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.
The local press “Diario de Ibiza” yesterday printed a big article about Airbnb and the exorbitant prices being advertised to tourists for renting unlicensed rooms, houses, caravans, tents, and dormitories amongst other things.
Vicent Torres “Benet”, head of Ibiza tourism, is promising a crackdown on this kind of tourism but it’s a simple case of supply and demand and a free market will always dictate the prices. If he wants to stop people being ‘ripped off’ is he also going to crackdown on the prices that clubs charge for entrance and drinks?
Tourists are happy to pay as long as the end justifies the means and in Ibiza we have a product that the traveller seems willing to pay for. The price of property is rocketing too so if you pay a relatively high price to buy a nice house with a pool are you not entitled to charge high prices for rent during the peak summer period? It’s the same in other places where there is a high demand during peak times.
In my opinion the issue here isn’t the price but the unlicensed trade and the lack of tax paid. This is a familiar story in Ibiza and it all comes down to control. Allow for the creation of wealth but under strict conditions and ensure that the tax is paid. A controlled fair and free market should eventually steady prices, create wealth and increase taxes. Many homeowners may also decide to rent in an alternative manner once they are aware of the tax implications.
This island allows too many people the opportunity to come over for a few short months, earn vast amounts of money and not put one cent back into the system. That’s the problem, not whether somebody wants to pay a high price to sleep in a converted bus for a week.
In a show of financial muscle, Ushuaia Beach Hotel has won the auction to pay 355,100 euros annually for the right to control 180 sunbeds and 90 umbrellas directly in front of their establishment in Playa den Bossa
They paid the highest price at an auction of 153 lots held by San Jose town hall for specific beach concessions in the municipality.
The same company also agreed to pay 153,000 and 24,300 euros annually for 2 more lots located in front of their hotels on Playa d’en Bossa beach.
“This is not a business, it is a way to defend our clients, our service and our quality” said Ushuaia representative Vicent Mari, “If we had to bid more then we would have done but not to make money. We have no beach activities only hotels and this is to give service to our customers” he insisted.
In total all the lots amounted to €4.6M meaning that San Jose will raise €9.2M over 2 years in what was a tense and heated process that lasted 6 hours and saw deputy mayor Paquita Ribas act as auctioneer and other councillors from all parties act as official witnesses. This amount was twice as much as was previously raised in 2012.
Living in Ibiza is never straightforward and always interesting with a big learning curve. Here’s a lighthearted look at how life is on the white isle.
1. If you’re under the age of 30 all your friends back home presume you’re a drug dealer. If you are over 30 they presume you’re mad.
2. You start getting a taste for hierbas especially with ice and can’t understand when visitors say it’s horrible.
3. Most of your friends and family want to visit in August and automatically think you are also on holiday. How wrong they are.
4. When you tell people you live in Ibiza they immediately say “Wow, do you go to all the clubs?”
5. When you suggest to your friends that they visit in winter they look at you blankly.
6. You invariably rent your apartment or house from a family with one of the following surnames: Bonet, Costa, Cardona, Escandell, Marí, Planells, Roig, Riera, Tur, Torres or Ribas.
7. You become addicted to olives, bread and aioli without even realising it.
8. A long lunch in Ibiza is at least 4 hours and can sometimes go into the next day.
9. You point blank refuse to pay to get into a club, you live on the island after all.
10. If you are over 40 then Ibiza Rocks/Pikes and Children of the 80s is obligatory.
11. You can’t help yourself but you start to sneer at tourists especially those wearing stereotypical clothing.
12. You laugh at people that post a thousand photos on Facebook and profess their love for Ibiza then do exactly the same when you visit Formentera.
13. You spend the whole of winter wishing it was summer then the whole of summer wishing it was winter.
14. They say that we are all connected by no more than six degrees of separation but in Ibiza its usually 2 or 3 at most.
15. Be prepared to talk about food to your neighbours and Spanish friends, it’s the common denominator.
16. Take every bit of documentation to every meeting on every occasion and still be prepared to get annoyed.
17. Allow at least 4 weeks when ordering anything from a local shop, 6 weeks over Easter and Christmas.
18. You’d never dream of walking up D’alt Vila but during the Medieval Festival you find yourself there in crowded streets in the unbearable heat.
