Englishman living and working in Ibiza since 1991. Entrepreneur with a passion for villas, boats, sunsets and San Antonio. Read my blogs, listen to my podcasts and get involved in the debate.
After a strong start the Ibiza summer season has settled into a groove and although it’s not an unfamiliar cry, the word on the street is ‘quiet’…..and not in decibels.
April and May started brightly as it often does but once the island opened up completely things started to tail off a little especially for the secondary businesses such as bars and restaurants not on the frontline.
I’ve often written about Ibizas ‘top table’, those businesses that appear to be bullet proof – places that perform year in and year out fuelled by social media and spin and these have been busy although some are showing signs of lethargy.
The introduction of a new high capacity super club has changed the night time dynamic and it would be naive to suggest that this hasn’t affected other businesses in that sector. After a strong opening there’s now plenty of freebies flying about for workers and residents and it stands to reason that a new establishment that has spent tens of millions can’t take the risk of being empty, it devalues their brand and investment and more importantly it deters genuine payers from walking through the door. Perception as opposed to reality is everything in Ibiza.
The official stats show that the average stay in Ibiza is now a little over 3 nights and this continues to have a massive impact on the island. The modern day tourist is ‘cash rich and time poor’ with 72 hours for their White Isle experience, most have their holidays planned months in advance fuelled by social media. This is good news for a few (the top table again) but bad news for the vast majority.
72 hours isn’t enough time to sample anything apart from the same few places that appeal to their demographic so the other establishments that aren’t on the A-list remain quiet even going into the peak season.
Price is also playing a big part. Ibiza is steadily edging up from ‘expensive’ to ‘downright ridiculous’. These are the prices that go with world famous brands however the good news is that increased competition has motivated some clubs to start offering drinks deals that makes the entrance ticket more reasonably priced.
It’s not panic time yet and it’s not unusual to have a lull in the first half of July but there will be a few worried businesses. August is around the corner and then the countdown is on for the end of season. September is historically a strong month especially with the club closings now at the start of October but is that enough time to claw back any early season losses?
As is usual with Ibiza, it’s all gone in a blink of an eye and it remains to be seen whether 2025 will be viewed as a success, the mid term report is still very much undecided.
Sky News’ latest report ‘Is Tourism in Ibiza at Breaking Point?’(WATCH HERE) throws up some interesting questions so let’s break it down piece by piece.
Shanty Towns and Makeshift Camps
There’s no doubt that that this is a clear and present problem on the island but it’s important to flag up a few things and look at it from both sides.
Property prices have increased over the last decade meaning that rental prices have sky rocketed due to the simple issue of supply and demand. The vast majority of properties are owned by Spanish and the ‘rich foreigners’ buying all the properties is a million miles from the truth.
The big houses may get snapped up by the international glitterati but the normal 2 and 3 bedroom apartments are almost exclusively the realm of locals and this is what is being rented at eye watering prices so if a dubious finger needs to be pointed then let’s leave ‘rich foreigners’ out of the convo.
No mention of the ridiculously lopsided rights of tenants that makes renting a minefield and leaves hundreds and possibly thousands of properties empty, unlicensed ‘agents’ who prey on the property market or how about the landlords who are renting short term to tourists.
The big takeaway from Gemma Peplow’s erratic report is that the people living in these makeshift sites are doing it out of choice not obligation. This isn’t a humanitarian crisis, it’s a straight choice. The interviewees say it themselves. Mohammed from Western Sahara says “renting here is expensive, I am not going to pay it, it’s better to live on the streets”. Charlie the children’s entertainer says “I don’t want to pay the rents” so chooses to live in a caravan and fellow camp mate Victor chips in with “if I don’t serve the rich and famous then who will?”
This justification from Victor is exactly that, he has made an economic choice to take Ibiza’s above average wages but lives in a caravan with his wife and daughter so avoiding paying rent. Good on you Victor but this is your choice and if I was being pedantic I’d add that it’s not your place to worry about staffing levels at top end establishments, that’s for the big companies to concern themselves over and you living in a caravan is making them avoid it a little bit longer and pay you less than you possibly deserve.
Let’s not sugar coat this serious issue. Ibiza has a massive housing crisis but workers who live in campsites out of economic choice shouldn’t be the focus. Why isn’t Gemma interviewing health workers, police, teachers, those the island need 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. The government’s lack of foresight on a situation that has been coming for over a decade is shameful and needs to be held to account by a serious news organisation.
