Okay first thing first Ibiza is not a place that anyone really needs to survive, being one of the most beautiful places on Earth, with an amazing culture, lifestyle and some of the warmest people you would ever hope of meeting. However each year among the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the islands from Britain there are those who will fall foul of one thing or another and this section of My Ibiza is not aiming to preach but to offer some valuable information.

Planning your holiday to Ibiza
If you have never been to the Balearics before and are planning your first trip there in the future, there are a few things that are worth pointing out, most are just common sense but some may have escaped your notice up to now.

Early Birds: It goes without saying that these days holiday making is very big business, generating billions in revenue each year, and catering to millions of eager tourists. Almost every travel agent in the high street or the internet will have some special offer to tempt you with, all eager to part you and your cash as quickly as possible. Tour brochures are released around three times a year and you can often book your holiday almost a year in advance these days, and such early bookings can give you; as the holidaymaker a great deal of benefits. Booking early not only secures your place in the hotel, apartment, etc, but also gives you more time to save for the holiday, and get things ready such as passports.

Many tour operators offer monthly payments or balance payments on holidays over £100, often with low or even no deposit to secure the holiday. Check before you book if you get discounted places for children as many tour operators offer the first child place for free (under 12 years of age) or from as little as £1.00. Of course some tour operators will go even further to tempt you from your cash and will not only offer your first child place free, but will give you a great discount on a second child travelling with you!

When you do book your holiday however be aware of any contractual obligations that you are undertaking such as paying monthly or by credit card or using the tour operators insurance policy, and often failure to pay the balance by a set date could put your holiday itself in jeopardy. If you do find your having problems with payment dates, contact your tour operator as soon as you can and see if they can help you come up with a more flexible solution.

Booking: As stated above it is always advantageous to book for your holiday early, taking the best deals you can get, however you can often find last minute bargains on teletext, the internet or even the local newspaper that could save you hundreds of pounds in the long run. The only real problem with taking a late book or cancellation is that often you may not find out any real details about your holiday destination until the last moment.

When you book make sure that the total cost of the holiday includes any extras you may need such as transfers to and from the airport and your hotel, meals on the flight (if needed), late-stay rooms (in case you have a very early flight out) and any other flight supplements that you may have to pay. Do this before signing on that dotted line.

The Euro: For many years the main currency of Ibiza and her sister island Formentera was the peseta and when Spain opted into the EEU a few years ago it agreed to make the euro its only legal currency and the euro went legal on January 1st 2002. Many opposed this fact and it has been a bitter bone of contention with politicians of late, with many wanting to go back to the peseta even if it means leaving the EEU to do so. There are a great many older citizens on both Ibiza and Formentera and as such the government of the Balearics decided that it would duel price many items in both currencies for a period of five years so that the elder generations could slowly get used to the new system. You can still find many items priced this way and it just shows exactly how bad the peseta has faired compared to the euro. You can get euros from your local travel agency or the airport or any major high street post office in the UK, and the euro comes in denominations of 5.10.20.50.100.200, and 500 notes and the 1 and 2 euro coins and is further broken down into cents (1, 2,5,10,20,50 cent coins). Many high street banks will offer services that will allow UK customers visiting Ibiza to draw on their account while on the island, taking euros directly from your sterling account with little or no penalty, check first to see if your bank offers this service and if there is a cost involved or not?

Visa: Do you need a visa to visit the island? Well if you are a national of any country in the EEU (European Economic Union) then you will be fine with just your standard passport. Visitors from America, Canada and Australia may have to apply for a visa and should contact their local embassy if they are unsure or the Ibizan embassy (details below), likewise those travelling from Africa and other non EEU states many also need to undergo this procedure. As a rule of thumb check before you travel as being turned away from a country is not a very good way to start a holiday of a lifetime.

