There are so many festivals these days that Purple Travel just had to help and show you the best festivals going on this year and we’ve picked Ibiza Rocks as one of our best for 2014. Irresistible HAIM or indie The 1975, what’s it gonna be? Well, why not both? Our favourite Ibiza Rocks has just announced its stunning line up for June 2014. So, get ready for the frenziest of festivals opening parties in the Rocks’ history!
Who’s playing?
The so-hip-it-hurts girl band HAIM from California is performing at Ibiza Rocks 2014 on 4th June and the crowd will get the chance to shake up with the sound of the band’s debut album “Days Are Gone”. These amazing girls are the winners of BBC Sound of 2013 and have already shared the scene with Florence & The Machine and Mumford & Sons. Anticipation is reaching fever pitch!
A week after, June 11th – same place, Mancunian group The 1975 will make music bunnies go bananas, playing their addictive indie pop hits Chocolate, The City and Sex out loud! Stay tuned to the Purple Travel blog for more Festival 2014 lineups soon. Don’t put it off, book you summer 2014 holiday to Ibiza with Purple Travel for the best deal!
Set on the rocky west coast of Majorca, Deia Village is a peaceful little place which has attracted many artists and literary figures over the years. The big draw to the village apart from great weather was the village cafe and swimming at Cala Deia and the chance to collaborate with other artists.
Poet and author Robert Graves led the pack, settling there after World War 1 and setting his historic novel Hercules My Shipmate there. Anais Nin visited in the 1920s, while various authors, activists, actors and artists made it their homes. The area hasn’t lost any of its charm in recent years, entrepreneur Richard Branson has a luxury escape there, while musicians like Mick Jagger, Mark Knopfler, Mike Oldfield and more recently Caroline Corr and Fionn Regan settled there for various time over the last 100 years.
Get there via twisty ‘don’t look down’ mountain roads, but don’t expect the clubs and chip shops found in other parts of the Balearics, Deia is continuing its heyday lifestyle of relaxed strolls through olive and orange groves, a range of beaches, tasty little traditional restaurants or gardens and ruins that date back to the 15h century. Take your pick of cultural inspiration on a holiday in Deia.
Fancy a summer holiday rocking out where Tulisa spends her birthday parties and where Jessie J likes to top up her tan? Head for the fabulous Ibiza Rocks and Mallorca Rocks hotels. Packed with the best in summer gigs, both in great locations and bathed in buckets of sunshine, make 2013 the year you pack your Ray-Bans and bikini and head off for a holiday you’ll never forget.
Made up of three hotels, two hostels, two bars with its own fashion label and a whopper list of headline music acts in the sunshine, you’d be crazy to miss out on Ibiza Rocks in summer 2013. Stemming from slightly more humble (!) beginnings in 2005 in one of Ibiza’s most legendary club nights, Manumission, Ibiza Rocks has grown to become one of the must-see gigs of the summer. Drawing the likes of The Prodigy, Florence and the Machine, the Specials and LCD Soundsystem to its poolside stage in San Antonio, Ibiza Rocks really knows how to pack them in. There is 17 weeks worth of Rocks gigs in each hotel over the summer, every Wednesday night. Since last year, there’s an added DJ led night every Friday with the best in electro acts taking to the stage.
Ibiza Rocks Lineup June highlights: Rizzle Kicks and The Vaccines. July highlights: W.A.R! with Example & DJ Wire, Ibiza Rocks 8th Birthday Party with Special Guests. September Highlights: Franz Ferdinand, Closing Party with Foals.
The little brother to the Ibiza Rocks gig nights, Mallorca Rocks in Magaluf is going from strength to strength. It’s become one of the must see gigs of the summer. Not only will you find weekly parties, but one of the best clubs on the planet: BCM is right on your doorstep, Magaluf beach is a stone’s throw away and the Magaluf Strip is where to go to indulge in all sorts of “i’m on holiday” behaviour! Throw in Western Water Park a five minute ride away and you have all you need for a week of partying and debauchery.
Mallorca Rocks Lineup June highlights: Opening Party with Jake Bugg, The Vaccines. July highlights: Tinie Tempah, Example & DJ Wire. August Highlights: Katy B, Ellie Goulding, Dizzee Rascal.
So you’re heading on your holidays to Ibiza for some of the best nights of your life on the sunny party island of Ibiza, you know you’ll go clubbing, but can’t figure out which one is for you. Our advice is try all of them. The home of the superclub, there is no better place for bangin’ tunes, foam parties, cocktails and big name DJs. Get the inside track with our Top 10 Ibiza Superclubs:
The TOP 10 Ibiza superclubs:
Privilege:Bosses at Privilege lay claim to the biggest dance floor in the world title and superstar Tiesto is its headline act. It’s been host to some of the most famous parties the island has ever seen, including the now legendary Manumission nights.
