NOTE:??Want to get the low-down on Ibiza 2017???– click here to find out more
The Ibiza Rookies 2017 Guide
You???ve heard the rumours. You know the hype. You can???t wait any longer, and just hearing the word sends your imagination into overdrive.
Ibiza. Legendary among party-goers, music-heads and jetsetters, you???ll have the experience of a lifetime if you come prepared.
But if you go in blind, you???ll miss everything that makes the island so great.
That???s where this guide comes in. We???ll address all your questions, so read it to the end, bookmark it, send it to your friends, and you???ll be all set.
We???ve been providing immersive Ibiza experiences since 2011, and work with only the best resorts, clubs and parties. We love the island, and together have a lifetime of experience to share with you.
So buckle up – let???s get you ready for your first time to Ibiza.
When To Visit Ibiza
Ibiza is at its best during ???The Season???, which takes place from late May to early October each year. The summer months draw thousands of people to the sun-kissed island, so it???s ideal to go with a group that knows what they???re doing so you don???t get overwhelmed by the crowds.
That???s why Together Week draws over 350 people for every week of The Season – packages include accommodation, transportation, access to nightclubs, boat parties and pool parties, so you don???t have to worry about a thing.
Want to find out more? Sign up for our FREE Ibiza 2017 low-down guide
Key Ibiza Events:
International Music Summit: Last week of May
Club Opening Parties: Last week of May to mid June
BBC Radio 1 Weekend: First Weekend in August
Club Closing parties: Late September to first week of October
Where To Stay in Ibiza
Playa D???en Bossa
If you???re not planning on sleeping much, Playa D???en Bossa is the spot for you. We partner with Jet Apartments on Bora Bora Beach, which is a quick walk to Ushuaia, Space and Sankey???s. You can???t get much closer to the action than this.
San Antonio
Ibiza???s original party center has recently had a facelift. This is where all the Boat Parties set sail (including the Together boat party), and you can???t beat the restaurants or shopping down here. But don???t worry – there are plenty of parties going down here too. Cafe Del Mar, Cafe Mambos, Ocean Beach and Savannah are kicking all day and night, and there???s not a better spot to catch the world-famous Ibiza sunset.
Ibiza Town
Ibiza???s iconic old town, this is where you???ll get a local???s view of Ibiza. There are endless alleys to explore, with chic boutiques and unbeatable tapas bars around every corner. Don???t underestimate Ibiza Town though – it???s home to Pacha, one of the most famous and memorable clubs in the world.
How To Get There
Ibiza???s sole airport hums with activity throughout The Season, with flights arriving from the UK & all over Europe every day.
Low-cost carriers like Ryanair, Easy Jet, and Monarch come in regularly, and other airlines like British Airways frequently have sales that can land you a great deal with a little more luxury.
Of course, the further in advance you book, the better your fare will be. We recommend checking SkyScanner regularly to keep up to date on the best flights to Ibiza.
And if a little sea-faring adventure takes your fancy before Together Week kicks off, you can get ferries from Spain and the other Balearic Islands to whet your appetite.
Ibiza By Day
We???d like to let you in on a little secret???
No matter what the hangover looks like, it???s only total newbies who stay inside during the day when they???re on Ibiza.
There???s way too much going on for you to be burning daylight like that.
So stock up on coconut water and electrolytes, because you???ve got mischief to get into.
What To Do During The Day in Ibiza:
Want pool parties? Ocean Beach Ibiza is the spot.
Open-air Parties more your scene? Hit up Ushuaia Ibiza and Ibiza Rocks
Boat Parties tickle your pickle? The Together Week Boat Party is where it???s at
Beach clubbing???s your jam? Get to Bora Bora Ibiza.
Together Week???s Events:
Year-after-year Together Week seizes to disappoint, offering the island’s best clubbing experiences as part of their holiday packages. Think Amnesia, Ocean Beach Club, boat parties, pool parties, paint parties and much much more.
Sign up here to??find out what 2017 has in store for us.
(and then some – we create unforgettable extra experiences you can opt into if you want more.)
And if you want to take a break from partying so hard, Ibiza is home to some of the world???s most beautiful beaches. Grab your towel (and sunscreen – you don???t want to go home crisped) and hit the sand. You can hire beach beds from ???5-???10, or up to ???150 for a Bali Bed at the more exclusive spots.
There are tons of places to explore and wild adventures to be had – from the Hippy Markets and getting lost in the Old Town, to parasailing and diving in the azure waters.
Ibiza By Night
Let???s be real. No one comes to Ibiza to go sightseeing. They come for the parties.
And come night, there will be more parties than you know what to do with??? and they???re all epic.
Expect most clubs to start winding up around 10pm. It starts getting wild around midnight, and people will kick on until 6 or 7am.
