Question for anyone who's had a holiday in Ibiza recently?

Question

A few mates and myself (will be 4 or 5 of us in total) are looking to go to Ibiza this year, ideally staying in San Antonio around mid-late August for a week.

I went to Ibiza about 6 years ago with family, and it cost £360 a person, which was the total cost, staying in San An Bay.

I've been looking around for prices for Ibiza, and they seem to vary considerably, I've been quoted anything from £260 - £600, all for a week flying from Birmingham, self-catering - and that's the apparent total cost.

Just wondering how much other people have paid over recent years for a similar holiday as I can't seem to get a straight answer out of any of the operators.

Cheers guys.

Answer 1

If you are looking at going in August then if you go over the bank holiday weekend you will pay more.  The price will vary depending upon the accommodation, flight times and day you are flying ie sat daytime flights are more popular than Wednesday night flights.  

Have a look on www.flymonarch.com they are flying from brum to Ibiza this year and then Ibiza spotlight has loads of links to accommodation with pictures and the locations.  Doing it independently can be cheaper than a tour operator.

Also if you do go through a tour operator most of them have a price promise so it pays to shop around and play them off against one another (if you can be bothered).  Make sure you are exact about where you want to stay if you want San Antonio town or San An Bay.  

Also if you are offered accommodation round the bay check on the Internet exactly how far round it is - for example the Sea View hotel is classed as 'round the bay' and yet is a good hours walk from San An and all the bars.  

You are prob looking at around £400 for a week from brum in a nice 3 star hotel flying at semi anti social hours (this is approx mind), however go in and ask the travel agent for a break down of the quote if you ask them what you are paying for and get a couple of quotes that will give you an idea of what you are getting for your money.  

Ask for the name of the accommodation and where it is, are the flights day or night, what is included in the hotel price eg air con, access to activities etc, then go and look on the Internet so you can check out what they are offering and see if you can get a better deal.  

Finally if you do book independently remember that all airlines work in 24hr clocks so flights in the early hours for example sat 25th Aug 00.25 is Friday night/sat morning!  It may be stating the obvious but every night in Ibiza in the height of summer people make that mistake and it makes what was a cheap holiday very expensive!!!

Answer 2

Ibiza has plenty to offer besides night clubs its jagged coastline contains dozens of dreamy white sandy beaches, hidden coves and bays, villages of white-washed houses tumbling down cliff sides, and a green, hilly interior landscape decorated with fig and olive trees. See for details of hotels etc

Answer 3

Hello there Sly.

I can understand your frustration. Things really have changed in terms of holidays over the last few years especially when it comes to the prices.

Firstly, you're going to be travelling during school holidays and that is a real problem if you're looking to find something reasonably priced. The fact of the matter is that now, there are very few "cheap" holidays around when the little ones are off school. Its the busiest and therefore most expensive time to go away. The tour operators are well aware of this, and they cash in big time and of course all the budget concious families are trawlling around for the best deal they an get.

If you were able to change your dates and go slightly later after the kids go back, say 5,,6,7,8th September or so, you'd find the prices drop dramatically. Also, because the demand suddenly drops off, there are loads of last minute deals to be had, and as long as you're not too fussy where you're going to stay you should get something for your budget.

Tour operators pricing has changed so much since you last went, nowadays the brochure prices mean nothing, it's all "fluid pricing" now which means the price changes all the time- even 3 & 4 times or more every day according to the demand.

However, if you can't change your dates, I would look at other ways of doing it.

Check out easyjet.co.uk they have some low cost flights to Ibiza from some airports.. nearest to you would be east midlands- I don't think they fly from Birmingham to Ibiza.

For the best deal,  I'd say book flight only and accomodation seperatley.

If you're looking for self catering accomodation, book a self catering apartment (or two) online. You'll only pay for the apartment as a unit ie one price for the apartment instead of per person. I'd also say that 4 is easier to buy for than 5 as most 1 bedroomed apartments will sleep 2,3,or 4 but not 5 which means you'll need 2 apts which makes it dearer again.

If theres not 3 or 4 of you, then try and take 6 to 8 people if you need 2 apartments, it's cheaper, because the more people who share the accomodation, the cheaper it is. Remember though someone will need to sleep in the sofa beds in the lounge for a week!

I checked easyjet for you and the cheapest was 28th August back 4th September from Liverpool to Ibiza return price for 4 was just £380 including taxes! (I know it's not on your doorstep but read on...)

medhotels.com have the excelsior apts in San An (mind they're basic) for £600- thats in 2 x studios for 4 people. This means you could do it for under £1000 for 4 of you- £250 each! Mega cheap!

Theres also hotels BB even cheaper- Stay at The Galfi (again cheap and basic) in San An Bay for £108 pp BB for 7 nts. That means you'd only be paying around £200 each incl flights!

Cheap holidays these days are still around, but only if you're prepared to search and they are not always going to be the most convenient departure airport time or date.

If you went easyjet from East Midlands to Ibiza 18 August back 25 August you'd be paying £664 for 4 of you and accom at the Galfi goes up to £172 pp, so this puts the price up by a whole lot just to travel a little earlier from an airport closer to you.

The message is that theres no hard and fast rules, the day of picking up a brochure and paying that price has long gone.

Fly midweek and out of school holidays to get the best deals.

Fly on a weekend in school holidays and you will pay through the nose.

If you're looking to stay in a reasonable hotel in San An bay, try the Hawai, Bergantin or Nautillus. The Fiesta Palmyra is also one of the nicer ones.

Whatever you do, I hope it goes well for you- have a great time!

All the best.