MAN IN SAN AN by Martin Makepeace

Ibiza’s Prices No Longer Shock Tourists. Is That Good News?

There was a time when visitors arrived in Ibiza, looked at a €25 cocktail or a €40 breakfast and nearly choked on their sangria but not anymore. In the least shocking report ever tourists now expect Ibiza to be expensive. The island’s eye-watering prices have become part of the brand but there is a catch: Acceptance doesn’t necessarily mean enthusiasm.

Ibiza es codiciosa, ¿verdad?

Existe un discurso cada vez más habitual que dice que Ibiza se ha vuelto codiciosa. Lo leo constantemente en las redes sociales y aparece una y otra vez cuando hablo con la gente, especialmente durante la temporada alta. Al parecer, todo es demasiado caro: las bebidas, los restaurantes, los hoteles, las discotecas, las hamacas, los taxis.

Ibiza is Greedy, Right?

There’s an ongoing narrative that Ibiza has become greedy. I read it all the time on social media and its mentioned frequently when talking to people, especially during the peak season. Everything is apparently too expensive – drinks, restaurants, hotels, clubs, sun-beds, taxis. Basically, if it involves spending money on the island, someone somewhere is complaining that Ibiza has lost the plot.

Radio 1 Ibiza Weekend: Still Essential?

I should probably declare an interest. Even though I was at the very first event in 1995, Radio 1’s Ibiza Weekend was never really my thing. In fact, I once found myself as the lone dissenting voice in a BBC documentary, surrounded by people convinced it was the greatest thing ever to happen to the island.