Departure: Although your tour operator will often explain this to you when you pick up your tickets, it is always a good idea to turn up at your departure airport a couple of hours before the flight is due to leave. If you turn up with plenty of time any specific needs your party may have such as disabled access or small children can be catered for, allowing you a short while to relax and wait for the holiday to begin. Of course airports can be very boring places for the young at heart, so if you have the kids with you why not take a few books or comics for them to read in the departure lounge. Although turning up early has its advantages, it can also be somewhat a hindrance too! Turing up a few hours before your flight often means that you will have to sit with your luggage as you wait for the gate to open and allow you to book yourself and party onto the flight, this not only can be a pain just watching the luggage, but also it is your responsibility to keep your eyes firmly on any luggage you are taking with you. During these days of tightened security at airports you must always be vigilant with your suitcases and bags right up until you enter the plane itself!

Food: Most airports offer a wide range of places to eat and drink before you fly out and also cater for friends and family who may wish to see you off, but on the whole airport cuisine can be very, very expensive and you can expect in most cases to pay through the nose for a meal or even a coffee.

In recent years however many fast food chains such as McDonalds, KFC or Burger King have set up shop in airports around the UK and are worth checking out as their prices often remain the same as they are on the high street.

There are also bars in some airports offering alcoholic refreshments before your flight, but be warned that if you do over do it on the alcohol front you may be refused admission onto the plane if the cabin crew believe you are intoxicated and are a danger to the other passengers. Likewise if you get drunk on a plane going out to Ibiza or coming back to the UK you may well find yourself in very serious trouble. It is not unheard of for rowdy passengers on flights to Ibiza to find themselves falling foul of the polica upon arrival and after a night in the cells, heading back to the UK without ever seeing the sun or the island!

The Flight: Many people suffer from phobias when it comes to flying, and it is often said that airplanes are the safest form of transport around, and this is very true. If you do suffer from nerves when you fly, rather than trying to hide behind an alcoholic drink in the bar before the flight (alcohol will only cause you to be more anxious), try to do something else to take your mind of the flight! Reading can be good if you suffer from nerves, or listen to the radio on the flight with the free headphones that are provided, anything that occupies the mind will take your mind off your fear allowing you to relax.

The flight time between the UK and Ibiza is around 2 ½ hours on average and you will find that you are just getting comfortable and you're about to land. Many airplanes will undergo a sudden surge when they land as the brakes on the aircraft kick in to bring the plane to a halt, this can be very unnerving but it is quite safe so relax you are in very good hands.

Just as in the airport itself, the drinks and meals onboard your flight can be very expensive. A soft drink can be well over £1, likewise a pack of Pringles cost my daughter Katie £1 for a tub on our last holiday, and would have normally worked out at around 50 pence. Still if you don't think you can wait until you land. Another idea is to take your own sandwiches and soft drinks with you cutting out the middleman. Though due to foot and mouth incidents in the UK some products are not advised to be taken with you!

Prior to landing at your destination airport (in this case Eivissa Airpourto) your cabin crew will inform you that you are about to begin your decent to the island. This will normally be around the time that the fasten seatbelt signs light up. This is a good time to adjust your watch to the local time so you don't get confused or heaven forbid wake up later than you want to. Ibiza is exactly one hour ahead of Britain so adjust your watch accordingly.

Eivissa Airport: When you land in Ibiza you will no doubt notice that the cabin crew will mention the local time and temperature before you depart the aircraft! Dependant on the time of day you arrive it can be very warm or extremely hot when you leave the aircraft for the first time, and it can be perhaps best equated to stepping into a warm shower. Once you are down the steps of the plane and on the runway you will make your way to the shuttle that will then drive you to the airport and customs, don't be worried about trying to rush to the shuttle as there will be plenty of room for all and often more than one shuttle will turn up to meet a plane.

Inside Eivissa airport you will then make your way through customs and unless you look likely to cause trouble, are drunk or look very suspicious you shouldn't have any real problems. The staff on duty at the airport will be more than happy to help you with any problems you may have.

