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A British woman visiting Ibiza for the third time has shared her disappointment after finding herself one of the only people dancing at a packed club night. The Londoner, who is of Pakistani origin, says the atmosphere on the island “just isn’t the same anymore.”

 

Speaking on her last day of holiday, she described how she and a friend went to the opening night of Calvin Harris’s party at Ushuaïa on Friday May 24. “No one was dancing. Just my friend and I,” she said. “We were amazed because we were truly the only ones who seemed to be having a good time.”

 

Instead of the carefree energy she remembered from previous visits, the tourist said the crowd was subdued and glued to their phones. “There were serious faces everywhere. People were just standing around filming, not really enjoying the music,” she added.

 

The woman, who has been travelling to Ibiza for several seasons, said she usually stays in Sant Antoni and enjoys visiting quieter beaches during the day. But this time, she was struck by how many visitors seemed interested only in ticking off club nights, ignoring the natural beauty of the island altogether.

 

She also noted how expensive everything has become, particularly at night. Entry fees are steep, drinks cost a fortune, and even water can set you back 15 euros in the latest venues. The new hyperclub UNVRS in Sant Rafel, which opened the same weekend, charges 25 euros for a basic drink. Over at Pacha, a beer will cost you 16 euros.

 

Despite the high prices, the serious faces and the stiff crowds, the clubs are still full. But for some long-time fans of Ibiza’s free party spirit, something important seems to be slipping away.

 

“It makes me sad because before, people seemed to dance more, to have a better time,” the British holidaymaker said. “Now it feels like everyone’s just trying to capture the moment instead of actually living it.”

 

It’s a far cry from the Ibiza of the 1960s, when free will, self-expression and a sense of joy were central to the island’s identity, values that once made it a magnet for generations of carefree travellers.

 

 

Image Gabriel Doti/Pixabay