Mohammed from Western Sahara shouldn’t be front and centre, it should be Nieves the nurse from Andalusia who can’t find affordable housing so medical appointments are cancelled or pushed back or Carlos the policeman from Murcia who struggles to feed his family as his rent is so inflated.
Crime
Yes this is a problem that isn’t getting better. The massive influx of the jet set over the summer means that for 3 months the island becomes pretty much lawless due to lack of police officers. It’s always been this way but it has been magnified over the last decade with the steady rise of tourism. More police is needed in the summer when numbers are high and less roadblocks in the winter when it can sometimes feel like living in a police state.
Beaches and Sewage
This was an alarming item and one that made me sit up and listen. I need to verify the facts, as the devil is always in the detail, but if half of Ibiza’s beaches have decreased in quality over the last 15 years then this is something that needs addressing. Ibiza’s USP apart from the world’s best clubs is it’s natural beauty and this should never be compromised. As for the sewage, this has been happening for years and isn’t as much down to over tourism as to lack of investment in the infrastructure and this finger can be pointed in a multitude of directions.
Finally the anonymous DJ. Those on the island all know who this is and he obviously now has a taste for the spotlight. Was this thrown in just to make the report funky as it had zero relevance whatsoever.
Conclusion
What on the face of it was a hard hitting report had too many sweeping statements not backed up by any actual evidence or statistics. No interviews with key workers who should be the focus, only chats with local Facebookers.
Instead of looking for sensationalist headlines Gemma Peplow needs to interview some genuine heavyweights to get to the bottom of the serious issues that Ibiza is facing and put some actual meat on the bone, not a puff piece that will be forgotten in days. If Ms Peplow actually did her homework there is a massive story there but after BBC’s laughable docu-series this is another so called major player missing a gaping open goal.
Ibiza is forever evolving, UNVRS has opened to almost universal acclaim (see what I did there) raising the stakes on the island yet again and the clubbing world.
The beauty of the White Isle is that there is something for all ages but these days it’s especially good for an ‘older crowd’ and by this I mean 35+. Some of the best restaurants in Europe, cool bars to hang out in sipping long drinks and cocktails, beach clubs and night clubs where older faces aren’t greeted by shock and horror by young whippersnappers with too much energy and not enough experience.
The jewel in this coveted crown is undoubtedly Pikes, the rock ‘n’ roll hotel made famous by Tony Pike and his dangerously high libido (if you haven’t read his book then I can heartily recommend it).
The story of the making of Wham’s Club Tropicana video is much told but never gets old for those of a certain age. Throw in Freddie Mercury in his heyday and a bit of prime Grace Jones and more recently Kylie Minogue and Ed Sheeran and Rock n Roll doesn’t even come close to describing the antics. If only the walls could talk.
The beauty of Pikes is that it’s accessible to all but here’s the best bit – you’re welcome as long as you’re over 27 and not a c**** (see sign on door if offended). Guestlist only via their website avoids those ridiculous super club entrance prices and gives a special glow when walking in (if you don’t have flip flops and glitter and can get past the eagle eyed Ebony).
The place is sumptuous with lush gardens lit to perfection. Different areas cater for different tastes. The pool terrace with its nooks and crannies is a super cool place to hangout before midnight especially the famous poolside table and the courtyard with separate bar area where the restaurant used to be is ideal for mingling.
Freddie’s is the iconic bijou nightclub where the great and the good have all played. Its pulsating beats will penetrate your soul, throw in the ping pong ball karaoke bathtub (you did read that correctly) and the piano singalong bar area with Roberto and you’re probably starting to understand that this is no ordinary night out but Pikes is no ordinary place and Ibiza is no ordinary island.
The garden terrace which doubles up as a restaurant before midnight is where you go to chill and chat. All in all it’s the complete package for the more discerning who want to have some good old fashioned adult fun.
Pikes has become so successful in its own right that they have now taken its ‘Pikes Presents’ concept on Tuesdays to their sister venue 528, a cool place nestled in the hills on the outskirts of San Antonio, or as they put it ‘an outdoor venue that embraces the island’s natural beauty and energy, a place perfectly in tune with the Pikes spirit.
