SAN ANTONIO
Area: Ibiza
Country: Spain


Location:
On the W coast of the island, 10 miles NW of the capital Ibiza and 14 miles NW of the airport.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Position:
In a wide, W-facing bay backed by pine-covered hills and open countryside.

Description:
Though now officially renamed "Sant Antoni de Portmany" in an effort to create a better image, San Antonio still manages to attract a less cultivated clientele. Known as the tourist capital of the island, this is Ibiza's liveliest and most popular resort with non-stop fun day and night. It stretches for some 4 miles round the bay, from the cove of Cala Gracio in the N through the town and vibrant tourist development of Cala de Bou to the quieter Port d'es Torrent in the S. The town centre on the N side of the bay, once just a fishing village, now has countless shops, bars, restaurants, discos and congenial pavement cafes set around the harbour, and beside the palm-lined promenade. The port lies at the W end of the promenade with ferries leaving to Formentera and the mainland.

Suitability:
Budget to middlemarket clientele wanting a home away from home, with some sunshine. A youngster's paradise. Very little for those seeking peace. British dominated.

Accommodation:
A predominance of mediocre 3-star hotels and 2- to 3-key apartments around the bay, with lower-grade accommodation in the town centre. Most larger properties have entertainment suitable for the hard of hearing, in or close to the property. The budget options in the town provide a base for the younger party crowd.

Shopping:
A varied selection of small shops in and around the town centre catering for locals and tourists alike. Plenty of sports goods, leather, ceramics and jewellery. Around the bay concentrations of outlets selling a large selection of souvenirs and basic essentials are within a short walking distance from most hotels and apartments.

Beach:
With a predominantly rocky coastline, sand is at a premium here. Those beaches S of the town and round the bay to Cala de Bou are the longest stretches, but are also rather narrow and congested, and many have to be improved annually with imported sand. Cala Gracio is a pleasant, sheltered cove at the N edge of town; further small sandy bays are scattered W from Cala de Bou to Port d'es Torrent. The best local beaches, such as Cala Bassa, Cala Conta and Cala Tarida, are S beyond the hotel area, but can be easily reached by regular ferry boat services from the harbour, or by bus.

Entertainments:
Daytime: water sports, scuba diving, aqua parks, horse riding, go-karting, tennis, minigolf, scenic drives, cycling and walking. Tourist train to hillside village. Visit to Ibiza town. Nightlife: large selection of discos, nightclubs and music bars mainly near the town centre and in Cala de Bou. A more relaxed atmosphere is to be found at the ubiquitous cafes spread about the resort. Most hotels organise nightly shows of varying quality.

Eating:
Wide selection of restaurants, Spanish and international, including Italian, British, Tex-Mex and Chinese. Range of dishes from nouvelle cuisine to paella to hamburgers and chips. Roast suckling pig and various locally caught fish are the main specialities, although these need to be sought out. Sangria is drunk in copious amounts along with many imported draught beers from Britain.

Public-transport:
Half-hourly bus service to Ibiza town with connections to other parts of the island. Local buses connect the farthest reaches of the resort to the centre. Regular disco buses run through the night between the town and Ibiza every night during high season and Saturday nights low season. High-season night service also to Port d'es Torrent. Regular shuttle boat services in high season from the yacht harbour to the hotels on the far side of the bay and to the best local beaches. Reasonably priced taxis are readily available.

Local-excursions:
Island coach tour. Boat trips to Formentera and other resorts. Sea cruises including sunset sailing. Glass-bottom boat trips. Finca Feast _ traditionally prepared food in countryside location. Hillbilly Hoedown _ Wild West evening. Hippy market at Es Cana. Visit to casino with live show. Ibiza by night _ transfer, transvestites and transport back.