Since I really enjoyed reading other peoples reviews before I went to Ibiza, here's mine.
This was my 10th trip to Ibiza, my boyfriend Toby's 5th time and his friend Brendan's 2nd
Saturday 10th Sept –
The holiday started pretty much as soon as we got up and finished packing (we had a nightmare with the suitcases, which we weighed and were over by a couple of kilos. After some juggling of clothes between the suitcase and handluggage we got them within weight). At 9.00 one of Toby's friends gave us a lift to the airport (Leeds Bradford), where we had some breakfast and checked in. Our luggage was slightly over (less than a kilo) but they didn't charge us any extra. Once we were in the departure lounge we met up with Brendan and all had a few drinks, the England rugby match was on and it was a really good atmosphere and I was just so excited!
Brendans flight left slightly before ours, so we said bye to him and then slightly after we got on our own flight. The flight was fine, no delays. I was sat next to a nice couple who were planning on going to Zoo Project as soon as they landed. I think I talked their ear off because I was slightly merry by this point.
Once our flight landed I went and found Brendan outside while Toby collected our case. I think we were in and out of the airport within about 10 minutes! And there was no taxi queue… perfect.
We got a taxi over to San Antonio and got a taxi over to our hotel the Costa Mar which I can highly recommend, its right next to the Calo de Moro beach. I'd definitely stay there again, it was infinitely nicer than all the poxy places I'd stayed in near the west end before. I had a shower to freshen up while Toby and Brendan went to the shop for a few supplies for the room.
Once they came back we had a few more drinks on the balcony which had a sunset view, which I was absolutely made up with. We met our neighbours on the balcony and all 5 of us toasted the beginning of our holiday with some hierbas.
Once the sun had set and we were all ready we went to the Golden Buddha which was almost next door, for something to eat and some cocktails, and then headed down the west end. We didn't stay there that long though. Personally I just wasn't enjoying it. I'm definitely no snob and have had many a good night out down there when I was younger, but I definitely wasn't feeling it. I was drunk as I had been drinking all day so was back in the hotel by midnight.
Sunday 11th Sept/ Monday 12th Sept –
Woke up feeling much better than I deserved considering how much we'd drank the day before. We had some breakfast at the hotel and then basically spent the afternoon chilling on the balcony with some tunes on before getting ready and getting a taxi over to Playa Den Bossa. I had never been to Playa Den Bossa before and I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I didn't think it was that nice.
We went for a drink in a random bar and then went over to Bora Bora which I'd been really looking forward to. I have to say I was a bit disappointed by that too. It really wasn't what I was expecting. I remember the music being quite dark which isn't my bag, and it was just too packed to get anywhere. Also, I was expecting to actually feel like I was on a beach, but I didn't at all. Just hemmed into a mediocre bar by a big blue fence… what's the attraction? I also had my dress burnt by some girl who was dancing, waving her cig around like a glowstick… one of my pet hates!
After a bit Bora Bora became less busy, and we sat down and had a few drinks. As it got dark outside I also started to enjoy the music a bit more, it was more my taste and I started to enjoy myself. I will also say that I hated the toilets in Bora Bora. It was impossible to get near a sink to wash your hands because all the mirrors were surrounded by girls re-applying makeup, doing their hair and just posing into them! Defo not my scene.
After Bora Bora we went to Space. It was the first time any of us had been to Space, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself there. It wasn't that busy when we first arrived but it soon filled up. I can't believe how big it is, there seemed to be room after room to discover. I especially liked the upstairs terrace and we spent quite a lot of time in there before it got to about midnight.
About midnight we went down to have a dance. I was really looking forward to seeing James Zabiela because I've literally wanted to see him for years. I think it was Foamo who was on before him and he was absolutely brilliant, his set was right up our street and he played a track which Toby is dying to find out the name of (we haven't tracked it down yet)
After Foamo, James Zabiela came on and it was just absolutely brilliant. Wow, does that man look like he's having a good time. He was scratching with his iPad held over his head. It was a buzz just watching him. Its honestly the best atmosphere I've experienced in a club since some nights I had at Gatecrasher in Sheffield about 10 years ago!
