Review - Ibiza Virgins June-July 2008

LTTP

New Member
I don't know why my b/f had never been to Ibiza, seeing as he's been into dance music since back in the day, but I didn't properly start getting into dance until about 10 years ago. Was more urban for a long time, and started getting properly into house, electrohouse and trance about 3 years ago.

Anyway, we're probably a bit older than most of you Pretty Young Things, so we wanted a mix of clubbing and tranquility. (I'm 43, b/f is 38,) We'd been advised by some seasoned veterans to avoid San An at all costs and to stay in Ibiza town. However, there aren't any beaches actually in the town, so b/f decided we should go to Santa Eulalia (or Santa Euchelele as I call it! ;-) )

Did my own research and discovered that it was a family resort and not at all convenient for any kind of high living or clubbing. We looked into PdB (too noisy) and Figueretas (just didn't feel quite right), and he wanted us to stay up the north of the island at Portinatx for a few days as well. For some reason he has this obsession with staying in multiple locations, where I'm like a little blackbird in my nest - I just want to get cosy and comfie and stay where I am - I hate shifting about.

So, after much research and about 100 arguments, I finally found Talamanca, and he booked us for a couple of nights out west at Cala Tarida. Talamanca couldn't have been more perfect for us - got a bit of its own night life, beach not too rammed and walking distance to IT. B/f doesn't do much drinking etc, so we hired a car a few times, and it didn't take long at all to get Amnesia or San An or PdB.

First club night was Cream at Amnesia. Like a couple of complete numpties we decided to go without buying tickets in advance (last minute decision). DON'T EVER DO THIS. It cost us E55 each to get in, which meant we didn't have much cash left over for drinks and there's no cash machine in there that I found. I then misheard the girl at the bar thinking that she'd said the drinks were E20 each at which point I fell into a deep pit of despair as we only had about E70 between us to keep going for 6 hours? Worse than that, it was obvious it was a very "mood enhanced" crowd, which pissed me off even more as we hadn't found anything at that point. To get an idea of how I was feeling see Stonebridge Mix of Sia - lol. Anyway, music was pretty good and b/f enjoyed himself. Staff were pretty horrible - disdainful.

Next trip out was to Eden for Wonderland - wanted to see Prydz and Tongy. Again, hadn't found any little fellas, so was relieved in a way to find that it seemed to be more of a drinking crowd. Nearly got thrown out cos I had a bit of a snooze in a sofa on b/f's shoulder for about 45 minutes - most of EP's set - oh well. Tiredness catching up. Overall good night, but not in a hurry to return. Club seems to be run by Brits, and not dissimilar to Ministry in London.

Things got considerably better when we went to WLS. Had found some stuff by then and absolutely loved the club itself. We went pretty mad to James Zabiela's set - b/f knows him from Southampton. Loved that it had so many different rooms. Bit disappointed that there wasn't any truly outdoors terrace, but we had realised that Ibiza has obviously been cracking down on sound pollution etc anyways. Loved the upstairs terrace and the pod thingies. Love the atmosphere in PdB at night and all the little bars and so on.

Next outing was the following Thursday to Be@Space with Wally Lopez and Danny Tenaglia. Didn't enjoy this as much as WLS, but still had an overall good night. Only 2 rooms open and a lot emptier, even though it was an opening night, which surprised us.

At that point, I felt my holiday was over because b/f didn't want to do any more clubbing nights, even though we still had more than one week to go! We'd planned to go to Meganite at Privilege (more for himself than me - he's the techno freak!), but b/f was too tired to cope. Honestly - these youngsters ...

On the weekend we moved over to Cala Tarida in the west, and did the sunset strip a couple of times. I noticed another poster felt disappointed by it being a tourist trap and overly commercialised, but I think that's true everywhere these days.

I loved it, although Cafe Del Mar was pretty crap and only for the stamp collection. Cafe Mambo much better and at least we could get some dinner there. We then bumped into our new found friend (Roberto - we met him in Space), and had cocktails at the bar where he worked further up the road from the sunset strip. When he knocked off, he took us to this bizarre supermarket/milk bar kind of thing in the middle of town where you could buy a bottle of San Miguel at supermarket price and sit at their tables outside and drink it. He knew some "looky looky" guys and got some stuff. Weirdest stuff I've ever had - even managed to go to sleep on it! Anyway, we went to Bar M after that, which was a bit rubbish really.

