Ibiza, Spain’s idyllic beach party island, welcomes an eclectic mix of hippies, Euro backpackers, and high-end ballers. Thanks to the flower-power hippies of the 1960’s, and their love for music, Ibiza has transformed into an iconic music-lovers destination. Although there’s more to the island than epic parties, young 20 and 30 year olds flood the shores in search of the island’s biggest party. Electronic music lovers “eat, sleep, rave, repeat” throughout the towns of San Antonio and Playa D’en Bossa.

After experiencing a week of opening parties at some of the best clubs--Space, Ushuaia, Amnesia, Destino, and Bora Bora—I learned several valuable survival tips.

Question Your Party Style
Do you like to party until midnight, go to sleep, and wake up being able to function the next morning? Or, do you prefer to party until sunrise? Since most American bars and clubs close at 2:00 am, Americans are normally less trained than their European counterparts’ 24-hour open-air parties. Luckily, Ibiza offers parties at all hours of the day. Many daytime venues spin DJ’s from noon to midnight where other clubs open their doors at midnight, and push through the following afternoon. It sounds easy to hit several parties in one night, but depending on your stamina, lifestyle, and Redbull consumption, it’s more realistic to choose one or the other.

Stay Hydrated
The Balearic sun beams as hard as the music beats. Sunny days, hot temperatures, dance parties, and sweat-drenched bodies packed in a nightclub are a surefire way to become dehydrated. Dehydration is often a problem with clubbers which causes headaches and muscle cramps, and makes those hangovers even worse. The supermarkets sell coconut water, also known as nature’s Gatorade, which is essential along with fruit smoothies and plenty of water.

Catch a Beach Nap
After one day of partying you get tried. After two days your feet are thrashed. By day three you’re energized and addicted to the Ibizan spirit circle of electronic and techno raves. But in reality the body cannot push on without sleep. Once you’ve hit that wall, passing out on the beach underneath the burning hot sun will be the best idea you’ve ever had. Sleep until four or five o’clock and head to Bora Bora for a daytime dance before nighttime parties.

Wear Comfortable Shoes
If you want your feet to survive, wear a pair of comfortable shoes. Skip the stilettos and get some danceable shoes. Your feet, knees, and back will thank you by day three. Every club has a different dress code, but unless you are wearing a Borat man-kini with flip flops, most clubs will not deny you.

Smart Party Planning
The downfall of Ibiza is that all that clubbing is expensive and can be a nightmare with poor planning. It sounds simple and easy to stay in Playa D’en Bossa and catch a cab or the party bus to San Antonio. Most of the time it’s easy, but during peak hours and season, clubbers can wait up to two hours for a cab. Even when you’re exhausted at 4:00 a.m. it can take up to an hour to get a cab because hundreds of other partiers are exhausted too. Illegal cabs roam the street, but use your judgment before hopping in one. Also, some pre-sale tickets have entry before 9:00 p.m. so plan according to the crowds. If you plan on mainly partying in one town, book a hotel in that area.

Expect to Spend Money
Are you on a budget? Do your research and get acquainted with the Ibiza price list. Ibiza is not cheap and spending money is inevitable. Upscale clubs charge up to 80 Euro entrance fees; cafes serve 10 Euro smoothies and illegal cabs charge double post parties, up to 40 Euro to drive five kilometers. While clubbing, water can cost eight Euro per bottle, one mixed drink can cost up to 25 Euro and VIP tables cost up to 10 thousand Euro for the night. If you are on a budget, look at one of several online Ibiza party calendars and select the clubs and parties that you really want to experience. Most everyone spends more than they want to during their time in Ibiza. What’s the survival lesson? Bring your ATM card and plenty of cash.

Be Stress-Free
Depending on how your body reacts to stress, and the amount of booze in your stomach, your gut will either want to eat a smorgasbord or nothing at all. Keep up your strength and make sure you eat. A lighter fare with plenty of fruit and vegetables balances stress and energizes the body. Also, Ibiza clubs do not allow re-entry, which means you are locked inside a club for six to eight hours. Many clubs serve overpriced pizza or sandwiches, so grab some grub before you club.

