Why Come?
Hold on, you should be asking yourself why not? This is a truly unique time on Isla Blanca. The busy and hectic ‘Beefa' August crowds are long gone and the party-goers left or now visiting the island are generally all about la música. Yes, the closing parties are going to be chock-a-block (prepare yourself, guys) but they are also going to have a magical atmosphere and dance-floors teeming with like-minded clubbers. Already many ravers and PR-workers are departing the White Isle after too much shuffling and euro-spending so expect quieter beaches and more peaceful bays. Hurray for the sun-worshippers amongst us, we might finally nab a spot near the sea without having to set our alarms for an hour after we get in from our night!
The closing parties often see a lot of long-time Ibiza veterans returning to the island aware that the best is usually saved until last so expect a slightly more mature crowd than mid-season. As well as legendary parties, wearing out your favourite dancing shoes and battering your Shazam app, clubber camaraderie is at an all-time high and the DJs are taking risks and letting their hair down for one final time. Want proof? All closing parties, especially during (but not limited to) the final two weeks, tend to roll on for a lot longer, so not only are you getting more for your money but it's the perfect opportunity for revellers to prove their mettle by partying well past sunrise at every given chance. Now where else can we do that, ey?
How To Get There
Flying from the UK? Flights are still readily available in September although slightly less so in October. Prices vary from airline to airline but apps like Skyscanner are great for comparing the best deals and they do get cheaper the later you go as we find ourselves coming out of peak season. Jet2 and RyanAir seem to provide the cheapest trips but it's good to bear in mind that the later in the season you go the more likely you will have to fly from one of the more central or larger airports. If you don't live close to one of these then you could be looking at the possibility of a short train adventure first, and in both cases hold luggage is extra. But hey, doesn't that just add to the escapade? It's also worth noting that you get a 22kg allowance for around £20 with Jet2 in comparison to 15kg for around £25 with RyanAir).
If flying seems a bit too simple however, you can always drive over, adding to the experience an even more epic journey. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Christopher Columbus how about even road-tripping around parts of Europe on your way there (and especially on your way back so you don't have to throw yourself right back into reality on your return). According to Google Maps, driving from London to Ibiza would take around 22 hours, at 1113 miles, including the train through the Channel Tunnel to France and the Ferry from Barcelona to Ibiza Town. Working that out at around 10p per mile the cost is £111.30 or €140. The ferry from Barcelona to Eivissa is around €200 each way depending on the day you travel, and the Eurotunnel train with a car comes out at around £75 each way. So between 4 or 5 people that's pretty good and extends your holiday and ‘remember when...!' story ratio.
Flight & Ferry Information - ibiza-spotlight.com/travel_flights
Where to stay?
Hotels
• Hotels for clubbers - ibiza-spotlight.com/clubbers-hotels
• Playa d'en Bossa Hotels - ibiza-spotlight.com/hotelguide/accommodation_pdb
• San Antonio Hotels - ibiza-spotlight.com/hotel-guide/accommodation_san_antonio
• Ibiza Town Hotels - ibiza-spotlight.com/hotel-guide/accommodation_ibiza
Apartments
• Playa d'en Bossa Apartments - ibiza-spotlight.com/hotel-guide/accommodation_playa_den_bossa
• San Antonio Apartments - ibiza-spotlight.com/hotel-guide/apartments_san_antonio
• Ibiza Town Apartments - ibiza-spotlight.com/hotel-guide/apartments_ibiza
Poor preparation means poor performance on this one, the key is to think ahead! Be smart and choose your accommodation based on which clubs you reckon you'll be calling ‘home' for the week. For example, Space, Ushuaïa, DC10 and Sankeys are all based around Playa d'en Bossa, so if you want to be within walking distance or spend little to nothing on a taxi, staying in Bossa is the way forward. This also makes disco napping between parties a lot easier; less time travelling + more time snoozing = more hardcore partying!
Island Transport
Bus – There are various bus routes around the island that run from morning to evening. Prices are at about €1-3 depending on the route and time. Details here - ibizabus.com
For the night hours there is also a Discobus service, which takes clubbers in San An, PDB and Ibiza Town to and from all the major clubs on the island at the bargain price of €3 each way.
Alas, the Discobus service finishes on September 30th (lets be fair, the Discobus drivers deserve to get in on some closing action), so if you're coming out for Ibiza's closing credits in October don't forget to budget and bring enough money for your taxis home (here's where it pays to stay near the clubs you think you'll most want to go to, as you'd save heaps on taxis). If you'd really rather spend your cents on staying mildly hydrated in the clubs rather than a taxi ride home, many regular bus services start running at about 7am, so you can always wait around for one of those to show up and save on the cab.
