So you and the lads fancy getting away for a boozed-up party break in Ibiza? You want to go to the super-clubs and have a great time on Spain’s famous party island but you’ve only got a limited budget? Relax, there are some great ways to save and still enjoy all the fun the White Isle has to offer.
The secret to a budget holiday to Europe’s party capital is to plan ahead, set a limit to your spending each day (and stick to it!). There will, of course be some nights which cost more than others – after all you haven’t come to San Antonio to drink in you hotel bar. You’ll want to visit some of the island’s super-clubs and those can be expensive.
But even if you and your mates dream of living it large at all the famous Ibiza hot spots from Amnesia (home of the legendary Cream parties) to Privilege, Space and Es Paradise, there are still ways to make savings if you plan ahead.
Buy Tickets Before You Go
Going to Ibiza isn’t like going out on a Saturday night and stumbling from your local bar to your favourite club: clubbing on the White Isle is an event and, as such, should be planned in advance.
Sit down with your mates before you go and work out which are the super-clubs you most want to experience. Make a list and then go online and buy your tickets before you even reach Spanish soil – remember to space out your planned nights over the holiday, you may well need to give yourself time to recover from one so you’re fully fit to enjoy the next one.
Not only will buying in advance save you around 15% of the ticket price but it will also ensure you’re not disappointed when you turn up at Space or Eden on the night only to find it’s sold out.
There are a number of UK websites which sell tickets to the main clubs on the island. It’s also worth bearing in mind that some package holiday companies will throw in a super-club pass if you book with them so take advantage of any offers.
If you do want to buy tickets when you get there, make sure you shop around. San Antonio’s West End has a number of shops selling tickets so go to a few to make sure you get the best price.
Think About Where to Splash the Cash
If you and your mates are all agreed that what you want is the ultimate clubbing holiday (and, let’s face it, you’ve picked the perfect location for it) then don’t waste your money on anything else.
It’s easy to get carried away in San Antonio buying drinks on the beach, eating out and paying for taxis, but the trouble with that is that every penny you’re spending is money you then don’t have to buy club tickets, or drinks once you’re there.
The answer is to cut back on your spending in other areas: buy your booze from the supermarket at a fraction of the price and cook and eat in your apartment.
Local Supermarkets
It can be difficult to remember when you’re there surrounded by partygoers, but San Antonio isn’t just for tourists. There are locals there too and if you shop where they shop you’re going to save yourself a bundle of cash. Eroski is a great local supermarket chain in which lower prices for food and booze will make your holiday budget stretch much further.
Drink Before You Go Out
No, I’m not suggesting that you consume a whole night’s worth of booze before you even leave your room (you’ll be lucky to make it to the nearest bar, let alone a club if you do). But it is worth starting your night off with a couple of drinks you’ve bought from the supermarket before heading out to face bar prices in town.
Take Advantage of the Reps
Head to the West End and you’ll be bombarded with fliers by reps trying to get you into the local bars. Before you throw these away it might be worth taking a look – a lot of the bars here will offer deals like four drinks for €10, which can be a great saving if you’re drinking with a group.
If you plan to party in San Antonio then take advantage of the free wristbands handed out by reps in the West End for clubs including Eden and Es Paradis. You’ll have to go in before 1am but that’s a small price to pay for saving the price of a ticket.
Not Every Night is a Super-Club Night
Let’s face it – tickets to the larger clubs are expensive and unless you’re an international DJ you’re unlikely to be able to afford to visit one every night of your holiday. But that doesn’t mean you have to sit in counting your pennies; a great option is to buy some cheap booze and head down to Mambo on San Antonio’s Sunset Strip. Loads of people gather on the rocks in front of the club where you can hear the DJ’s set without paying a euro.
Insider Tip: Don’t waste money on taxis to the clubs in Playa D’En Bossa – do what the workers and locals do and take the ‘disco bus’. It goes from San Antonio Bus Station with returns running until 6.45am.
How to Get to San Antonio
Flights to Ibiza don’t have to cost the earth, as a good range of budget airlines flying direct from the UK to Ibiza airport. Flights are only around two hours so you’ll be in the clubbing capital before you know it.
Start saving as soon as you get off the plane by taking a Shuttle Direct group transfer bus from the airport to San Antonio. Book in advance online and you and your mates will be able to walk smugly past the other clubbers queuing at the bus station. What a great start to your holiday!
Where to Stay:
Hostal La Torre Ibiza Cap Negret – The friendly Hostal La Torre Ibiza Cap Negret guesthouse with its pool and bar is just 2.2 kilometres away from the action on San Antonio’s Sunset Strip. With great sea views and free WiFi throughout, this a good choice for budget holidays.
Hostal Florencio – A perfect location just six minutes from the beach, 10 minutes from the West End and just under 600 metres from the famous Café del Mar, Hostal Florencio puts you right where you want to be for a clubbing holiday. And if that isn’t enough to tempt you, the hotel restaurant serves English food!
Ibiza Rocks Hotel – Get ready to party at the Ibiza Rocks Hotel. Not only are you a stone’s throw from the Sunset Strip and West End but the hotel has a DJ by the pool, regular pool parties and, from June to September, tickets to Ibiza Rocks Wednesday and Friday night events are included in the price.
About Shuttle Direct:
A group transfer with Shuttle Direct is one of the cheapest, easiest ways to get you and your mates from the airport straight to the heart of the action at your holiday destination. Book a group transfer online with Shuttle Direct, the leading provider of private and shuttle transfers in Europe and North Africa, before you set off and a bus will be at the airport to take you straight to your resort.
