Ibiza

There is so much hype about Ibiza, with so much written about the island, that I feel it's near impossible to offer a fresh point of view. And yet my recent eight day trip to the island - my first - has been rather balanced, with everything in moderation... including, one might say, moderation itself... so perhaps this is what I should write about.

Ibiza is regarded as the birthplace of a certain type of music, the "Balaeric Beat" that transferred to the United Kingdom in the late 80s on a tidal wave of ecstasy. If I had a pound for every time someone told me that "Ibiza is not what is like five/ten/fifteen years ago", I could probably afford one of the island's beautiful sea-side villas. And even though this was my first trip, my gut instinct tells me those people are correct. Ibiza lures the peeps with its seductive cocktail of sun, sand, sounds, sex, and substances. But it's the latter two - the sex and drugs - that really sells the island. Don't get me wrong, I'm as up-for-it as the next person. But it seems to me that many, many people must come to Ibiza and barely see the inside of their hotel room, let alone a beach. And that's a shame, because the island is truly beautiful, and the Mediterranean lifestyle is quite special.

I visited for the closing parties, during the last week of September, which, I understand, is a time of year that attracts a slightly older (read: thirty-something) crowd, and mostly Europeans. The chavvy Brits tend tend to prefer the height (or nadir, as you may see it) of summer. I stayed in the majority-gay Hotel Cenit. The hotel is 70s chic, but the location is unbeatable, perched on the hill-top above Figueretes Beach. The rooms are fresh and clean, yet minimally decorated. Some of the rooms - including my own, thankfully - have an amazing million-dollar view.

The secret to a successful Ibizan holiday - as I discovered, and confirmed by veterans - is to balance that cocktail of what's on offer. My advice to anyone planning a trip is to truly plan the trip. Check out the parties (using a site like Ibiza Spotlight), and pick just a few, spacing them out over your stay. I recommend the poly-sexual Matinee (slideshow) under the flight path at Space, and the heavy/hard DC-10 (slideshow) located right next to the airport!

And on the days when you're not at a party, plan a trip to somewhere remote on the island. I highly recommend Cala D'or (slideshow), Cala Comte (slideshow) for great sunsets, and the stunning Cala Saona (slideshow) on nearby Formentera (slideshow). Most important of all, find every way possible to stick to the plan. Every way possible! Otherwise, with every distraction imaginable around you, it's easy - probably far too easy - to suddenly find yourself greeting an unexpected sunrise!

All of my Ibiza photographs are on Flickr, and can be viewed in a slideshow.