Space: slap, bang in Playa d’en Bossa, Space gets revellers from all over the world and it’s opening party is seen as the start of Ibiza clubbing season. It also draws big name acts, this year alone The Chemical Brothers and Simian Mobile Disco headlined.
Es Paradise:Ten bars, three rooms, massive sound and the dancefloor doubles up as a swimming pool. Yes please!
Eden: is in the heart of San Antonio and is relatively new in terms of Ibiza clubs. Open since 2000, it’s got big name nights and puts up a good fight against its major rival El Paradis.
Zoo Project Ibiza: Into partying on a boat? Well you’re not the only one. Throughout the island you’ll find party cruises on offer. Zoo is one, along with Ibiza Rocks the Boat, Pukka up and Driftwood.
Pacha: The dancefloor is always crowded, house music is blaring and some epic DJs are playing. Pacha is one of Ibiza’s absolutely unmissable clubs and draws top names like David Guetta and Pete Tong.
Amnesia:Home to the infamous Cream parties, Amnesia recruits the big guns with residents Paul Van Dyk and Deadmau5. It’s even won the Best Global Club award 3 times.
Club Martina: Although it’s a baby in terms of history, parties at Club Martina are starting to slip into legend. It opened with a bang in 2009, with a Wednesday night called Five with the likes of Dave Clarke and DJ Hell announced shortly after.
Ushuaia Beach Hotel:This is a hotel that actually has its own club nights built in. It transforms after dark into a top venue with some of the best DJs in the world. It even offers its own “Anything Can Happen” suite!
Ibiza Rocks: (and Mallorca Rocks) is one of the best live venues on the island and throughout the summer season is home to big name gigs every week. Already in the season Ibiza Rocks has seen Kaiser Chiefs, Professor Green, Tinie Temper and Kasabian raising the roof.
San Antonio spent the first 2,000 years of its existence as a small, quiet fishing village on the west coast of Ibiza. Calm, quaint and conventional, the town was the picture of Spanish simplicity. Then – enter the Brits: destroyers of all that is good and pure in the Med. Part of the mass tourism initiative, which took place across all of Spain (see Benidorm for starters), San Antonio Ibiza soon came to be known as the clubbing capital of the world.
Despite its football hooligan stigma, San Antonio gained even more popularity in the mid 1990s, when the rave scene was at its highest. Even today, young British clubbers make up the vast majority of visitors to the area, along with stag ‘n’ hens and an increasing number of German, Italian, Scandinavian and Dutch guests.
When to visit San Antonio Ibiza?
Couples and families The pre-season months of May and June, and the later months of September and October are the times for you to enjoy the new promenade, the sea and the fantastic beaches, just a short ferry ride away.
Young people and groups The high season months of July, August and the beginning of September are the best time to come if you are looking for buzzing nightlife.
Best beaches in San Antonio Ibiza?
In San Antonio, you’re never far from a beach. Each of the five small beaches within walking distance of the bay has its own character and atmosphere, so it’s best to try a couple of them before deciding which is your favourite. Playa Port de’s Torrent is a deep inlet into the coast, so the waters are tranquil and safe for swimming. S’Arenal de San Antonio is San Antonio’s main beach and stretches 500 metres along the coast, eventually joining up with the Bay. This is a beach for the active (not surprising really given its location) and there’s a wide range of water sports available to keep you busy, including sailing, windsurfing, water-skiing and diving. If you prefer something a little quieter, Cala Gracionetta is a beautiful, secret beach little just outside San Antonio. It’s a sister beach of Cala Gracio, located near the Stella Maris and Fiesta Tanit Hotels. You can also take a ferry boat to one of the nearby beaches, such as Cala Conta or Cala Bassa. They depart hourly from many landing points along the bay and from San Antonio marina.
Where to eat in San Antonio?
Sa Flama | Idyllic beach restaurant serving up Mexican favourites.
Tapas Bar Restaurant | Peaceful, water front restaurant with an open terrace, serving modern tapas, wines and cocktails, alongside chilled music and a laid back atmosphere.
Kasbah | Modern bistro, offering incomparable sunset views.
S’Avaradero | Come here for the best Spanish and Ibicenco cuisine, including fresh fish, paellas, pastas, pizzas, and a daily menu.
Sa Capella | Dine inside this old converted church – the ideal venue for grand wedding receptions or those special celebrations – for excellent quality Spanish and International cuisine.
Rincon de Pepe | This famous Tapas bar is one of San Antonio’s main attractions. From its rustic interior, to its street side patio to the street side patio it’s a true taste of Spain and a must for seekers of authentic flavours.