We came out of space about 5am I reckon and I was absolutely buzzing!! We got a taxi back over to san an and got to the hotel, and any normal people would have just gone to bed. But not me and Toby. We decided it would be best to just push on through straight to DC10 on the Monday. This was a mistake!!!!! We stayed up all day, got ready to go to CircoLoco, went to the golden Buddha to get something to eat since we'd not eaten all day, and then walked into San An to get a taxi. That's where things started to go wrong. We'd been ambitious and it didn't pay off. We were just too knackered. We ended up going back to the hotel with our tails between our legs and were fast asleep by about 10pm!!!
Tuesday 13th Sept –
Woke up after a nice long sleep feeling much better than the night before. We got up and got ready and at about midday had some breakfast at Sun Sea Bar which I have to say was really nice! From there we went over to Orange Corner for a cocktail, and ended up staying around there all afternoon just drinking cocktails and soaking up rays at Orange Corner, Itaca and the other bars around there. It was lovely. Once it got to early evening we went back to the hotel for Brendan to pack because he'd only come over with us for a couple of nights. Once Brendan left we went over to the Sun Sea Bar to watch the sunset, and about that time I started to feel quite ill. Don't know whether I'd eaten something which hadn't agreed with me, or what but I didn't feel good. After that we went to Kasbah for something to eat. I wasn't really in the mood because of my dodgy stomach but Toby had been looking forward to it and so we still went. And, even though I didn't really fancy it, when the food came it was lovely which is a testament to how good it was, because before it came I could have quite happily eaten nothing.
Wednesday 14th Sept –
I woke up this day feeling pretty crap. In fact I was an emotional wreck, think it was due to partying too hard on the Sunday. Ended up lying in bed until past midday, but by the time I got up and had showered I'd pulled myself together for a bit. We went for a walk out and came across Zebra Art and Grill which I'd read about on this site, so we went in there for lunch. I really liked it there, we sat outside in lovely surroundings and I can't fault the food at all. I'd definitely recommend it.
We had a chilled out afternoon and then decided to go out in the west end that night. We got ourselves ready and went out at about 10pm, but once we'd walked into the west end we both agreed that after having been there on the Saturday and not really enjoyed it, we couldn't be arsed. So we went to Curry Club instead. I've seen that place loads of times but never eaten there before. Firstly, the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous. I was really surprised by it. They sat us outside which was really lovely as well. The food was really nice and portions were massive. In hindsight we shouldn't have gone there the same day we'd been to Zebra for lunch because we just weren't hungry enough. Although we did our absolute best and demolished most of it! Afterwards we mildly flirted with the idea of having a few down the west end, but we fancied it even less now we were both stuffed and so we just went back to the hotel and slept it off!
Thursday 15th Sept –
I woke up feeling fresh as a daisy! I'd shaken off the blues from partying earlier in the week, and not had too much to drink the night before. We got up and got a taxi over to Ibiza Town. I'd never been before, but Toby had. I really loved it there, so much more cosmopolitan than anywhere else I'd been on the island. We walked up to the top of Dalt Vila (which was hard work in flip flops with slippery soles – I kept skidding down the slopes) I couldn't believe the view from up there though, its so beautiful and I'd recommend it to anyone who's never been.
After we got back down we had a mooch about, and a few drinks before getting a taxi back to San Antonio. From the taxi we went straight to café del mar and had a cocktail each. We weren't allowed to sit at a table on the front which so we moved on from there and further down the beach, but it was a bit lacking in atmosphere so we got a drink for mambo and sat on the steps at the front, and I have to say I was totally underwhelmed. Until this holiday, watching the sun set at mambo and café del mar has been an absolute must for me. But I just found it so lacking in atmosphere, everyone packed in like cattle. Not being able to sit where you like, it all did my head in. My top tip – walk further round the coast, go to Sun Sea Bar, Kanya or Golden Buddha. It's a much nicer experience. I'll probably never watch another sunset at Savannah/mambo/café del mar again.
