Dates you were there: 12th May - 15th May
Where you stayed (resort/hotel): Sol Beach Ibiza (Santa Eularia)
Club nights visited: Ants Warm-Up @ Ushuaia, Mambo's opening party
Best night: Ants (Nic Fanciulli, Steve Lawler, Maya Jane Coles)
Worst night: Is that even possible?
Best bar: Mambo's
Best place to eat: Pura Vida (mates 40th birthday on a very quiet secluded beach near Santa Eularia)
Money spent: £350 ish
Biggest regret: Not going slightly longer
Going back?: Yep...this more mature trip has rekindled my Ibiza love that was starting to fade....
Top tip: Ok, so bit of background, I am 41, been going to Ibiza almost every year since 99 and this was one of my favourite trips so far. For completely different reasons to normal. For starters we had a lush hotel (free Prosecco for breakfast? er yep), which was half the price of what it would have been a month or so later, so very do-able on a 'normal persons' budget. Also, being a bit further up the coast to usual, we had easy access to the hippy market, Aguas Blancas beach (the clearest water on the island and mostly Spanish locals which is always a sign), and I was also surprised how nice Santa Eularia actually was. Some good bars on the harbour front playing decent music, some acrobats and the like to give it that Ibiza feel, but MUCH more chilled and older.
We were lucky to hit a couple of nice little openings, Ants pre-season warm up and Mambos opening...both really good but again, a bit older and again mostly cool locals. Having not been to Ushuaia before (put off by the EDM-heavy line-ups), I was so impressed. The sound system is probably the loudest outdoor system I've ever heard and production was amazing. Wicked tunes, wicked atmosphere, everyone smiling (probably cos 90% got in for free but hey)...such a good night. Everyone just seemed excited that the season was starting...
So to sum up, if you are getting a bit older and still love Ibiza, go early season. The weather was great, it was still busyish without being manic, and it had a bit of the old 'real' Ibiza feel to it with all the locals coming out. Also, the hotels and flight are much cheaper. I deffo recommend, we had a great time. Late September anyone? ;-)