Once through customs it is then on to the customary wait for your luggage at the carousel, which can take anywhere up to an hour in the most extreme of cases, but normally you should have your bags and be able to leave the airport within ten minutes.

If you have transfers booked then they will be waiting for you when you leave the arrivals lounge and don't worry they will wait until everyone on their list is on board the coach. Most tour operators will hire local drivers and use top of the range coaches with air conditioning when they pick you up, as first impressions are always very important. On you're way to the resort of your choice your tour rep will tell you of any information that you may need to know and will most likely invite you to a meeting of other holidaymakers new to the resort, often only a few hours after you land. This can be very frustrating for those with small children who have flown out at night, as it doesn't allow for much sleep, but it is always worthwhile checkout out these meetings if you can!

Communications: Ibiza is now a very busy island which relies on the rest of Europe for a majority of its goods, in recent years however vast improvements in both the lifestyle of the locals and Ibiza's connection to the rest of the world have occurred and now internet cafes are every bit as common place as any where else in Europe, giving global access via email and chat programs such as Microsoft's MSN Messenger service at the stroke of a keyboard. Most mobile phones also work on Ibiza though you will find that your service provider will bill you not only for the calls you make, but also any text you receive or calls made to your mobile while on the islands. This can be extremely expensive and even a wrong number can cost you a small fortune. Check with your service provider before flying out!

Ibiza has a great number of telephones for public use and you cant walk more than 100 yards in any of the resorts without coming across a pay phone! Most of the pay phones will accept the pre-paid international call cards and this is a far cheaper option than using your mobile in the long run and also means you don't have to worry about losing your phone in the process!

Your Apartment: As mentioned above your tour rep will most likely invite you to a meeting during the first morning of your stay with them at the hotel or apartment, this will be when they try to sell you on trips, outings and other offers, as well as giving you a complimentary drink and informing you of any offers such as Kidszone (a excellent Thompson club for 4-11 year olds). Remember that you are NOT under any obligation to undertake any of the trips or outings on offer and don't feel pressured into doing so. During our first visit to Ibiza on our honeymoon, Laura and myself were given the pressure sales tactics by the Club 18-30 reps to part with our money, and when we declined we found the reps to be standoffish at best. If you do have problems with any reps on your holiday, enquire who their leader is and what hotel they are based at, in most cases you will be given details of this during your orientation if you travel with a reputable company such as Thompson.

Of course the outings and offers that the reps will tempt you can be wonderful experiences and very good value for money indeed, so it is worth thinking before you decline in many cases. Most hotels will offer some form of discount to local attractions such as the water parks, or ferry trips to Formentera and other places on Ibiza and these can save you a lot of money, again if you don't know ASK!

The meeting will also give you chance to ask any questions you may have to the reps, and don't be afraid to ask anything as they will have been on the island for weeks (often months) and will be more than happy to help you! Reps will always know of the best and often cheapest places to eat, areas of interest and much more, so don't be afraid to speak, after all you are paying their wages!

If your holiday is self-catering you may find it a good idea to ask your rep where the best supermarkets are to be found. Self-catering offers the freedom of eating just what you like and when you like. Food in the supermarkets is on average cheaper than it is back home and most of the supermarkets will sell products that you are familiar with, (there is a brief lexicon at the end of this article that gives some of the Spanish names for food items and useful phrases) and stores such as Spar are very common in the larger resorts such as San Antonio and Plajta d'en Bossa! For those with large families to cater for there are a couple of very large supermarkets on the island, with a large Lidl in Figueretes and a massive superstore in Ibiza town.

 

The Ecotax: All adult visitors to Ibiza and Formentera are now required to pay an ecotax of between €0.25 and €2.00 per day of their holiday, dependent on the accommodation they are staying in. The ecotax was introduced back in 2002 and although it has been unpopular with both hoteliers and tour operators it has been very successful and has pumped millions of euros back into the islands. The ecotax is normally paid to the hotel or apartment clerk on arrival, children under 12 do not count towards the ecotax: PLEASE NOTE AS OF SEPTEMBER 2003 THE ECOTAX IS NO LONGER CHARGED!!!!

