TRAVELLER BUCKET LIST
Our Man in Ibiza Ibiza’s become a playground for the super-rich. How do they ensure their holiday runs smoothly? They throw money at it, of course, with the help of ‘fixers’ like Charlie Chester. Words TABITHA LASLEY
The Giri Hotel flaunts the ultimate boutique hotel trimmings – from bespoke bathrooms to exquisite sun spots
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P R I V A T E E D I T I O N ISSUE 16
We call it trip design. We plan it round how far they’ve travelled, whether they have jet lag, and just ease them into their holiday.’ This is the new breed of Ibiza hedonist – cashrich individuals who jet in from every corner of the globe. And they’re changing the very fabric of the clubs. A table at Space can now cost anything from €3 000 to €6 000 (R30 213 to R60 426). Meanwhile, two thirds of the floor at Pacha has been given over to a cordoned-off VIP section. Even democratic DC10, whose missing velvet rope scared off Kevin Spacey some years back, has capitulated. Naomi Campbell was spotted at one of the five VIP tables there last moth. All this is great news for the left-leaning government, which abhors mass tourism and has been making concerted efforts to pull in a richer, more mature clientele of late. But if Ibiza starts catering to the serried ranks of the super-rich, doesn’t that run at counterpoint to the island’s original, egalitarian spirit? Not really, says Chester. ‘In the past five years, people have started to call it “the new St Tropez”, which is a load of rubbish. It will never be. Its history is too strong – all the madness that goes with Ibiza. ‘But it has changed the island for the better. It’s had to get better to keep these people happy – they come, and they expect the best.’
Icon Ibiza concierge service starts at €300 (R3 021) a day. See iconibiza.com for details.
PARTY PLANNER CHARLIE CHESTER’S PICKS Atzaro Spa (Atzaro Agroturismo, Carreterra Sant Joan KM 15, tel. +34 971 338 838, atzaro.com) ‘It’s like an oasis in the middle of the island – featuring Asian-influenced interiors, brilliant service and so much character and history.’ Aguas de Ibiza (Salvador Camacho 9, Santa Eulalia del Rio, tel. +34 971 319 991, aguasdeibiza.com) ‘A much-needed five-star hotel that’s really well run, with a great spa. Santa Eulalia is often overlooked, but it’s a great resort.’ The Giri Hotel (Carre Principal 5, Sant Joan de Labritja, tel. +34 971 333 345, thegiri.com) ‘This hotel only has five rooms, but so much care and passion has gone into it. It’s on the north of the island, 15 minutes from Ibiza Town. But you could be at the other end of the world.’ Sands Beach Restaurant (Playa d’en Bossa, tel. +34 971 396 849, sandsibiza.com) ‘The food’s amazing and it’s very chilled out. The Argentine steak is the best on the island.’ Space (Playa d’en Bossa, tel. +34 971 396 793, spaceibiza.com) ‘One of the best clubs in the world. It’s got that clubland legend and it just delivers.’
PHOTOGRAPHY: SUPPLIED
‘WE DON’T CALL OUR SERVICE HIGH END,’ laughs Charlie Chester. ‘We call it nice end.’ Semantic quibbles aside, there’s no denying that the Ibiza demographic has changed in recent years. Of course, the island’s seen several waves of settlers since the late ’60s. Throughout the ’70s, it was a laid-back hippie enclave. During the late ’80s, it was co-opted by the ecstasy generation, kids who came for a week’s unrestrained hedonism before returning to the grind of dead-end jobs in a recession-ravaged Britain. Twenty years on, it’s being colonised by the super-wealthy. Suddenly, there’s call for concierge services like Chester’s Icon Ibiza. ‘If you sit on the beach at Playa d’en Bossa and watch the amount of private jets coming in, it’s incredible,’ he says. ‘Ibiza’s brand is worldwide now. People are coming in from China, Russia, Australia, Kuwait. Two of our biggest clients are from Cape Town. The market’s ridiculous.’ Chester can count Sienna Miller, P Diddy, Kelis and Jade Jagger among his clients. Premiership footballers, rugby players, pop stars and city traders all call on his services; requests range from the simple (like hiring a Range Rover or BMW X5 to run them between clubs for €80 to R805 – an hour) to the sybaritic. It’s not unheard of for clients to give him a R1 million budget when planning a party. More often, he’s tasked with organising an itinerary, and it’s here that a little bit of inside knowledge comes in handy. ‘The island changes every year. It’s our job to tell clients where to be and where not to be.