Jacksonville isn't an exotic travel destination but it does have a lot to offer. The city is the largest in the U.S. in terms of total acres so it can be hard to find good restaurants and accommodations. Luckily, you can read this blog and rely on my knowledge of the city to guide you to the best spots!
Top Restaurants:
1. Salt, Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island (9.5)
Which restaurant is the best in all of Jacksonville? One word: Salt. Until 2008, the acclaimed Salt restaurant, located in the Ritz Carlton, Amelia Island was listed as a AAA five diamond restaurant. Despite falling to a 4 diamond rating in 2009, Salt remains the top ranked restaurant in North Florida. These accolades did not come by accident.
Upon entering Salt, patrons are greeted with a sprawling view of the ocean in a traditional upscale setting. This view is complimented by a delicious menu which changes weekly. On a recent visit, I chose the prix fixe menu which included a variety of creatively prepared dishes including: lobster salad drizzled with an apple glaze, seared tuna, and kobe beef.
Diners at Salt can also expect to be treated to over 40 salt varieties and over 500 wines. However, diners should not expect to pay less than $250 dollars for a two-person dinner. Plan to dress nice because jackets are required for men. Don't go overboard with dress, men may feel overdressed in a suit and tie. In sum, Salt is the most upscale and highly-rated restaurant in Jacksonville and it is a perfect place to celebrate your latest milestone. Is it the best? That question ios always up for debate.
2. Eleven South, Jacksonville Beach
This basically looks like a house and it's in a residential neighborhood so it's easy to miss. The main draw here is the food. I recommend the lobster mac and melted goat cheese for an appetizer. The Bibb salad with mango, avocado, and toasted macadamia nuts is also good. The Pecan Crusted Rack of Lamb, Chilean Sea Bass, and Seared Diver Scallops are also excellent. For dessert, the Blueberry and White Chocolate Bread Pudding is a good one to try. The wine selection is pretty thorough. Franciscan "Magnificat" ($16 per glass) from Napa is a safe bet. The Cambria Pino Noir ($12 per glass) should also be a solid choice. The interior is laid back but classy. I'd recommend a button-up shirt for men and a dress for women. Men would feel at home in a coat but no tie is needed.
3. Bistro Aix, San Marco
A relatively large bistro that has two large rooms inside: the Onyx Bar and the main dining room. The decor is gothic in the dining room with a large clock on the wall and medieval chair backs. The Onyx Bar is completely white with couches and pillars throughout.
4. Restaurant Medure, Ponte Vedra
Recently re-opened, this stylish restaurant is a nice place for a big night out.
5. Espeto, Avondale
6. Seafoam Room, Ponte Vedra
7. 95 Cardova, St. Augustine
8. Roy's, Jacksonville Beach
9. Ruth's Chris, Downtown Jax
10. Cantina Laredo, St. John's Town Center
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, July 31, 2009
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is a prime example of a city which this blog seeks to highlight. There are a lot of misconceptions about Vegas. Some say: "you can't have fun in Vegas unless you gamble." False! Cara and I have ignored the Vegas gambling scene almost entirely and we have had two amazing trips. Also, many think that Vegas is too wild and crazy for those who want to enjoy a quiet and relaxing trip. This is also untrue. It's just as easy to have fun in Vegas by going to a restaurant and a show as it is to go to a club for a wild night. Bottom line: Vegas has everything.
Top 10 Hotels:
1. The Wynn/Encore(9.5)
Anyone who knows Vegas should know that the Wynn is the place to stay. At first glance, you might not think that this hotel is all that great. However, the more you explore, the more you realize that this place is a vast, smorgasbord of awesomeness.
First of all, the "Tower Suites" at the Wynn are worth the price ($350-400 a night). These suites are located on only the top floors of the Wynn and they feature breathtaking views of the golf course and the strip (depending on what side you're on). Let me take a second to describe the Wynn Tower Suites: these rooms are huge and they have windows which go from the ceiling to the floor in both the bedroom and the living room. The bathrooms are palatial with his/her sinks/vanities, etc. Basically, everything in this place is nice.
Also, staying at the Tower Suites gives you the opportunity to go to the private pool area which is only open to those staying in the suites. This is just another amenity that makes these rooms totally worth it.
On top of that, Wynn has some of the best restaurants in Vegas. S.W. (Steve Wynn) steakhouse serves excellent steaks but the entertainment at the Pool of Dreams is the real draw. It's very difficult to describe but if you go you won't be disappointing. The automated frog who sings "Low Rider" is just one of the acts in this dinner show.