19. Animal lovers are everywhere so don’t say anything controversial even in jest and especially not on social media.
20. You have to come to terms with the fact that in Ibiza nothing really makes much sense but that’s all part of the fun.
Originallypublishedin April 2016 as my 100th blog post, thanks for reading!
Ibiza Town’s famous city centre Hotel Montesol will be the first hotel in Spain opened under the ‘Curio’ brand by the Hilton Group. It will open this summer as the ‘Gran Hotel Montesol Ibiza’ and have 33 rooms open all year round and will mark Hilton Hotels’ debut on the island,
The Curio brand offers a select number of hotels in destinations such as Hamburg, Reykjavik, London, Paris and Lagos which are handpicked for their character and personality. The group hope to have 80 Curio hotels up and running this year.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, Senior Vice President of Business Development for EMEA Hilton Worldwide, explained “Ibiza is the ideal place to open the 1st Curio hotel in Spain because of it’s reputation as a luxury destination and is recognised as one of the most visited and popular destinations of Spain”.
The Montesol, founded in 1933, was the first hotel built in Ibiza and was used as military headquarters during the Spanish Civil War. The building is recognised as a place of cultural interest by the Spanish Ministry of Culture with its characteristic yellow neoclassical and white facade which will remain in the new design.
In a further tightening of anti-social legislation, San Antonio’s local council has once again flexed it’s muscles and announced plans to curb loud laughter in public.
In news that will shock many the “Ruidosa Hilaridad Denounciano” (literal translation; Loud Mirth Act), will make it an offence to ‘howl, hoot or roar with laughter in a public place’ with fines for ‘excessive humourous expression’ of between 400 and 1000 euros depending on the severity of the ‘offence’.
When pressed to explain the reason behind the new ruling a council spokesperson explained that San Antonio’s new touristic model did not envisage people having excessive fun or seek to promote the expression of happiness but denied the new anti-laughter law would affect the islands tourist sector, pointing out that people were still allowed to ‘smile’ or ‘grin’. He also hinted that a blind eye would be turned to sniggerers and titterers though anything exceeding a chuckle or chortle would be deemed a step too far.
“Roaring or howling with laughter has no place in San Antonio” the spokesperson explained, this type of thing has “a negative impact on the environment and damages the image of the town”.
However there is some confusion over how the new law will be enforced with San Antonio Town Hall also stating that some leniency would be shown to gigglers and that there would be an amnesty from 24 Dec – 07 Jan to allow seasonal “HO! HO! HO-ing”.
Local businesses have already expressed their dismay at the new legislation with one bar owner telling me that she has decided to stop showing Manchester United games due to concerns that their recent performances have provoked uncontrollable laughter from those assembled. Furthermore, David Guetta’s office refused to confirm whether the French ‘DJ’ will continue to play in Ibiza as his tune selection is known to provoke snorts of derision amongst purists.
A prominent local businessman said “Ibiza is once again taking itself far too seriously. This law will only serve to drive laughter underground. People like a laugh and will guffaw whether it’s allowed or not”.
In another twist, it has emerged that the powerful Association of Discotecas is refusing to implement the law inside its superclubs. A spokesman commented “when people find out how much our drinks cost they often erupt into disbelieving laughter. If we report them all to the police there’ll be nobody left in our venues… and that’s no laughing matter”.
In a clear sign of things to come, San Antonio’s Mayor Jose Tur “Cires” has flexed his muscles and followed in Ibiza Town’s footsteps and announced an indefinite ban on ‘dynamic advertising’ specifically public relation workers (i.e. those who convince tourists to drink in certain premises) and street parades where groups of people walk along advertising clubs, bars & events.
The official reason is to “improve coexistence in the town” citing that this type of advertising takes place in public spaces and has a negative impact “on the environment, on the right of citizens freedom of movement and that it damages the image of the town with constant harassment of tourists”.
Mayor Tur has signed the decree suspending all new requests and renewals of licenses stating clearly that “failure to comply with this decree will result in the initiation of disciplinary proceedings”.