After the sun had set we went back to the hotel, and had a few hours chilling, before going out in the west end. Yes, this time we actually made it. I had a decent night too. My fav bar was Hush, the music in there was really good, and it wasn't horrible and tacky like a lot of the bars around there. Although I think Toby and I were the only couple I spotted all night! It was just full of groups of lads and lasses under 25 all on the pull (Not that I'm knocking them, but the west end doesn't really have the same attraction when you're a couple)
I have to comment about the west end drink prices though (credit where its due) it's a bloody bargain round there! Until this point in our holiday we'd been spending about €10/drink. In the first bar we went in – Koppas – Toby had a cocktail and I wanted a Smirnoff ice (I'm not into the dodgy cocktails around there, they all seem to be full of cheap vodka and schnapps and taste crap) we were told that first drink was 2 4 1 so we ended up with 2 Smirnoff ice, 2 cocktails and 4 shots for the bargain price of €14!!! You really can't knock it.
So after a dance in Hush, and quite a few dodgy drinks in dodgy bars later we were both p*ssed and went back to the hotel about 4ish.
Friday 16th Sept –
We both woke up with massive hangovers, and feeling ill beyond belief. I didn't start to feel human until about 2pm. We had actually planned to go to DC10 to Pandemonium that night since we'd missed CircoLoco, but pretty quickly we established that because we felt rough that it wasn't going to happen. I got showered and dragged Toby up because I was dying for something to eat just try and make myself feel better. Toby felt worse than I did, and we couldn't be bothered to go far so we went to the sun sea bar where we both had a sandwich and some full fat coke which brought us both round a bit.
We decided to watch the sunset from Golden Buddha that night. Definitely my fav place to watch it from now. We were laid our on beds, with a perfect view of the sunset, with waiters bringing us cocktails…. How on earth can people prefer Mambo to this?
After the sun had gone down we went back to Kasbah to eat again, since I'd been too ill to really enjoy it the first time. The food was absolutely gorgeous and the waitress, who was from Leeds was really nice as well. I'd recommend that place to anyone, it's totally relaxed and unpretentious. The food isn't ridiculously priced and is of a really high quality. They were playing some ace tunes too, Stevie Wonder, Al Green… it was a lovely last night to our holiday.
Saturday 17th Sept –
I woke up feeling really sad because we had to leave. We packed and checked out of the hotel. We had a few hours to kill before our flight so we went to Davids for lunch. The portions here are massive! I didn't realise and ordered a pasta salad for a starter. It was honestly more pasta than I would cook myself for a main meal at home! I'm not knocking it though because it was really nice, just had to hold myself back and leave loads to save room for my calzone – which was also really nice.
After that we went back to the Costa Mar to pick our luggage up and get a taxi for the airport.
When they weighed our case on the way back it was over – which was strange because we'd left some toiletries there. €30 for 2kg – what a rip off
Bye Bye Ibiza – Hello Bradford L
Final thoughts –
Would stay in that hotel again, so much nicer than the area round the west end
Wouldn't break my neck to go to Bora Bora again, but totally loved Space (special mentions to the aeroplanes that kept going overhead though – I loved that!)