2. Bellagio (8.5)
This is a truly awesome hotel as a whole. However, the rating would be higher if we hadn't had a problem with the air conditioning in the room. Also, don't even think about touching any of the food in the refrigerator unless you intend to eat it (both in the literal sense and the monetary sense). There are sensors that can tell if you moved the food (but most other hotels in Vegas such as the Wynn have these sensors as well). To Bellagio's credit, they give me a refund for the peanut M&M's that I ate to make up for the air conditioning problems.
Aside from these minor issues, Bellagio is a nice hotel. Cara and I stayed in a standard room which was nice but not amazing. The views of the pool are excellent though and the fountains are more awesome then you can imagine (you have to see them to understand, they're basically water cannons rather than "water fountains.")
3. The Hotel (8)
This is a great, well-priced, modern hotel that is connected with Mandalay Bay. Also, it is the only large hotel in Vegas where you don't have to walk through a smoky casino to get to the rooms.
4. Mandalay Bay
Awesome pool area and awesome spa.
5. Caesar's Palace
This hotel is HUGE. It has a mall inside that has basically every luxury store of the best malls in America, including stores like Harry Winston, etc.
6. The Palazzo
7. MGM Grande
8. New York New York
9. The Palms
10. Luxor
Top attractions:
1. Cirque du Soleil "O" (Bellagio) (9.5)
Cara and I have seen 4 Cirque shows: 1. La Nouba (Downtown Disney, Orlando), 2. Mystere (TI, Vegas), 3. Love (Mirage, Vegas), and 4. "O" (Bellagio, Vegas). We have come to the concensus that O is the best water show and that La Nouba is the best non-water show. However, if we had to chose between La Nouba and O it would probably have to be O.
If you've never been a Cirque show there's a few things you should know. The shows generally have a bunch of stuff going on at once and they feature intense acrobatics and beatiful music. You don't have to be "artsy-fartsy" to enjoy a Cirque show. Rather, they are generally very exciting and they keep keep your adrenaline going throughout.
However, I should talk more about O. O is one of the older Cirque shows but it is widely considered the best. O has one of the most expensive stages in the water and a big reason for that is: the water. The stage evolves througout the entire performance in that it goes from an 8-10 feet of water to no water at all in mere minutes. I don't want to spoil it but the performances are exciting and "daredevil" esq. Rest assured, you will be amazed if you see this show.
2. La Reve (The Wynn) (9.5)
First, to dispel any confusion, La Reve is not technically a Cirque show but it was created by Dragone who did previous work for Cirque. Despite this, La Reve really feels like a Cirque show from start to finish in that it progresses by alternating acrobatics/dance and comedic relief. However, there is a slightly different feel regarding the storyline. Typically, Cirque shows have a very sparse storyline whereas La Reve's drive is slightly more narrative. Also, La Reve debateably has more of a main character/protagonist in comparison to other Cirque shows.
The idea behind La Reve is that it's an artistic interpretation of Picaso's painting of the same name. It begins with a girl in red who descends into a dream and her male savior attempts to rescue her from the dream throughout the performance.
The whole performance was excellent and very enthralling. La Reve and O are truly the two top shows in Vegas and I would challenge anyone to show me a better performance.
3. Helicopter over the Strip (Maverick Helicopter Rides)
5. Cirque du Soleil "Mystere" (Treasure Island) (8.0)
6. Cirque du Soleil "Love" (Mirage) (7.5)
This is the Cirque show which is based on music by the Beetles. Honestly, this is not a typical Cirque show in my opinion. The focus is even more on audience interaction than other shows. Also, the stunts and acrobatics are not nearly as impressive as O or La Nouba. However, if you REALLY love the Beetles then you might find this show more enjoyable than I did. Don't get me wrong, I like the Beetles but I'm not enough of a fan that I wanted to see an artistic interpretation of random Beetles songs. Bottom line: Love is entertaining but not amazing (and if you love the Beetles then you might love the show...no pun intended).
7. The Fountains (Bellagio)
8. Water Show (The Wynn)
Pretty cool show to watch while eating at either the S.W. (Steve Wynn) Steakhouse or the restaurant across the way. Basically, stuff pops out of the water such as a woman's face and a frog pops up from behind the waterfall and sings "lowrider" (awesome right?). Not a must see but definately a bonus if you eat at one of the Wynn restaurants which are bordering the "Pool of Dreams."