This promises to be something different once again, in keeping with their USP which is to prioritise the older crowd in cool surroundings with a door price that won’t break the bank. Since it’s launch in 2018 Pikes Presents has seen the likes of Fatboy Slim, The Blessed Madonna & Kylie Minogue (yes, really!), Sven Väth, Robyn, Mark Ronson, Carl Craig, Goldie, Jarvis Cocker, Miles Kane and Denis Sulta – just to name a few so expecy some surprises.
Pikes and ‘Pikes Presents’ continue to be the flag bearers for an older crowd who have no intention of stopping anytime soon. The Club Tropicana drinks might not be free but I for one, am all in!
Get ready for a stat attack! A couple of things to bear in mind before reading • Spain’s Idealista website portal is similar to RightMove in the UK, ImmobilienScout24 in Germany and Funda in the Netherlands. • Spanish property prices are quoted as ‘per square metre’ (PSM) – so if €4000 PSM is quoted then a house that measures 100m2 (1076ft2) will cost €400,000. —————————— The average property price in the Balearics is now €4905 PSM, the most expensive in the whole of Spain and nearly double that of Catalunya in 5th place. This is a 13.5% year-on-year increase according to Spanish portal Idealista in their latest real estate price index. The data also shows an increase of 2.4% in the last 3 months and 1.4% compared to April.
With regards to municipalities the Balearics hold the top 8 berths in the national pricing chart with Formentera top, coming in at a cool €8794 PSM, 5.9% more than a year ago, a quarterly and monthly increase of 3.5 and 5.9% respectively. Sant Joan de Labritja is with €7898 PSM, 7.5% more than a year ago and 1% more than the previous month.
Andratx in Mallorca is 3rd nationally with Santa Eulalia del Rio in 4th at €7532 PSM which reflects an increase of 7.2% compared to the same period of 2024 and 1.7% compared to April. The quarterly increase is 3.3%. 5th on the national list is Sant Josep de sa Talaia with an average price of €7089 PSM and an annual increase has been 5.1%. Calvia which includes Magaluf in Mallorca is 6th while San Antonio comes in at 7th showing the largest yearly increase with 21.1%, standing at €6702 PSM a quarterly increase of 5.3%
Ibiza Town is 8th with €6625 PSM, 0.6% more than a year ago, which represents a quarterly increase of 1.4%.
The top 5 Spanish autonomous communities for property prices 1. Balearic Islands €4905 PSM, 2. Madrid €4,234 3. Basque Country €3179 4. Canary Islands €3,039 5. Catalunya €2560.
At the opposite end of the table are the regions of Castilla-La Mancha with average property prices of €961 PSM, Extremadura €982 and Castilla y León €1216 are the cheapest communities for property prices according to Idealista.
Nationally, the price of housing in Spain has risen by 12.8% year-on-year, standing at an average of €2391 PSM. This data represents an increase of 5.3% in the last three months, 1.7% compared to April and the highest property prices in Spain since idealista records began.
All the autonomous communities show higher prices compared to the previous year with the exception of Extremadura, where the expectations of sellers fell by 1.3%. The Community of Madrid with 24.3% leads the increases, followed by the Canary Islands 18.2%, Murcia 18.1%, Valencian Community 17.5%, Andalucía 14.3% and Cantabria 13.2%
Below the national average are the increases of Asturias (10.9%), Euskadi (8.6%), Catalunya (6.5%), Aragon (2.8%), Galicia and Castilla-La Mancha (2.7% in both regions). The lowest increases occurred in Navarra (2.1%), La Rioja (2.1%) and Castilla y León (2.3%).
A total of 41 provinces have higher prices than those recorded in May last year. The largest increase has been experienced in the Community of Madrid where the expectations of sellers have grown by 24.3%, followed by Santa Cruz de Tenerife (19.4%), Murcia (18.1%), Alicante (15.8%), Valencia (15.8%) and Malaga (15.3%). A total of 9 provinces have experienced price decreases in used housing led by Ourense (-7.8%), Badajoz (-3.4%), Cuenca (-2.7%), Soria (-2.6%) and Teruel (-1.9%).
Ciudad Real is the cheapest place in Spain to buy a property with a price of €741 PSM. It is followed by Cuenca (€831) and Jaén (€833).