With other problems in the municipality some British bar owners have questioned whether the town hall has got its priorities right. One bar owner told me “it seems that the more legitimate you try to be the more you get pulled down or the more you have to pay. That just encourages people to play dirty games and flout the law breeding more underhand ways of doing things and fueling the very people causing the problems in the first place”
Another said “No legal PRs at all is the wrong move while there are 100s of illegals. It’s perhaps the logical step after the illegals have been eliminated, but not before, it’s’s like throwing the baby out with the bath water. There are far more pressing problems that need addressing that affect our town’s image such as lookys, pickpockets, prostitutes, these are much higher on the list that public relation issues. Why are these not being tackled first?”
Not all bar owners think it’s a bad thing with one commenting “this island used to work very well without PRs and ticket sellers” whereas as another said “they will be banning fun next”.
Ibiza is famous throughout the planet for it’s music and clubbing scene but nothing defines the island as much as it’s natural beauty and right in the middle of this is it’s amazing beaches.
After news that Illetes on Formentera was voted the ‘world’s best beach’ by the powerful Trip Advisor website I think it’s time to highlight the 15 best beaches on the White Isle as voted for by the island residents themslves (and they should know).
15. ES PORTITXOL
On the north coast of the island close to San Miguel is this crescent shaped hidden gem that is the stuff of dreams. It’s remote location means that it’s difficult to find so is usually deserted all through the summer so it’s a real getaway from the maddening crowd. The only drawback is that it’s so well protected by the high coastline that there’s very little breeze making it like an oven on a hot summers day.
14. CALA SALADA
photo: piers dupoy
One of San Antonio’s premier beaches is a joy with it’s pebble and sand beach and traditional restaurant serving delicious Spanish food at reasonable prices. Access via a steep hill from the northern side of San An and you won’t be disappointed with this beautiful cove.
13. CALA LLENYA
On the north east coast, 10 mins drive from San Carlos, lies this lovely sandy beach that is well worth the effort to get there. A favourite with families this beach is relatively quiet even in the peak season and is surrounded by green pine trees. Delightful.
12. LAS SALINAS
photo: piers dupoy
One of the major beaches on the white isle, this mile long white sandy beach is part of the Salinas National Park and has it all. Large car park for easy access, excellent frontline restaurants, clear blue waters and a rocky walk to the watchtower for when you’re feeling energetic. Favoured by the beautiful people but please note that it’s anything but relaxing during peak periods with ticket sellers and club parades a plenty. Very Ibiza.
11. ES CAVALLET
On the northern side of the arrowhead that makes up the southernmost point of island is the uber cool Es Cavallet. Over 1km of fine white sand with views to Ibiza Town and Formentera this picturesque stretch is a popular gay hangout and is an official nudist beach. There’s also some excellent restaurants where the rich and famous can usually be spotted. Definitely worth a visit even if just for the selfie.
10. CALA TARIDA
photo: piers dupoy
This resort beach is nearly 1km long and has a traditional holiday atmosphere with families, sunbeds, watersports, shops, bars and lots of other things thrown into the mix. This sheltered bay has amazing clear waters, a lovely stretch of sand and is favoured by continental Europeans.
9. CALA XARRACA
Just to the west of Portinatx is the small but perfectly formed bay of Cala Xarraca. It’s ideal for snorkeling with its clear waters and has magnificent views out to sea. There is also a mud bath that’s said to have special soothing powers and a traditional family owned restaurant serving delicious local dishes. What’s not to like!
8. CALA BASSA
photo: martin makepeace
Nestled only 15 mins drive from San Antonio and San Jose is the amazing Cala Bassa beach. Accessible by boat, car or bus this bay is one of Ibiza’s most popular places especially amongst locals. The creation of CBBC (Cala Bassa Beach Club) a few years ago caused much consternation locally but there’s no denying that it has taken the product to another level. While some complain of inflated prices others enjoy the several restaurants and tree lined bars that the beach club has to offer. The beach is a sandy paradise with turquoise waters and watersports. Life doesn’t get much better than lobster paella in the shade at CBBC on a hot summers day.