Top Clubs:
1. Tryst (The Wynn)
This club is an indoor/outdoor club that features a large waterfall in the outside area. Although Tryst only has one floor the club is large (but still doesn't compare to Ibiza clubs in terms of size). Expect to hear dance music which consists of remixed pop songs and other rap-ish songs. Don't expect any true trance music. This is the best dance club we've been to in Vegas.
2. Pure (Caesar's Palace)
3. Ghost Bar (The Palms)
Top Restaurants:
1. Picasso (Bellagio)
2. Mesa Grille (Caesar's)
3. Mix (TheHotel)
4. Tao
5. Olives (Bellagio)
Top 10 Hotels:
1. The Wynn/Encore(9.5)
Anyone who knows Vegas should know that the Wynn is the place to stay. At first glance, you might not think that this hotel is all that great. However, the more you explore, the more you realize that this place is a vast, smorgasbord of awesomeness.
First of all, the "Tower Suites" at the Wynn are worth the price ($350-400 a night). These suites are located on only the top floors of the Wynn and they feature breathtaking views of the golf course and the strip (depending on what side you're on). Let me take a second to describe the Wynn Tower Suites: these rooms are huge and they have windows which go from the ceiling to the floor in both the bedroom and the living room. The bathrooms are palatial with his/her sinks/vanities, etc. Basically, everything in this place is nice.
Also, staying at the Tower Suites gives you the opportunity to go to the private pool area which is only open to those staying in the suites. This is just another amenity that makes these rooms totally worth it.
On top of that, Wynn has some of the best restaurants in Vegas. S.W. (Steve Wynn) steakhouse serves excellent steaks but the entertainment at the Pool of Dreams is the real draw. It's very difficult to describe but if you go you won't be disappointing. The automated frog who sings "Low Rider" is just one of the acts in this dinner show.
2. Bellagio (8.5)
This is a truly awesome hotel as a whole. However, the rating would be higher if we hadn't had a problem with the air conditioning in the room. Also, don't even think about touching any of the food in the refrigerator unless you intend to eat it (both in the literal sense and the monetary sense). There are sensors that can tell if you moved the food (but most other hotels in Vegas such as the Wynn have these sensors as well). To Bellagio's credit, they give me a refund for the peanut M&M's that I ate to make up for the air conditioning problems.
Aside from these minor issues, Bellagio is a nice hotel. Cara and I stayed in a standard room which was nice but not amazing. The views of the pool are excellent though and the fountains are more awesome then you can imagine (you have to see them to understand, they're basically water cannons rather than "water fountains.")
3. The Hotel (8)
This is a great, well-priced, modern hotel that is connected with Mandalay Bay. Also, it is the only large hotel in Vegas where you don't have to walk through a smoky casino to get to the rooms.
4. Mandalay Bay
Awesome pool area and awesome spa.
5. Caesar's Palace
This hotel is HUGE. It has a mall inside that has basically every luxury store of the best malls in America, including stores like Harry Winston, etc.
6. The Palazzo
7. MGM Grande
8. New York New York
9. The Palms
10. Luxor
Top attractions:
1. Cirque du Soleil "O" (Bellagio) (9.5)
Cara and I have seen 4 Cirque shows: 1. La Nouba (Downtown Disney, Orlando), 2. Mystere (TI, Vegas), 3. Love (Mirage, Vegas), and 4. "O" (Bellagio, Vegas). We have come to the concensus that O is the best water show and that La Nouba is the best non-water show. However, if we had to chose between La Nouba and O it would probably have to be O.
If you've never been a Cirque show there's a few things you should know. The shows generally have a bunch of stuff going on at once and they feature intense acrobatics and beatiful music. You don't have to be "artsy-fartsy" to enjoy a Cirque show. Rather, they are generally very exciting and they keep keep your adrenaline going throughout.
However, I should talk more about O. O is one of the older Cirque shows but it is widely considered the best. O has one of the most expensive stages in the water and a big reason for that is: the water. The stage evolves througout the entire performance in that it goes from an 8-10 feet of water to no water at all in mere minutes. I don't want to spoil it but the performances are exciting and "daredevil" esq. Rest assured, you will be amazed if you see this show.
2. La Reve (The Wynn) (9.5)
First, to dispel any confusion, La Reve is not technically a Cirque show but it was created by Dragone who did previous work for Cirque. Despite this, La Reve really feels like a Cirque show from start to finish in that it progresses by alternating acrobatics/dance and comedic relief. However, there is a slightly different feel regarding the storyline. Typically, Cirque shows have a very sparse storyline whereas La Reve's drive is slightly more narrative. Also, La Reve debateably has more of a main character/protagonist in comparison to other Cirque shows.