Privilege runs a free bus service, taking people home to PDB or San Antonio, but it's just the one bus, so you can't always rely on getting on it. Amnesia also has a free bus service taking clubbers to Amnesia from San Antonio (as well as from Playa d'en Bossa), but again, when it will come and whether you will get on can't be guaranteed. Also, in both cases, it means you have to leave the party an hour or so before the end which, let's face it, is just as regretful an idea as walking out of Star Wars before the Darth Vader-father-revelation.
Taxi – There are many taxis around in each of the major towns. Just look for the line of white cars! The main taxi rank in San An is at the bottom of the West End, and there are various taxi ranks along the main road in PDB. You're looking at around €8 from PDB to Ibiza Town, around €30 between PDB and San An, and around €25 between San An and Ibiza Town.
Anything Else?
Most of the bars and beach clubs will still be open during September but you can't count on all of them. Sa Trinxa on Salinas beach is a cool afternoon hangout spot for clubbers, which remains open until late in the season. A lovely and free entertainment option is of course watching the sunset, which, at this time of the year, is particularly good to watch from Cap d'es Falco, in the Salinas area.
Finally, don't be fooled into thinking Ibiza is a sweltering sunny paradise all year round. By October, things can be pretty nippy – wouldn't go tackling October without a pair of trusty jeans and something long-sleeved. Oh, and you may as well be at peace with the fact that your tan will fade as quick as your hierbas buzz will wear off with the huge packed clubbing schedule we're about to lay out for you, you'll be lucky to see much daylight.
Party Guide
*Sound the Closing Party Klaxon!* It's here, the one you've been waiting for, the all-you-need-to-know-guide for the Ibiza Closings 2014. Although most of the festivities start around the end of September, there's still a few kicking-off early doors over the next two weeks...so let's begin…
Sebastian Ingrosso and Axwell's lovechild Departures…well, departs the White Isle on Wednesday 3rd of September at Ushuaia. That's the same day as Priviledge's Reverse closing party but due to Departure's al fresco party ending at midnight you could always catch both, grab a tactical snack from any of the Playa d'en Bossa's cafés, slink on to the Disco Bus and you're away.
On Sunday 7th September we bid farewell to the party that brought a colossal grinning green giant to Amnesia's Terrace, it's Amnesia Presents (no prizes for guessing where that's held okay!) Markus Schulz treats party-goers to a marathon seven hour set and next door Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike bring all the usual EDM mischief and mayhem for one last time with the likes of Chainsmokers, Thomas Gold, Deniz Koyu, Wolfpack and Yves V.
A week later we see the last of Ushuaïa's residents take to the lavish outdoor venue for Armin Van Buuren's A State Of Trance Closing Party on Thursday 11th Septmeber. Again, it's the usual time of 5pm to midnight and joining the Trance Prince is Andrew Rayel, Alex M.O.R.P.H. and Mark Sixma.
Things begin to get serious the second week of September; the club home to the island's best sound-system, Booom, invites Basement Jaxx, Mark Knight and Weiss to wave goodbye to Toolroom Knights on Monday 15th of September. But this is when it starts to get tricky, parties overlap and well evaluated decisions need to be made! Also on that day is Space's Café Olé Closing Party which, if this season is anything to go by, will be an extravagant fusion of elaborate stage production, lavish costumes, exceptional dancers and artistic shows.
Tuesday 16th September Privilege's pure Trance party, Sunk, sets sail one final time. Expect Solarstone, John 00 Fleming, Orkidea, Sneijder, Sam Mitcham and Alex Ryan all on board. Wednesday 17th September we wave cheerio to Ibiza Rocks at the evening time of 19:30 - 23:59. London lads Bombay Bicycle Club will be putting the party wheels in motion along with Dan Croll.
On Thursday 18th September Amnesia loses the jewel in its crown as Cream holds the first of two Ibiza extravaganzas. That's right folks, there's two of these Cream Closings to catch. Party Numero Uno welcomes Trance tyrant Paul Van Dyk, Eddie Halliwell, Aly & Fila, Jordan Suckley, Steve Angello, AN21, Third Party and James Dutton to the San Rafael venue. On the very same day, Destino closes its doors for Diynamic Outdoor Closing Party with Solomun, H.O.S.H., Adriatique, David August (live) and Magdalena. No rash disco-decisions need to be made here though, if you're wise you can make both shindigs as Diynamic's do is 4pm til 11:30pm. You know what they say, fail to prepare, prepare to fail.