The Weather: Many of us try to escape to warmer climes each year, wanting to bask in the warmth of the sun and get a good tan. Of course Ibiza has a great climate and due to its location in the midst of the Mediterranean it has some excellent weather, with over 300 days of sunshine, during many of which the sun shines for over 10 hours a day and temperatures can reach staggering heights!

Of course your tour guide or operator cant predict just what the weather is going to be like on a given date, often months in advance and you would be very surprised at just how many people actually complain to their reps when on holiday about the weather. On the whole you should expect great weather in Ibiza if you visit between the end of May and the end of October each year, with very little rain, so this is the best time to plan your holiday. It does rain in Ibiza but often you may not even notice it as the showers there during summer months can be little more than a light drizzle, and what rain that falls often is gone within an hour.

Generally speaking the weather will normally remain sunny but may be overcast at times, just like anywhere else in the world. Though it is often dry in summer months, there are the occasional bouts of freak weather and storms blowing in from North Africa and Spain are not unheard of, some up to gale force in strength. Most of these storms will pass the islands by harmlessly or will dissipate out to sea, but on occasion a storm may come very close to the islands.

Getting Around: Ibiza has in place a very good transit system of busses and taxis that will take you around the island quite cheaply and due to the size of the island it can be a very short trip. The busses run from all resorts to Ibiza Town from very early to 11.30pm every night, and though the prices of the journeys are cheap, in most cases being only €1.00 for adults and children, the buses can get very packed with both locals and tourists alike, often to sardine like qualities. Most of the drivers don't speak that much English, but the bus stops will often have a timetable that is very easy to understand, stating the bus number and the time it is due to reach the stop and then its destination.

Taxis are again quite cheap, but as a rule of thumb try to find out the price before you set off in the cab. Most taxi drivers will be more than happy to help you, though many will not speak much English.

Car hire is also an option with a vast array of firms to hire vehicles from. There are many car hire firms at the Eivissa airport that you can also hire a vehicle from if you are not meeting a transfer to your hotel, each very reputable with great vehicles to choose from.

Most car hire firms will insist that you have with you a FULL driving license and your passport when you hire out a car and all will also insist that you take out insurance upgrade with them before you hire your vehicle.

Remember that in Ibiza and Formentera they drive on the right hand side of the road and not the left. This is just as important when crossing roads as it is to a driver!

Ferries: The only way to get from Ibiza to Formentera is to take a boat, often a ferry or hydrofoil caught from the marina in Ibiza Town or one of the other resorts around the island. The journey between the islands takes between 20 minutes and an hour and a half dependant on the mode of boat you catch and exactly where from. Some small operators in San Antonio offer a sedate boat trip to the island that takes over an hour and if you suffer from seasickness this is perhaps not a very good idea to take as the crossing can sometimes be quite rough. The fastest way to get to Formentera is via the hydrofoils that operate from Ibiza Town, but they can work out very expensive setting you back up to €24 per adult for a one-way trip and double that for a return journey! Shop around though as you can often find bargain trips that are half the price of the faster boats, and if you do plan on going and spending the day on the paradise island of Formentera then buy a single ticket, that way you are not stuck with catching just one boat back and can always choose the boat back you wish to catch. Another thing to watch out for is the times of the last boats back as they normally stop running to Ibiza at around 8.30pm during high season, and if you miss the last boat you will have no other choice than to stay on Formentera till around 10am the following morning. All the larger ferries, hydrofoils and glass bottom boats will offer drinks and refreshments for your journey, and each will have its own toilets.

Safety: Forewarned is forearmed as the saying goes and in Ibiza like anywhere else you need to think sometimes before you leap.