The idea behind La Reve is that it's an artistic interpretation of Picaso's painting of the same name. It begins with a girl in red who descends into a dream and her male savior attempts to rescue her from the dream throughout the performance.
The whole performance was excellent and very enthralling. La Reve and O are truly the two top shows in Vegas and I would challenge anyone to show me a better performance.
3. Helicopter over the Strip (Maverick Helicopter Rides)
5. Cirque du Soleil "Mystere" (Treasure Island) (8.0)
6. Cirque du Soleil "Love" (Mirage) (7.5)
This is the Cirque show which is based on music by the Beetles. Honestly, this is not a typical Cirque show in my opinion. The focus is even more on audience interaction than other shows. Also, the stunts and acrobatics are not nearly as impressive as O or La Nouba. However, if you REALLY love the Beetles then you might find this show more enjoyable than I did. Don't get me wrong, I like the Beetles but I'm not enough of a fan that I wanted to see an artistic interpretation of random Beetles songs. Bottom line: Love is entertaining but not amazing (and if you love the Beetles then you might love the show...no pun intended).
7. The Fountains (Bellagio)
8. Water Show (The Wynn)
Pretty cool show to watch while eating at either the S.W. (Steve Wynn) Steakhouse or the restaurant across the way. Basically, stuff pops out of the water such as a woman's face and a frog pops up from behind the waterfall and sings "lowrider" (awesome right?). Not a must see but definately a bonus if you eat at one of the Wynn restaurants which are bordering the "Pool of Dreams."
Top Clubs:
1. Tryst (The Wynn)
This club is an indoor/outdoor club that features a large waterfall in the outside area. Although Tryst only has one floor the club is large (but still doesn't compare to Ibiza clubs in terms of size). Expect to hear dance music which consists of remixed pop songs and other rap-ish songs. Don't expect any true trance music. This is the best dance club we've been to in Vegas.
2. Pure (Caesar's Palace)
3. Ghost Bar (The Palms)
Top Restaurants:
1. Picasso (Bellagio)
2. Mesa Grille (Caesar's)
3. Mix (TheHotel)
4. Tao
5. Olives (Bellagio)
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Ibiza, Spain
Since Ibiza is my favorite travel location, it makes sense that it should be addressed in the first post on this blog. For those of you who don't know, Ibiza is a tropical island off the eastern coast of Spain which has been featured on various TV shows such as Wild on E! and Bridget's Sexiest Beaches on the Travel Channel. The typical impression that people have regarding Ibiza is that it is a crazy party spot for young people. While this is mostly accurate, I noticed many families at the beaches and older individuals as well. However, if you're expecting to find some nice quiet time with the family Ibiza is probably not your best bet (the island in the Balearic Islands, Mallorca may be more up your alley) but for those who want to party Ibiza is the place!
Ibiza, also known as the "White Isle" (for the numerous white buildings around the island), is known first and foremost as the home of trance dance music. So obviously there is an amazing nightlight on the island. Every summer, around June, all the clubs start to have their opening nights and this continues through August and sometimes into September. Included amongst these clubs are various bars that serve as pre-party locations for the nightclub parties which start later in the night (don't even think about going into the main clubs until midnight). The main clubs on the island are the Pacha (a very posh club located in Ibiza town, my favorite club in the world), Privilege (the largest club in the world), Amnesia (which has been ranked as the #1 dance club in the world), Eden (nice club that features crazy lighting effects and some less trancey music), Es Paradis (home of the world famous water party), Space (home of Carl Cox), and El Divino (a smaller club located on the water at the Ibiza harbour). All of these clubs will be addressed throughout this post. I've been to most of them during my 4 visits to Ibiza and they have provided some great memories.
The first thing you should know about Ibiza clubs is that they each feature a special party nearly every night of the week. Some are better than others. For instance, the opening and closing parties are oftentimes blowouts which feature some of the hottest DJ's such as Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, and Pete Tong. Thursday is often considered the biggest night. However, the other nights are solid too. These parties include Monza at Privilege, Pure Pacha at Pacha, and Armada at Amnesia (featuring Armin Van Buuren, the current #1 DJ in the world).