On Friday 19th September we see the second Ibiza Rocks closing party this week, step up please W.A.R! Closing Party. Mark Ronson and Radio 1's darling Zane Lowe headline the bill, joined by Friend Within, Doorly and Anushka at the late afternoon time of 19:30 - 23:59.
And it's your last chance to don a rainbow hue at GLOW Neon Paint Closing Party at Es Paradis on Sunday 21st September.
Right, we are fast forwarding in to the last week of September now so seat-belts on, it's about to get busy:
Monday 22nd September and it's the Duke Dumont presents Blasé Boys Club Closing Party at Sankeys. Mr Dumont will be there of course, along with Jax Jones, Andy Baxter, Manu Gonzalez and Rosario. Privilege's 3D paint party spectacular, Neon Splash will be another final opportunity to soak your pals in paint which, let's be honest, sounds like tons of fun. No line-up yet for this one but info as we get it.
Tuesday 23rd September we bid adieu to Together at Amnesia. Chase and Status round up the troops including Netsky, Sigma and B.Traits for one last merriment in the Main Room. In the Terrace there's the King of DJs Fatboy Slim, Eats Everything, Justin Martin and Waifs & Strays. More special guests are still to be announced for this so keep your peepers peeled on our Clubbing Magazine and Party Calendar to be the first in the know. Not had a chance to catch Ibiza's one and only hippie haven yet? Pacha hosts its final Flower Power on this night with DJ Piti spinning all the classics from the 60s, 70s and 80s. This is your final call for the time machine that promises a night of sparklers and swaying to the tune of John Lennon's Give Peace A Chance. This is also the date for the Carl Cox - Music Is Revolution Closing Party with an absolute immense line-up. What else would you expect for the House heavyweight's final fete though ey? Mr Cox will be joined by Loco Dice, tINI, DJ Sneak, Yousef, Just Be (Bushwacka!) and Igor Marijuan along with many others but we know you haven't got all day so we will crack on.
Wednesday 24th September proves it's a big week for Amnesia Closing Parties as we say ta-ra to the La Troya / Espuma Foam Party. Same set-up as always: La Troya in the Terrace and the foam frolics in the Main Room. On the same day but in Ibiza Town, Booom is holding the Suara Closing Party with Coyu and Pleasurekraft confirmed and more names to be announced. Or over in Playa d'en Bossa there's the Ibiza Calling Closing Party at Space with ATB, Gelab, Camilo Franco and Ramon Castells hitting the decks.
There is an army of DJ's joining DC-10 for their Paradise Closing Party this night: (take a deep breath) there's Jamie Jones, Dixon, Ame, Cajmere, Kink (live), Silvie Loto, Infinity Ink, Richy Ahmed, Robert James, Russ Yallop and Mark Jenkyns. Phew! Oh and with more names are to be announced on that bill…you can tell Paradise don't do things by halves!
But if you are looking for cake-throwing and chaotic EDM antics look no further than Aoki's Playhouse Closing Party at Pacha. Main man Steve Aoki will be there (although most definitely NOT on his best behaviour) along with SBCR (Bloody Beetroots DJ set), Clockwork and Uberjak'd to name a few.
Thursday 25th September: Now remember I said there were two closing parties for Cream? Here we have Numero Dos on at Amnesia again. Stellar line-up of course, Cream veteran Paul Van Dyk, Aly & Fila B2B John O'Callaghan, Ben Gold, Sneijder, MakJ and EDM champs Laidback Luke and Benny Benassi. Little tip: this will be one hell of a night.
If you wanna start partying earlier that day already, then head to Destino. The last edition of Solomun's Diynamic Outdoor parties happens in the beautiful open-air venue. Opens at 4pm, the outside fun finishes just before midnight and then the party continues in the smaller inside club TOX. But this might as well be your perfect warm up for the aforementioned Cream closing party with some back to back sesisons from Solomun, H.O.S.H., Adriatique, David August (live) and Magdalena.
On Friday 26th September I personally will be holding back the tears about this one: Amnesia's Music On Closing Party. Main Room will hold Joseph Capriati, Stacey Pullen and Neverdogs whereas the Terrace will greet Leon, Re-UP and the Italian supremo himself Marco Carola. Quick few words for anyone who hasn't made it to a Music On this summer: Weird, magical and beautiful things happen in the Terrace from 6am onwards so it's worth sticking around to see the sun streaming through the ceiling.