Use Your Intuition
This tip is not limited to females. Ibiza is a fun place to let it loose and party but can also attract some ill intentioned people. Many do not use clear judgement on their limits of drugs and alcohol. Electronic concerts trick the mind with upbeat music and insane multi-media techniques. This makes you want and crave a bigger "high." Use your senses and intuition to limit yourself. Isn't it better to remember the party with a good buzz rather than getting piss-wasted, blacking out, and possibly having some creeps grope on you? I do not think Ibiza is a dangerous or sketchy place, but those looking for trouble will attract trouble. 

It was just another morning of boardwalking through Ses Figuertas and Ibiza Town. I found it too hot to drink a morning tea or coffee so I thought, “Why not energize the body with yet another smoothie.” I walked past Soleado a few times noticing the amazing seaside tables perched about 10 feet above the crashing waves.

With only five Euros in my pocket, I glanced at a menu with gratitude since their smoothies cost five Euros. I grabbed a front row table and sat in peace while staring at the ocean.

“Wow, life is so….,” I thought as the waiter approached saying, “Hola Como Estas?”

I ordered a coconut-based smoothie that contained tropical fruit and banana. The restaurant sits in the heart of Ses Figuertas nestled between Ibiza Town and Playa D’en Bossa.  In my opinion, the water and shoreline is more beautiful and pristine than the Playa shore.

Soleado is mainly a seafood and meat-based restaurant that offers vegetarian options. For breakfast, they serve smoothies, coffees and teas. It’s an ideal morning destination for one of the cheapest smoothies and the best views on this side of the island.

Even if I went out the night before, I dragged myself out of bed no later than 9:00 am to explore town. The “early morning” café was quiet with a few folks sipping a latte. I found it enjoyable to sit in peace and quiet while the ocean inspired my thoughts. With ambient music in the background, I felt as if I discovered Heaven on Earth.

It reminded me of the times I sat in Australia with my surfboard and contemplated the deeper meanings to life. The ocean has an effect on me that only those who are aquatic-loving creatures can understand. I send positive vibrations to the universe to bring me back to Ibiza in hopes of doing a retreat or something similar.

Soleado (like most cafes) offer British English, French, German and Spanish menus. For the seaside view, I feel Soleado offers comparable prices with other restaurants. The restaurant offers an upper and lower terrace for your eating pleasure. To sign off I leave you with some inspiration from Soleado.

“I can resist anything but temptation.” O. Wilde

​The Lemon Tree & GPSmycity.com have partnered to bring you informative articles available in the downloadable app that works offline! Get maps, tips and all the information you need from this article, available here at this link. 


Soleado Restaurante
Paseo Ses Pitiusas s/n, 07800 Figueretas – Ibiza
http://www.soleadoibiza.com/?lang=en

I love Poland. With all my heart and soul, I hope to inspire more people to travel to Poland. I first visited Warsaw, Krakow and Auschwitz in September 2012 and again re-visited Warsaw in October 2014.

My Great Grandfather was born in Krakow and married my Ukrainian Great Grandmother. I maybe biased as a part of me feels at “home” with pirogues and borscht soup and exploring my historic roots.

Each time I visited I became excited for the shopping opportunities. Poland boasts colorful and vibrant handicrafts and clothing that bring light to their situation. Many people have this perception that Europeans are rich. In reality, most Europeans are not rich and are poor or earn an average income (especially true in parts of Italy where we assume they are rich and lavish because of the perceptions we have about Rome, Milan and coastal towns).

To easily state, many Polish people are poor as dirt. And it makes me sad because of their historic roots and struggles. It seems that Poland has not caught a break in various realms of life. My husband visited Poznan, Poland and ate an extravagant meal (not knowing three plates of food would come) for four to five Euro. He befriended the wait staff and as conversation flowed he asked, “How much does a wait staff make?” The girl responded, “approximately eight zloty per hour,” which exchanges to approximately two Euro. Two Euro? Yes, that is true and tipping is not required in Poland.