PRICES FOR SPAIN BY AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITIES/CITIES Location – Price in €/PSM (May25) Spain 2,391 (average) 1. Balearics 4,905 2. Madrid 4,234 3. Basque Country 3,179 4. Canarias 3,039 5.,Catalunya 2,560 6. Andalucia 2,468 7. Ceuta 2,325 8. Valencia 2,207 9. Melilla 2,073 10. Cantabria 1,841 11. Navarra 1,753 12. Asturias 1,538 13.,Aragon 1,469 14. Murcia 1,458 15. Galicia 1,434 16. La Rioja 1,362 17. Castilla y Leon 1,216 18. Extremadura 982 19. Castilla La Mancha 961
PRICES FOR BALEARICS BY MUNICIPALITY M=Mallorca/Me=Menorca/I=Ibiza/F=Formentera Location – Price in €/PSM (May 25) Balearics4,905 (average) 1. Formentera (F) 8,794 2. Sant Joan de Labritja (I) 7,898 3. Andratx (M) 7,545 4. Santa Eulalia del Río (I) 7,532 5. Sant Josep de Sa Talaia (I) 7,089 6. Calvià (M) 6,790 7. Sant Antoni de Portmany (I) 6,702 8. Eivissa (I) 6,625 9. Cala d’Or (M) 5,587 10. Puigpunyent (M) 5,414 11. Santanyi (M) 5,332 12. Puerto de Pollença (M) 5,182 13. Soller (M) 5,001 14. Sa Ràpita (M) 4,971 15. Santa Maria del Cami (M) 4,827 16. Palma de Mallorca (M) 4,772 17. Colonia de Sant Jordi (M) 4,610 18. Colonia de Sant Pere (M) 4,532 19. Alcúdia (M) 4,493 20. Pollença (M) 4,337 21. Alaró (M) 4,185 22. Bunyola (M) 4,162 23. Es Mercadal (Me) 4,135 24. Porto Colom (M) 4,091 25. Llucmajor (M) 3,966 26. Capdepera (M) 3,952 27. Cala Ratjada (M) 3,879 28. Alaior (Me) 3,814 29. Ciutadella (Me) 3,740 30. Sa Coma (M) 3,698 31. Sencelles (M) 3,631 32. Marratxi (M) 3,491 33. Cala Millor (M) 3,407 34. Santa Margalida (M) 3,395 35. Algaida (M) 3,303 36. Mahon (Me) 3,187 37. Llubi (M) 3,153 38. Campanet (M) 3,143 39. Es Castell (Me) 3,033 40. Manacor (M) 3,018 41. Son Servera (M) 2,967 42. Sineu (M) 2,930 43. Montuiri (M) 2,852 44. Selva (M) 2,622 45. Lloseta (M) 2,478 46. Porreres (M) 2,416 47. Inca (M) 2,304 48. Muro (M) 2,124 49. Felanitx (M) 2,086 50. Sa Pobla (M) 1,848 51. Sant Joan (M) 1,583 NOTE: If a Balearic municipality is not quoted then no data is available
IT’S BIG! It may sound strange saying this about the former Guinness verified ‘biggest club in the world’ but until the doors opened it was impossible to gauge the new distribution layout over different levels, food court, the bunker, the wild comet, outdoor social areas and the iconic dome. We’ve all seen it now a hundred times on insta. Not only is it impressive, it’s f**king massive!
IT’S REASSURINGLY EXPENSIVE. After close to a €100M investment it was never going to be cheap however the prices are ‘interesting’. Entrance tickets range from €55 to €100 depending on the artist or how about a VIP entrance ticket at €500 including 5 drinks. Talking of drinks, a 5 drink online package is €100 (not ridiculous) and who doesn’t want chicken strips with caviar at 6am for only 80 EUR? Thinking of going big – call your credit card company, there may be trouble ahead. Nevertheless UNVRS will be in the running for ‘best club in the world’ so what did you expect? You can get a pint of beer in Benidorm for a euro so there are options.
THE LINE UP IS STELLAR. Regardless of your views the 2025 UNVRS line up is arguably the biggest ever presented in Ibiza. It’s an Ibiza ‘all stars’ dream team and shows that The Night League aren’t taking any chances with their sizeable investment. Guetta, Cox, Prydz, Jones, Elrow & Fisher plus plenty of surprises during the summer. If this was a football team we’d be calling them ‘Los Galacticos’.