7. BENIRRAS
photo: piers dupoy
Get your hippy vibe going and join the in-crowd on one of Ibiza’s most famous hangouts. Benirras beach is located east of San Miguel and attracts a weird and wonderful crowd that only the white isle can offer. The beach itself is pebbles and sand with sunbeds and surrounded by several good restaurants. Sunday is the day when the drummers descend on the beach and begin their musical ritual at sunset. This should be on your Ibiza bucket list!
6. CALA VADELLA
photo: piers dupoy
Underrated by many (but not by Ibiza residents) this wide stretch of beach is ideal for kids with it’s shallow waters and gentle slope. Surrounded by beautiful green countryside and with restaurants and a popular dive school close by this delightful bay ticks all the boxes.
5. CALA GRACIONETA
photo: martin makepeace
This bijou beach paradise is one of Ibiza’s smallest but is simply breathtaking in its beauty and deserves to be in the top 5. A small white sandy beach surrounded by rocks and turquoise blue sea will stop you in your tracks and feel like you have gone to heaven. Because of its size it does get very busy during peak months but there is a top notch restaurant on the beach that serves delicious food and gives some well needed shade.
4. CALA NOVA
photo: ibiza spotlight
This north east coast beach has become increasingly popular since Atzaro opened their chic beach ‘club’ a few years back putting this unspoilt and shallow bay firmly on the map. Close to Es Cana and Cala Llenya, the surrounding scenery is naturally pine clad and has a choice of food places from plush to easy.
3. AIGUAS BLANCAS
Making the top 3 is this locals favourite that’s rarely overcrowded even in the busy summer months, Aiguas Blancas continues to surprise and delight the many that venture here every year. It’s nudist friendly and has that hippy vibe that Ibiza is famous for. Don’t be put off by it’s steep access, this just makes the experience that little more memorable and well worth the effort to see this natural beach that has been unspoilt with time. No sunbeds here just a couple of cool eateries and amazing views for your social media updates.
2. CALA SALADETA
photo: piers dupoy
We’ve already covered Cala Salada but what about its smaller sibling that comes in 2nd on our list? Drop down to Salada then make your way right over the rocks until you come to this beach haven. Saladeta is for the beach connoisseurs who want a white sandy beach overlooked by pine clad nature at its very finest. Busy during the summer months and very international with a surprising lack of Brits, Saladeta is old school beach loveliness and nothing else. No beach clubs or food places although the hawkers will be round offering their overpriced mojitos and fruit but this just adds to the fun. Simply irresistible.
1. CALA CONTA
Top of our list is the perennially popular Cala Conta which is nothing short of heaven on earth and my personal favourite on the island. A wonderland of walks in the winter then a beach paradise with stunning clear waters during the hot summer months Conta is up there with Europes finest. Not only that but it looks over several small islets that just add to its allure. Throw in good bus connections, ample car parking, one of Ibiza’s coolest sunset bars, a couple of class restaurants and you have the complete package for an incredible day and evening at the beach and really that’s what it’s all about!
Do you agree or have I missed out anything? Get in touch via Facebook, Twitter or email and have your say. Have a great summer!
Today is the unofficial start of the summer as Ryanair, everybody’s favourite airline :) has once again resumed wholesale international flights in and out of the island.
British Airways has done a fantastic job connecting the white isle directly to London during the winter months but unfortunately London City Airport only appeals to a certain geographical area, great if you live in and around central London but quite a difficult nut to crack if you live north of Watford.
So love them or hate them that cheeky Irish airline is back big time and now its also Spain’s biggest airline in terms of passengers carried. To celebrate here is a quick overview of their summer 2016 international flights in and out of Ibiza but please note that is for quick reference only so please check the Ryanair website for full details!
