Day 1. Friday 18th September.
We departed Paris for a 2 hour flight to Ibiza, a tiny fun island off Spain. One can either party everyday or come to relax. Or if you are like me, do both. However somehow my visits end up being more on the relaxation side.
Our taxi to Es Vive hotel in Figueretas was a 10 minute ride and cost approximately $10 Eur / $14.60 Aud. If you are staying in areas further away from Figueretas or the Port of Ibiza, I would suggest you pre-book a shuttle bus. Arriving at the Es Vive reception, we were kindly greeted by Simone and MC whom I met on my first stay at the hotel in 2007. It was like I had only seen the girls yesterday. Our room was great although a little tiny for us especially with all our luggage but we loved the room and the balcony where we could watch sunset.
Es Vive hotel is a deco boutique hotel where I have stayed 4 times and have met so many lovely friends. The hotel has practically transformed since my last visit 6 years ago, it had been renovated prior to our arrival. Es Vive has a fun atmosphere with friendly staff, delicious food, rooftop bar, free wifi, outdoor pool with a poolside DJ, a bar and a spa and wellness centre.
http://www.hotelesvive.com/en/
Our first day we explored the Figueretas area and walked to the fort, relaxed and dined at Es Vive with cocktails by the pool. The food and cocktails are great here and it is one of my favourite places on the island. After dinner we finished the night with drinks at the famous Rock bar in the Port of Ibiza. Rock bar is a fun bar that one tends to start the night at. A few years back James and I both remember Rock bar used to be packed after 9pm or earlier and I thought Rock bar made the best pizzettes. This visit unfortunately was quite the opposite.
http://www.hotelesvive.com/en/deco-restaurant
Day 2. Sat 19th September.
My lovely friend Cora lives in St Eularia north-east coast of the island and joined us for lunch at Es Vive with her son Kiko. Kiko is so adorable. James and Cora met for the first time and even though I had not see Cora since 2010 it was like we had not been apart.
After an enjoyable lunch, Cora was kind enough to drive us to Sant Josep in the afternoon where our Australian friends were staying in a villa with their kids.
After catching up on holiday experiences with James friends, James and I caught a taxi organised through Es Vive to the Port of Ibiza. We had dinner at a local upstairs restaurant and walked home through the old fort. I love the hustle and bustle of the old fort at night.
Day 3. Sunday 20th Sept.
Our day started off pretty relaxing, James and I sun bathed at Figueretas beach about a 2 minute walk down the road from Es Vive hotel and looked around Figueretas and a few streets around the central Port of Ibiza.
Early evening, we did a 40 minute walk from Figueretas beach to Playa d’en Bossa and watched the sunset. You will find quite a few beach clubs like Hard Rock, Ushuaïa, Nassau and Bora Bora along this walk.
After midnight we met our Australian friends at the Funky Room in Pacha nightclub. The place was busy but still not the crowd I know where your rubbing shoulder to shoulder. The music was great and after several hours of dancing the night finished just before sunrise.
Day 4. Monday 21st September.
James and I ventured into the Port of Ibiza and walked along the seaside via the back streets of Figueretas for a full day of shopping and exploring. Shopping in the Port of Ibiza is definitely the place to shop for beach wear, unique sandals, t-shirts, music, leather, jewellery and especially crystal jewellery. I shopped a storm in the port today. I love the Pacha clothing shop, the caps and t-shirts are always a good fit and style.
After quite a bit of walking today, we enjoyed sunset drinks on the Es Vive Skybar roof top lounges then dined downstairs by the Es Vive pool.
http://www.hotelesvive.com/en/sky-bar
Cora and a couple of her friends also visiting Ibiza came to Es Vive for drinks after dinner. Unfortunately, The Experience bar in Es Vive was too quiet, the bar tends to pick up in numbers later on in the early hours of the morning so we enjoyed cocktails by the pool.
Day 5. Tuesday 22nd September.
We walked into the Port of Ibiza after midday for another day of shopping. Our day started with lunch at La Brasa, a gorgeous restaurant with beautiful flowers and ferns around the restaurant. The paella and sangria were the best we have ever had. I could have eaten there everyday.
There are so many amazing unique stores in Ibiza, it is an island every girl should shop at.
- Ibiza Bagus
- IBZ Code
- Nina W Ibiza
After a great day of shopping for both of us, we had a delicious tapas dinner at the Formentera Restaurant across from the Marina. 6 – 8 tapas dishes including a carafe of sangria cost approximately $60.50 Eur / $88.12 Aud for 2 Adults.
http://www.restaurantformentera.com/
The Port of Ibiza runs markets from 7pm – 1am and always have really good crystal jewellery and leather wrist bands. I have always purchased gorgeous pieces much cheaper than in a store. A few items caught our eyes.
http://artisan-markets-ibiza.ibiza4all.org/
Day 6. Wednesday 23rd September.
The weather was beautiful and perfect for a 30 minute ferry to Sant Eularia. Sant Eularia is a pretty coastal town full of restaurants, shops and bars. We explored the town and relaxed by the beach before catching the ferry back to Port of Ibiza.
http://www.aferry.com/ibiza-ferry.htm
Martin Solveig was playing at Pacha this evening so we purchased our tickets in the Port of Ibiza. As there are so many venues to buy club tickets it is wise to compare prices first.
Pacha with James was amazing, we had a lot of fun dancing to Martin Solveig’s music. Drinks at Pacha are very expensive. But I’m sure if you are planning a visit to Ibiza you are already aware of the hefty prices of entry fees and beverages. However, I find food in Ibiza to be quite reasonably priced.
Day 6.Thursday 24th September.
I woke with a pretty bad hangover and not quite sure how James manage to get me up let alone himself. Somehow we walked into town and caught a ferry to Formentera island early afternoon. Formentera is a tiny island in the middle of the Mediterranean. The return trip ferry for 2 Adults cost $93 Eur / $135.58 Aud. After exploring a bit of the Formentera Marina and taking in a beach side view at Hostal La Savina, we caught a taxi to Es Pujols via Sant Francesc Xavier. Sant Francesc is the capital of Formentera.
Taxi to Es Pujols was approximately 10 minutes and the driver’s boss offered his taxi business card to call for our return back to the marina. By this point I was wondering what took us so long to visit this tiny island that had accommodation, shopping, restaurants, bars and water sports. After a walk through the town and along the beachside esplanade we enjoyed some drinks at La Cava whilst watching a gorgeous sunset. La Cava is a quaint little bar restaurant which unfortunately we did not have an opportunity to dine at however the staff were pleasant and the cocktails superb. Before rushing for our 8pm ferry back to the Port of Ibiza, we passed by the markets on the seafront.
An hour later after returning back to Es Vive hotel, we had dinner with Cora at Olivia restaurant in the old town. I love this quaint French restaurant, it has been an Ibiza favourite of mine and a place Cora and I have enjoyed together. It was sad to once again say goodbye to my beautiful friend Cora but it is great to have the internet to keep in touch more regularly.
Day 7. Friday 25th September.
Our final day we were back in the Port of Ibiza and by 3.35pm we were on a flight from Ibiza to Rome.
christinetravels 