Travel Reports
Ibiza
Ibiza is best visited between June and September if it’s the clubs and bars you are going for.
Often dubbed The White Island for its architecture (rather than any lack of tan seen on hardened clubbers by season’s end) the Tourist Board has been keen to rebrand it of late.
It was stumbled across in roughly 700 BC by the Phoenicians. They paid it a great honour by naming the island after their god of safety, protection and dance (ibosim) the island of Bes, pronounced I-bes-A. Ever since, it has lived up to its reputation for chaotic hedonism, dancing and eternal sanctuary. Now, Ibatur are set to highlight its other attractions and emphasise the arrival of new 5-star hotels and the first Parador in the Balearics planned for 2007. For the time being, however, its clubs are likely to remain the major pull.
A flight from the UK takes around three hours and upon arrival it is usually a short journey to your accommodation, making it an attractive holiday destination for those who do not like long haul flights to the sun. Playa d'en Bossa, Figueretas and Ibiza town are the more popular places to stay on the island, offering both a variety of daytime activity (beaches, jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkelling, cafes) to all types of nightlife (restaurants, shops, clubs & bars). Santa Eulalia and the notorious ‘Ibiza Uncovered’ San Antonio where the 18-30 package holiday groups stay are slightly further afield and are generally not so popular destinations for the gay visitor. The island offers a wide variety of accommodation types from guesthouses and youth hostels, to apartments, six bedroom villas in the mountains, all-star hotels and all-inclusive resorts. Take your pick!
Ibiza Town
Ibiza old town is the classier, trendy place to go out, and is a frequent haunt for the rich and famous. It offers an array of costly bars, casinos, fashion boutiques and well-known clubs. Pretty much all bars and clubs in Ibiza are mixed but if it’s a ‘full on’ gay scene you want then head up to the Calle de la virgin street. This street leads up the hill to the golden walls of the Dalta Vila (Castle), which makes up the old town. Guys generally start drinking at the bottom of the street at about midnight, working their way up to the exclusive Dome bar and finally to Angelo’s and Soap bar where the staff are very friendly and are more than willing to answer any questions you may have. Around 2am people start heading off to the clubs. The only exclusively gay club is Anfora, which is located inside the walls of the Dalta Vila. The club is literally embedded into the hill and is a relatively dark venue inside. It has a downstairs dance floor and bar, a Moroccan seating room area to chill out, and an upstairs bar and darkroom. Women are welcome but obviously not in the dark room! Cost of admission gets you a free drink and you should definitely option for a spirit (they pour large measures) as opposed to a small beer. If you fancy venturing out to one of the super clubs (and expect to pay around 20-40€ to get in) then it's advisable to plan out which club nights you want to go to when you first arrive, to make the best out of your holiday.
Amnesia, located half way between Ibiza town and San Antonio hosts the long running gay night La Troya (Wednesdays). The terrace room on the left tends to be more populated with gay guys than the rest of the venue, though the room on the right does have a six foot high foam party starting in the mid hours of the morning. Remember, however, that not many taxis will take you home if you’re completely soaked!
Pacha (Ibiza town) is probably the most authentically Spanish looking club on the island and hosts many UK established familiar club nights like Ministry of Sound. It has a beautiful interior, three rooms, a VIP area and an amazing terrace.
El Divino hosts the popular Hed Kandi night and is a more modern intimate venue with good air-conditioning and a terrace that overlooks the harbour and beautiful lit up Dalta Vila, the castle high up on the hill. The club is located right across the harbour from where all the Ibiza town bars are so you can either get a taxi, or, for a small price, you can get a short boat journey directly over to it.
Then there is the almighty Privilege that hosts Manumission. This is by far the largest club on the island. but big does not mean best. The club is very into its ‘visuals’ and dancers and is like a huge biosphere with its mix of trees, streams and waterfalls. If you’re going in a group it is very easy to lose each so organise a meeting point.
If you enjoy you after hours clubbing then you have to get down to Space, which is in Playa d' en bossa. Sundays at Space and after La Troya on Thursday mornings are great and dancing on the outside terrace is an experience you wont forget. Similarly, there is a bar called bora-bora located right on the beach next to space, which gets going around 11am and goes on till 1am. It’s great for cheap drinks, has a friendly party atmosphere and cosmopolitan crowd and provides an opportunity to dance in little more than your Speedos, thongs, trunks or shorts. And to add to the already unusual atmospherics is the rare opportunity to dance on the sand in the sun under the flight path of Ibiza airport. As every incoming plane arrives everybody cheers the new arrivals from the bar!
There is a sauna (Meiterraneo) located in Figueretas on Calle Galicia for those of you that want a bit of easy action.
San Antonio
With that notorious TV series damning San Antonio, where the 18-30s package groups stay, you’d think to stay away from that part of the island, but it does house 'sunset strip' where cafe del mar and cafe mambo are. This is a popular place to watch the sun go down whilst chilling with a cold beer and listening to the ambient beats of the bars. There is also an excellent restaurant called Savannahs which offers a great choice of menu, while being able to relax right on the edge of the sea listening to the waves.
Ibiza has many beautiful beaches but if it’s gay beaches you’re looking for then the best one is located at the end of Es Cavallet which is pretty much the most southern tip of the island. The clear blue sea and golden sands offer a great way to chill out and cure those hangovers. There is a gay bar there called Chiringay’which plays out Ibiza sounds and provides food and drink. During the day on Wednesdays you may be lucky enough to get a wristband, which gets you in free to La Troya. There are sun beds on the beach too but as always the Germans get them early! Another more intimate mixed/gay beach is Los Molinos, which can be found in Figueretas. It’s hard to find, though, and the only way down to it is off the beaten track, so best to make your way to Figueretas and then ask someone when your there!
The Dalta Vila, which is the castle high up on the hill in Ibiza old town, is definitely worth looking round at some point either for sunrise, during the day or when your cruising at night. Many gay guys cruise around the walls early morning but be careful as there have been a few muggings! Inside the walls of the castle are some really beautiful restaurants located along many narrow cobbled streets that used to make up the old town. They offer quality food (try the range of fresh fish dishes) and a far quieter, slower paced atmosphere than that of down near the harbour. If you’re looking for some distinctive jewellery or clothing, whether for yourself or as a present, then the night market in Ibiza town offers a wide choice and is great for killing time before heading off to those inevitable bars.
Man Around offer a range of flight and accommodation packages in hotels and apartments ranging from 4 star to the more basic. www.manaround.com or call 020 8902 7177
Kyle McAleavey