THERE ARE ISSUES. As is usual in Ibiza the paint was drying as the doors opened so the venue is still being fine-tuned. The vastness of the place means it’s not easy to navigate (more signs needed) and the sound is great at the front but not at the back. Cramming in several thousand sweaty people means that claustrophobics should give the busy areas a miss and transporting all those happy clappers every night to a small neighbourhood in the middle of the island won’t come without consequences. The negative online comments might have been deleted (industry standard) but judging UNVRS after a week is pure folly.
GET USED TO THOSE PANNING SHOTS. On Saturday morning when UNVRS released that 27 second drone shot with amazing visuals (that ceiling!), incredible sound and the sun coming up behind the DJ box with thousands packing the dance floor with hands (and phones) in the air, the internet went into meltdown. Their drone operators and social media manager will be busy this summer. Expect more of these, lots more.
LAS VEGAS AND DUBAI WILL BE WATCHING. It’s incredible that a small island in the Med can consistently keep raising the bar on a world level while other destinations with deeper pockets look on however Ibiza’s hedonistic legacy and heritage trumps cold hard cash every time (ironic huh). UNVRS is the Robocop of super clubs and The Night League aren’t playing games, they are a clinical, ultra professional, profit driven company, the like that hasn’t been seen on the White Isle previously.
WE SHOULD BE PROUD. In 2020/21 when Ibiza’s clubs weren’t allowed to open we all saw what happened. A beautiful Island but no USP. Now UNVRS has raised the bar again and Ibiza has solidified its place as the clubbing capital of the world with a gigantic soul. You might not like or agree with the collateral issues but you have to acknowledge the acheivement and take pride that the White Isle is a world leader. Ibiza has what others can only dream of.
WILL SMITH IS ANNOYING. OK he’s a Hollywood star with an amazing CV and an Oscar on his sideboard but my god he’s irritating. The smug look, the accent mispronouncing words, his cringy social media posts and don’t start me on his wife. Or is it just me?
THERE WILL BE BLOOD. Other clubs will be following developments closer than anyone (especially any negatives) and it’s inevitable that some will be affected including possibly other venues owned by UNVRS but there will be opportunities. As UNVRS takes Ibiza clubbing stratospheric yet mainstream other venues might go more underground offering back to basics clubbing. All options are open and like every summer there will be winners and losers…but this time the stakes are higher than ever.
THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. Can UNVRS sustain 7 nights a week? Will the headline acts settle in? Will there be any weak nights? Will there be any legal issues? Will the local residents kick off? Will Hï fall into the background? Will the feedback stay positive after the dust has settled? Will they run out of chicken strips dippers (a 3 euro bargain)? There’s a thousand questions and anybody who follows the Ibiza clubbing scene will know that amongst other things it’s awash with egos, greed and jealousy but that’s what makes it so engrossing. There will be plenty of twists and turns in this saga. As I said THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING.
Those of a certain vintage will remember when Ibiza’s flights, fuelled almost exclusively by traditional tour operators, started religiously on 1st May and the term ‘low cost carrier’ was a phenomenon seen only in the deregulated American aviation market. During these times you could count on 4 busy months with the shoulder months of May and October making up the numbers. Not any more.
The increasing availability of flights meant that April on the White Isle was surprisingly frenetic but May has been nothing short of incredible compared to previous years, not only with numbers but with the profile of travellers seemingly getting younger and younger.
Ibiza’s world class day and night clubs opening earlier has no doubt played a massive part, it wasn’t that long ago that the super clubs opened in the last week of May and closed in the last week of September. Now they nearly all open at the end of April & close at the beginning of October, extending the traditional summer clubbing season by 6 weeks.
The proliferation of group holidays on low cost carriers has also seen an abundance of arrivals at Ibiza airport (and a slew of social media posts depicting out of control flight cabins – but that’s a whole different issue).
Stags, hens, weddings, birthday celebrations all taking advantage of low season offers and usually for short durations such as long weekends and with pockets of money to spend. Stags and mainly hens seem to be everywhere in May with compulsory matching t-shirts, the ‘blushing’ bride with a long white head dress surrounded by her ‘bride squad’ in sashes – when did this become a thing?
