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Practical information about Ibiza
Safety
Ibiza is a safe island in most places, however, there are areas and conditions to consider.
Many rich people come to the island and that attracts crime. So watch your belongings and put valuables in a safe if there is one. Even better: Hide your stuff. For example, in a granola box in the kitchen. Burglaries are often quick, and burglars are looking for easy quick-steal items.
Upon arrival at the airport, it is wise not to put on your most expensive jewelry and watches; expensive bags are also watched. The thieves follow you to your home to strike at a time when you are not there. Tip is therefore not to rent a big expensive car, but rather a normal car, or nice duck at Ducks United. Also, never just let a cleaner, or pool-cleaner into your home. During the day when everyone is at the pool, they can also come in through the window!
Also be careful when getting into your newly rented car at the airport. Here, figures still sometimes come and ask you for directions while you are loading. You are distracted and then an accomplice will make off with your suitcase undetected!
Areas of Ibiza
Want to know the best place to sit in Ibiza? Then read the where to stay in Ib iza page. Ibiza Town (aka Eivissa): The capital of the island. Ibiza town has a very old downtown (Dalt Vila) surrounded by city walls dating back to the 16th century. The old core is a cozy hodgepodge of small streets, old houses and quaint bars and restaurants. In addition, Ibiza town is home to an infinite number of cute little (clothing) stores that are definitely worth a visit. On the other side of the port you will find the Marina Botafoc area, where all the big boats are, and where you can also find club Lio and the Pacha. At the end of this neighborhood you will find Talamanca, a cozy bay with a nice beach and some nice restaurants. Playa d’en Bossa is on the south side of Ibiza town, 5 minutes away by car. This is a large bay with beautiful beach that is mostly visited by many young people. Here are many beach clubs, you will also find and the Ushuaia.
San José (aka Sant Josep de Talaia): A nice little village with some nice restaurants. The village is centrally located in the southwest of the island and from here you are quickly at many nice beaches.(Cala Jondal, Cala Vadella, Cala D’Hort, etc),.
San Antonio (aka Sant Antoni de Portmany): Here it is crowded and contains many English people. But then we are really talking about the bay. Around San Antonio are very beautiful areas where you will not be bothered by these crowds. There are also several beautiful beaches in the area, such as Cala Salada, Cala Bassa, Es Torrent.
San Juan (also called Sant Joan de Labritja): This is the province to the north. Here it is generally quieter. Here lie the many truly typical fincas (old Spanish farmhouses). It is a little further drive to the hustle and bustle of Ibiza town. There are some very nice beaches in the north, such as Benirras and Aguas Blancas or Cala d’en Serra. You go here for rest, but also if you just want to be in a nice house with lots of privacy and don’t mind those few minutes’ drive. In addition, in terms of rents, it is often cheaper than the South!
Santa Eularia (also called Santa Eulalia des Riu): This is the second largest city on the island. So it is a little busier there than in the small villages. A little more touristy, too. Not with young Englishmen this time, but more with elderly Germans. However, the town itself is nice, and so is the harbor. In addition, there are also many nice beaches in the area here (above Es Canar) and there are plenty of nice little villages nearby. (like San Carlos, for example)
Services
It is convenient to rent a car in ibiza in advance. We cooperate with two reliable car rental companies. Benefits include not having to wait at the airport to get your car. For this, see the car rental page. What we also recommend is renting a boat for a day. This always includes captain. The most popular trip is from Salinas beach to Formentera. For more information check out the boat rental page. See all our other services here.
Weather, climate and travel time
Ibiza has a climate that is favorable all year round, but most people prefer to stay here in the summer. Because of the sea, it never gets much warmer than 30 degrees. The sunshine probability during this period is almost 100%! But the months of June and September are also very popular. With temperatures of about 25 – 30 degrees and often sunshine, it is a great place to be. Even April, May, October and November are wonderful. It then averages about 20-25 degrees. The sea is still chilly in April (15 degrees), and in October and November still nice and warm with about 18-21 degrees. In addition, it is very quiet on the island during this time. (Just keep in mind that during the winter season, flights to the island do not go directly, but via Barcelona).
Money
On the island, you pay with the euro. Credit cards are accepted everywhere. And pins can be used in very many places.
Tips
A tip of 10-15% is common.
Language
Spanish and Catalan are spoken on the island. Hence often the different names of villages and towns.
Roads
The roads on the island are of fine quality. In some places it does get a little twisty and there are hills. However, if you go off the paved road and take the nice side roads (recommended), you will encounter unpaved narrow dirt roads with lots of stones. Personally, we drive our Duck over this with ease but for the smaller car it can be tricky. Note that the island is quite a bit busier in the summer, and leaving early is recommended.
