Ibiza right now.

Status
Not open for further replies.
IMO the vibe is flat because the spark is simply missing this summer. there are no parties (or let's say hardly any) and the consequence of that is the crazy and colourful crowd is missing. it's what makes ibiza unique and this year it is indeed like any other island in the mediterranean.
with the caveat that there's a certain homogeneity between mediterranean package tour resorts, i can safely say that there is scant resemblance in the places i visit on holiday in mallorca to ibiza. the vibe, style, atmosphere, is more elegant and sophisticated, and i'm more likely to find myself sitting next to somebody just like me. it would be a bit pointless me getting on a plane if it was just the same as ibiza wouldn't it? the weather's the same btw. obviously i'm a lot older than all of you on here so my tastes and what i consider cool are different to yours......
 
with the caveat that there's a certain homogeneity between mediterranean package tour resorts, i can safely say that there is scant resemblance in the places i visit on holiday in mallorca to ibiza. the vibe, style, atmosphere, is more elegant and sophisticated, and i'm more likely to find myself sitting next to somebody just like me. it would be a bit pointless me getting on a plane if it was just the same as ibiza wouldn't it? the weather's the same btw. obviously i'm a lot older than all of you on here so my tastes and what i consider cool are different to yours......

yes of course there is a difference el ste! I'm over in mallorca often enough myself and can clearly see it.

the point I was trying to make is simply that I personally think the clubbing on offer (in a normal summer) is our USP and attracts a certain crowd which makes for a certain vibe and it is exactly what isn't there this year. ibiza keeps being beautiful of course, but that unique spark's missing this summer. and, as said by others, lots of people aren't willing to pay ibiza prices if they don't get the usual ibiza in return.
 
taz will let you know his experience, but the following beaches were affected lately:

cala conta
cala bassa
cala gracioneta
cala boix
cala mastella

my advice: either go early or then late afternoon. if you rock up at cala conta at 2pm don't be surprised if you're being turned away

Thanks Stivi, this is helpful to know. Assume larger beaches like Salinas are ok though?

Talamanca beach and the surrounding bars busy yesterday. Most open too.
 
Just had an e-mail from the Playasol group offering free scooter hire to guests this year. Wonder if they'll provide the insurance too.......?
 
Thanks Stivi, this is helpful to know. Assume larger beaches like Salinas are ok though?

Talamanca beach and the surrounding bars busy yesterday. Most open too.

larger beaches shouldn't be a problem!
 
Just got back yesterday evening - we stayed in a villa in San Miguel De Balansat, and the the Migjorn hotel in PDB.

We were going to stay out there until the end of August, but a number of factors contributed to our return:

o My girlfriend's boss flip-flopping on whether she could work remotely from Ibiza (probably the main reason)
o Our unrealistic expectations regarding costs
o Accommodation (at least the places we looked at) was still relatively expensive (we looked on AirBnB, and through friends who live there)
o Most of the places we ate and had drinks were priced the same as any other season
o Being turned away from numerous beaches due to restrictions; understandable, but not much fun
o Lack of music anywhere, including shops in Ibiza town
o The ridiculous level of Guardia Civil presence / road blocks - clearly bored. Machine guns and tyre spikes seem a bit excessive when pulling over families and old ladies
o The inconsistent message around masks - we felt it a bit unfair to be wearing them everywhere (we followed the rules) when many / most of the locals (other than those working) and a good amount of the tourists seemed to not care. Ironically, it was mainly English people who continued to wear them, while the French, Dutch, and German tourists either didn't bother, or made a halfhearted attempt, having one ready on their wrists
o The whole island feeling a bit flat; and many of the people we met expressing happiness and glee that there were no clubbers. We met a number of people who lived on and that worked in various businesses on the island, who had nothing but negative things to say about the clubbers and music tourists who frequent the island, saying how glad they were that they weren't there this year, all the while not knowing that, actually, that includes us also

There were a number of positives, of course:

o We were there with our daughter, and have been a number of times before - however, other children and families were a lot more friendly to us this time around (perhaps, again, because they assumed we were not clubbers)
o The water and beaches everywhere were very clean and clear
o The weather was fantastic throughout
o Service was generally more pleasant, more helpful, and more efficient
o The Migjorn itself was playing music around the pool, with no masks required throughout the hotel, which felt a little bit like normality, other than the fact it was half empty

We had a pretty good time - especially the last two days, where we just gave up and spent a bit of money trying to end on a good note, including renting a boat which took us to some secret coves around the North West of the island - but, for me, this is probably the worst visit to Ibiza in the 35+ times I have been there; while also being one of the most expensive.