Next, you should know that the clubs are not all located in Ibiza town itself (however, Pacha and El Divino are located in town). There are basically two sides of the island: Ibiza town and on the other side, San Antonio (not to be confused with the city in Texas). Nearby Ibiza there is Playa den Bossa, we stayed here last summer and it was a great place to stay. Playa Den Bossa is considered a more family oriented and quiet place to stay that allows you to escape from the club scene when it's time to sleep. San Antonio is considered the more wild part of the island and don't expect to find much peace and quiet over there (especially at night). However, San Antonio is where the action is so you may want to stay there if you want the purely wild Ibiza experience. Don't expect to come to Ibiza to catch up on your sleep regardless of where you stay. Most of the clubs don't even open until 11pm-12am and the main DJ's oftentimes don't come on until 4am (no that's not a typo they really don't go on until 4am).
Lastly, it's much cheaper to get drinks before you go to the clubs rather than in the club itself. Outside at the smaller bars such as Cafe Del Mar and Cafe Mambo. In the club it costs 10-15 euro for a drink whereas outside it is more like 5.
As a side note, you don't have to love dance music to love Ibiza. In fact, in recent years the island has started to feature numerous other types of music, such as American hip hop and classic rock in the clubs. The newer clubs such as Eden and Es Paradis often feature these types of music. Also, Ibiza has some of the most magnificent beaches in the world. Also, Ibiza features what many consider the best sunset in the world at the famous and original Cafe Del Mar. So, come along with me to the best travel location in the world: Ibiza.
For further information see this great site:
http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/
Top 10 places to party: the Clubs!:
1. Pacha (Rating: 9.5)
Location: Ibiza Town
Dress: Nice to very nice. For the girls, low-cut and tight is encouraged. However, you can go more conservative as long as it's nice. White clothes are encouraged and you will not feel out of place if you come dressed up. For men, long pants and a button up shirt will work, as long as you unbutton at least two buttons on the shirt. You could also do a suit but don't go with a tie.
Ambiance: Very posh and classy.
Music: Pacha has been providing some much more eclectic sets in recent years which the Pacha Classics Mix which had some American classic songs remixed and some trancey stuff as well.
Cover: 50+ Euro
This club is one of the oldest and best clubs in the world and it has only gotten better with age. At any given night you can find a variety of world famous DJ's at this club and the dress code is as nice and sexy as possible. When you walk into Pacha, it seems like a small grotto-like area but as you explore you realize that that the club is vast. Right at the front of the club you should look to the right to find the smaller Global Room which features some eclectic mixes. For instance, when I went there in 2007, I heard an old school, American rap music in this room, and it was amazing. Moral of the story: don't always expect to hear all techno music in the clubs.
As you continue walking you come to the world famous main room at Pacha. This room often features chandeliers and other elaborate decorations which change to match the party they are having on any given night. As you walk up the stairs there is an upper bar area to go with the lower bar in the main room.
There is also a smaller room upstairs for a more toned-down experience. For this room, picture the "House of Blues" with a much more European flair. Also upstairs is the terrace which is only open on certain big nights (it wasn't open for Pacha Classics but it was open for Pure Pacha when Pete Tong was there). All in all, this club is easily one of the best in the world and it's my favorite so I'm biased!
Here's a video from last summer at Pacha Classics:
2. Amnesia (8.5)
(on the road between Ibiza town and San Antonio)
This club has some of the biggest nights of all time. For instance, I went here in 2003 and the lineup was: Paul Oakenfold from 12-2am, Tiesto from 2-4am, and Paul Van Dyk from 4am-6am+ (see video below). If this DJ lineup doesn't wow you I don't know what will. This night was an amazing night and it was at their party called "Cream." During the show and at the highest build in the songs they would turn on the largest dry ice cannon in the world (notice this biggest in the world theme on the island) and you couldn't seen anything for about 3-4 minutes. This was an amazing night for me personally.
As far as the interior of the club itself, Amnesia has features two large rooms. The main room has one of the craziest sound systems in the world which includes numerous 8 foot subwoofers. There is a second room which is massive and feels like being in a large factory-type room. I prefer the more intimate feel of Pacha over this industrial vide but that's just a personal preference.
Tiesto and PVD at Cream circa 2003:
3. Eden (8)
(San Antonio)
Cover: 30-50 Euro
This club is a lot of fun and very impressive inside. It has a massive lighting system which has some really wild effects. Pete Tong has a night there which is very big called "Wonderland." This night is highly recommended. As far as layout, this club consists of two stories and has a large main room. Also, there are two relatively large side rooms. This is a great club that's fun and not too expensive to get in.
