A retreat for draft dodgers, disaffected Spanish liberals and thespians in the 60’s/early 70’s; a package holiday Mecca in the 80’s; the dance music epicentre in the 90’s: Ibiza has a unique ability to respond to the hedonist’s needs. The Phonecians, Byzantines and Romans recognised it, so it clearly runs deeper than just having some of the world’s best clubs, bars and restaurants. Nowadays, young and old, straight and gay, millionaire yacht owners and struggling students, all sit comfortably together in this tolerant and adaptable Balearic playground. Bizarrely anthropomorphic, she is like a mythical Siren, drawing those who get close enough to hear her song, feel her pulse or touch her personality. But most of all, she’s got soul and it is this soul that sets her apart from anywhere else in the world…

TheTortoise adds...

Ibiza is much more than Club18-30 and San Antonio drunkards. The real action takes place away from the large Blackpool-esque town of San Antonio, although you can catch a nice sunset set there courtesy of Jose Padilla. Ibiza rocks both musically and culturally.

Where else has the mystic nature of the white isle? The flight in gives me goosebumps, especially when you know you are flying over the key clubs of Space and Bora Bora. Much has been written about the "drug culture" (Daily Mail nonsense). What really brings people together is the sense that we are all here for the same purpose, to show that we are all still here for a good time, not for a life time.

To just talk about the clubs and music would distract from the other areas where Ibiza mystifies. The beaches in the north, south and east are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. The deep coves and private beach of Cala D'en Serra in the north by Portinatx really does make you feel like you never want to go home or even get back in your car for that matter. The hotel shell to the rear of the car park does create a sore point until you realise the builders must have given up once they saw the beauty of this spot.

So what if the flight path of the airport takes planes over the beach at Playa D'en Bossa, where else would you get so many people raising their hands to welcome in the new arrivals, not realising they were missing their own flight out. Ibiza is the place to spend the summer? It's the place to spend all summer if you can. Just don't tell anyone I told you.