While part of me is sad that we didn't stay longer, part of me is glad that we are back; and that's never happened before.

Interesting review. We were there over the same period and I didn't see any GC presence at all, despite travelling around the island a lot. Didn't get turned away from any beaches, but we did try to get there by around 11am latest. We saw most people wearing masks and the vibe wherever we went was upbeat and happy. I was VERY close to trying to entend the stay and work from Ibiza for a while. Prices are definitely on the high side which I understand as everyone will be worrying about the future and trying to make money while they can now. I did miss having the opportunity to dance. I used to love Underground for the garden and easy vibe without hordes of nutters, but I didn't miss horrific hangovers and days wasted in bed!
 
Here's my longer review.

This was our sixth time in Ibiza and all previous times the week was pretty much scheduled and planned with parties and restaurants. We knew this year was gonna be different, but maybe it has changed my entire perspective on the best place of the world. Go with the flow...the plan is there is no plan...I've heard these mantras from other ibiza lovers and locals on the island many times but this turned out to be more true than ever this year.

We arrived on a Friday late at night but decided to see some friends that were in Playa den Bossa. Had a drink at Nassau and when it closed at 2 am we just kept talking about life on the balcony and ended up watching the sunrise. I don't think we would usually do that on a first night, because if you have plans for saturdaynight or the following nights you might wanna save up some powers. But this time we really didn't care and just did what felt good at that moment. As for Playa den Bossa...it's pretty quiet and after 02.00 am people end up drunk on the street until the Guardia Civil comes to send them home. About the GC...expect to see A LOT of them this year. We've seen them everywhere with road blocks, spike strips, traffic stops and just patrolling the streets. Some locals told me there's been a big group of GC students coming in and personnel from Mallorca.

Saturday we chilled...we always stay in a great place in the north, St. Agnes...and after properly waking up we decided to go to the San Jordi and Las Dalias markets. Wearing face masks there is really hot so be prepared for that. Had a lunch at Bar San Fransisco on the road to Las Salinas. You'll notice that people enter bars and restaurants wearing the masks but once you are seated you can take them off. Dinner at Ses Boques in Es Cubbels that night and went to bed around midnight. Off course that felt a bit weird...you're just lying in bed thinking, it's Saturday night in Ibiza and we're going to sleep? :) But we woke up really fresh on Sunday and had the most amazing lunch at La Paloma and went driving around the island without a clear goal in mind. Did some sightseeing, visited one of the towers and the Time & Space Monument. Not being hangover from partying and substances makes exploring the island much more enjoyable, even in the July heat. We went on a winter trip in march last year, but now we had way more time to do it.

Sunday we wanted to go to Las Dalias for the Los Suruba seated event, but ended up with newly made friends at Experimental Beach. A guy at our B&B was supposed to Dj there but the volume was so low you couldn't even hear the music. Really weird considering the location of Experimental..but okay. We had a nice evening again. The next day we ended up in San Antonio, had a great cheap diner at Golden Buddha and walked the promenade. Most people wear their facemasks on the promenade until they end up on one of the terraces. Mambo, Cafe Del Mar both really quiet...low volume and what seemed to be half capacity. Cafe Del Mar was not using the new terrace. While some places like Enigma are really pushing their instagram game and saying it's the place to be, even showing vids of people dancing...don't get fooled, we walked past the place twice and their was no dancing and approx 10 people on the terrace. Only places that are really looking crowded are Linekers, Plastik, Wiki Woo, but like everywhere else...all seated at tables.

We went to Sa Trinxa the next day, nice as always. Music was good, the volume is high enough to hear if you are on the beach and it was pretty crowded there. As you all know by now, no facemasks on the beach. Dinner at La Bodega in Talamanca and went for some drinks in Ibiza Town. Ibiza Town is probably the only place that looks lively as normal. No big yachts in the harbour though.