The following day we went to Cala Comte - has to be seen to be believed. Water almost as clear as it is on the islands off Queensland. Loved it. Noticed some ticket touts wandering around handing out tickets for Amnesia Foam Party. Wonder why they didn't approach two old farts like us? Anyway, we managed to get a couple of tickets despite not being PYTs! In the evening, we went down to Cala d'Horte for dinner overlooking Es Vedra. Kinda spooky - it's supposed to have mystical powers and it was windy and a bit like something out of the beginning of an Amityville film.

After dinner we headed for Amnesia. B/f suggested we stop off at KM5 when we went past, but I thought we needed to press on. Wish we'd stopped! Amnesia was empty, and they were playing really cheesy house and pop in the main room. In the end it became a sort of challenge to stay until the foam came out. But we had to get up earlyish the following day, so by 4:30am we decided to call it a day because we concluded that the foam wouldn't happen until about five minutes to 6, and we just couldn't stay out that late.

On the Monday we went to Formentera. Whilst this is a lovely island in it's own right, and we even found a beach with fairly fierce surf, which I wasn't expecting in the med, I was already pining for Ibiza. One of the other posters said that once you've been to Ibiza 3 or 4 times you struggle to hold back the tears when you leave. Well, I was already crying and we were only 10 miles away!

After 3 days in Formentera, we'd planned to go straight to the airport and go home. However, I managed to persuade b/f to have one last night in Ibiza - I just couldn't leave without doing that. We had one last night where I was determined to go to Pacha, but we tried to get cheap/free tickets and failed. If you hang around the bar strip in IT long enough, you can sometimes get bargains into the clubs (so we're reliably told by some expats), and we'd even heard that on some nights they were bussing people up to Privilege and Amnesia free. But not for Pacha - it was after all David Guetta's F*** me I'm famous night, and they just won't budge on the price. Lesson learnt - there are deals to be done on the less popular nights, but probably not on the big nights.

What do I think of Ibiza after my first time there? Gorgeous, stunning and love the lifestyle. Everything I've been looking for in a holiday for a long time (try finding that amount of bars/restaurants/clubs/colour etc in Australia - you'll be lucky!) Clubbing? OK - it wasn't quite as free and easy as we'd expected, but once I got over that, I loved it. Food - surprisingly unhealthy and greasy - had expected it to be more like Algarvian food - fresh, hearty and tasty. But you can't have everything.

I know this has ended up being a bit of a long rambling essay, but remember how I said at the beginning that the b/f wanted to stay up at Portinatx? Well, we went up there one night and it was alive! Alive with mozzies that had a great time biting us, and alive with tacky bingo and karaoke bars. Avoid at all costs if you have any taste whatsoever.

We should be booking today for our next adventure in Ibiza in about a month - WOO HOO!. You'll be pleased to know that I've managed to gain some leverage with the b/f, so we should be doing a lot more clubbing. This time should be easier now that we know where everything is and what we want to do - doing some old favourites (Zabiela at WLS) and some new stuff too - Carl Cox, Zoo Project, Privilege. Also looking to do some of the smaller, less expensive bars/clubs and even DC10 if the bally place can avoid being shut down by the authorities long enough!

Can't wait!! 8)

LTTP
 
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Thanks Grego :)

Neilly - I dunno! We were Ibiza virgins after all, and everywhere else that we'd been had played much harder/faster music. We didn't mind that much because we didn't pay to get in, but if we'd paid, I think we might have been a bit pee'ed off.

Anyway, the thing is, once you get the low-down on a place, it's nearly always easier to enjoy it the next time because you don't have all that "overhead" of wondering what to do, where to go, where everything is etc.

This time we're actually booking the holiday around the nights we want to do. Plans will change of course, but I'm putting my foot down more this time - NO KAYAKING and not too much touring around during the day. Holiday is dedicated to clubbing, chilling on the beach and just generally pottering about without an agenda. Hopefully b/f will feel more rested so we can enjoy more proper nights out (or maybe I should slip some Pro-plus into his tea!).

LTTP :)
 
Nice review LTTP :) im off out there myself for the first time next week and your review has given me a bit of a heads up from a 'virgins' point of view.

Im suprised it was hard to get some sort of bargain tickets with the season being so new etc but guess a lot of people do go out there for their favourite opening parties.

So as for Amnesia, I noticed the calendar showing the opening party being sat (13th june).. Just seen a foam party for sat 6th but nothing else, im guessing it wasn't 'open open' if you know what I mean? :confused:

Well hope you get a lot more of what your after on your 2nd trip, im sure you will (i've been many countries twice and always get more done/better time the 2nd time I go).


superb review and loved how you reviewed all the places and what I consider the important stuff (queues/staff/prices/crowd).. Alot of people bang on about the music (obviously important) but everyone's taste is different and it's never gonna be the same set so your always taking a punt on that sorta thing.

