Month: January 2023

Reco des Sol is a fairly non-descript hotel in San Antonio. In fact you’ve probably never even noticed it but it’s there in all it’s 90s glory. This is about to change. This hotel has now been granted a licence to undergo a radical facelift and become San Antonio’s latest 5 star hotel that will incorporate the prime piece of land that is currently used as the parking area for O Beach.

Work starts very soon and once finished this new stunning 5-star complex with it’s raised position will dominate the eye-line and will totally change the dynamic of this area where San Antonio meets the entrance to San Antonio Bay which already has three existing 4 star hotels (Bellamar, Hawaii & Ocean Beach) within a few hundred metres of each other. A new 5 star hotel complex kicks things up several notches.

This exciting development is the direction that the new Ibiza is heading in like a runaway train. The unquenchable desire for luxury accommodation driven by a more discerning, mainly adult demographic who want to experience the legendary Ibiza hedonism but also want a stylish base to do it from and more importantly are prepared to pay a premium for the experience.

The fact that San Antonio is now ticking these boxes should come as no surprise. A resort that’s been undervalued for decades, a victim of its 80’s notoriety but is now punching with the big boys on every level. OKU hotel and TRS, both 5 star hotels, have recently opened in Cala Gració with incredibly successful results that haven’t gone unnoticed. There’s still work to be done but Ibiza’s 2nd largest town is undergoing its own transformation.

To throw more fuel on the hedonistic inferno, a certain establishment not a million miles away from Reco des Sol is rumoured to be heavily involved in the new complex that will create a unique vibe for that area and really set the tone for San Antonio’s immediate future.

How the island has changed, a relentless surge upwards for over a decade. As other destinations have discovered you have to change or stagnate. Ultimately the market decides on the direction and Ibiza (which has never been slow on the uptake) has grasped it with both hands. It’s not to everyone’s taste but results don’t lie and 2022 was a record yield for luxury hotels with a seemingly insatiable thirst for high end products on the White Isle.

The vibes are good, the Island is on a forward trajectory few could have foreseen. Expect more announcements over the coming weeks and months that will set the tone for the next decade.

Happy New Year or ‘bon any nou’ as a local would say. 2022 was quite a year as Ibiza staged a monumental comeback, breaking records but with some of the same old problems rearing their ugly heads yet again (lets talk about taxis another time!).

The extended holiday season has been very busy on the Island with direct flights coming in from all over Europe. It was great to see so many tourists of all different nationalities although you could spot the Brits as they were the ones wearing shorts and flip flops whilst the locals wrapped up in fleeces & jackets. Ibiza really is a fantastic place to be over Christmas and New Year and the weather has been fabulous with busy beaches even at this time of year.

Now the holidays are over, thoughts turn to summer 2023 which is shaping up nicely although bookings have gone a little quiet recently which is to be expected. With so many different issues in the world, it remains to be seen if 2023 can keep up with the previous year’s amazing results but indications are positive. Investment is still pouring in and the appetite for all things Ibiza seems to be showing no signs of a slow down.

January and February will be relatively quiet but as March approaches, the Island will spring to life preparing for the busy Easter holidays and then the summer. Ryanair’s international flights start at the end of March and this is when you can feel a real change in the air with a sense of urgency as Ibiza awakens from its winter slumber.

Summer starts in earnest at the end of April and early May and with the super clubs and daytime venues already announcing earlier openings than before (Hï/Ushuaia opening 29 April!) the season looks like it will be an extended one yet again.

Expect plenty of ‘Bride Squad’ sashes and plastic tiaras in the early part of the summer followed by the usual peak season madness when the world class clubs really kick into gear with some unbelievable parties. Love them or hate them, the super clubs and beach clubs have proved once again how important they are to Ibiza’s tourism eco-system.

Local Elections will be held on 28 May, Ibiza has 5 town halls and an island council so that’s a lot of seats up for grabs (and a lot of politicians being paid with public money). The Balearics now have 80,000 more voters in 2023 than in 2011 which shows the growth of the Islands over the last decade.

This might not mean much to those who don’t live on the island but after 4 challenging years it will be interesting to see which way the voters go. Tourism issues will be front and centre for all political parties and the results will have an important bearing on major decisions that will affect the future, although the wheels of change are slow moving at the best of times.

The elections make up only one part of what will undoubtedly be a busy year. For Ibiza lovers and watchers it will be as interesting as always and as the Island continues to evolve, setting itself new objectives to try and keep ahead of the competition, you can be sure there will plenty of talking points along the way.