Should I go to Ibiza?

[Dasquian Belargic]

A couple friends of mine are proposing an all inclusivew week-long binge on the Mediterranean's premier party island. I have been before, but not whilst of legal drinking age.

Do I go.. or do I save all my pennies for Burning Nerd (which I will be going to either way of course!)

[Ana'Sera Beliq]

You're only young once, Jenny...if it won't bankrupt you, you should go and enjoy yourself :)

[Aurelias Kazaar]

Personally, I think you should save your money but it's your money not mine. :)

[Estelle Russard]

If you can do both, do both I always say.
You were wanting to do something in May/June-ish anyway werent you?

[Dasquian Belargic]

This is true, Estelle. It would be nice to have a trip or something to break up the rest of the year before November. Especially to somewhere actually warm.

[General Dan]

Only if you bring me all kinds of vittles from spain. Delicious canned fishes, olives, decent wines (they're all cheap as fuck) and if you love me, Jamon Iberico.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I'm not sure how much of that would be available in San Antonio Bay, but I could certainly have a looksee.

There is something ridiculous like a 120 bottle limit on how much wine you can move around in the EU, so that is totally doable.

[Nya Halcyon]

Speaking as someone who abhors places overrun by tourists, I'd say don't go there... but I guess it's warm. Your choice.

[Yog]

Why on earth did you go to Ibiza the first time if not to get drunken stupid and party? Thats the only reason anyone should ever go there.

I think you should save your money. It may be Mediterranean's premier party island, but it's also a rather uncultural and noisy place, and there are better, cheaper and healthier ways to spend a week in the Mediterranean than an all inclusive in Ibiza.

[Dasquian Belargic]

I went with my family when I was like 8? :huh we were at a family resort.

If you have any cheaper/better recommendations than £220 all inclusive, please share them.

[Yog]

I am surprised they have family resorts there.

If it's £220 all inclusive, with flight and hotel, that is a pretty good deal.

Edit: When do you plan to leave? I'm looking at some deals now. Also what kind of hotel do you get, is it a 4-5 star one? Do you need to fly from Newcastle, or is London an option?

Random search turned this (http://www.holidayhypermarket.co.uk/holiday_costingdetails_2.aspx?HolidayInfoID=155812 55&searchid=a19x136a20x628a49x723a7x19/1/2010a17x64a18x83a32x281a12x49a11x36a30x278a24x272a 25x273a21x269&keyword=cheap-holidays#all) up. All inclusive 5 star hotel in Antalya (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antalya), Turkey £259 per person. (I'm assuming you're not going alone?)

There are Night Clubs (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g297962-s402/Antalya:Turkey:Nightlife.html) in Antalya, but there are also other things to see (http://www.allaboutturkey.com/antalya.htm), and then some more (http://www.antalya.com/). The best thing though is the shopping, which is cheaper than in Spain. Among other things, many clothing brands manufacture their stuff there, and the likes of Armani, Diesel, Gucci etc is openly sold on the markets (straight from the factories!) for flea market prices, and not a thing is done to shut it down (one of the reasons Turkey is not in the EU yet). :)


Lively or leisurely, body and spirit… there really is something for every age and tempo at this luxurious resort. There’s fine food in four restaurants, a fitness centre with pampering facilities and a vitamin bar to top-up the feel-good factor. With evening entertainment too, everything is at your fingertips here, complemented by the hotel's central location in the burgeoning resort of Lara Beach.

Location Located in Lara, on its own private beach with shops and restaurants close by.

Board basis All Inclusive.

Food & drink Four restaurants •Patisserie and snack bar •Four bars and a vitamin bar

Swimming pools Free-form swimming pool and poolside sun terrace •‘Silence Pool’ − for adults •Aqua park pool with waterslides •Indoor pool •Sun terrace with loungers •All outdoor pools usually closed Nov-Mar (depending on weather)

Activities For details of free activities and entertainment, see All Inclusive features.

Children Splash pool (usually closed Nov-Mar) •Playground •Mini-club operated by Lara Beach Hotel for 4-12 year olds (dependant on numbers)

Child prices apply to children aged 2-12

Facilities & services Health Club with fitness room, Turkish bath, sauna, whirlpool and massage •Spacious lobby lounge •Hairdresser •Jewellery and souvenir shops •24hr reception •Courtesy bus to Antalya •Lounge and marina bars.

Accomodation Standard rooms have either one double or twin beds (plus sofa bed if required), air-conditioning, satellite TV, safety deposit box (payable locally), hairdryer, bathroom with shower over bath, plus a balcony or terrace. Twin rooms for sole use and family rooms comprising of a double bedroom and separate living room offering 1 single bed and a sofa bed are available at a supplement.

Key facts 311 rooms •8 floors •3 lifts

all-inclusive features
Food Buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner •Snacks served at selected times between meals
Drinks An unlimited amount of hot, soft and alcoholic drinks (excluding international brands) served for a minimum of 12 hours per day.
Activities usually include: Aerobics •Basketball •Darts •Table tennis •Tennis (daytime, equipment must be hired)
Health & Relaxation •Gym •Sauna •Turkish Bath •Whirlpool
Entertainment Regular daytime activities and evening entertainment usually includes animation shows and live music
Extras Included •Minibar replenished daily with soft drinks

Beach Resort Winter Xxxx

As the complex operates a no-cash system, guests are provided with account cards.