All in all, the island has appeared busier and hotter in May 2025 than ever before. It hasn’t stopped all the usual issues, in fact it’s exasperated them. Short duration holidays mean that time management has become essential – everything is organised down to the last second.
So all the high profile, prominent, social media driven businesses are getting the benefit whilst the secondary businesses continue to struggle. In other words the strong get stronger and the weak get weaker. The upside is that the major Ibiza businesses are opening earlier than ever before and this in itself is stimulating early season bookings.
It will be interesting to see how June performs as historically we have seen a dip in business during the mid season as prices start to creep up before the high season madness kicks in.
If Ibiza summer 2025 was a first term school report it would say ‘good attendance with a very encouraging start but let’s not take anything for granted’. As is the norm in life it’s not how you start it’s how you finish.
Playa Pomelo, Mambo groups new venture, taking over Sa Bresca restaurant on Cala Gracio beach has created some local chatter so instead of listening to other peoples opinions I decided to try it for myself.
First impressions are good, the place has been refurbished to a high standard with solid wood tables on teak deck overlooking the beautiful beach. The new grapefruit colour is cool, it won’t be to everyone’s taste but I liked the rustic look. The place as a whole is very simple with its USP being right on the beach, unlike other places here you feel right in the middle of the action.
In keeping with the new Ibiza the service is a bit fussy with plenty of staff on hand to seat you, take your order and whisper sweet nothings in your ear. The manager is never far away overseeing everything with a friendly but stern eye.
The menu is simple and easy to navigate. For starters we went for calamari and croquets which were delicious and for a main I went for the simple smash burger and fries while my friend went for pork steak All the food was well presented, fresh & very tasty.
We washed it down with a bottle of rose wine, we weren’t going to but relaxing in such sumptuous surroundings with that view got the better of us. Total spend by the time we finished was 75€ a head for a long (ish) lunch, I had expected it to be a lot more as I’d heard plenty of scare stories so was pleasantly surprised.
The most important thing to consider is that this isn’t a local beach snack bar with food anymore. It’s a smart restaurant on the beach and the prices reflect this. It’s the new ibiza that attracts a certain crowd who are happy to pay for the position, service and food. It’s a 180 degree turn from where it was before – a family run beach restaurant – and if you do find these places then make sure to enjoy them while you can as they won’t be around for much longer.
Ibiza is now attracting a crowd that is more discerning, wealthier, worldly wise. In the 90s and noughties the competition was Mallorca, Benidorm and Costa del Sol. Now the competition is Las Vegas, Dubai, Miami and Mykonos
The new Ibiza isn’t to everyone’s tastes but restaurants in prime positions offering top service for premium prices that make you feel special are now the norm. Compared to other destinations the White Isle was massively undervalued but not any more.
Playa Pomelo will cause local debate but similar to other incredible beach venues it will become part of the fabric sooner rather than later especially if, as expected, it is a success. After all it’s not aimed at a local clientele but those pesky tourists who have the audacity to come over here with a pocket full of money and want good food and service in a prime position and are prepared to pay a premium for it.
As a nice extra there are now some really smart sunbeds on the beach at a set price of 7 euros per day operated by the town hall and open to the public. The locals might be in a state of consternation at the increased traffic but the bottom line is that businesses like this are taking San Antonio to new heights by pushing up quality and in turn increasing property prices to record levels. The yin and the yang of Ibiza right there.
Back in January 2020, the Balearic government passed a decree law against the so-called “tourism of excesses” and for the improvement of quality in tourist zones. They singled out the resorts of Arenal, Playa de Palma, and Magaluf in Mallorca, and San Antonio in Ibiza, as the areas that would be affected.
At the time, these laws didn’t really come into effect as the pandemic took over, but when everything returned in 2022, they were put into practice.
In 2024, after the elections, the laws were relaxed a little—but what has changed in these resorts since 2020
SAN ANTONIO by Martin Makepeace
Reputation is everything, and the court of public opinion can be a brutal place, passing judgment without the full facts. But times change.
San Antonio, or Sant Antoni de Portmany to use its official name, is a great example. The stigma of the 80s and 90s still lingers—but it ain’t 1987 anymore. It’s 2025, and the shackles have been released.