BUEN VIAJE
London Stansted (STN)
18 Mar-29 Oct
Daily (except 22 & 24 Mar)
Manchester (MAN)
18 Mar-29 Oct
Daily (except 22/23/24 & 25 March)
Birmingham (BHX)
27 Mar-27 Oct
Thu / Sun in Apr / May / Jun
Tue / Thu / Sun in Jul / Aug / Sep / Oct
Bristol (BRS)
04 Apr-29 Oct
Mon / Wed / Fri
East Midlands (EMA)
02 Apr-29 Oct
Tue / Thu / Sat
Glasgow Prestwick (PIK)
27 Mar-26 Oct
Wed / Sun plus an extra flight on a Fri in Jul only
Leeds Bradford (LBA)
03 Apr-27 Oct
Thu / Sun
Liverpool (LPL)
01 Apr-28 Oct
Mon / Wed / Fri
Bologna (BLQ)
01 Apr-29 Oct
Daily
Brussels (BRU)
01 Jul-31 Aug
Daily
Brussels (CRL)
02 Apr-29 Oct
Mon / Tue / Thu / Sat in Apr / May / Jun / Sep / Oct
Daily Jul / Aug
Dublin (DUB)
02 Apr-29 Oct
Mon / Wed / Sat in Apr / Oct
Mon / Tue / Wed / Thu / Sat in May-Sep
Dusseldorf Weeze (NRN)
02 Apr-29 Oct
Tue / Thu / Sat / Sun
Eindhoven (EIN)
02 Apr – 29 Oct
Daily (except Friday)
Note: No flights 30 May-15 Jun inc
Frankfurt Hahn (HHN)
18 Mar-28 Oct
Fri / Mon
Note: No flight on 21 March but one off flight on Tue 22 Mar
Marseille (MRS)
03 Apr-27 Oct
Thu / Sun
Milan Bergamo (BGY)
01 Apr-29 Oct
Daily
Pisa (PSA)
03 Apr-26 Oct
Wed / Sun in Apr / Oct
Wed / Fri / Sun in May
Wed / Thu / Fri / Sun in Jun / Sep
Tue / Wed / Thu / Fri / Sun in Jul
Daily in Aug
Rome (CIA)
27 Mar-29 Oct
Daily
Turin (TRN)
02 May-28 Oct
Mon / Fri
Venice (TSF)
03 May-29 Oct
Tue / Thu / Sat
Ibiza is about to get busy so have a great summer no matter whether you are working, relaxing, partying, or anything else you might want to do. See you on the other side.
In shock news that has had international press coverage, Spanish Guardia Civil and customs officials are investigating after 3 ‘sacks’ of cocaine was discovered on Playa de Migjorn beach on the south coast of the island of Formentera, which is located 6km off the coast of Ibiza.
Even more surprising was that it was initially reported that there was 70kg of the drug but this was then revised up to 150kg and then after weighing it was found that the final figure was 84kg that has a street value well in excess of 6 million euros.
The 3 bags bearing the ‘Everlast’ logo were washed up on the beach covered in seaweed and discovered by a female on the afternoon of Tuesday 15 March, a broken GPS device was also recovered.
The authorities are working on the theory that the bags were thrown overboard from a vessel to avoid security forces, so far nobody has been arrested and enquires are ongoing.
Local residents in the Calo des Moro area of San Antonio have made a formal complaint about the proposed creation of a mosque on the ground floor of an apartment block in the area.
They explained that they consider the area to be a “tourist zone” and insist that a religious centre of this type should be in a separate building and not part of an existing residential block of apartments.
One resident explained “Our group of 28 neighbours have discovered that the ground floor commercial premises have been purchased with the intention of creating a mosque. This is the best tourist area of San Antonio and we think it is not compatible with any religious centres”.
The local residents have also complained that there has been work taking place on the premises during the night time and after these initial complaints a meeting was called where signatures were collected against the creation of this religious center and presented to the town hall to express their opposition.
San Antonio town hall has explained that the El Fath Cultural Association presented an “approval request” in November 2015 that was required prior to the purchase of premises and that technicians reported favorably as “it met all legal requirements” although they pointed out that the project would be reviewed at a late date. Over the last couple of weeks the cultural association has presented a basic project for the mosque with the plan to combine 3 premises.
As of yet town hall technicians have not yet assessed the plan “so no work had been authorized” and in this respect town planners will investigate the allegation that work has been preformed without authorisation.
MAN IN SAN AN by Martin Makepeace 