Silver Travel writer Glynis Sullivan enjoys Costa Festival in Ibiza – music, dancing and so much fun!
‘Diamonds on the water and music in the air’ is a line from a song by the Oysterband that describes the Harmony Voyages Ibiza Festival perfectly.
The music was certainly in the air as we sat and listened to numerous good bands for the six nights we spent on the lovely island of Ibiza.
Harmony Voyages are celebrating their tenth anniversary this year of organising music festivals in some beautiful venues, from being on a river boat sailing along the Douro or the Rhine or visiting stunning hotels in Ibiza, Portugal, and next year La Gomera.
Sitting in the sun, listening to your favourite bands or a new band who you are now becoming a fan of, is not the only thing that this holiday offers. You’ll find everything from ukulele lessons to joining the choir, art classes, pilates and yoga, bird watching trips and walks in the Ibiza countryside all on the itinerary.
But if you just want to sit back and enjoy the sun and a coffee in the morning, then how about joining a question and answer session with a band member? That’s just fine.
Harmony Voyages have the ethos that guests are friends that haven’t met yet, but they will be friends when they leave. And that is what it the festival feels like: a comfortable time with friends and family.
Harmony have many repeat customers and people come from all over the world – yes, world. Two couples came from Canada this year. They became friends and arranged to meet up either next year or at the end of the year in Portugal.
As an ABTA / ATOL fully bonded tour operator, the organisation of Harmony Voyages is excellent from booking your flights and seats, to the pick up by coach at the airport. The Sirenis Country Club Hotel in Ibiza, which is occupied exclusively by the festival for the week, is easily accessible for disabled people. The rooms are in blocks either over looking the sea or the swimming pools. The hotel has both a large and small swimming pool, and an infinity pool which is superb.
Over 800 people were at the festival so the restaurant can become a little busy but the staff coped well and there were lots of choices for everyone. The wine is a good price at 12 euros per bottle and the food catered for lots of different palates. Vegetarians were catered for, and coeliac guests just had to let the manager know before the meal and food was suited to the requirements.
The line up for the music festival was excellent. The Animals sadly had no Eric Burdon, but they did sing ‘House of the Rising Sun’ which went down a storm with the crowd of a certain age! Plus the Oysterband who are vintage in the nicest possible way and we all enjoyed them. Track Dogs, Show of Hands, Sam Kelly and the Lost Boys and of course the irrepresible Hunch. There were also many more who all put on a wonderful show for the very enthusiastic crowd.
Harmony Voyages know how to throw a party and this was a friendly inclusive party, with the guests and the band members enjoying one another’s company. Who says 50 pluses can’t go clubbing in Ibiza!
The music in the air was brilliant and the diamonds on the water glimmered in the famous Ibiza sunset. The Oysterband finished with the song ‘Meet you There’… We certainly will next year or later this one. Cheers!
Next steps
To find out more about upcoming festival holidays visit https://www.harmonyvoyages.co.uk