Things to do in San Antonio
Take a day trip | Ferries leave regularly from sign-posted points along the main promenade. Generally, they go out to the idyllic beaches of Cala Conta, Cala Bassa and Cala Tarida, but there are also daylong cruises to Es Palmador and Formentera (Ibiza’s sister island).
Fiesta | The fabulous Fireworks Display, which celebrates the fiesta of Saint Bartholomew on the 24th August, is best viewed from the main Square in San Antonio Bay. With it exotic flowering trees, children’s play park and cascading, musical fountains, is the focal point of the resort.
Go Clubbing | San Antonio is home to myriad bars, clubs and restaurants, as well as waterfront clubs, Eden and Es Paradis. Eden has been known to attract the BBC’s top Radio One DJs – Pete Tong, Judge Jules and Dave Pearce – while the pyramid-shaped Es Paradis is famous for its Water & Foam parties, where the whole central section of the dance floor becomes flooded.
San Antonio also offers the famous sunset bars on Caló des Moro, a.k.a. Sunset Strip, including the original sunset bar, Café del Mar, which has a yacht-like design. Its neighbours are equally plush; including Café Mambo, Savannah, Mint and Golden Buddha.
However, while an evening watching the sunset whilst sipping a strawberry Daiquiri may sound like a dream; this is generally not why tourists flock to Ibiza each year. Super clubs like Amnesia, Pacha, Space, Ushuaía Ibiza Beach Hotel and Privilege (the largest club in the world) are all about 15-25 minutes away in a taxi (or about 15-30 Euro’s a trip). Alternatively, you can catch the Disco Bus (!) from the main bus station – behind the egg roundabout. This runs every half an hour from midnight onwards and costs only a few Euros per journey.
What’s with the egg?
Aside from being a bizarre attraction, the egg does have some historical significance. This is the egg of Christopher Columbus and the ship represents his ship, the Santa Maria. When Columbus was hoping to finance his trip to the Far East, he was told it was impossible. So, he took an egg, and said, “Would you say it was impossible to stand this egg upright?” Of course, everyone agreed it was impossible. Columbus then lightly cracked the base, so that the egg could stand upright and said (a little over-dramatically if you ask us), “Nothing is impossible.” He then obtained the confidence of his financial backer.
Winter in the UK is cold, grey and wet. Definitely a good excuse to stay in the office. If you have the luxury to be able to leave, though, these are definitely the best and most popular places to hibernate and escape the winter blues..
1. Spain.
An all-time British favorite, Spain offers amazing value for long-term getaways in an environment that caters distinctively to the British. It’s like home away from home – with better weather and cheaper food. Mainland Spain and the Balearics, such as Majorca and Ibiza, have much milder temperatures in the off-season months than the UK and you can even end up spending less than you would if you stayed home! The best part about it is that you’re no further than a 3-hour flight from the British cold – in case you ever want to go back, that is.
2. Florida.
Take advantage of the almighty Pound compared to the US Dollar and spend a month or more in the USA’s favorite laid-back state. Florida has something for everyone, whether you’re retired, have a family, or want to party all night…and they speak English! Prices on flights out of the UK are quite moderate (you are crossing the ocean) and once you get there, accommodation is very cheap! You can have a villa or apartment to yourself for peanuts. If you feel adventurous, internal flights are cheap as well – go to New York, Las Vegas, or Los Angeles just for the weekend.
3. Australia.
Australians go backpacking through Europe. Europeans go backpacking through Australia. It’s just the thing to do…and they speak English! The Pound will go far in Australia also, although the flights can be quite pricey. If you haven’t been to visit your second-cousins half way around the world, you definitely should. Australia is blessed with warm climate, beautiful beaches, and very friendly people. Australians celebrate their Christmas and New Year on the beach, since the seasons are opposite from the UK. No wonder it’s such a great place for you to hibernate the winter away.
4. Thailand. Indonesia (Bali). India.
Exotic, hot, and CHEAP. Sorry, they don’t speak much English. Spend a month or more immersing yourself in an amazing cultural experience surrounded by breathtaking natural surroundings. Better yet, choose one a year or, even better, one a month! These are developing countries that have a lot to offer. Pleasant and luxurious hospitality is available at prices you would have to see to believe. Jump on the “eat-pray-love” trend and go on a Yoga retreat. So many options, so little time…
5. Europe.
Yes, Spain fits in here also, but we reserved this space for all the other wonderful destinations you can take advantage of in the winter months that are just around the corner. Europe has many popular, and cheap, places to get away on a long-term holiday. Among the favorites are Portugal, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and Croatia. Each of these countries has a distinct character and personality to offer – along with an unforgettable experience.