Down the road at Space, Trance master Ferry Corsten is throwing the final Clandestin presents FULL ON FERRY with Sied Van Riel, DubVision and Paul Reynolds. If that's not your thing there's the White Isle's one and only water party Fiesta Del Agua / Judgement Fridays Closing Party at Es Paradis where Judge Jules and Steeve Valverde will take to the turn tables. Or get the Disco Bus to Bossa for Flying Circus's closing shindig at Sankeys. On the bill for this one is Audiofly, M.A.N.D.Y., Martin Buttrich (live), Blond:ish and Dance Spirit (live). Decisions, decisions, decisions!
Saturday 27th September and The Zoo Project Closing Party will see herds, prides and flocks of party-goers descend on Benimussa Park on from 4:30pm. Back to Booom again, Glitterbox Closing Party sparkles from midnight with a starry line-up including Dimitri From Paris, Joey Negro, Barbara Tucker (live PA), Late Night Tuff Guy, DJ Pippi B2B Mr Doris, DJ Antz B2B Mo Funk and a special live percussion treat from Shovell. Sankeys is making it a hat-trick with their third closing party of the week; Magna Carta ADELANTE . East End Dubs, Samu.L, Chris Lattner, Chicks Luv Us & Medeew will all be providing the beats to take you in to Sunday morning.
Space says adios to Kehakuma / Elrow Ibiza and with Fritz Kalkbrenner in the Discoteca and Levon Vincent in the Terraza it's two parties for the price of one! Over back in San Antonio at Es Paradis it's not only the Hed Kandi Closing Party, it's the club's final farewell to the island for this season. With the likes of Phil Faversham, Eibhlin, Ben Santiago, The Lovely Laura (Sax) and Dean Oram (Percussion), it's bound to be a musical and magical event and your very last chance to see the beautiful club's elegant décor and indoor garden.
Sunday 28th September: if you haven't made it to Sankeys this week already (and you've had three chances to do so) then look at the line-up for the VIVa Warriors Closing Party with Steve Lawler, Detlef, Anek, Mathew Jonson (live), Sante, Zohki & Roozlee, Spektrum - Capadi Rebels and Randall M & Friends. Impressive huh? Or….Mammoth Closing Party alert: Check out the treats in store for holiday-makers at Space's We Love... Rudimental (DJ set), James Zabiela, Gorgon City, Jem Haynes Vs. Jason Bye, Skream, Bicep, Paul Woolford, Ben UFO and that's just some of the guests that have been announced so expect a lot more surprises to come. Festivities start at 4:30pm and my advice from experience is to go as early as you can to take in as much as you can. No resting on your laurels here, the party WILL start as soon as the doors open so get down there a-sap.
Still with us? Okay, now we've moved in to the final frontier, Ibiza's last fortnight. Hardcore house fans, techheads and EDM enthusiasts unite – the end is near.
Monday 29th September and Tuesday 30th September
Goodbye Papa Sven. Monday will see the last Cocoon to grace Amnesia with Ibiza favourite Sven Vath, Adam Beyer, Henrik Schwarz (live) and Mathias Kaden in the Main Room and Ilario Alicante, Paul Ritch (live) and Dorian Paic terrorising the Terrace. Also...there's always a big afterparty happening somewhere on the island after Cocoon closing, so look out for that. Tuesday night we bid adieu to Booom's Defected In The House which has seen a very successful summer. The iconic label and brand welcomes Guti, Noir, Nick Curly, Oliver $ and Sam Divine to join in with the celebrations. Over in Playa d'en Bossa, it's FUSE's turn to depart the White Isle. Big names like Enzo Siragusa, Julian Perez, Seb Zito, Rossko, Luke Miskelly and Samuel Bellis will all cross Sankeys's threshold on a Tuesday for one final time. *emoji crying face*
Wednesday 1st October and Thursday 2nd October
Hooray we are in to October now, but it's still not autumn leaves and woolly jumpers just yet. On Wednesday we see a legion of DJs join forces for Tribal Sessions Closing Party at Sankeys. There's Argy, Cesar Merveille, Cuartero, Darius Syrossian, Gas, Gianni Callipari, Greg Vickers, Hector Couto, Jozef K, Marlowe (live), Michel Cleis, Mirko Loko, Sidney Charles and Valentino Kanzyani on the bill and those are just the confirmed names. Enjoying a very popular season this summer, Tribal Sessions will, no doubt, be pulling out all the stops for their final fiesta.
On the Thursday, Frenchman David Guetta will wave the island Au Revoir as his F*** Me I'm Famous party closes at Pacha. Again this isn't the final line-up but the names that have been announced include EDM prince Chuckie and JP Candela. Meanwhile Richie Hawtin and pals will don all black one last time at Space for ENTER's closing celebration. Which pals will be joining the techno mastermind, we hear you cry? Take a look: Marcel Dettmann, Gaiser, Tale Of Us, Maya Jane Coles, Nina Kraviz, Bella Sarris, Paco Osuna, Fabio Florido, Hito, Recondite and Ateq. This is sure to be worth wait.
