Stag and hen party weekends in Ibiza

Every year we receive lots of questions from our visitors about visiting Ibiza fr stag or hen party weekends (bachelor parties if you're coming to us from stateside!). I've had a stab at answering the question before but thought it was worth going into a bit more detail and exploring some of the main questions and concerns people seem to have about planning their hen and stag weekends in Ibiza.

Is Ibiza a good choice for a stag or hen weekend?

Well obviously it depends what you're looking for from your stag or hen do but Ibiza can certainly offer a decent variety of cheap hotel accommodation, pubs and bars and of course nightclubs. Most of the stag and hen specialist travel agents seem to operate Ibiza options or if you wanted to organise the trip yourself you'll be spoilt for choice when it comes to cheap flight and accommodation options. So yes I'd say Ibiza's a pretty good stag weekend destination.

Where should we stay for our Ibiza stag do?

I you're a big group I'd definitely stay in or around San Antonio to save having to organise cabs or minibuses into town for your nights out (this can be hassle in Ibiza). You could rent a villa outside San an although most villa rentals run weekly so if you're just after a stag or hen weekend this might work out expensive. Similarly the cheapest hotel deals in Ibiza are for weekly or fortnightly occupancy so I think bed and breakfast type accommodation or apartments may be your best bet.

When should I visit?

The Ibiza clubbing season runs late may- early October so between these dates will be the best time. If you're a big group I'd probably avoid July and August if possible as the clubs will be really busy and getting tickets and getting in may cause problems. As I guess most people will be getting married in the summer months late may or June would probably be the best option. Don't plan the weekend too close to the wedding, you need at least a couple of weeks to recover fully from Ibiza!

Do I need to book club tickets in advance?

Unless you're heading for very popular parties like the opening parties or special events like radio 1 weekends it's not usually necessary to book club tickets before arrival. However if you're only touching down for a weekend and are tasked with planning the movements for the group it's worth researching some of the parties that are on over the weekend and getting tickets in advance will give you one less thing to think about on arrival.

What about Stag & Hen Weekend travel agents?

There's no shortage of companies out there who can help you plan your Ibiza hen weekend or stag do. Companies like Hen Heaven, Red Seven and Last night of freedom all offer a service similar to that of a travel agent where they'll organise your accomodation, activities and transport (although most don't do flights, you'll probably need to organise those yourself) saving you the job of researching and booking stuff seperately and taking the burden off the organiser. Of course nothing comes for free and at some point along the line you'll be paying a commission, but at the same time you might benefit from some group buying discounts. Its worth weighing up the cost of booking through an agent and booking seperate parts of your trip independantly.

What bars and clubs should we visit on our stag do?

It's probably worth having a think about the group you've got and what they, and particularly the stag or hen themselves are into. Bare in mind Ibiza super clubs and trance nights aren't for everyone, so make sure everyones going to be up for it.

The main bar streets of San Antonio's west end district are a pretty safe choice which should suit everyone. Drinks are cheapish and plentiful and the music is commercial enough that everyone can enjoy it. If you don't want to hit the clubs there's no reason you can't spend the whole night here.

Check the Ibiza calendar for club nights if you are going to go clubbing. If it's a stag or hen weekend I'd look at pacha or wonderland at Eden on the Friday then maybe the water party at es paradis on Saturday.

Will a big group of blokes have problems getting in?

If you're not too rowdy or aggressive you should be OK in Ibiza. Be respectful of security, pick up your tickets beforehand and if you are a very big group (10+ I reckon) split up and go in separately. It's unlikely you'll all be able to stick together once inside anyway because of the size of the clubs. I wouldn't think you'd have problems in west end bars with getting in.

What about daytime activities?

Boat parties, waterpark, jet skiing, banana boating, quad bikes. Plenty of this sort of activities in Ibiza. Your hotel or travel agent should be able to sort you out.

One last thing, if you are planning your stag weekend in Ibiza please don't live up to the stereotypical Brits abroad image.  If you just want to get drunk and cause trouble go to Malia or Aiya napa, they're much better choices for this sort of thing and Ibiza's reputation can do without it!

Please share your own Ibiza stag an hen weekend questions or experiences in the comments below.>