I like what you said about the foam party (and while it's some ppl's cup of tea) if I want cheesy house and pop I'll stick to some of the sh*tholes i've been to in the UK. I've been advised to stay away from the water parties at EP for this very reason.
 
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I'd love to be able to discuss those kinds of things openly aswell, mate, so I don't mind you asking...

But, I think the admins defintely do mind though.:lol:

Oh okay... thanks for the heads up.. not just an ibiza virgin.. also a spotlight virgin :oops: I'll just make a quick change to my post. Thanks again.
 
Neilly - I dunno! We were Ibiza virgins after all, and everywhere else that we'd been had played much harder/faster music. We didn't mind that much because we didn't pay to get in, but if we'd paid, I think we might have been a bit pee'ed off.


Foam parties anywhere in the world have never been associated with cutting edge music have they? :)

Surely you must have got a whiff of cheese when they handed you the tickets? :idea::lol:
 
Oh okay... thanks for the heads up.. not just an ibiza virgin.. also a spotlight virgin :oops: I'll just make a quick change to my post. Thanks again.

Not a problem, mate.

Don't suppose we can blame Spotlight for being careful about what is said. Whatever their opinions individually, because of certain public/media perceptions and stereotypes, they have a collective reputation to uphold.
 
Neilly,

Please stop inferring "I told you so"! How much more humble and contrite do we have to be - we were Ibiza virgins after all, we thought the foam party was part of our initiation and we didn't know it would be THAT cheesy. TBH I didn't really care that much, and as I've already pointed out, we did learn that you don't get cheap/free tickets for the big nights.

Hopefully, my review points that out, so that people can avoid some of the mistakes that we made.

I think what we've learnt is that if you wanna do the big nights (and we do - better atmosphere, proper music), then you have to cop it sweet on the costs. We've already budgeted something like £1400 for clubbing this time round - £200 per night. However, if you're not anything that night and you get a free ticket - then equally - just go for it.

8)

LTTP
 
...Portinatx ... we went up there one night and it was alive!
Alive with mozzies that had a great time biting us,
and alive with tacky bingo and karaoke bars.
Avoid at all costs if you have any taste whatsoever.
...
:lol:
 
... Im suprised it was hard to get some sort of bargain tickets with the season being so new etc but guess a lot of people do go out there for their favourite opening parties.

So as for Amnesia, I noticed the calendar showing the opening party being sat (13th june).. Just seen a foam party for sat 6th but nothing else, im guessing it wasn't 'open open' if you know what I mean? :confused:
...
that review was about 2008 !
 
Hi UKBigDave,

Glad you found the review helpful. Hope you have a great time on your first visit. We got the impression that EP was just best avoided full stop if you're seriously into raving/clubbing/music. As you infer, there are plenty of places you can go in the UK for a bit of commercial with cheese on top!

If you need any other hints/tips - just lemme know!

LTTP
 
Thanks LTTP - me and Phil were PM'ing and your name came up.. All good tho :)

arghhhhhh!! my mate who is going to be the tour guide (he's been out there 3 times) says that he loves EP and last he was there he went there most nights...... Not a good sign! Still he's a odd one so we'll probably ask him where he thinks we should go and then go somewhere completley different :idea:
 
Thanks LTTP - me and Phil were PM'ing and your name came up.. All good tho :)

arghhhhhh!! my mate who is going to be the tour guide (he's been out there 3 times) says that he loves EP and last he was there he went there most nights...... Not a good sign! Still he's a odd one so we'll probably ask him where he thinks we should go and then go somewhere completley different :idea:

Hi BigDave,

I guess it all depends on what clubbing means to you - what you want to get out of it. And what type of music you like as well!

We're the type of clubbers who wear trainers and combats and enjoy getting into a trance-like state (with or without assistance) to some pretty banging music. Other people might like dressing up or be going out looking for a shag!

LttP
 
How am I inferring I told you so? I'm just having a laugh and for the record i've never even been to Espuma...

I think what we've learnt is that if you wanna do the big nights (and we do - better atmosphere, proper music)

Not always the case - i used to think this when i first started going to ibiza but looking back now i realise that you can have much more fun going to the smaller nights and saving yourself a few bob into the bargain.

Sure it is good to go to the big ones, but 'big' doesn't necessarily mean 'better' and you'd go to less clubs if you paid top dollar for tickets every night...
 
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Hi BigDave,

I guess it all depends on what clubbing means to you - what you want to get out of it. And what type of music you like as well!

We're the type of clubbers who wear trainers and combats and enjoy getting into a trance-like state (with or without assistance) to some pretty banging music. Other people might like dressing up or be going out looking for a shag!