If you can???t get tickets to an event you???re keen on beforehand, make sure you ipck up the free wristbands, stickers or tattoos from the club???s promotion teams. Remember that a lot of venues will offer a discounted entry if you are in before a certain time, as an incentive to fill the clubs up quicker.
Where The Clubs At?
Playa D???en Bossa: Space Ibiza, Sankeys Ibiza, Ushuaia, DC10 Ibiza
Ibiza Town: Pacha Ibiza
San Rafael: Amnesia Ibiza, Privilege Ibiza, Underground
San Antonio: Es Paradis, Eden
What Should I Wear In Ibiza?
You can get away with a lot more (or less, depending on your view) than you can in the UK and many parts of Europe. Often a bikini and shorts are enough, but if you???re planning on going to the bigger clubs, they do prefer guests to do it up a bit more.
Clubs like Pacha advise men not to wear shorts, and the bouncers in Space will tell you to put your t-shirt back on if you???re caught swinging it above your head. If you???re going VIP, dress like it!
(You never know, you might bump into someone noteworthy – Kate Moss and P.Diddy love Ibiza too – and the last thing you want is to be grinning in a photo in a sweaty vest and your gym shorts.)
Ladies – as killer as those 6-inch stilettos are, they will literally kill your feet in Ibiza. You???ll be dancing hard for 6 or 7 hours at a time in sweltering heat. Flip-flops are also a no-no – you???ll be surrounded by thousands of people, and the last thing you want is to have your uncovered feet stomped on, spilled on or slipped on.
What Do I Need to Take Out With Me?
Save the beach bags for the day time. When you???re at the beach. With beach stuff.
When it comes to evenings, leave your Mary Poppins tote at home. You want to keep things as streamlined as possible! We recommend a small, across-the-body satchel that you can keep close to you. Backpacks and big handbags are too easy for pick-pockets to take advantage of, and most places don???t have cloak rooms.
Here???s what you need:
- Photo ID. Your passport, driver???s license, provisional or age card will be accepted everywhere. If you???re worried about losing your passport, most clubs will happily accept photocopies. Take this with you everywhere, as you may be refused access without it.
- Money. Obviously. Make sure your card is topped up or that your cash doesn???t fall into that hole in your bag. Remember that you can???t count on finding The One who will pay for all your drinks, so make sure you have enough to get the drinks you want and to buy a few bottles of water. It???s really important to stay hydrated and you DON???T want to be drinking the tap water in the bathrooms.
- Tickets. If you don???t have a ticket, you???re not getting in. We definitely recommend buying them ahead of time so you don???t have to line up to purchase them before lining up to get in (you can get most tickets we don???t include already as add-ons with your Together Week booking).
- Handfan. Not kidding. When the clubs are at full capacity, the air con is not going to reach you. An old-school hand-fan is a cute accessory to your outfit, and perfect for hiding your sweaty face from overzealous photographers. Please leave those nasty electronic ones at home to tangle someone else???s hair.
- Room Key. Sounds obvious, but worth stating. When you hit that wall and need to be in bed right this instant, you do not want to discover that your room key is locked in your room. Each night, decide who will be looking after the keys and make sure everyone ??without the keys has a note of the address.
Club Entry
Budget ???80 for standard, line-up-for-an-hour entry entry to most clubs.
But only if you???re a total rookie. Which, by the end of this, you won???t be.
Seriously though, buy your tickets beforehand. Paying at the door WILL rip a giant hole in your budget.
If you???re planning on hitting all the big parties, buy your whole week with Together Week to get access to Amnesia, Zoo Project/Holi Colour, Pacha, Sunset Boat Party & Pool Party included in the price, with the option of buying Space & Sankeys and DC10 tickets as add-ons.
As we mentioned earlier, grab as many wristbands & flyers as you can. This is how the locals do Ibiza – if you know anyone living on the island, hit them up beforehand to get your onto guestlists in exchange for a drink or two.
Drink Prices
Drink prices in the clubs aren’t as bad as you would think as the measures aren’t single but likely triples or quads – they simply just keep pouring until they feel like stopping! Expect to pay ???10-15 (??7-10) for a drink in the club.?????15 (??10+) for an alcoholic cocktail and ???10 (??7) for a non-alcoholic cocktail at a beach club.
Bottled water ranges from ???6-???10 (??4-??7) – which is much more than shopping at your local supermarket??but you need to stay hydrated. We can???t overstate this – getting hospitalised for dehydration success. And is more expensive than a couple of bottles of water.
NOTE: If you want more info on how much money you???ll need in Ibiza, check out our guide here.)
Planning to sneak drinks in with you? Don???t bother – they???ve seen every trick in the book, and they???ll confiscate it.
Drugs
LIke most other places in the world, Class A drugs (like cocaine) and Class B drugs (like MDMA and ketamine) are illegal in Ibiza. Yes, you???ll most likely come across them, but we strongly recommend against partaking.