Having visited Ibiza town, next time I definitely want to go for a night our there
I really dislike Mambo and the bars near it. They're not a patch on Golden Buddha
Really want to go to DC10 next time since we missed it this time
All in all this wasn't really the holiday I expected. I thought we'd do a lot more clubbing, but it just takes such a long time to get over a big night out. I didn't want to spend half my precious holiday feeling like poo. Having said that I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and think that the mix of nights out vs. sightseeing/meals/chilling out was perfect even though it happened more by accident than by design
This was my 10th trip to Ibiza, my boyfriend Toby's 5th time and his friend Brendan's 2nd
Saturday 10th Sept –
The holiday started pretty much as soon as we got up and finished packing (we had a nightmare with the suitcases, which we weighed and were over by a couple of kilos. After some juggling of clothes between the suitcase and handluggage we got them within weight). At 9.00 one of Toby's friends gave us a lift to the airport (Leeds Bradford), where we had some breakfast and checked in. Our luggage was slightly over (less than a kilo) but they didn't charge us any extra. Once we were in the departure lounge we met up with Brendan and all had a few drinks, the England rugby match was on and it was a really good atmosphere and I was just so excited!
Brendans flight left slightly before ours, so we said bye to him and then slightly after we got on our own flight. The flight was fine, no delays. I was sat next to a nice couple who were planning on going to Zoo Project as soon as they landed. I think I talked their ear off because I was slightly merry by this point.
Once our flight landed I went and found Brendan outside while Toby collected our case. I think we were in and out of the airport within about 10 minutes! And there was no taxi queue… perfect.
We got a taxi over to San Antonio and got a taxi over to our hotel the Costa Mar which I can highly recommend, its right next to the Calo de Moro beach. I'd definitely stay there again, it was infinitely nicer than all the poxy places I'd stayed in near the west end before. I had a shower to freshen up while Toby and Brendan went to the shop for a few supplies for the room.
Once they came back we had a few more drinks on the balcony which had a sunset view, which I was absolutely made up with. We met our neighbours on the balcony and all 5 of us toasted the beginning of our holiday with some hierbas.
Once the sun had set and we were all ready we went to the Golden Buddha which was almost next door, for something to eat and some cocktails, and then headed down the west end. We didn't stay there that long though. Personally I just wasn't enjoying it. I'm definitely no snob and have had many a good night out down there when I was younger, but I definitely wasn't feeling it. I was drunk as I had been drinking all day so was back in the hotel by midnight.
Sunday 11th Sept/ Monday 12th Sept –
Woke up feeling much better than I deserved considering how much we'd drank the day before. We had some breakfast at the hotel and then basically spent the afternoon chilling on the balcony with some tunes on before getting ready and getting a taxi over to Playa Den Bossa. I had never been to Playa Den Bossa before and I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I didn't think it was that nice.
We went for a drink in a random bar and then went over to Bora Bora which I'd been really looking forward to. I have to say I was a bit disappointed by that too. It really wasn't what I was expecting. I remember the music being quite dark which isn't my bag, and it was just too packed to get anywhere. Also, I was expecting to actually feel like I was on a beach, but I didn't at all. Just hemmed into a mediocre bar by a big blue fence… what's the attraction? I also had my dress burnt by some girl who was dancing, waving her cig around like a glowstick… one of my pet hates!
After a bit Bora Bora became less busy, and we sat down and had a few drinks. As it got dark outside I also started to enjoy the music a bit more, it was more my taste and I started to enjoy myself. I will also say that I hated the toilets in Bora Bora. It was impossible to get near a sink to wash your hands because all the mirrors were surrounded by girls re-applying makeup, doing their hair and just posing into them! Defo not my scene.
After Bora Bora we went to Space. It was the first time any of us had been to Space, and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed myself there. It wasn't that busy when we first arrived but it soon filled up. I can't believe how big it is, there seemed to be room after room to discover. I especially liked the upstairs terrace and we spent quite a lot of time in there before it got to about midnight.
About midnight we went down to have a dance. I was really looking forward to seeing James Zabiela because I've literally wanted to see him for years. I think it was Foamo who was on before him and he was absolutely brilliant, his set was right up our street and he played a track which Toby is dying to find out the name of (we haven't tracked it down yet)
After Foamo, James Zabiela came on and it was just absolutely brilliant. Wow, does that man look like he's having a good time. He was scratching with his iPad held over his head. It was a buzz just watching him. Its honestly the best atmosphere I've experienced in a club since some nights I had at Gatecrasher in Sheffield about 10 years ago!