In addition, it is good to keep in mind that the roads are slippery after a rain shower. Unlike what you’re used to in the Netherlands, your brakes have almost no grip on the road, so be alert also to your front and rear!
Important to consider when traveling to Ibiza:
Mosquitoes in Ibiza are not very different from those in the Netherlands, but sometimes more persistent. Many houses are in the middle of nature or in the countryside. This is very nice for your privacy, but sometimes not so nice for your skin. Mosquitoes love it in Ibiza and are there almost year-round due to the mild climate. So prepare well and bring mosquito spray with a high Deet factor. Of course, this is also available in the supermarket in Ibiza itself.
Drinking water
The water in Ibiza is theoretically drinkable, but we advise against it. Ibiza suffers from a water shortage especially during the high season. This can sometimes translate into low water pressure or, on rare occasions, no water at all. If this is the case please contact the house manager or your contact person. At the supermarket you can buy large bottles of water to drink from, boil in and make coffee/tea with.
Sewerage
Like the water, the sewage system can get nasty during the peak season. Actually, Ibiza is not built for so many tourists, and you can sometimes smell that on the island. Sewage systems overflow or become clogged, creating a nasty odor. Sometimes you smell this in a random place or town in Ibiza and sometimes you smell this in your beautiful vacation home. There is actually little to nothing that can be done about it by the owners and residents themselves. What you can do is alert the homeowner/house manager and ask for odor eliminators.
Internet
Internet in Ibiza is ample in many places. However, it may not be the same throughout your vacation home due to the thick walls a Finca is made of. There is often nothing the owner can do about this. If in doubt, you can always contact the house manager or your contact person.
Beds
It is very difficult, even for residents, to get a double bed in Ibiza that is larger than 160 X 190m. Consequently, some houses have double beds of 140/160 x 190 in the bedrooms. Nor is this more than normal for the mostly small Ibiza residents. Nor are they averse to a hard mattress with old-fashioned springs. We always try to mention this when we know, but if you want to be sure please contact us and we will check it for you.
Fincas
The cute white houses in Ibiza are called Fincas. These Fincas are often more than a hundred years out, which has its advantages and disadvantages. A Finca has very thick walls and few windows. This largely keeps heat out. Unfortunately, the thick walls also mean that technology such as Internet is not available throughout the house. This can sometimes be a big problem for modern people. Passages in a Finca can be low and narrow. This is because the original islanders are a lot smaller than us. Fincas are often in the Campo, which is what they call the countryside here, and that has the advantage of giving you a lot of privacy. The disadvantages of a Finca may be that the style of the interior can seem a bit old-fashioned to us. This while Spaniards actually find it a very beautiful style and are very proud of it.
Moisture
Weather is an important reason for many people to come to Ibiza. Throughout the year, Ibiza has a mild climate with plenty of sunshine hours. Even in December, it is still fine during the day with a thin cardigan. However, Ibiza is incredibly humid. This is a disturbance on the island especially from October to early April. Everything is wet and even inside, the moisture seems almost impossible to keep out. Many people try to prevent this indoors by having a wood stove, fireplace or by keeping the air conditioner on a warm setting blowing at full blast. This allows them to expel much of the moisture. Smelling moisture or finding a small spot of mold is not supposed to happen, of course, but it can sometimes happen because of this. Please report this right away and the homeowner/house manager will provide a solution.
Tap water
The water is “hard”: that is, a lot of lime. This results more quickly in broken (finishing) washing machines. This is not because of poor maintenance but because of the water. In addition, your cutlery or glasses may not look clear. This is also sometimes, unfortunately, unavoidable due to the large amount of calcium in the water.
Air conditioners
Air conditioners run at full speed in season. Turn them off as often as you can to save energy. Because they put in so many hours and unfortunately they are sensitive devices, they may break down.
Utilities
Many houses are not connected to sewer, water and electricity as in the Netherlands (Germany/England). That means water sometimes has to be replenished by truck, and electricity is sometimes generated at the house. This is less stable and especially the water can (this is not intended but occurs) run out at times.
Construction Quality
Then lastly, many (most) houses are built to Spanish standards. Unfortunately, we are also sometimes surprised that things do break or fail a little faster compared to where we live.
Additional info
Note that stores are often closed between 2 and 5 (siesta).
Keep in mind mosquitoes in the summer!
St. Antoni: lots of drunken Englishmen. If you love that you have to go there. If not, go somewhere cozy.