Sunbathing: The sun here is far stronger than it is back at home and of course you will want to get that lovely brown tan, rather than come back home milk-bottle white. Sunbathing is very controversial right now with many blaming skin cancers and other aliments on too much time in the sun! If you are careful however you can sunbath in safety with no worries. As a rule of thumb it is best to use a fairly high protection factor suntan cream or lotion, or better still a high factor block (especially on those with fair skin or children), and apply it as often as possible! You will get as great tan from a Factor 15 sun cream or block as you will from a far lower factor, and it wont need to be applied as often as a lower one in the long run and therefore save money. Apply your suntan cream or lotion as often as possible, whenever you come out of the pool or sea, or if you feel your skin begin to tingle or get tight! This will help prevent you getting burnt too badly, and should allow you to tan evenly.

Roads: As mentioned above they drive on the right hand side of the road in both Ibiza and Formentera so you need to look left then right then left again (mirroring the Green Cross Code from the UK) before you cross. The speed limit in most areas is 50kph but sometimes you will get cars that will break this law so be careful!

Swimming: Swimming is always a danger no matter where you are in the world. If you get out of your depth easily you can find yourself panicking and getting into all sorts of trouble. Some of the larger beaches and hotels offer lifeguards who are on duty in case of trouble but not all do so please be careful, especially with younger children, as the water can be a deadly place!

Always keep your eye on the kids when they are using floats or snorkelling, and watch out for rocks and drops in the ocean bed yourself, as it's easy to lose your footing when exploring!

There are not many dangerous sea creatures in and around the Pitiuses, but watch out for jellyfish and Portuguese Man of War, and where the water is deeper (like Cala Bassa) large eels such as Moray. One of the most painful things however can be the humble Sea Cucumber, a small creature that looks like a black piece of wood when underwater and is covered with very tiny spines. Stand on one of these and you will feel it instantly and they can cause problems for those who have severe allergies to stings so wear something on your feet when exploring the water!

Both Ibiza and Formentera operate a flag system for beach safety on the more crowed or popular beaches with the flags being as follows:

Green Flag: The water is safe to swim in with no dangers in the water, safe for all.

Yellow Flag: Good or strong swimmers only should go in the water

Red Flag: Dangerous conditions: No swimming.

Follow these and you cant go wrong!

Theft: Although Ibiza and Formentera are both paradise islands, drenched in glorious sunshine, there are still those who would prey on others present! Thieves do work the streets and beaches of the islands, just like they do any other place in the world, so don't make yourself an easy target. Here are a few simple things to remember!

Keep your money out of sight as often as possible. If you flash around your euros then you will increase the risk of someone actually noticing that you have cash on you, this is not always avoidable but try to keep your money discreetly hidden or secured on your person. If you are alone on the beach and have cash with you, invest in a waterproof wallet that you can hang around your neck or place inside your costume, don't just leave your wallet under your towel or sitting in your bag!

Likewise cameras are an ideal source for thieves and the loss of one can ruin your holiday, so when not using your camera keep it out of sight!

If you do suffer at the hands of thieves while in Ibiza, either on the streets or the beach or even your hotel, then you need to report the incident to both your tour rep and to the local police immediately, where you will obtain an incident number to use on any insurance claims, but hopefully if your careful you wont need this at all! Just think wise and as if you where at home!

Water: They often say that you shouldn't drink the water when your abroad and this is very apt in the case of Ibiza! You can drink the local tap water, but it tastes vile and disgusting, and even the locals wont touch the stuff other than for washing or cleaning! The best solution is to purchase your water from the nearest supermarket, it is cheap and available in a wide range of container sizes to meet your needs, from small 500ml bottles to huge 5ltr containers. Water bought from the supermarkets will vary in price but on the whole is less expensive than it is here in the UK, so shop around as one supermarket may have a 3ltr bottle at €1.50 where as another may have it at 60 cents!

Also buy water for cooking and making drinks with such as tea and coffee if you want them, as the water from the tap really is awful to the taste!