On Wednesday we went to Punta Arabi and later to Cala Nova, had some lunch at L'Amorigen and chilled on the beach. Went to Namaste at Las Dalias in the evening and had an amazing time. When the Dj, Gaya Brisa, started playing some house music most people just couldn’t stay seated anymore. At all the tables people stood up cheering and dancing (yeah including me @craig72 ? ) You could see there was some anxiety with the crew but they let it happen for about 45 mins. They did walk around and checked if you were dancing at your own table. After the 45 mins they forced the volume down and the dancing stopped. I cannot explain the energy and emotion that was felt by the audience in that short moment. It was a moment the whole crowd havent felt in a long time and it was a very special moment.

On Thursday we went to Pikes to pick up the newly published Pikes Cocktail Book. Always nice to spent a short time there. We drove to Cala Jondal, had an amazing Paella at Tropicana and spent some time on fairly priced sunbeds there. Nice place. The sunset that night was magical, we were on the rocks in front of Hostal La Torre and the sky turned orange/purple and the new moon was visible too. Some drinks at Can Tixedo with a friend that lives on the island and a relatively early bed again. Our last day was just chilling at the pool and lunch and dinner at local places in St Agnes.

So to summarize the whole feeling of this trip...
We just improvised every day and that felt amazing. No clubbing schedule, no reservations (except for Las Dalias) and no hangovers.
Facemasks are doable, except for the hippie markets…it’s just really hot at those places. Social distancing isn’t really a thing anywhere…people are really laidback, it still feels very much like Ibiza. Hardly any traffic jams, enough space on the beaches and in the ocean.
The sunsets, the beaches, the amazing food, making new friends and discovering new places are not cancelled. I would strongly advise anyone that is able to travel to the island..to just do it! I think it has changed my way of doing Ibiza forever. Off course…if there is clubbing next year, we will be clubbing. But I’m not planning my Ibiza trip from day to day anymore like I did in previous years. The go with the flow method feels so much better. You will encounter some places fully booked because they need to operate on half capacity but that gives you the chance to try out some other places. And if you really want to eat at your favorite place, they are doing their best to make booking easier than ever with WhatsApp or Instagram Direct Messaging. We still have a September trip booked and if everything (our jobs and income, the regulations, the virus etc) stays the way it is...we are going again.

Closing words: Ibiza is Ibiza...even without clubbing and with some adjustments.

Great review very similar to my own experiences.
 
Interesting review. We were there over the same period and I didn't see any GC presence at all, despite travelling around the island a lot. Didn't get turned away from any beaches, but we did try to get there by around 11am latest. We saw most people wearing masks and the vibe wherever we went was upbeat and happy. I was VERY close to trying to entend the stay and work from Ibiza for a while. Prices are definitely on the high side which I understand as everyone will be worrying about the future and trying to make money while they can now. I did miss having the opportunity to dance. I used to love Underground for the garden and easy vibe without hordes of nutters, but I didn't miss horrific hangovers and days wasted in bed!
Glad you had a good time!

I just read your longer review - going to Formentera for the first time would make any Ibiza holiday amazing. You should definitely stay there a few nights if you can, next time you go.

Why didn't you stay out there and work?
 
Last edited:
Glad you had a good time!

I just read your longer review - going to Formentera for the first time would make any Ibiza holiday amazing. You should definitely stay there a few nights if you can, next time you go.

Why didn't you stay out there and work?

It all became a bit too complicated with work and pets and we were a bit nervous about return flights getting cancelled. By the way on the GC point apparently I totally missed them chasing after/being v aggressive to some kids in Formentera who didn't have masks on.
 
I'd agree that it's not about the drugs - it's because you always know something could happen. If you're planning on a chilled day, it could easily turn into an allnighter. You know that all around you, people have been up to and will be getting up to all sorts. And hearing house music in Ibiza just puts you in a good mood instantly.

They still are - just not in bars and clubs.
 
Any clue what kinda time to get to Zoo tomorrow? I know it’s not happened at all yet but a semi-decent/educated guess would help ??‍♀️
 
Any clue what kinda time to get to Zoo tomorrow? I know it’s not happened at all yet but a semi-decent/educated guess would help ??‍♀️
It's open from 17:00 looking in their Instagram page... Maybe 17:30 or 18:00 it's an all night seated event

Let us know how it goes?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top