the clubbers flock to in Ibiza, but wherever you may find yourself there is no need to worry about moving round the island as taxis and buses are plenty and most of the clubs will include transfers via coach to and from major resorts.
The central hub of the island is home to many bustling restaurants, shops, cafes and bars, including the crème de le crème of Ibiza nightlife:
Amnesia (Cream, Cocoon, Together, Matinee, House of Madness, La Troya, Pop Stars, Espuma)
Pacha ( F**ck Me I’m Famous by Guetta, Aoki's Playhouse, Flower Power, Insane, Solomun +1, Martin Sloveig My House, Pure Pacha)
Privilege (Armin Van Buuren's A State of Trance, Saturday Night Project, Supermartxe, Tiesto, My Club Room, The Face of Ibiza)
San Antonio:
Bypassing the West End, Café Mambo and Café Del Mar along the sunset strip make the ideal place to cool down with sangria and watch the sunset, and are located very close to the following San Antonio clubs:
Ibiza Rocks Hotel (Ibiza Rocks, We Are Rockstars)
Eden
Es Paradis (Water Party, Hed Kandi, Clockwork Orange, Glow)
At Playa D'en Bossa (5 minutes in a taxi from Ibiza town) you will find:
Space (Carl Cox Music Is Revolution, Richie Hawtin's ENTER., Clandestin presents FULL ON, Kehakuma, Lovin Ibiza)
Sankeys Ibiza (We Love, Shelter, CUFF, Tribal Sessions, Magna Carter, ViVA Warriors, The Redlight)
Ushuaia (Emerging Ibiza, David Guetta)
DC10 (Circoloco)
If transfers are not already arranged then don’t worry, there are shuttle buses which run regularly from the airport early morning until late at night. Find out more at www.ibizabus.com. Alternatively, there are always plenty of taxis outside, ready to take you to your destination for reasonable prices (e.g. a taxi from the airport to San Antonio will cost roughly 20 euros)
It is always best to buy your tickets before you arrive in Ibiza, especially if there is an event you're planning on going to. It’s much easier, safer and cheaper to do so.
Tickets for most events can be bought by ticket sellers up and down the beach during the day however many a scam can happen and you could find yourself parting with money and not having a valid ticket, so please be careful.
Tickets to major clubs can cost between 30euro – 80euro so make sure you budget accordingly. Buying tickets on the lead up to your holiday is a good idea
so you're not spending a big chunk of your holiday spends while you're there. It certainly cushions the blow!
AVOID QUEUES by buying tickets early too. You can be stood outside a club for well over an hour and getting more irate by the second watching people walk straight past you and straight into the venue.
Buy advance tickets for all major Ibiza clubs
In a word, yes. It's no secret that the Euro makes everything slightly more expensive, and in Ibiza nearly everything is marked up. However it is still possible to find good deals by exploring your resort a little.
Expect to pay at least 5euros for a full English breakfast, around 7euros for a burger and chips. Supermarkets are very reasonable if you want to cater for yourself, and the regular chains such as KFC, Burger King and McDonalds are on hand for those on a budget.
Expect to pay through the nose for drinks in the major clubs. 15euro for a vodka and mixer, 10 euro for beer, 5euro for water – it’s pretty grim. The tip is to get the majority of your drinking done before heading to the clubs.
Many bars offer happy hours and special offers, with so called 'PRs' offering free drinks and offers to get you into their bar. But remember kids, DRINK RESPONSIBLY. If the club bouncers sense that you're too pissed, you may as well wave goodbye to the 75euro you just spent on your “F**ck Me I’m Famous’ ticket.
The dress code is very relaxed, however please bear in mind that most people will still dress to impress when out in Ibiza. Being uber trendy can win you a few points when getting into bars and clubs. VIP areas generally won't admit men wearing shorts but, unless you’re in Ibiza to try and schmooze with the rich and famous, that will probably be irrelevant.
There is a cash machine on practically every corner in Ibiza, so there's no need to worry. Many bank accounts don’t charge you to use your cards abroad anymore, but double check before you arrive so you don’t get home to any nasty surprises in your bank statement.
Words: Jo-Anne Waddington
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