We came out of space about 5am I reckon and I was absolutely buzzing!! We got a taxi back over to san an and got to the hotel, and any normal people would have just gone to bed. But not me and Toby. We decided it would be best to just push on through straight to DC10 on the Monday. This was a mistake!!!!! We stayed up all day, got ready to go to CircoLoco, went to the golden Buddha to get something to eat since we'd not eaten all day, and then walked into San An to get a taxi. That's where things started to go wrong. We'd been ambitious and it didn't pay off. We were just too knackered. We ended up going back to the hotel with our tails between our legs and were fast asleep by about 10pm!!!
Tuesday 13th Sept –
Woke up after a nice long sleep feeling much better than the night before. We got up and got ready and at about midday had some breakfast at Sun Sea Bar which I have to say was really nice! From there we went over to Orange Corner for a cocktail, and ended up staying around there all afternoon just drinking cocktails and soaking up rays at Orange Corner, Itaca and the other bars around there. It was lovely. Once it got to early evening we went back to the hotel for Brendan to pack because he'd only come over with us for a couple of nights. Once Brendan left we went over to the Sun Sea Bar to watch the sunset, and about that time I started to feel quite ill. Don't know whether I'd eaten something which hadn't agreed with me, or what but I didn't feel good. After that we went to Kasbah for something to eat. I wasn't really in the mood because of my dodgy stomach but Toby had been looking forward to it and so we still went. And, even though I didn't really fancy it, when the food came it was lovely which is a testament to how good it was, because before it came I could have quite happily eaten nothing.
Wednesday 14th Sept –
I woke up this day feeling pretty crap. In fact I was an emotional wreck, think it was due to partying too hard on the Sunday. Ended up lying in bed until past midday, but by the time I got up and had showered I'd pulled myself together for a bit. We went for a walk out and came across Zebra Art and Grill which I'd read about on this site, so we went in there for lunch. I really liked it there, we sat outside in lovely surroundings and I can't fault the food at all. I'd definitely recommend it.
We had a chilled out afternoon and then decided to go out in the west end that night. We got ourselves ready and went out at about 10pm, but once we'd walked into the west end we both agreed that after having been there on the Saturday and not really enjoyed it, we couldn't be arsed. So we went to Curry Club instead. I've seen that place loads of times but never eaten there before. Firstly, the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous. I was really surprised by it. They sat us outside which was really lovely as well. The food was really nice and portions were massive. In hindsight we shouldn't have gone there the same day we'd been to Zebra for lunch because we just weren't hungry enough. Although we did our absolute best and demolished most of it! Afterwards we mildly flirted with the idea of having a few down the west end, but we fancied it even less now we were both stuffed and so we just went back to the hotel and slept it off!
Thursday 15th Sept –
I woke up feeling fresh as a daisy! I'd shaken off the blues from partying earlier in the week, and not had too much to drink the night before. We got up and got a taxi over to Ibiza Town. I'd never been before, but Toby had. I really loved it there, so much more cosmopolitan than anywhere else I'd been on the island. We walked up to the top of Dalt Vila (which was hard work in flip flops with slippery soles – I kept skidding down the slopes) I couldn't believe the view from up there though, its so beautiful and I'd recommend it to anyone who's never been.
After we got back down we had a mooch about, and a few drinks before getting a taxi back to San Antonio. From the taxi we went straight to café del mar and had a cocktail each. We weren't allowed to sit at a table on the front which so we moved on from there and further down the beach, but it was a bit lacking in atmosphere so we got a drink for mambo and sat on the steps at the front, and I have to say I was totally underwhelmed. Until this holiday, watching the sun set at mambo and café del mar has been an absolute must for me. But I just found it so lacking in atmosphere, everyone packed in like cattle. Not being able to sit where you like, it all did my head in. My top tip – walk further round the coast, go to Sun Sea Bar, Kanya or Golden Buddha. It's a much nicer experience. I'll probably never watch another sunset at Savannah/mambo/café del mar again.