[Crusader]

Nothing is more relaxing than an all inclusive holiday...I love lieing at the beach or pool while reading a book and once I get tired of reading I will jump into the pool.
It is kind of funny that I always have no problem to wake up early during such holidays although I would not have to...

[Dasquian Belargic]

The hotel is four star and flights are from Newcastle.

My friends are definitely going, so to be honest it's more a case of whether or not I'll be with them, rather than deciding on where to go.

[Nya Halcyon]

Come to think of it.... depends on what you really want to get out of it. If you're in for a week's drinking binge in warm weather (which is pretty much all those places are catering for) you can just as well stay home and do the same there, cos there's no difference other than the weather, and you can get the same effect if you dress up in a snow suit in mid-April :p

If you're in for something more than just the drinking, then don't bother wasting your money on it. Ibiza has a few things to see, but only if you bring enough cash to afford going off the beaten tracks.

[Yog]

We still need to know when you are planning to go, is this in january, or later month like May?

You're not going to get warm weather in the Mediterranean in January. It's about 15C in Ibiza (http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/local/SPXX0044?lswe=Ibiza,%20Spain&from=searchbox_typeahead) now, which I guess beats the hell out of 0C in Newcastle, but it is not exactly the kind of temperature to tan on the beach. In the winter, Gran Canaria (http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/local/SPXX0238?lswe=Gran%20Canaria,%20Spain&from=searchbox_typeahead) is the place to get some (cheap) sun.

That being said, if the primary goal is just to have some fun drinking with friends, I see nothing particularly wrong about going to Ibiza. Remember, since it's all inclusive, you can eat as much as you want and save the cost of grocery shopping at home. On the other hand, my experience is, you end up spending more money than you planned to do...



If you're in for something more than just the drinking, then don't bother wasting your money on it. Ibiza has a few things to see, but only if you bring enough cash to afford going off the beaten tracks.
Pretty much this.

[Crusader]

^^I think Yog has a point.
I am thinking about doing a backpack trip to France or Italy in March once I will be done with my diploma. I still need to convince one of the other guys from university that we have to do that.
I did not do something like that after "graduating from highschool" and I still regret it.

[Droo]

I don't think Jenny has any illusions of a cultural paradise when she thinks of Ibiza. She knows what she's in for and she also knows that she shouldn't pass up on an opportunity to get away from these grey isles for a spot of fun and debauchery with her mates. Jenny, you're still going to Burning Nerd so why are you asking us? Book now, you delightful giggling wino!

[Yog]

I don't think Jenny has any illusions of a cultural paradise when she thinks of Ibiza. She knows what she's in for and she also knows that she shouldn't pass up on an opportunity to get away from these grey isles for a spot of fun and debauchery with her mates. Jenny, you're still going to Burning Nerd so why are you asking us? Book now, you delightful giggling wino!
Droo makes a convincing argument, so I'm going to stop being the rationalist grumpypants! :)

Don't forget to send a status report to us losers on swfans some time while you're there (preferably while you're drunk..:lol)

[Dasquian Belargic]

Haha, Droo is right. I do know what Ibiza is like.

Anyway, like I said before.. it's not like this is really a matter of "Should I go to Ibiza or somewhere else?" My friends are booking to go to Ibiza, it's just a case of whether I go with them or not.

[Crusader]

Maybe you should use the iflip application to decide whether to go or not :D
http://www.appsafari.com/utilities/1839/iflip/

[Dasquian Belargic]

Welp, advanced warning: I fly out on the 15th. God and Icelandic volcanoes willing, I fly back on the 22nd. I am not taking my iPhone with me because.. well, duh. So I will have a crappy old phone and a different number, if anyone wants some updates from the Balearic Islands. I did postcards when I went to Rome and although Ibiza isn't quite the capital of culture that Roma is, if anyone wants one I will try and find myself some cards and a post office (failing that - I have post cards of historical stuff local to Newcastle that I have been meaning to send for a while now.. so if like me you enjoy getting actual post that is not junk mail, first PM first served :mneh)

[Sanis Prent]

Jenny, I'll spot you like 50 bucks toward any decent wine finds, as I said. Bring em to burning nerd and I will compensate you accordingly

[Dasquian Belargic]

Okay, gimme some tips on how to spot some decent wines and keep in mind that US customs only lets me bring a liter (:whaa) of alcohol through to you guys.

[Sanis Prent]

Only a liter? Zut alors! Lemme think about that one. Iberian wine is cheap as hell so whatever you find would need to be obscure

[Dasquian Belargic]

Yeah, there is no limit how much I can bring to the UK from the EU, so long as I can justify it's for personal use. You only get questionned if you have more than:

* 3,200 cigarettes
* 200 cigars
* 400 cigarillos
* 3kg of tobacco
* 110 litres of beer
* 90 litres of wine
* 10 litres of spirits
* 20 litres of fortified wine (for example port or sherry)

..sadly US customs is not quite so lenient!

[Sanis Prent]

I will probably want to go for a decent ruby port, I think you'll be able to find plenty of good ones. I'll do some homework and give you a hit list

[Dasquian Belargic]

FYI it was totally awesome. Free shots everywhere.

There was, sadly, nothing 'decent' in the way of booze to bring back. At least nothing that we could find, but we didn't wander far from San Antonio.

[Sanis Prent]

That's okay :) just glad you had fun!