Friday 3rd October
In San Antonio, the lavish pool party venue Ocean Beach will be toasting their last cocktails and serving up their final sushi from midday until midnight so it's your ultimate opportunity to celeb-spot while doing a bit of sunbathing. Alternatively to that and on the other side of the island, Luciano brings his Luciano & Friends fiesta to Destino one last time. This open air party kicks off at 4pm and runs until midnight with Luciano, Livio & Roby, Ernesto Ferreyra and Hash Hendrex all playing, things then continue inside TOX. But there's more on this night:
From midnight Pacha is holding their Insane Closing Party with John Digweed, MK, Dennis Ferrer, Reboot, Alex Kennon, Pippi and Willie Graff all in the booth, playing the tunes to take you in to the weekend.
The world's biggest club Privilege kisses goodbye another summer on this day too but the line-up is yet to confirmed for this one.
Saturday 4th October
Now listen carefully here, Ushuaïa have thrown a major curveball for their Closing Party. Techno Lord and master of Amnesia's Terrace, Marco Carola is nipping down to the al fresco venue from 2pm to play all day long. That's correct guys, and Ants resident Andrea Oliva will also lend a hand on the decks.
However if you are a fan of both Carola and Amnesia it is possible to catch both with the Amnesia Closing Party only commencing at midnight, so there is some overlap for the parties, but you should be able to take in Ushuaïa and Carola before making your way to Amnesia. The San Rafael venue has roped in A-list names like Butch, Carl Craig, Cuartero B2B Hector Couto, Joris Voorn, Joseph Capriati, Luciano, Maceo Plex, Mar-T, Ricardo Villalobos, Seth Troxler B2B Eats Everything and tINI to keep us dancing until sunrise.
On the other side of the island, Martin Solveig and his chums celebrate the season at Pacha. Joining the French DJ are buddies The Magician, John Martin (live PA), Danny Howard, John Jacobsen and Mucho Muchacho to mark the end of Pure Pacha - Martin Solveig & Friends.
Sunday 5th October
By no means are Sundays a day of rest here on Isla Blanca. Pacha hosts Solomun +1 Closing Party. Actually for the closing it's not a +1 as Solomun will play one of his legendary all night long sets! Still, there will be the El Cielo room too, with Willie Graff and Graham Sahara there to keep the German DJ company too.
After enjoying a very successful season and a 25th Birthday, Space will close its doors on this date with the goodbye celebrations commencing at 4:30pm. With over 30 artists confirmed, it's going to be an epic fiesta to round of an emotional year. Highlights so far include Agoria, Carl CoX plahying 2 sets including a sunrise terrace b2b with Nic Fanciulli, Deep Dish, Disclosure, DJ Tennis, John Talabot, Josh Wink and Visionquest.
Monday 6th October
Ciao Circo Loco and ciao DC-10. The last event on their calendar starts at midday and still has yet to announce any names attending.
On the same day, promising to beat those Monday blues is the Ibiza Rocks House Closing Party and the last event at Pacha for the summer. I repeat, this is the club's last party. Promising to be a biggie, they've brought Basement Jaxx, Claude VonStroke, George FitzGerald and Doorly all under one roof with more guests to be confirmed.
Tuesday 7th October
It's Next Wave's turn to wave ta-ra to Sankeys's low ceilings and dark basement. Ricardo Villalobos, RPR Soundsystem (Rhadoo B2B Petre Inspirescu B2B Raresh), Cabanne, Nima Gorji and Francesco Del Garda will all be in the mix that day so expect the same funky fresh tunes that Tuesday's have delivered all season.
Wednesday 8th October
Destino Closing Party time! The al fresco venue with the gorgeous views of Ibiza Town will open its doors one final day at the evening time of 4pm until half 11pm. Names still to be announced.
The Last Closing Party Award goes to Sankeys. Sankeys 20, which will not only celebrate the 2014 season but the Sankeys flaghip venue's 20th birthday, will start at 10pm. The line-up includes some of the best talent having played at the club all summer such as Duke Dumont, Amine Edge & DANCE, Darius Syrossian, DJ Sneak, Sidney Charles, Jozef K and more.
So there it is - the closing season in full. Use our guide, wear comfortable shoes, drink water, eat pasta, and not only will you make it out alive, you just might have the perfect holiday. Go forth - and conquer ye dance floors while ye may!