However, if you???re determined, please be smart about it and put your safety first. Don???t buy from some weird dude in a dark alley and DON???T buy from the ???looky looky??? men after you???ve turned down their fake Ray Bans and Rolexes. They???re usually slinging baking powder (you can pick the newbies who shelled out ???80 for a bag when they start foaming at the nose).
Know Your Geography
It???s simply smart travelling to get acquainted with the area you???re staying in. You won???t get lost, and you???ll probably find some awesome stuff that???s a little off the beaten track.
Key things to scope out are the locations of the nearest cash machine, supermarket and bus stop. Knowing where to find the local pharmacy, brunch spot and taxi rank – and how to get to your hotel from all of them – doesn???t go astray either.
Keep in mind that most of the parties and events happen on the south side of the island in Bora Bora and San Antonio. San Antonio is known for its sunset strip, cheap bars and Ibiza Rocks. Bora Bora???s claim to fame is Bora Bora Beach, Ushuaia and of course, Space.
Getting Around
If you???re staying in Ibiza Town this Summer, hiring a car is probably your best option. You can get some good deals if you search around online before you fly in.
If you???re going to be in San Antonio or Playa D???en Bossa, getting around is much more straightforward. When you???re travelling from one side of the island to the other, we suggest you use the Ibiza Bus. It???s roughly ???3 a ticket, and you can get to just about anywhere.
Most clubs have official taxi ranks outside. If you???re taking a taxi, only use these and do not take lifts from men in carparks ??? these are fake taxis that are uninsured and unknown. The Together Week shuttle pass is a great alternative, as it will take you to all the venues for the whole week.
Do not try to walk home from Amnesia or Privilege. These clubs are on motorways and it is impossible to get back. A taxi from Amnesia to Playa D???en Bossa is roughly ???12-???15, so if you???re in a group of 2-4 it???s very affordable. If you’re on Together Week we advise to purchase the shuttle pass and save yourself a lot of money.
Taxi Numbers:
Taxis Ibiza Airport 00 34 971 800 080
Taxis Ibiza 00 34 971 398 483
Taxis San Jose 00 34 971 800 080
Taxis Santa Eulalia 00 34 971 333 333
Taxis San Antonio 00 34 971 343 764
Safety
Like travelling anywhere, you need to keep your wits about you and make sure that you don???t forget about basic safety just because you???re on holiday.
EHIC Cards:
If you are from Europe or the UK, then make sure your EHIC card is valid and on you at all times. An EHIC card gives you access to state-provided healthcare in European countries at a reduced cost, or even free. Without this card, you can be charged anything if admitted to hospital or a private clinic. Cards are free in the UK and you get them from the NHS online.
Travel Insurance
Hopefully, you won???t need to make use of your travel insurance, but it is essential to have. Without it, you cost face thousands of pounds worth of medical costs and you won???t be covered from theft or accidental damage. Get a quote before you leave – a week of insurance starts from around next to nothing these days. Travel Insurance also covers you on baggage loss, personal money theft and cancellation reimbursement.
Pre-Paid Travel Cards
Welcome to 2014 where it???s old fashioned to use cash! Yes it???s exciting to save up a draw full of cash for months before getting it exchanged in a shiny envelope ??? but it???s careless and dangerous. Pre-Paid Travel Cards are generally free to take out, free to use abroad and free to withdraw money. What???s to lose? They also offer a pretty good exchange rate and have an app you can use to transfer and check your balance. Just make sure you apply for one a good two weeks before you fly as they take 5 working days to arrive. If you lose the card, your balance is covered and you haven???t lost any money.
Use The Safe
This is the most basic rule in holiday safety. Use your safe.
If your gear is left out of your safe and gets nicked, your travel insurance won???t cover you, and the hotel certainly won???t be reimbursing you.
When you arrive, check that your safe works and use it every single night, for jewellery, prized possessions, money and gadgets. Don???t hide wads of cash in your sock drawer, under the mattress or behind picture frames – thieves know all the spots & smart as you are, you won???t outsmart them. If your safe doesn???t work, tell the hotel reception immediately and don???t let up on them until it???s sorted.
British Consulate Ibiza
Should you get into any serious trouble, go to the British Embassy. This is for things like lost passports, trouble with the police, missing people etc.
They???re open Monday ??? Friday 8:30am ??? 1:30pm but phonelines are open 9am ??? 5pm.
Avenida Isidoro Macabich 45
1??1?? (corner with Calle Canarias)
Apartado de correos 307
07800 Ibiza
Spain
Telephone enquiries:
902 109 356 (in Ibiza & Spain)
(+34) 917 146 300 (outside of Spain)
What Next?
Well, now you know the ropes. Your first trip to Ibiza will be a grand success now that you???ve got the inside scoop, and we???d take a punt that you???re already dreaming about the moment you touch down.??
So – send this guide to your friends, sign up??for our 5-day guide??(to be the first to know),????and get ready for the trip of a lifetime.