After the sun had set we went back to the hotel, and had a few hours chilling, before going out in the west end. Yes, this time we actually made it. I had a decent night too. My fav bar was Hush, the music in there was really good, and it wasn't horrible and tacky like a lot of the bars around there. Although I think Toby and I were the only couple I spotted all night! It was just full of groups of lads and lasses under 25 all on the pull (Not that I'm knocking them, but the west end doesn't really have the same attraction when you're a couple)
I have to comment about the west end drink prices though (credit where its due) it's a bloody bargain round there! Until this point in our holiday we'd been spending about €10/drink. In the first bar we went in – Koppas – Toby had a cocktail and I wanted a Smirnoff ice (I'm not into the dodgy cocktails around there, they all seem to be full of cheap vodka and schnapps and taste crap) we were told that first drink was 2 4 1 so we ended up with 2 Smirnoff ice, 2 cocktails and 4 shots for the bargain price of €14!!! You really can't knock it.
So after a dance in Hush, and quite a few dodgy drinks in dodgy bars later we were both p*ssed and went back to the hotel about 4ish.
Friday 16th Sept –
We both woke up with massive hangovers, and feeling ill beyond belief. I didn't start to feel human until about 2pm. We had actually planned to go to DC10 to Pandemonium that night since we'd missed CircoLoco, but pretty quickly we established that because we felt rough that it wasn't going to happen. I got showered and dragged Toby up because I was dying for something to eat just try and make myself feel better. Toby felt worse than I did, and we couldn't be bothered to go far so we went to the sun sea bar where we both had a sandwich and some full fat coke which brought us both round a bit.
We decided to watch the sunset from Golden Buddha that night. Definitely my fav place to watch it from now. We were laid our on beds, with a perfect view of the sunset, with waiters bringing us cocktails…. How on earth can people prefer Mambo to this?
After the sun had gone down we went back to Kasbah to eat again, since I'd been too ill to really enjoy it the first time. The food was absolutely gorgeous and the waitress, who was from Leeds was really nice as well. I'd recommend that place to anyone, it's totally relaxed and unpretentious. The food isn't ridiculously priced and is of a really high quality. They were playing some ace tunes too, Stevie Wonder, Al Green… it was a lovely last night to our holiday.
Saturday 17th Sept –
I woke up feeling really sad because we had to leave. We packed and checked out of the hotel. We had a few hours to kill before our flight so we went to Davids for lunch. The portions here are massive! I didn't realise and ordered a pasta salad for a starter. It was honestly more pasta than I would cook myself for a main meal at home! I'm not knocking it though because it was really nice, just had to hold myself back and leave loads to save room for my calzone – which was also really nice.
After that we went back to the Costa Mar to pick our luggage up and get a taxi for the airport.
When they weighed our case on the way back it was over – which was strange because we'd left some toiletries there. €30 for 2kg – what a rip off
Bye Bye Ibiza – Hello Bradford L
Final thoughts –
Would stay in that hotel again, so much nicer than the area round the west end
Wouldn't break my neck to go to Bora Bora again, but totally loved Space (special mentions to the aeroplanes that kept going overhead though – I loved that!)
Having visited Ibiza town, next time I definitely want to go for a night our there
I really dislike Mambo and the bars near it. They're not a patch on Golden Buddha
Really want to go to DC10 next time since we missed it this time
All in all this wasn't really the holiday I expected. I thought we'd do a lot more clubbing, but it just takes such a long time to get over a big night out. I didn't want to spend half my precious holiday feeling like poo. Having said that I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and think that the mix of nights out vs. sightseeing/meals/chilling out was perfect even though it happened more by accident than by design
totally agree with alot of the stuff you say,but there will always be people who disagree,but yet again,its personal preference...
This year it seemed like totally the opposite