4. Privilege (7)
(on the road between Ibiza town and San Antonio)
This club is known as the largest club in the world and this is mainly due to its truly massive main room. The DJ booth is actually surrounded by a moat believe it or not and the sound system is pretty impressive to fill this huge room. There is an outside terrace and a few side rooms. Tiesto has a night here now which is apparently very awesome. This club is definitely a sight to see at least once but it's not one that has a particularly endearing feel.
5. Es Paradis (6.5)
(San Antonio)
I haven't actually been to this club but I've heard the water party is amazing (ie water pours down from all around and covers the dancefloor). The club is shaped like a huge pyramid and apparently looks like a Roman bath house inside. They have an eclectic selection on many nights.
6. El Divino (6.5)
I rate this one highly because it has a nice restaurant that is located on the water. Their food is good but stay away from the desert. The club can be nice if they have the exterior open but it's kind of weird scene inside. The club is much smaller than the others and it's generally very cheap to get in.
7. Space (6)
The Carl Cox night is reportedly very cool and this is located close to the airport and the planes actually fly over this open-air club. They have a signature party on Sundays which doesn't even start until like 6am.
8. Manumission Club (6)
This is an offshoot of Privilege and it's actually a party that Privilege used to have that was comparable to Cirque du Soleil with techno music. This is in between a club and a bar but I would consider it a club b/c it's two stories tall and has some pretty nice drinks.
9. Ibiza Rocks (N/A)
This is a hotel that has some club elements at night. They do some live rock shows here and it's a nice place to get away from the techno if you want to do so (although I couldn't imagine why).
10. Boho (N/A)
This is a new club that has taken the place of the old club Extasis. Don't expect anything amazing aside from good prices and something new.
Where to Stay:
1. Sirenis Hotel Goletta (8.5)
Although not a five-diamond resort, this is by far the nicest hotel that I have stayed at during my stays in Ibiza. They offer complimentary breakfast in the morning. This isn't just your normal crappy continental, euro breakfast, this is a full-fledged breakfast with omelettes made in front of you, pancakes, various juices, etc. Also, there are two large outdoor pools, a nice spa with a pool, and a private-ish beach area.
Where to Eat
1. Cafe Del Mar (9.5)
This place has one thing that is simply the best, most amazing thing in the world...the greatest mojito ever. Now, you might think that you've had a better mojito but you would be sorely mistaken. You haven't truly lived until you've had a mojito from Cafe Del Mar.
Also, picture this: chilled out dance music plays as you look out over a beautiful bay with 100's of beatiful Balearic people from Ibiza. As the sun sets it casts a long ray of light out across the water. Paragliders fly by the sun as it grows larger and gets lower in the sky. As the sun finally enters the surface of the water is looks like a large orange being dipped into the ocean. After the sun finally sets, everyone cheers as the night is about to begin. As everyone finishes their drinks they get read to head out for a long night of clubbing. This is the typical beginning to a great Ibiza night at Cafe Del Mar and the Sunset Strip, if you haven't experienced this then you haven't truly experienced Ibiza.
2. El Divino (8)
Nice but expensive restaurant in Ibiza Harbour. This is located on the outside porch of the El Divino club and it's difficult to get in at times so make a reservation. The views of the water are great and it's a nice place to watch the yachts come into the harbour. The portions are generous. The entree, appetizers, and wine were good but the desert was sub-par.
Ibiza, also known as the "White Isle" (for the numerous white buildings around the island), is known first and foremost as the home of trance dance music. So obviously there is an amazing nightlight on the island. Every summer, around June, all the clubs start to have their opening nights and this continues through August and sometimes into September. Included amongst these clubs are various bars that serve as pre-party locations for the nightclub parties which start later in the night (don't even think about going into the main clubs until midnight). The main clubs on the island are the Pacha (a very posh club located in Ibiza town, my favorite club in the world), Privilege (the largest club in the world), Amnesia (which has been ranked as the #1 dance club in the world), Eden (nice club that features crazy lighting effects and some less trancey music), Es Paradis (home of the world famous water party), Space (home of Carl Cox), and El Divino (a smaller club located on the water at the Ibiza harbour). All of these clubs will be addressed throughout this post. I've been to most of them during my 4 visits to Ibiza and they have provided some great memories.
