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Ibiza, the magical island of sun drenched days, euphoric nights and the relentless pounding of the Balearic Beat.

If dance music makes you tick, then a pilgrimage to the White Isle should be top of your to-do list. Quite simply, there is nowhere like it.

Unfortunately, being the promised land of clubbers everywhere does not come cheap. With bar prices to make your eyes bleed and cover charges bordering on daylight robbery, losing it on the dance floor Ibizan style will burn a hole in your wallet quicker than you can say “Paul Van Dyk”.

But don’t panic just yet; it is possible to party on a budget. All you need is imagination, the right attitude and a bit of confidence. Oh, and the biggest pair of sunglasses you can lay your hands on.

Get the basics right

The Ibizan club season runs from early June until the legendary marathon that is Space’s closing party, at the end of September. For the best deals, head to the island at the start or end of the season. Not only are the hotels cheaper, the clubs and bars are less busy, so you will be more likely to get discount drinks and entry prices.

Arguably, this is also when the clubs are at their best, as the DJs tend to pull out all the stops for their opening and closing parties. For a truly hedonistic trip, try to arrive during the first couple of weeks in September, when you can catch a different closing party every night of the week.

The best things in life are free

Ok, ‘free’ is not a word you will hear very often in Ibiza, but there are still some things that you can get gratis and for nothing. One must-do highlight of any Ibizan itinerary is catching a sunset on San Antonio’s renowned Sunset Strip – the line of bars on the sea-front that include Café Del Mar and Café Mambo. All of these bars are amazing, it’s true, but they are also vastly overpriced and make a fortune out of people willing to pay a premium for the well-known name. Save them for another trip when you’ve got more cash.

Instead, take a picnic down to the rocks by the sea and enjoy the sunset with all the other people who can’t afford to drink there! The beach has a fantastic party atmosphere of its own and the experience of cheering the sun as it dips below the horizon, with a rag-tag collection of clubbers, hippies and broke travellers is one you will never forget.

On a similar note, when you’re catching some rays in the daytime, beware the phenomenal prices for the hire of sunbeds and umbrellas. It varies across the island but is never cheap and will quickly eat away at your budget. Invest in an inflatable lilo instead. A sound decision, as you can’t take a sunbed into the pool with you anyway!

Befriend the locals

Well, befriend the workers at least. Ibiza has an army of seasonal workers that descend on the island every year and these people are your best ticket to cheap drinks and discount club entry.

Almost every bar will have a ‘PR’ working for them; these are the slightly annoying people that hang around outside and try to tempt you in. Yes, it does get irritating when you get accosted by them every time you try to walk up the street, but remember, they usually work on commission, so they will do just about anything to get you into their bar instead of the one next door. Talk to them, be cheeky and see what you can get.

Similarly, all of the club nights have a team of promoters that hand out fliers and sell tickets to their nights. Get to know the ones near you and find out if they are offering any deals. Often they will have a number of wristbands available that will get you vastly reduced or even free (yes, free!) entry before a certain time. Usually this means arriving at the club long before anyone else does, but at least you’ll be able to stake out your spot on the dance floor.

Fortune favours the bold

A bit of confidence and a cheeky smile will get you everywhere in Ibiza. Sadly, it is practically impossible to get round the ridiculous bar prices once inside a club, (think upwards of 8 Euros for a tiny bottle of water and don’t even ask about the alcoholic drinks!) In fact, you’ve probably got no chance of talking your way into a fair deal unless you are:

1. Fluent in Spanish
2. Incredibly good looking
3. Completely without shame
4. All of the above

But God loves a tryer, and nowhere more so than in Ibiza, so it’s always worth pushing your luck. Just remember, the security staff are usually pretty scary, so don’t make a nuisance of yourself because they will throw you out.

Budget Accommodation in Ibiza:

• Hotel Club Maritim – Budget hotel rooms and apartments  in San Jose de Sa Talaia, Ibiza
• Hostal Torres – Budget hotel in San Antonio de Portmany’s West End area
• Hostal Don Juan – Budget hotel on West End Street, San Antonio de Portmany

Photo of Sunset Strip, San Antonio, Ibiza, by ST33VO