Party holidays are becoming a rite of passage for young adults with more and more people choosing to get boozy abroad. It’s an exciting sense of freedom for many and a place where memories are made, and friendships solidified. These trips can be made easier by checking the FCDO travel advice page and signing up to travel advice email alerts so that you’re aware of any changes. When I went on my girls holiday the email alerts made it really easy to stay up to date with the latest advice both before I flew out and during my stay. So, here are some top tips for young people about to head over to Spain:
Going on holiday with your friends is all about spending time with each other. Even if you can’t agree about where to go or what to do, it’s important to stick together and to never leave anyone on their own. Being on your own increases the likelihood of having an accident or being a victim of crime so stick with your mates. Finding your way around a city you have only been in for a number of days can be difficult, especially in the dark. I know I certainly struggle with my sense of direction! Phone signal may not be great and often data roaming charges deter people from using their phone at all so getting back in touch with your friends can be difficult. So where possible, stick together. I know from experience that this isn’t always possible, so here are some tips. Firstly, keep the details of your hotel stored on your phone so that you can either find it yourself or ask someone to direct you. Secondly, make a group chat with everyone on the trip and share your location with them. This means if you do get lost, you can be easily tracked. And finally, agree on a meeting point before you head out so that if anyone does get lost they know there is a safe place to wait for everyone. You came on holiday together so stick together!
The Ibiza strip is often packed with holidaymakers which is what makes it so fun. However, such crowded bars and clubs can mean your drinks are at more risk of being spilled, dropped or tampered with. There is a high risk of drink spiking, so it is really important that you keep eyes on your drink at all times and never leave it unattended. In addition to this, you should never accept drinks from complete strangers as you can never be sure where it has come from or what it has in it. Look after each other and each other’s drinks. A good trick that my friends and I used to avoid any potential danger was to have our drinks at the bar together where there tends to be more light and less people. You can have a chat, check in with everyone and take a break from the dancefloor. This way you can be sure that you’re in control of your drink and when you do hit the dancefloor again you don’t have anything to worry about. It’s a win-win.
There are strict rules in Spain about drinking alcohol in public. It is strictly forbidden to drink in public places like the streets, parks or the beach where there could be children under the age of 18 and doing so could land you with a steep fine. The romantic idea of drinking a glass of wine on the beach as the sun goes down is certainly lush but it is definitely not worth a large fine. Instead, buy some wine from the store and drink it from your apartment. Lots of hotels and hostels in Ibiza have patios or balconies so you can enjoy the last of the sun from the comfort of your apartment. You can hit the beach afterwards. All the wine without the fine! Whilst this law has long been set in stone, there are many local laws that are always changing. Signing up for travel advice alerts is a great way to keep up to date with these. When I did it, I didn’t need to worry about checking because I was emailed whenever anything changed. With extreme heat warnings and wildfires impacting so many holidays this year, signing up for these alerts could play an important role in ensuring your safety and your enjoyment.
Ibiza is a popular holiday destination and there tends to be lots of people around the beaches, especially in the summertime. If you are venturing outside of your hotel or hostel and are exploring a new beach, it’s best to try and keep your belongings in eyeshot while you’re in the sea or playing on the beach. This becomes harder to do if you are on the beach in the dark. It is common for people to take a dip in the sea after the sun goes down and leave their things on the sand. Unfortunately, many people have had their belongings stolen while they have been in the water as they haven’t been able to see the beach. This has left many without a key to their hotel, a phone and in some cases, a passport. (Let that be another mini tip: never take your passport on a night out. If you don’t have it on you, you can’t lose it). So, if you really are that desperate to go in, at least go to your hotel room first and drop off all your valuables.
These holidays are meant to be fun and there is certainly lots of fun to be had. These are simply small pieces of advice to help avoid any issues that might detract from your trip. For more travel advice, check out #TravelAwareSBA.