The point of my story is that I highly encourage people to shop in Poland. Not only is the shopping wonderful, but you are getting handcrafted work that is not mass produced in China. Most people in Poland live a life harder than you so to support a small business not only helps their economy, but its what keeps small businesses thriving, which is an integral part of Poland (and European) economy.

Krakow is one of my favorite European destinations because of the people are smiling and happy and the shops and cafes flourish with flowerpots and vibrant painted exteriors. It’s an eastern European paradise for shopaholics.

Now onto the fun part – shopping! Here is what I recommend picking up in Poland.

Amber Jewelry
A couple decades ago you could come home with a nice piece of authentic Amber jewelry for several Euro. Today, the jewelry is more expensive due to political issues, but is an authentic memory from Poland. Travelers can take home a chunk of amber or unique-designed necklace or bracelet. From rings to earrings, Polish amber gift shops offer a variety of products and price tags.

Cherry Vodka
If you are looking for a nice way to stay warm during winter months, look no further than Polish cherry vodka. I’m not a big drinker, but when in Poland, I choose vodka. Shots are cheap and as smooth as water. Polish vodka makes me question why I used to chug the cheap rubbing-alcohol vodka back in college. At restaurants, you can order a warm (or cold) glass of cherry vodka for as low as 50-cents Euro. A 500-milliliter bottle costs as low as four Euro. 

Polish Folk Scarf / Shawl
The Polish Folk scarf comes in various colors of white, blue, green, red, yellow and pink. The design includes traditional Polish design including roses and flowers. The common folk scarf is a wider scarf that can wrap around the upper body and includes a tasseled border. Finer scarves are silk-based and work best around the neck (or as a babushka) to make a fashion statement or to block the wind. I purchased a blue scarf and it fits perfectly with my eclectic-colored wardrobe. You can find the scarves at folk-art stores or at street side stands.

Polish Pottery
Folk-inspired pottery is the perfect item for Susie-homemakers. A recent cookware trend offers modern and homely designs with repeating and natural patterns. Polish pottery has designed these modern designs for decades. The pottery is locally made and handcrafted from artists. These are the type of plates that you want to showoff at a dinner party and to your friends. It is a must buy for yourself or anyone who loves cooking.

Polish Designer Clothing
For anyone who loves fashion, head to a local Polish designer shop. The designs vary, but for those who like one-of-a-kind designs, Polish fashion is for you. In Krakow, I purchased a handmade Polish-designed dress for 40-Euro. Now just a note about Polish women. Polish women are beautiful and are naturally thin with a bigger chest. My American small chest and wider hips did not have a problem fitting into their clothes; I just did not know what size to select. It can be a guessing game, but don’t worry – you’ll find the size that fits. But an XS in Poland will most likely fit a slender 16-year old American girl comfortably.


Baked Goods
Baked Good may not travel well, but they make for a great snack at the train station and airport. You can purchase items for less than a Euro. Each region offers different snack stands. Try a pretzel, Polish croissant and any well, pretty much anything that makes your mouth water. When I see an old Polish lady wearing a babushka selling cookies for 20-cents Euro, I say, “fuck it” to any concerns about egg, dairy and sugar. I have more concern about their well being and income than my vegan diet. Without preservatives, their baked goods are only edible for 24 to 48-hours, so supporting a local makes me happy, including the dessert. PS -  try the kolachki cookies.

Other Folk Art 
I love the Polish folk art. The colors, the designs, I could wear an entire wardrobe printed with flowers and Polish art. You can find folk art on anything including purses, t-shirts, sandals, wall hangings and winter jackets. The rooster has historical roots in Poland so it is common to see folk art including the rooster. It’s hard to recommend what folk art to purchase because it ranges from mainstream shot glasses to one-of-a-kind coin purses. 

Street Artist
Paintings, sketches, jewelry, caricatures - what else could be more amazing than a handmade gift? Never in your life will you be able to purchase hand-painted images for the price you'll find in Poland.