Dates you were there: 14-18 Sep (2nd visit this year)
Where you stayed (resort/hotel): Hotel Es Vive, Figueretas.
This was our second time at the Es Vive this year. After a long busy season I expected everyone to be weary but the staff were wonderful as always. All the staff are just super friendly, even when sheepishly arriving back to the hotel just before breakfast! Special mentions as always to Scott their concierge and Jamie their head barman.
Their poolside menu has just the right healthy shakes & protein smoothies to restore mind & body after a night out. Their DJs (three per day) ease you through the day to restore the soul and get you in the mood for dancing again.
The SkyBar is a highlight, a rooftop haven with six foot wide beds, bar, DJ, and views to convince you that you're getting value for money.
The Experience Bar wasn't as lively as our first visit in June, but I guess it just depends on who else is at the hotel.
Breakfast is always more than enough to set you up for the say. Eat indoors or outdoors. Coffee made to order. Proper sausages. Bucks Fizz if you want it . . . and we did thank you !
Club nights visited:
15 Sep Glitterbox @ Hi - Roger Sanchez, David Morales, Greg Wilson, Horse Meat Disco, DJ Pippi, Melon Bomb
OK, so I need to write a review of Hi, and a review of Glitterbox.
Firstly, Hi. This is Hi biza - not what stood before. Security was very tight, everyone got searched, torch into the wife's handbag, fingers in every pocket. They tried to confiscate my Jelly Beans & fizzy cola bottles (all unopened packets) saying they weren't allowed but that I could keep my Chupa Chups - eventually as I pulled sweeties from every pocket, they gave up and let me pass !!!!! I learnt from the best
@FallenangelGparsons
The place is all shiny & new, so that's good. There's lots of corridors to get through but they've designed the layout well to allow everyone to move around without many choke points.
The main room (theatre) is the showcase of the place and it's configured differently for each night. The sound there is a bit off though, it just lacks punch, and the levels are patchy up the front. Those VIP pods are looking down on you at all times, but I didn't get the feeling we were being watched at all.
I think the second room has more atmosphere in some ways.
The Wild Corner is just fab - I guess they we're going for something like the old Manumission days. Dancing in a toilet to Lola's Theme was a 2017 highlight for me.
The outdoor area (Magic Garden) is big and rightly so - three bars and just enough seating. It's great for those selfies for family & friends before things get messy later in the night! VIPs have their own separate outdoor area (Secret Garden) and they're welcome to it.
The bars were never really busy. It's a whopping €12 for a small water so we're all paying for the refurb of the place. I wish they had someplace to get a snack.
Tip : The toilet attendants give you 1 min before banging on the door, so go to the Wild Corner if you like to take your time.
Tip : Go around to the end of the garden to get straight into the front of the dancefloor.
Secondly, Glitterbox. We went knowing that this night wasn't going to push any musical boundaries - we knew we were getting a night of well known tunes & guilty pleasures. We also really wanted to see David Morales and Roger Sanchez. Well, they didn't disappoint. Both knew the crowd were there to have fun and they delivered 100% - Moralez ripping his shirt off and Sanchez singing along & eyeballing people in the crowd. Unlike some clubs, the dancers had space to move and they made the most of it. At one point they pulled some guys up from the crowd for a snog - all for the show. Confetti cannons did their job all night - I found the stuff in my shoe the next morning - how does that even happen? We didn't spend much time in the second room, but Horse Meat Disco were doing their thing there and everyone was loving it.
Only negative - some really drunk people there, pushing their way around.
The boss Simon Dunmore was there in the wings & I managed to get a handshake - the highlight of my night !!!!
On a more serious note, Roger Sanchez's mother died a few days later. I don't know if he knew this was imminent, but he gave 100% that night so gets my respect and prayers.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZPVtgUl6eC/?taken-by=djrogersanchez
16 Sep Zoo Project
We never made it. Sorry !!
17 Sep Defected @ Eden - Melé, Sam Divine B2B Jess Bays, Derrick Carter, Dennis Ferrer
We started off with food at Mambo's, then drinks with some Spotlighters. I'm so thankful to have met such happy, positive, funny people from Spotlight. The six of us had drinks by the sea then in Tropi before myself & the wife headed off to Eden.
So there'd been social media activity some weeks before with people saying Eden was a bad choice and they weren't filling it. The previous week then saw huge queues - maybe all wristbands. Anyway we didn't know what to expect so we arrived before 1am. Security was light but targeted as you'd expect.
The line-up changed the day before - Dennis Ferrer didn't play but Simon Dunmore stepped in and everyone just stretched out their sets. Franky Rizardo even popped up out of nowhere and played a short set - these surprises make a great night.
Lots of people on Spotlight advised to stay away from Defected saying it was too commercial, too empty, too many drunk pushy kids. It wasn't any of these. Simon Dunmore warmed it up in his usual disco house style until about 1am then it was solid banging house all night, except for the last half hour when Melé brought it back to disco house to lighten it up again. Maybe other reviewers were expecting trance or techo & were disappointed. No drunks at all, but it's true that upstairs wasn't full all night - that just made the place comfortable for everyone. The crowd was mixed ages, not as many 30's & 40's as Glitterbox but we didn't feel out of place.
Really loved seeing Sam & Jess playing B2B. They arrived on the dancefloor after their set & didn't get mobbed - I love that.
Melé surprised me. Hadn't seen him before & loved his attitude.
Production at Defected is minimal but that's all that's needed and Eden's Void Acoustics system is without equal. The outdoor area was full enough but they kept running out of beer.
The wife wanted a
We Are Defected hand fan so I started blowing kisses at the dancers who had them, . . . then resorted to just begging (I've no shame whatsoever), . . . then eventually caught one left handed
Tip : The toilets were dirty from the start so no open shoes and please bring your own toilet paper, just in case - Eden don't have any !
Best night:
Can't decide
Worst night:
None
Best bar:
Tropi, West End. Made me love trance again.
Best place to eat:
Bar Little, Figueretas. Freshly made tapas, friendly staff, just super chilled.
Money spent:
still counting ...
Biggest regret:
Not making it to Zoo Project.
Going back?:
June & Sep 2018
On the list so far is a boat trip to Es Vedra, Circo Loco, and finally getting to Pike's.
Top tip:
Win the lottery before travelling to Ibiza.
Commit to making new friends every day.
Formentera is paradise in Europe - don't miss it.