The first thing you should know about Ibiza clubs is that they each feature a special party nearly every night of the week. Some are better than others. For instance, the opening and closing parties are oftentimes blowouts which feature some of the hottest DJ's such as Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren, Paul Van Dyk, and Pete Tong. Thursday is often considered the biggest night. However, the other nights are solid too. These parties include Monza at Privilege, Pure Pacha at Pacha, and Armada at Amnesia (featuring Armin Van Buuren, the current #1 DJ in the world).Next, you should know that the clubs are not all located in Ibiza town itself (however, Pacha and El Divino are located in town). There are basically two sides of the island: Ibiza town and on the other side, San Antonio (not to be confused with the city in Texas). Nearby Ibiza there is Playa den Bossa, we stayed here last summer and it was a great place to stay. Playa Den Bossa is considered a more family oriented and quiet place to stay that allows you to escape from the club scene when it's time to sleep. San Antonio is considered the more wild part of the island and don't expect to find much peace and quiet over there (especially at night). However, San Antonio is where the action is so you may want to stay there if you want the purely wild Ibiza experience. Don't expect to come to Ibiza to catch up on your sleep regardless of where you stay. Most of the clubs don't even open until 11pm-12am and the main DJ's oftentimes don't come on until 4am (no that's not a typo they really don't go on until 4am).
Lastly, it's much cheaper to get drinks before you go to the clubs rather than in the club itself. Outside at the smaller bars such as Cafe Del Mar and Cafe Mambo. In the club it costs 10-15 euro for a drink whereas outside it is more like 5.
As a side note, you don't have to love dance music to love Ibiza. In fact, in recent years the island has started to feature numerous other types of music, such as American hip hop and classic rock in the clubs. The newer clubs such as Eden and Es Paradis often feature these types of music. Also, Ibiza has some of the most magnificent beaches in the world. Also, Ibiza features what many consider the best sunset in the world at the famous and original Cafe Del Mar. So, come along with me to the best travel location in the world: Ibiza.
For further information see this great site:
http://www.ibiza-spotlight.com/
Top 10 places to party: the Clubs!:
1. Pacha (Rating: 9.5)
Location: Ibiza Town
Dress: Nice to very nice. For the girls, low-cut and tight is encouraged. However, you can go more conservative as long as it's nice. White clothes are encouraged and you will not feel out of place if you come dressed up. For men, long pants and a button up shirt will work, as long as you unbutton at least two buttons on the shirt. You could also do a suit but don't go with a tie.
Ambiance: Very posh and classy.
Music: Pacha has been providing some much more eclectic sets in recent years which the Pacha Classics Mix which had some American classic songs remixed and some trancey stuff as well.
Cover: 50+ Euro
This club is one of the oldest and best clubs in the world and it has only gotten better with age. At any given night you can find a variety of world famous DJ's at this club and the dress code is as nice and sexy as possible. When you walk into Pacha, it seems like a small grotto-like area but as you explore you realize that that the club is vast. Right at the front of the club you should look to the right to find the smaller Global Room which features some eclectic mixes. For instance, when I went there in 2007, I heard an old school, American rap music in this room, and it was amazing. Moral of the story: don't always expect to hear all techno music in the clubs.
As you continue walking you come to the world famous main room at Pacha. This room often features chandeliers and other elaborate decorations which change to match the party they are having on any given night. As you walk up the stairs there is an upper bar area to go with the lower bar in the main room.
There is also a smaller room upstairs for a more toned-down experience. For this room, picture the "House of Blues" with a much more European flair. Also upstairs is the terrace which is only open on certain big nights (it wasn't open for Pacha Classics but it was open for Pure Pacha when Pete Tong was there). All in all, this club is easily one of the best in the world and it's my favorite so I'm biased!
Here's a video from last summer at Pacha Classics:
2. Amnesia (8.5)
(on the road between Ibiza town and San Antonio)
This club has some of the biggest nights of all time. For instance, I went here in 2003 and the lineup was: Paul Oakenfold from 12-2am, Tiesto from 2-4am, and Paul Van Dyk from 4am-6am+ (see video below). If this DJ lineup doesn't wow you I don't know what will. This night was an amazing night and it was at their party called "Cream." During the show and at the highest build in the songs they would turn on the largest dry ice cannon in the world (notice this biggest in the world theme on the island) and you couldn't seen anything for about 3-4 minutes. This was an amazing night for me personally.
As far as the interior of the club itself, Amnesia has features two large rooms. The main room has one of the craziest sound systems in the world which includes numerous 8 foot subwoofers. There is a second room which is massive and feels like being in a large factory-type room. I prefer the more intimate feel of Pacha over this industrial vide but that's just a personal preference.