You should drink water as often as possible during the day in Ibiza and even more so on Formentera as you will find yourself dehydrating very quickly and this can lead to sunstroke which believe me is not a nice experience at all. On average an adult should drink around 2-4 litres of water during the day with children 1.5 to 2ltrs, this will aid you when you sunbath and stop you feeling really sick!

Eating Out: There are hundreds of bars, cafes and restaurants on Ibiza offering a wide range of menus for almost any palette. In Ibiza you can eat like a king for only a hand full of euros or pay over the top prices for the most basic of meals! The key to finding somewhere good to eat is to look around, and also to ask others. People who are in your hotel and have been there a little longer than yourself will know places that they like to eat in or avoid so strike up a conversation and make new friends into the bargain. Tour reps are an ideal source of information on where is best to eat, especially if your on a budget as they often have to survive on very low incomes themselves and quickly learn the best and often cheapest places to eat, a good sign of a good restaurant is one that has a lot of tour reps visiting it.

There are many take-away places on the islands offering everything from Spanish cuisine to kebabs, pizza and even fish and chips! Again it is always worth checking out the menus in take-aways and restaurants for special deals and offers, especially during high season!

Seafood is very popular on both islands, with fresh fish and shellfish being available daily in most restaurants. Local dishes such as Paella use fish and can be really refreshing and are worth checking out.

Another good idea is to look where the locals eat if you can and try to eat there, overcoming the language barrier could be a problem but you will often find that these smaller restaurants are among the best your ever likely to come across!

Drink: Alcohol is widely available on Ibiza with most supermarkets selling alcoholic beverages to anyone who looks of age! Some supermarkets will sell to kids as young as 14 however so please keep your eye on your youngsters or you could land in trouble with the police yourself!

Many hotels and apartments offer a bar and it isn't unusual to see children as young as 10 drinking the odd beer or alco-pop, but remember that alcohol and heat don't mix very well, especially if your not used to drinking.

Entertainment: You are never short of places to go and be entertained when on holiday in Ibiza or Formentera, there is always something going on somewhere, even at 4am in the morning! Most hotels and apartments will offer some form of entertainment for their guests, from small affairs such as karaoke nights and quizzes to full blow concerts from local or touring performance acts, each can be as thrilling or boring as you make it, and I would suggest that you give the entertainment in your hotel a go at least once as you may well like it, I know I did and wished that I had watched the entertainment more often now!

Ibiza is world famous for its club scene and some of the best known clubs in the world are to be found here, and it is possible to party for a full 24 hours in a row moving from club to club! Many clubs only really get going at around 3-4am in the morning and some of the larger ones offer special foam-parties in which the entire dance floor is filled with foam (like that from a washing machine but on a far greater scale) that covers the clubbers from head to foot. The foam is of course non-toxic but if you suffer from complaints such as asthma its best not to even think of going to a foam party for safety's sake.

Entrance into most of the clubs is a very expensive affair and can cost, as much as €50.00 per head, though a few drinks are normally included in the entrance fee. Most clubs will only charge their entry fee to male clubbers, allowing the ladies to come in for free and this practice is very commonplace in and around San Antonio's West End area.

Another thing to be careful about in the clubs is people spiking your drink! Drugs are very common with the dance culture and a lot of clubbers will use drugs such as Ecstasy to keep them on a high all night or other amphetamines to help them dance for longer. Take care when you accept a drink from someone you don't know or just met and likewise don't leave your drink sitting unattended or it could be spiked without your knowledge! Just simple common sense really.

Ibiza Town and Dalt Vila have some amazing nightlife right there on the streets for all to enjoy and you will often see some very colourful and wonderful characters strutting their stuff every Friday night in the streets of Dalt Vila, and people watching is a pastime in itself here, and best of all it is FREE!

Ibiza has a very large Gay presence and flamboyant Mardi Gras style parades are quite common during high season and when a festival takes place the entire island comes to life as revellers come out of the woodwork.