New luxury hotels, top-end restaurants serving delicious food, world-class entertainment venues, a sunset that many say is the best on the planet—and more importantly, a young, ambitious mayor who’s not afraid to try new things, improve infrastructure, and make big plans for the future with major investment.
San Antonio now has some of the most expensive real estate in Spain and is already the most expensive place to rent. The gentrification process continues unabated on a small island with limited space. This is the yin and yang of an island that has seen incredible growth over the last 15 years.
Being comfortable in your own skin takes time, and Ibiza’s second-largest town is finally the mature adult it wanted to be—rather than a sulky teenager prone to bouts of self-harm.
“It’s a process” is a well-used phrase, and the perception of San Antonio is no different. But this can only be changed by a potent mixture of self-awareness, communication, consistency, and patience. The town is now controlling its own narrative—with actions rather than words.
New and improved pedestrianised areas, world-famous street art, a new environmentally friendly summer police station, a spanking new port area, plans for cutting-edge sports facilities… and this is just in the last 12 months!
The future is bright. San Antonio isn’t walking into the future—it’s sprinting with confidence.
MAGALUF by Richie Prior
Well, having lived and worked in Magaluf since 1990, I think I’m well placed to tell you about it. My good friend Martin Makepeace & I do a weekly podcast called Talking Balearics, where we talk about Mallorca and Ibiza. Martin, like me, has lived in Ibiza for over 30 years.
Magaluf, ever since I’ve known it, has had a reputation—some see that as bad, others see it as an opportunity for good.
When I arrived in 1990, families and young people mixed without any problems—even in the winter. Slowly but surely, that balance ebbed away, and the headlines became worse and worse. You didn’t need to be a rocket scientist to know that something had to change.
Meliá was the first to invest in the resort, followed by pretty much every other hotel chain, meaning that over 75% of the hotels in Magaluf are now either 4 or 5-star. Anyone in the know will tell you that Magaluf beach is still one of the best on the island. A new four-million-euro promenade is being built as we speak, with phase one due for completion at the beginning of May. Phase two will be completed in the early part of 2026.
In my opinion, the measures brought in were a bit draconian and wouldn’t have been needed if the resort had been policed properly. The map of the so-called “Red Zone” was drawn in a way that benefited some businesses and not others. It should have been a blanket ban or nothing at all.
It was the short-sightedness of authorities in the past that meant they didn’t understand that the youngsters of today will be the families of the future. Most of my friends had been to Magaluf in their teenage years. They loved it so much that, fast forward five years, they were coming back and staying in a four or five-star hotel. Fast forward another five or ten years, they were renting villas with their families—and all of a sudden, they are the clientele that the authorities want.
You need to give people a taste of what your tourism product is at a relatively early age and hope that it ignites that blue touch paper. They then become bonded and emotionally attached to that location for the rest of their lives.
My list of positives about Magaluf is endless. And when you look closely, it’s a resort that still mixes families and youngsters—and, in my opinion, for longer throughout the year. For families, there’s Pirates, Gringos Family Rave, Western Water Park, karting, Katmandu, the beach, and countless bars, beach bars, cafés, and restaurants to cater to their needs.
For youngsters, there’s Reloaded & Gringos, Oceans Beach, BCM, The Strip, the beach—and again, countless bars, beach bars, cafés, and restaurants to cater to their needs.
I like the new Mayor and his administration in Calvia and believe the changes that are being made are good for the future. Magaluf has changed for the better, and my love for it doesn’t diminish.
The tourist model of Mallorca and Ibiza is changing for the better—and will need to change even more to keep up with its competitors.
Summer is in the air, the roads are getting busier, flip flops are flapping and white milky skin is on show everywhere. Ibiza is back baby.
The difference between ‘winter’ and ‘summer’ is palpable and it all changes within the space of a few days when wholesale direct flights start courtesy of Ryanair and their fellow low cost competitors.
It’s an exciting time of the year where anything and everything seems possible, dreams are there to be grabbed and for those returning a few changes are noticeable.
Top of the list this summer is a former sleepy fishing village known for its stunning sunsets, lively nightlife, and laid-back Mediterranean charm. Now work is in motion to connect all of those things like never before.
Since the tourist boom of the 1970’s San Antonio has transformed into a global hotspot for partygoers, beach lovers, and travellers seeking a mix of relaxation and revelry however it’s fair to say it suffers from an identity crisis. The haters are never far away and with some justification but now tangible plans are afoot that will change its perception for years to come.
