Ibiza (Spain)

Think of Ibiza and you'll probably imagine the hedonistic party capital of the Med. Nightclubs by the bucket load, world–famous DJs and all night party venues – Ibiza has it all when it comes to nightlife. The other side to Ibiza is much more surprising – pretty whitewashed villages, valleys filled with olive groves and secluded coves backed by pine forests. In Ibiza Town you'll find a more upmarket holiday atmosphere with chic boutiques and restaurants. The traditional holiday resorts of San Antonio offer plenty of British style entertainment and facilities. Playa d'en Bossa, San Antonio Bay and Cala Llonga are extremely child friendly and cater for younger children, with play parks, gently shelving beaches and excellent facilities. Beaches, medieval castles, craft shops and superb restaurants offer an alternative to the party–scene and there are many resorts that provide a quiet, secluded environment in which to enjoy cheap family holidays.

With over 80 beaches in the island there's plenty of space to go around. Beaches range from small hidden coves, nudist enclaves, hippy havens or wide expansive bays filled with family friendly facilities. Playa d'en Bossa, Playa Figueretes and Playa de Talamanca are the main beaches near Ibiza Town. To the west the big bay of San Antonio, Playa de San Antonio and Es Pouet. Santa Eulalia has a sheltered bay and gently shelving sands that make it very popular with families. The Ibiza beach sunset is world–renowned and truly spectacular. Set your stall out on soft golden sand and watch as the sun disappears into the sparkling Mediterranean. Some of the most beautiful and secluded coves can be found in the north of the island with Portinatx being a real highlight.

Restaurants and eateries in Ibiza cater for every taste bud with everything from traditional English to gourmet menus. Ibiza Town and marina offer some of the trendiest and upmarket restaurants on the island. San Antonio and some of its neighbouring resorts have a more traditional holiday atmosphere with family friendly restaurants, Chinese, Indian, Italian eateries and of course traditional English favourites. Authentic Ibiza food has a distinct Spanish flavour – simple meat and fish dishes basted in flavoured tomato, garlic and onion sauces. Tapas – snack sized portions of meat, fish and vegetables; and seafood delicacies such as paella are also widely available. For a special Balearic treat try Ensaimadas – a croissant filled with cream and chocolate and topped with icing sugar. Flao, a local cheesecake, is also a popular dessert. The local tipple is Sangria or Frigola – a sweet liqueur.

Ibiza has more big name clubs than any other European destination. The best nightclubs including Privilege and Pacha can be found in the south of the island in Ibiza Town. Ibiza Town also has a lively marina with an exclusive atmosphere of chic bars and trendy restaurants. The resort of San Antonio is home to two of the biggest clubs on the island – Eden and Es Paradis. San Antonio is very much more British orientated and offers a wide range of nightlife with traditional entertainment shows, cocktail bars and karaoke contests! Nightlife in Ibiza is varied and you'll also find un–crowded beach bars and live music venues where you can relax. Families are also well catered for with a range of kid friendly play centres and hotel based entertainment in many of the resorts.

After a hard nights partying most holidaymakers sleep off the night's indulgence on the beach. Ibiza's beaches are beautiful and benefit from excellent facilities. You'll find a wide range of water sports on offers as well as island boat trips, diving expeditions and booze cruises. Families will love kid friendly activities such as water parks, go karting, animal parks and play centres. Ibiza offers a wealth of natural and cultural experiences. Explore Cova de Can Marca – a collection of underground caves with spectacular viewing platforms and educational tours. Another of Ibiza's natural wonders is the salt flats of La Salinas – at sunset you'll find a dramatic photo opportunity. For elegant boutiques and tapas bars try Santa Eulalia, just north of Ibiza Town. This pretty whitewashed town also enjoys close proximity to some of the best beaches on the island. Just 5km off the coast of Ibiza is the unspoilt island of Formentera. This island is a popular day excursion from Ibiza and a real hidden gem. Ferries depart from Ibiza Town to Formentera every two hours in high summer season.