Street entertainers will do their best to keep you happy in most resorts on both islands, and you can see everything from sand sculpture to fire breathing and juggling, if you do see someone who you find entertaining why not place a few euros in their hat as after all their job is done if they make you smile!

Like many other resorts around Europe it is common to find street artists who will capture your likeness in either caricature or portrait for a price. Some street artists are very cheap and will only charge a few euros, but others are simply to good to be true and can charge up to €100.00 per person, per sitting but the drawings can be amazing and have to be seen to be believed!

Shopping: Ibiza has hundreds of shops and stores selling just about everything you could ever wish for, from items for your holidays to yachts and cars and more! Shopping is a very popular pastime on the island and you can find yourself running out of spending money very quickly if you don't budget wisely! There are many shops that sell designer clothing with some of the larger Gap, Diesel stores found on the island in and around Ibiza Town, and clothing and style are big business on the island, especially with the club scene and most of the more famous clubs have their own clothing outlets found in Ibiza Town.

As mentioned before there are supermarkets dotted everywhere in Ibiza, but one of the biggest can be found in Plajta d'en Bossa just up from the nightclub Space. This massive affair is on two levels and sells everything you can think of, with a massive toy department located on the upper floor, it is very simple to spend up in here there are that many great items on offer and likewise the smaller sister store a few hundred meters away on Avgda Pedro Matutes offers everything from designer label sports ware such as Billabong or Nike and much more!

Another word that should have been said earlier on but Laura has only just mentioned to me as I read through this article for her. Many people spend a vast amount on new clothing to take with them on holiday and this can run almost as expensive as the holiday itself in some cases! There are simply that many stores around the islands that you could just leave home with the basics and buy everything you need, swimwear, tee-shirts, shorts, summer dresses, etc on the island and save a vast sum into the process.

Most of the resorts on both Formentera and Ibiza will also have nightly markets where local traders will come each night during mid to high season and sell their wares! These range from tee-shirts and hand made jewellery to home made foods and much more! A pleasant way to spend an evening is to stroll down the promenade and look at what the market traders have to offer. Only buy from those with a stall or booth, as they are genuine traders, and not to be mistaken for the con artists and illegal immigrants.

When you are on the islands you will often come across those who will try to sell you dodgy or stolen goods or offer services such as hair platting by the side of the road. Mostly these people are of Nigerian or Algerian descent and are on the island illegally and are a nuisance to the local police and businesses alike. Others will try to sell you watches or sunglasses while you sunbathe on the beach or pester you to buy fresh fruit from them. The best thing to do is simply smile and say no thank you as they sometimes can get very uppity.

Also be careful when getting henna tattoos done at the side of the road, some of the people who do these temporary tattoos use black henna and this can cause severe allergic reactions that can amount to having third-degree burns. If you want to have a real tattoo done when on the island, visit one of the licensed parlours in Ibiza Town, Formentera, San Antonio, Figueretes or Plajta d'en Bossa, and only have your ink done in a parlour that carries a health certificate on display. The main tattoo parlour in Ibiza Town is located just off the marina and is excellent and has some amazing designs, but again remember that the heat may affect the healing time of your design and you may loose colour in the long run. If you are concerned over these issues speak with the tattooist first!

Sex: Okay simple fact of life here, people go out to a paradise island, have fun, drink too much and have sex! There is nothing wrong with that at all, but always remember to use protection when having intercourse to protect both yourself and partner from unwanted STDs or you could come home to the UK with more than just holiday snaps and a tan! Despite being a mainly Catholic country, contraceptives are available almost everywhere on Ibiza and to a lesser extent Formentera so think wisely and use one!

Useful Contact Numbers and Information

Here is a brief selection of phrases that are used in everyday life in Ibiza, where possible the phonetic pronunciation of the word or phrase is given in bold capitals, this is the emphasis of the stress on the word!

Useful Phrases

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