The hot potato that is the West End is going through an image overhaul with a makeover that has at times been polarising but opinions are starting to change now that the talking has stopped and the artwork is taking shape. Okuda San Miguel’s colourful and vibrant street art is the talk of the island, it’s eye catching in the extreme and looks to be a canny decision by the local government. Mayor Marcos Serra said himself that it’s a crazy idea but well worth a punt especially as it’s being paid for by European funds.
Yet while social media is alive with the West End’s artistic transformation the biggest game changer has gone under the radar. A new pedestrianised boulevard is underway that will link San Antonio ‘old town’ to the sunset strip.
This new connection will bring footfall in both directions opening up the urban town centre with easy accessibility. The work has already started from both ends (in front of Mambo on the sunset strip and in front of the old Amsterdam bar the West End) and will meet up in the middle.
Construction work can be annoying but it’s a necessary evil to get things done and improve the infrastructure. The new pedestrian boulevard is 3 phase project that will take 11 months to complete so should be finished by February 2026.
In a change to the norm the contractors are hoping to carry on working through summer as the work will go past 2 junior schools which will be closed for July and August. The total cost of the project is €4.8M of which €1.4M is financed through the Ibiza Council’s Strategic Municipal Investment Plan, €1.25M through Next Generation EU funds and €1M through the Balearic Islands Tourism Tax (ITS).
Neus Mateu, San Antonio Councillor for Public Works told me “This is a project that will bring a leap in quality for San Antonio. It will beautify an area that connects the seafront with the urban centre creating a sustainable and accessible boulevard for residents and visitors”.
New amazing street art, a new pedestrianised boulevard linking the town with the sunset strip and the promenade that stretches from Calo des Moro to Es Puet. San An is coming together like never before so whisper it quietly….a game changer.
Traffic has become a major environmental problem in Ibiza over the last decade so in a direct response the Isand Government is bringing in limits and fees for vehicles coming on to the island, targeting tourists vehicles, caravans and rental cars.
From the start of June to the end of September the limit will be 87,449 vehicles circulating the island on a daily basis. The breakdown is 67,281 by residents, 2,049 by private visitors (ie by boat) and 18,119 rental cars. So excluding residents, there will be a maximum limit of 20,168 vehicles in the first year reducing to 17,600 over the next 5 years.
The fee for authorised non resident cars entering the island will be 1 euro per car per day and it will be the responsibility of the shipping companies to pay the relative fees directly to the Consell d’Eivissa under a self-assessment regime by the end of the following calendar month.
A basic overview of exemptions to fees are as follows
Residents vehicles as long as the vehicles are registered on the island
For those who live on the island but their cars are registered elsewhere there is a limit of 1 vehicle per property
Vehicles of people with reduced mobility
Official and public service vehicles, including those of the security forces, fire service, ambulances and vehicles of the health system, civil protection, public and school transport, taxis, waste and public cleaning
Vehicles for the transport of goods as well as commercial distribution vehicles, tractors, excavators and similar vehicles
Vehicles in transit to or from Formentera and those “not subject to movement restrictions by the Consell Insular d’Eivissa” are also exempt from the payment of the tax
Motorcycles are free of charge
Caravans/motorhomes will only be permitted to enter the island with an active a reservation at campsite
Rental car companies will also face the consequences of this new law and will now be liable to pay a tax for each of the vehicles within their quota.
Fleet of 1-100 vehicles: 100€ per vehicle for the entire limitation period
101-150: 200€ per vehicle
151-450: 750€ per vehicle
451-900: 1500€ per vehicle
Any company that exceeds 900 vehicles must pay 1500€ + 61€ for each vehicle over this amount
At first glance it appears that car hire companies will bear the brunt of this new law and they will be given quotas to control the amount of vehicles circulating the island. The new fees are a big chunk of change and will be most likely passed on to the consumer.
It’s difficult to envisage how the local authorities will keep tabs on the exact amount of vehicles on the island especially in the short term and the new laws will throw up many questions and grey areas and a website should soon be active to cover all topics.
In the meantime you can contact the OAMR customer service by phone and Whatsapp on 971 19 59 06 or by email at oamr@conselldeivissa.es.
MAN IN SAN AN by Martin Makepeace 