I originally wanted to wait until the details are out regarding the 'new normal' rules (we'll know them tomorrow or wednesday I believe). but I won't be online so much this week and because of that I decided I'll post this post now already. once we do know the 'new normal' rules I shall update the thread again of course. also, please keep in mind this is an opinion piece of mine - it is genuinely how I personally think things will pan out.
Ibiza 2020 - what to expect?
Planning on visiting the island this summer? Here's what you need to know.
As Europe slowly but steadily leaves the coronavirus crisis behind (most countries have been opening up and so far no real spikes have been seen anywhere) and you read about Ibiza re-opening, you may find yourself in the situation of having flights to Ibiza booked or just have your finger on the button to book them, but you're unsure...should I or shouldn't I? This is where we jump in to help you take the decision.
The below is how I expect this summer could pan out here on Ibiza, with today's knowledge, pure and uncut. I believe it is a realistic approach on what Ibiza will look, feel and sound like in this very special summer 2020.
Travel
A lot of airlines are picking up flights to Ibiza from mid-June onwards, some hold off until the start of July (or later if from the UK). Generally, this year, July 1 is regarded as the start of the season while the second half of June is sort of the run-up to the start.Also, you might not find daily flights from your home airport this year and thus you may have to show a little flexibility when it comes to dates, but in a month's time from now, Ibiza's airport will certainly be busy.
Ferries from the spanish mainland are also picking up their services again. So if you're currently not feeling comfy to board a plane, make that long-awaited roadtrip to Ibiza reality. Pack your car with anything you want (one of the big advantages when travelling by car: there is no luggage limit!), hit the road, visit a few nice places along the way and get on the ferry in Valencia or Dénia, from where it's just three to five hours to Ibiza depending on the connection. Think about it, it genuinely might be the perfect summer to finally do it and it would also mean you don't need to rent a car once you're on the island!
You'll surely have read about the 14 day quarantine which Spain had imposed to people arriving in Spain. From June 21 onwards, this quarantine on arrival will be gone so for tourists coming from July onwards you won't have to quarantine.
Also, and this has literally just been confirmed, the Balearics will indeed lead a pilot project from 15th June onwards with German tourists arriving (those will be PCR-tested on arrival and will go through a mini-quarantine for a few hours until test results are out). The results of this pilot project might have consequences on how the actual procedure with tourists will work this summer. As usual, we shall update whenever we get news.
Accommodation
First things first. Yes, it's true your fave hotel might indeed not open this summer. Tourism experts expect 'half a season' this summer and thus by far not all properties will open. But most of those who will are offering good rates. Lots of well-known hotels on the island are currently offering attractive discounts and we believe it might be a great opportunity to try something new in case your usual haunt is shut. A lot of hotels are still deciding whether to open or not and we expect lots of movements to happen in the next few weeks.
Similarly, in the villa rental market, currently lots of properties are offered at remarkably low prices compared to their usual rates. Maybe it's the one time you finally rent that dream villa of yours together with your nearest and dearest?
The Beaches
They are open! Ibiza's beautiful beaches and the crystal clear sea is where most people spend their days when on holiday on our beloved island. Due to the coronavirus situation, not just on Ibiza, but pretty much in every holiday resort in the Mediterranean, the authorities will have to implement some measures to make sure beaches don't get too busy so the two meter safety distance between groups can be guaranteed. Now, we genuinely don't expect Ibiza to ever get packed this summer, not even in August - we're far too realistic for that. And so, we don't think the beaches will turn into an issue here. There will be a few beaches (Cala Conta and Cala Bassa, Salinas and Es Cavallet and certainly also Cala Salada) where the local authorities will have to implement some limits (the island of Menorca actually knows a similar system for years now and it works well), but the beauty of Ibiza is that there's always another beach close by if one is full. Having some space on the beach is actually nice and we believe that if allotments will be created, it will be beneficial for everyone.
Restaurants & Bars
In short? Yes and yes! Lots of restaurants have already opened their doors and more will do so in the coming weeks. As it's really warm here in summer, the vast majority of restaurants here have big open air terraces. The Spanish rules currently call for two meters distance between each table and this combined with the fact you're somewhere outside guarantees you a fantastic and safe dining experience.
Outdoor terraces of bars have also opened a while ago and now that Ibiza has entered the third phase of the Spanish de-escalation programme, the inside bits of bars may open as well. Same here, bar owners need to make sure their premises are at max 75% of their capacity so that some personal distance can be kept.
Clubbing
This is where we just can't negate the obvious. Because of coronavirus, the global nightlife community has pretty much come to a standstill and had to come to terms with the fact that, until a cure or a vaccine is available (or a radical change in direction of pretty much the entire world's governments as to how to approach the coronavirus situation is being performed, something rather unlikely at this point), clubbing as we know it is currently sadly on pause. Let's face the facts, the pure nature of clubbing - hundreds or thousands of people together in one closed room (often with low ceilings, maybe not so much in Ibiza), shoulder to shoulder, breathing and sweating - simply make for the perfect breeding ground for viruses. We wish it weren't so, but it's simply the truth.
Most of the nightclubs on the island haven't officially announced their decisions yet as to what their plans are. As of today, both O Beach Ibiza as well as Ibiza Rocks Hotel (both of them are outdoor, daytime clubbing venues) have announced they will open their doors on July 1 with a small capacity and socially distanced clubbing experience. We expect more venues to announce similarly, but we also expect some of the big venues eventually making it clear they won't open at all this summer.
What we do envisage this summer are small parties - these could be in nightclubs (say a few hundred people rather than the usual three to five thousand), these could be in villas (oh yes, villa parties will be a thing this summer) and these could also 'break out' spontaneously in some of the beach clubs in the late afternoon.
What's not very likely to happen this summer is seeing a club with a packed dancefloor. If some dancefloor action is allowed by law, it will most likely be limited / distanced or alternatively it could be a table-only system which means there will be more tables than usual in the entire venue and people stay around them which would avoid the currently possibly 'dangerous' mingling with others. don't see it as a sat down clubbing - people that take a vip table aren't sat at their table all the time - but if you stick to your group only around your table, the risk of contagion is much smaller. also, if such a system came into place, don't expect it to have the usual high vip table prices. but these are just assumptions made by seeing other venues in Europe going for such a system (pacha barcelona, kiesgrube in germany to name two examples).
So, in a nutshell, we are afraid, but this summer, Ibiza just won't be the same party island it usually is. But at the same time, you can't stop people from having a good time. People will get creative. The fact that there are outdoor venues where you can easily throw a party for a nice group of like minded people, and the experience and expertise the local promoters have in doing those parties make it clear for us that there will be things going on. Small and intimate will be the formula and we suggest you check out our forums for hints as to where those shindigs might happen...see you there!
