Just returned from a week's trip with my teenage daughter where we had an excellent mix of quiet beaches and trendy beach bars.

Stayed in Carla Sant Vicens which is a quiet family resort in the north of the island, but having a hire car meant it was easy to visit all parts of the island. Es Torrent beach in south near Port Roig (we went to it as it was recommended as a reader's tip) is very small, very beautiful and very exclusive (ie expensive restaurant on the beach and expensive beach loungers to hire). Also strongly recommended is Cala de Serra - but if you want to visit this one go early in the day as it's very small and gets very busy.

Excellent food is available from the beach shack. We would go in mid-afternoon for a late brunch and an afternoon sleep in their deckchairs.

Highlight of our trip was going to Formentera, a stunning island with Caribbean style beaches - white sand and blue water. Ferries go every half hour from Ibiza port. It's expensive - 40 euros each, but well worth it. Just go early to make a day of it. We hired a moped to get around the island so don't forget your driving licence! We had lunch in Flipper and Chiller beach bar - very trendy. The afternoon was spent at yet another stunning beach, Playa Trocadors at the northern tip of the island. If you can organise it, spend a night on the island and watch the sun go down at the Big Sur bar near the beach as the last ferry back is 9pm.

Back on Ibiza island, if you are feeling flush, have an evening meal in Santa Getrudis - lots of very nice restaurants. The harbour area of Ibiza town is also great fun with lots of bars and buzzy night life - we spotted Kate Moss, much to my daughter's excitement. Only place to avoid is San Antonio - a real dump! One place we didn't get round to going to was Playa den Bossa which has all-day discos on the beach - I'm sure my daughter would have liked it more than me though.

We used the Rough Guide to Ibiza plus the readers' tips.

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It is a cafe in Salinas, on an amazing beach. I recommend it mostly because it has
beautiful music. The best part is when there is a sunset, you are eating chopped fruit and the music is on. There are no walls so you can fall off, (like I did) which really hurts.

From Ted O'Hare (age 7).

Salinas Beach
(quite near the airport)
Ibiza

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The now infamous Jet Apartments on Playa D'en Bossa's main beach are very basic accommodation. However the location cannot be beaten. The complex houses the famous Bora Bora beach bar and is across the road from Space Nightclub, the Waterpark and a €6 taxi ride to Ibiza town. Location location location.

www.jetibiza.com/

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One of the most beautiful and secluded beaches on the island - and yet it's just around the corner from San Antonio. A nice little bar with very reasonable (if simple) food, clean sand and beautiful water. It's not exactly a secret, but is never crowded even in peak season despite its small size. The other sun worshippers are usually Spanish or Italian, and you'll be very unlikely to find noisy gangs of Brits. Good for families as well. When you get off the taxi boat you'll be at the Aquarium which is also beautiful and well worth a look.

Take a taxi boat from San Antonio for a few Euros, or it's probably walkable. Take a taxi to Hotel Tanit and walk towards the sea

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The beach at Las Salinas is the island's most southern tip. It's beautiful and the best place to go and sunbathe if you're feeling beautiful in your bikini (ladies). Certainly don't go if you're having a “fat day” as you'll stand out wearing anything more than something to hide your modesty. In fact most people don't even do that. Salinas beach is renowned for attracting an attractive and fashionable crowd. Besides the stunning beach and crystal clear sea, there are plenty of cool places to relax and enjoy a cocktail - my favourite is the Jockey Club, and Sa Trincha is good too.

Can be reached by hire car, bicycle (be careful of the traffic) or bus from Ibiza Town (10 km) or Playa d'en Bossa (6 km).

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Salinas beach is at the very bottom of Ibiza, lined with some classy restaurants and bars. The views are beautiful and make it all the better to sit down and relax in with some sangria – the perfect way to relax after a night on the town.

Hire a car, catch a taxi or hop on a bus from Ibiza Town;
www.ibiza-spotlight.com/beach/las_salinas_i.htm

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Watch the sun set at one of the many cafes and bars lining this famous strip of white sand. Savannah, Cafe del Mar and Mambo are all great. It’s a unique experience to listen with thousands of other people to chilled music from Pete Tong and other top DJs. The feeling is amazing when everyone applauds a set, with the sun setting and the partying just beginning.

San Antonio, Ibiza;
www.cafemamboibiza.com;
www.cafedelmarmusic.com

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Bora Bora is situated in the middle of Playa d’en Bossa, and it’s a crazy place. A beach with a wicked bar, and people dancing on tables while the sun is up. This place is legendary, and if you’re into the club scene it’s an Ibiza must-do, if only for the fact that everyone gets involved!

In the middle of Playa d'en Bossa;
www.ibiza-spotlight.com/bora-bora/

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I love this place for Sa Trincha's bar and the Jockey Club. Chill out under the warm rays of the sun while listening to some of the coolest sounds of the summer. A place for the happy smiling people. Magic.

10km from Ibiza Town, at the southern end of the island. Hire a car or catch the bus.

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Forget Cafe del Mar (hugely overrated) - the Blue Bar in Formentera is the best beach bar experience in Ibiza & Formentera.

Situated on the beautiful, unspoilt Platja de Mitjorn, the Blue Bar is a relaxing place to cool down, eat and drink by day, with DJs by night.

tel: 971 18 70 11;
www.bluebarformentera.com

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A hidden beach that's a perfect chillout.

www.ibiza-spotlight.com/beach/cala_moli_i.htm

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My favourite beach is Cala Conta, on the western most point of Ibiza - white sand and cool blue waters.

The beach can be reached by car or bus. Ferries depart regularly from San Antonio harbour.

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Go at sundown to hear all the hippie drums and see all the cool fire dances. In short, the way ibiza was 30 years ago in its pre-Ibiza Uncovered days.

Then get dinner at the restaurant on the right-hand side of the beach, not the yucky one on the left. The nicer restaurant also has an amazing gift shop.

Reached only by car-follow signposts for San Miguel.

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Formentera is a very small island with a few wonderful shops and eating places but it is the beaches that are most memorable. Beautiful white sand and crystal clear waters. It's a little bit naughty but camping out over night on one of the otherwise deserted beaches to await the sunrise is a truly wonderful experience.

There are regular ferries from Ibiza Town to Formentera. The journey takes 20 minutes.

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A mystical, ancient quarry where the stone was carved for the walls around the Ibiza Old Town. It’s like the Giant’s Causeway but with rectangles, glistening crystal clear sea, idyllic surroundings and a hippie folklore.

The angular landscape has also been doctored by travellers with faces, engravings and a mind blowing painting of a Buddha. It’s a great place to spend a day. The only thing is it’s a 40 minute descent down a cliff face to find it. It’s not easy. In fact, my girlfriend fell out with me for the rest of the day due to the even longer ascent. It’s worth the grief though. Stunning.

Head to Torre des Savinar and head to the cliff edge to see your target and begin the descent.

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Located on the opposite side of the island to San Antonio, Benirras Beach is a great little hangout with a couple of restaurants, a good little ramshackle beach bar and a friendly atmosphere.

On Sunday evenings the place comes alive as all manner of old school hippies, and trustafarians appear out of nowhere. There's beer drinking, drumming and dancing as the sun sets on the horizon.

This is a world away from the San Antonio I experienced on an 18-30's holiday 10 years ago.

And if you're into a bit of stretching, I recommend you check out Ibiza Yoga - totally idyllic and not 'too purist' ;-)

www.ibizayoga.com/;
www.ibiza-spotlight.com/beach/benirras_i.htm

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