Ibiza

In the past decade the island of Ibiza Spain has become synonymous with anything-goes, all-night partying. It’s reputation as the world’s clubbing capital is well deserved—an Ibiza vacation offers enough non-stop, orgiastic nightclubs to satisfy even the most tireless of ravers. But Ibiza Spain—and the Balaeric archipelago where Ibiza is located—offers tourists much more than just booze, drugs and dancing.

If Pamplona became a rallying point for the “lost generation” after Ernest Hemingway published a novel about ex-patriot adventures in the north of Spain, the emergence of trance and techno music on the island of Ibiza has enticed another “lost generation” to Spain once again.

Increasingly, an Ibiza vacation has become a right of passage for twenty-something westerners, with the result that flights to Ibiza from Europe and the United States can be found at cut rate prices. The cost of flights to Ibiza drops drastically for anyone willing to leave at a moment’s notice on special “last-minute” fares. The best Ibiza travel option for Americans would be to fly direct to London and catch one of the low-price air carriers that specialize in shuttling British party-goers to Ibiza for not much more than the cover charge at one of the island’s trendier discos. The money you save on flights to Ibiza can then be devoted to the island’s pricey hotel and hostel accommodations. Expect to pay two or three times the price of a normal mainland accommodation.

Ibiza tourism is centered around the quay area of Sa Penya. Once a fisherman’s quarter, this barrio has been a tourist haunt since the 1960’s. Daylight hours are usually spent on the beaches of Ses Salines and Es Cavellet. The exotic boutiques that Ibiza vacations are famous for are located in the Carrer Rimbau. The surrounding alleys and streets are filled with stalls selling everything from antiques to sex toys. If you are looking for fresh produce the Placa de La Constitucio, north of the church of San Telmo houses the main Market. Beyond the market is the main gate of Dalt Vila, which signals the start of the walled upper town. If you can drag yourself out of bed, or off the beach, the upper town can be explored in the late afternoon or early morning.

Finally, though it is rightly known as an island of excess, if you venture outside the city center you will be rewarded with the sight of islanders herding goats, as well as some of the best clothing optional beaches Spain has to offer.