Tiesto and PVD at Cream circa 2003:
3. Eden (8)
(San Antonio)
Cover: 30-50 Euro
This club is a lot of fun and very impressive inside. It has a massive lighting system which has some really wild effects. Pete Tong has a night there which is very big called "Wonderland." This night is highly recommended. As far as layout, this club consists of two stories and has a large main room. Also, there are two relatively large side rooms. This is a great club that's fun and not too expensive to get in.
4. Privilege (7)
(on the road between Ibiza town and San Antonio)
This club is known as the largest club in the world and this is mainly due to its truly massive main room. The DJ booth is actually surrounded by a moat believe it or not and the sound system is pretty impressive to fill this huge room. There is an outside terrace and a few side rooms. Tiesto has a night here now which is apparently very awesome. This club is definitely a sight to see at least once but it's not one that has a particularly endearing feel.
5. Es Paradis (6.5)
(San Antonio)
I haven't actually been to this club but I've heard the water party is amazing (ie water pours down from all around and covers the dancefloor). The club is shaped like a huge pyramid and apparently looks like a Roman bath house inside. They have an eclectic selection on many nights.
6. El Divino (6.5)
I rate this one highly because it has a nice restaurant that is located on the water. Their food is good but stay away from the desert. The club can be nice if they have the exterior open but it's kind of weird scene inside. The club is much smaller than the others and it's generally very cheap to get in.
7. Space (6)
The Carl Cox night is reportedly very cool and this is located close to the airport and the planes actually fly over this open-air club. They have a signature party on Sundays which doesn't even start until like 6am.
8. Manumission Club (6)
This is an offshoot of Privilege and it's actually a party that Privilege used to have that was comparable to Cirque du Soleil with techno music. This is in between a club and a bar but I would consider it a club b/c it's two stories tall and has some pretty nice drinks.
9. Ibiza Rocks (N/A)
This is a hotel that has some club elements at night. They do some live rock shows here and it's a nice place to get away from the techno if you want to do so (although I couldn't imagine why).
10. Boho (N/A)
This is a new club that has taken the place of the old club Extasis. Don't expect anything amazing aside from good prices and something new.
Where to Stay:
1. Sirenis Hotel Goletta (8.5)
Although not a five-diamond resort, this is by far the nicest hotel that I have stayed at during my stays in Ibiza. They offer complimentary breakfast in the morning. This isn't just your normal crappy continental, euro breakfast, this is a full-fledged breakfast with omelettes made in front of you, pancakes, various juices, etc. Also, there are two large outdoor pools, a nice spa with a pool, and a private-ish beach area.
Where to Eat
1. Cafe Del Mar (9.5)
This place has one thing that is simply the best, most amazing thing in the world...the greatest mojito ever. Now, you might think that you've had a better mojito but you would be sorely mistaken. You haven't truly lived until you've had a mojito from Cafe Del Mar.
Also, picture this: chilled out dance music plays as you look out over a beautiful bay with 100's of beatiful Balearic people from Ibiza. As the sun sets it casts a long ray of light out across the water. Paragliders fly by the sun as it grows larger and gets lower in the sky. As the sun finally enters the surface of the water is looks like a large orange being dipped into the ocean. After the sun finally sets, everyone cheers as the night is about to begin. As everyone finishes their drinks they get read to head out for a long night of clubbing. This is the typical beginning to a great Ibiza night at Cafe Del Mar and the Sunset Strip, if you haven't experienced this then you haven't truly experienced Ibiza.
2. El Divino (8)
Nice but expensive restaurant in Ibiza Harbour. This is located on the outside porch of the El Divino club and it's difficult to get in at times so make a reservation. The views of the water are great and it's a nice place to watch the yachts come into the harbour. The portions are generous. The entree, appetizers, and wine were good but the desert was sub-par.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Welcome Post
Hi and welcome to G and C Travel Reviews. My name is George and along with my fiance Cara we would like to share our critiques on some of our amazing travels. We are passionate about traveling and over the course of our relationship we have experienced many exquisite locations around the world. More specifically, this blog will focus on high-end vacation destinations. Each post will review a different city and will provide reviews of the best hotels, restaurants, and activities in the area. Also, each post will feature pictures from our trips as well as ratings which will range from 1(worst) to 10 (best). I hope you enjoy the blog.
"Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination"
-Willy Wonka
"Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination"
-Willy Wonka
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