LttP

I gues if you were to put a bit of all of the above into a night out - thats pretty much what we look for! Saying that we never tart ourselves up cos we're of the old school that blokes should just be blokes! SSS 'n a splash of aftershave 'n away we go.

As for music, we'll dance to anything a bit lively so we're easily pleased in that sense. I guess what makes or breaks a night for us is the atmosphere, if everyone's having a good time then we tend to feed off that.. So LTTP when are you's heading out this year, u said in your review in about a month - you going peak season in July? If I enjoy myself I'll probably look to go out there again later in the summer.

3 more days to go.... I CAN'T WAIT!!!! :D
 
Not always the case - i used to think this when i first started going to ibiza but looking back now i realise that you can have much more fun going to the smaller nights and saving yourself a few bob into the bargain.

Sure it is good to go to the big ones, but 'big' doesn't necessarily mean 'better' and you'd go to less clubs if you paid top dollar for tickets every night...

To be honest while we'll sample a few big nights (Tiesto's opening, maybe a night at pacha and space) we'll split the nights up between 'big club, lil club/bar). Im hoping boho lives up to expectations and yeah we'll be on the hunt for a few smaller places that have got that 'cosy, 1 big happy raving family, actually seeing the DJ play, less than 20min wait at the bar' kinda vibe.

After reading some ppl's reviews of things like WLS opening and Hed Kandi last year it seems these nights are just toooo popular and people go and end up leaving early or don't really enjoy themselves because it's too packed. I don't mind if I come back saying I never went to space/pacha but found this lil club with DJ no name and had the best night of my life - like he catered the set just for our musical tastebuds, drinks were 2 euro's a pop, I met and danced the night away with the most stunning and sweet lady oh and my mates found a stash of *cough* on top of a speaker.... Okay maybe thats just taking it too far but you catch my drift. ;)
 
How am I inferring I told you so? I'm just having a laugh and for the record i've never even been to Espuma...

It came across as you being a bit of a smart ass - mainly because you pointed it out twice saying "what do you expect". I didn't particularly expect anything other than dancing and foam!! However, I was quite taken aback when the DJ started playing stuff like Michael Jackson - it was reminiscent of an 80s townie club playing chart music. (Destiny in Watford, anyone ... ? ) Anyway, we had a laugh with an elderly local who'd gone along - big up the owd geezer - made us look a bit younger anyways! And proves that age has little to do with any of it.

So, let's draw a line under that.

Agree about smaller clubs - we'll be looking for some of those as well - we didn't get much of a chance last time. Got any recommendations?

I hope this helps other people to plan their holidays a bit better than we did. I'm doing much more research this time to figure out what restaurants, small clubs, big nights etc. that we want to do. Last time, we not only spent a fortune by making mistakes with the clubs, but also another fortune on expensive restaurants that really weren't worth it.

This time we're going half-board at the hotel for only an additional E5 per day per person, and then we'll go out for a few meals here and there when the mood takes us.

LttP
 
I gues if you were to put a bit of all of the above into a night out - thats pretty much what we look for! Saying that we never tart ourselves up cos we're of the old school that blokes should just be blokes! SSS 'n a splash of aftershave 'n away we go.

As for music, we'll dance to anything a bit lively so we're easily pleased in that sense. I guess what makes or breaks a night for us is the atmosphere, if everyone's having a good time then we tend to feed off that.. So LTTP when are you's heading out this year, u said in your review in about a month - you going peak season in July? If I enjoy myself I'll probably look to go out there again later in the summer.

3 more days to go.... I CAN'T WAIT!!!! :D

We're going end of the month - counting the days! Debated which fortnight to go - first 2 weeks of July or last 2 weeks - settled on first 2 weeks in the end. Don't fancy places being TOO rammed - I need my space! Also, last year we went 24th June and noticed that the temperature really ramped up just in the first week, so don't want it to be too much hotter, as it was about right as it was.

B/f has been dj'ing for quite a long time and is, frankly, a bit of a musical snob. Because his only vice is the occasional belgian beer, he tends to be completely sober when clubbing so if he gets bored, it's a bit of a problem. Basically, if they're not playing techno, fast trance or some form of hard/fast house, then he's not interested. I'm probably a bit more adaptable - but I get other things out of clubbing. So, we have to be a bit choosy so that neither one of us gets really fed up and bored.

Not only that, we probably prefer to be with a crowd that's properly into the music rather than people who are out for different reasons. So agree - the atmosphere is very important. We'd be more likely to go into somewhere that doesn't necessarily play the music we like if it didn't cost very much!

LttP
 
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