If you haven’t made it to Ibiza this year, Rita Ora’s latest Instagram snaps will have you booking a trip before you can say ‘Amensia’.
The popstar is on the White Isle with husband, Taika Waititi, who is celebrating his 48th birthday, and their holiday pics are oh-so-Ibiza.
From the pristine beaches and cocktails at golden hour (Café Mambo anyone?), to her OTT clubbing outfits, we can only imagine the adventures that aren’t making it to the gram.
Anyone who has spent time on the famous island knows that it’s a special place – and whether you go to find your zen, or to party until dawn – you always leave with some amazing memories.
Rita’s getaway inspired us to reach out to die-hard Ibiza fans, to hear about their most memorable moments from the island – and we weren’t disappointed.
Beccy Dickinson was 27 when she headed to Ibiza for a wedding. ‘I’d been travelling for two years around South East Asia, and I couldn’t wait to catch up with all my best friends after not seeing them for so long,’ she says.
Beccy, now 42, describes the lead up to the big day as ‘hardcore’. ‘We were hitting all the big clubs,’ she says.
‘We went to what was then Space, now Hi, then Amnesia for the hen do, and Café Mambo for pre-wedding drinks. We got barely any sleep and it was carnage – we partied the week away.’
But Beccy says that after every session, she was unwell. She says: ‘I was sick every time I drank or ate anything. One of my friends asked if I could be pregnant, but there was no chance, I was on the pill.
‘At the wedding, the father of the bride kept commenting that I was “glowing”, but still, I didn’t think anything of it.’
But when Beccy got back to the UK, she was getting the train home, and everything changed. ‘I caught my reflection, and saw a bump – it was like a bolt of lightning and I knew immediately. I was pregnant. I was shocked to say the least.’
Beccy thinks a bout of food poisoning on her travels in Deli affected her contraception. ‘I was over the moon once it sunk in,’ she says.
Beccy ended up marrying her partner – and having an Ibiza club classic as their first dance. Her daughter, now 15, is joining her on a trip to Ibiza this October. ‘There was debate whether to call her Ibiza,’ she laughs. ‘We went with Amelia.’
Tessa Hawes, 46, also has the island to thank for a milestone moment. She says that Ibiza was a ‘playground’ for her and husband, Aaron.
‘We love house music and partying!’ she says. ‘In the mid 90s one my favourite nights was Manumission at what was then Privilege, now Amnesia. Raving with 10,000 people until the sun came up was pretty special.
‘I also loved Sundays on the Terrace at Space. And in recent years I’ve loved the vibe at Hi. When I was there in 2019 they had Fatboy Slim doing a set in the toilets!’
Tessa and Aaron decided to renew their vows for their 10 year anniversary – and they knew just the place to do it. ‘I thought it was a great excuse to get everyone together, have a great party and for me to wear my wedding dress again – which I restyled and cut short for the occasion!’ she says.
‘We decided on Ibiza as it’s where we have had so many amazing years of fun and happy times.
‘We hired a catamaran and were joined by 40 of our closest friends and family. We set sail at 6pm and enjoyed a cruise around and then stopped just before the sunset.
‘My friend Holly, a singer in Ibiza, sang ‘You’ve got the Love’ – the tune that I originally walked down the aisle to. We then played ‘One Kiss’ by Calvin Harris and kissed as the sun was setting.
‘We love Ibiza, it’s definitely an island that holds a special place in our hearts.’
For others, Ibiza is an awakening of sorts. For one party-goer (who is using a different name for reason that will become obvious…) a trip there in 2018 made her embrace a different side to life.
Hannah*, 32, says: ‘Before that trip, I’d only ever really been away with family or a boyfriend. I’d done the odd city break with my friends, but never anything big.
‘I’d been in long-term relationships pretty much since I was a teen, and I wouldn’t have considered myself much of a party girl.
‘I was actually dreading some of the late nights. When my friend told me the headline DJ at Pacha didn’t come on until 4am, I couldn’t believe it!’
The first thing her friends did when they arrived in their San Antonio apartment, was call a drug dealer. ‘I was stunned,’ laughs Hannah. ‘I’d never even seen a pill before.’
But Hannah says Ibiza brought out a different side to her. ‘It was just so care free,’ she remembers fondly. ‘We wore outrageous outfits, and partied until way after the sun came up. Our apartment had a steady stream of guys coming and going, and I dabbled a bit with drugs too.
‘I think maybe before that trip, I was getting a bit old before my time. Ibiza opened my eyes to the more adventurous side of life.’
Now, Hannah says girls’ trips like her holiday to Ibiza are an important part of her life. She says: ‘I love going away with my friends, and letting loose – just going with the flow and seeing where the night takes me. It’s good for the soul.’
While many to head to the White Isle for a hedonistic week of partying, promoter Johannes Goller first touched down there with his family, when he was just 13 years old.
Johannes, 48, who is the founder and CEO of Trip, a club night which takes place every Saturday at Club Chinois, says: ‘In 1988 my parents decided to have our annual summer holiday in Ibiza.
‘We stayed in hotel called Club Playa d’en Bossa – which is now better known as the famous super club, Ushuaia!’
‘Opposite the hotel was a discotheque that later became Space. Every morning when we went for breakfast, I’d see people arriving from all other clubs such as Ku, Pacha and Amnesia to continue partying at Space.
‘From our room, I could see the terrace dance floor. It was the 80s and the people looked incredible – the 80’s fashion, convertible cars and sheer hedonism of it all at 8am in the morning.’
Witnessing Ibiza during his formative years had a big impact on Johannes.
‘The next year, when my parents asked where we should go for our holidays, my immediate response was Ibiza. We continued to return every year until I made my own money, and I was old enough to go clubbing!’
Johannes became friends with legendary electronic producer, Sven Vath and his team, who at the time had started hosting his legendary Cocoon parties.
‘They asked if I could help them bring Cocoon to the Island,’ says Sven. ‘Which we did, at Amnesia in 2000, and continued to do so up until the pandemic.’
With many of the Ibiza closing parties not taking place until mid October, there’s still plenty of time to squeeze in some time on the island. Excuse us while we pack our bags…
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