This is one trip that I wish I took earlier in life.

If you have not experienced Ibiza, go. Do not look into it too much, do not think twice, just grab a group of friends, or one, and go. Or even go by yourself – the welcoming crowds will take you in as one of their own.

In October, most of the nightclubs are closed. Most have closed in the later weeks of September, and the remainder close during the first week of October. Maybe it was fate, but two of Ibiza’s most popular nightclubs were having their closing parties on the first weekend in October (the only time that I could go): Pacha and Amnesia.

Ibiza in October is not the “real” Ibiza experience – but it is a good taste of what the full experience could be. The hotels are empty, there are only a handful of people roaming the beaches, some restaurants and stores have closed for the season, and nightlife is limited.

If you have been to the Caribbean or other beach destinations across the world, you are not going to Ibiza for the beaches. No crystal clear water or pearly white sand near Ibiza Town.

But, I did not come to Ibiza to relax on a beach. I came to party and relive my teenage years. So, I brought along somebody that I knew would make sure I had a good time.

Not too long ago, I rekindled my friendship with my childhood best friend Urszula. We grew up together. She was my first dance partner. Looking back, all of my most memorable nights were with her. This was going to be our first trip together since we went to Walt Disney World more than a decade ago.

From Chicago, the most direct route to Ibiza is on Iberia via Madrid. A cheaper alternative is booking the cheapest airfare that you can find to any major European city, and then taking a discount airline (such as Ryanair) from there to Ibiza. By doing just that, we ultimately bought two tickets for the price of one. Depending on the time of the year, you can find round-trip airfare from Madrid on Ryanair, for example, to Ibiza for less than €100 EUR per person.

We found cheap airfare from Chicago to Madrid via Paris [see post: Layover in Paris]. Arriving in Madrid an hour shy of midnight on Thursday, October 6, 2016, we each found a row of empty seats next to a power outlet and attempted to get some sleep. We were on the first flight out to Ibiza, leaving at 6:40 the next morning. Little did we know, those six hours would be the most sleep that we would get all weekend.

We arrived in Ibiza around 8:00 in the morning on Friday, October 7. Regardless of the time, we were ready to party. The hotel was just a ten minute drive away from the airport. We were staying at the Sirenis Hotel Goleta Tres Carabelas and Spa located on Playa d’en Bossa – the area where you want to be. Peak season, nightly rates at hotels along this beach range up to $1,000 USD a night, especially at places like Ushuaia Ibiza Beach Hotel – the place where you want to be. By October, pool parties and beach bashes are over for the season, dropping demand and hotel prices. For comparison, we paid approximately $243 USD in total for two nights at the Sirenis.

The hotel was nothing special, but it had better reviews than the other hotels located on Playa d’en Bossa for the same cost. Basic accommodation: two twin beds in a rather large room for European standards, with a decent-sized bathroom and balcony. The rooms and hotel itself were a bit outdated; but, at the end of the day, it was just a place to sleep (or, in this case, just a place to get ready in). I give props to hotel owners and housekeeping in Ibiza – I cannot imagine the damage and mess partygoers leave behind.

To our surprise, the staff let us check-in early, and even let us access the breakfast buffet upon our arrival. We grabbed tea, fruit, and bread from the buffet to take with us for the day. Typical Eastern Europeans. My parents would be so proud.

With pockets full of food, we rushed to our room to trade in our sweaters for swimsuits. Within minutes we were by the pool with drinks in our hands. By the early afternoon, the pool deck was filled with people and portable stereos. Dance music blasted from every angle, only fading into the atmosphere, creating a fun environment.

By nightfall, it was time to get ready for the closing party celebrations. After a quick nap, we headed to the marina for dinner. The party never ends in Ibiza. Events run around the clock – from beach bashes, pool and boat parties to day, evening, and night clubs. If you want to party for 24 hours straight, or at any given time during the day, you can. Just make sure that you buy tickets in advance, because they do sell out.

The pre-sale ticket prices are a good indication of how much money you will spend in Ibiza – €50 to €100 EUR a piece, depending on the venue and event. If that does not scare you off, the €20 EUR vodka cranberry sure will get you thinking about ways to smuggle your own alcohol into the party. Expect to spend a lot of money.

Walking up to Pacha at midnight brought chills to my body.

I could feel the earth vibrating under my feet, sending the vibrations into my soul. Nostalgia. I spent my teenage years dancing away Saturday evenings at teen dance clubs with Urszula. Throughout the years, I had my share of dance partners. But, she was my first. And everyone remembers their first, right? We created a lifetime of memories together. Stepping onto that dance floor brought a world of emotions to light. Suddenly, the reasons behind why we spent the past ten years apart disappeared. Hand in hand, we walked directly into the middle of the dance floor – just like old times. It was early in the night, and we were the only two people dancing. All eyes on us.

Within minutes, people started crowding the dance floor. The energy was indescribable. Pure bliss. Everyone was dancing with each other. All as one. This was the most fun that I had at a nightclub since my teenage years.

The night quickly turned into day. We slept for about three or four hours before we realized that we missed the boat party that we put down a deposit for the day before. I was not upset. I could not even imagine getting ready again, day drinking, and then doing it all over again. I have trouble staying up until midnight, let alone running around the clock.

We decided to take it easy for the rest of the day. We went for a walk on the beach to explore the area, had lunch, and returned to find a liquor store.

After spending hundreds of dollars on alcohol the day before, we figured that we could save some money by not purchasing drinks from the pool bar, pre-gaming at the hotel later that night, and sneaking in a bottle of Absolut into Amnesia. Our purchase did not make it very far – from the liquor store to the pool deck to be exact. The sun was setting, but we were finally awake. Drinks in hand, we set up Urszula’s portable speaker and jumped into the pool. Within minutes, we had company.

Before we knew it, we were walking into Amnesia.

Pacha and Amnesia are two different worlds. If you have ever been to an upscale venue in Las Vegas, such as XS, that is Pacha in a nutshell. It is small, but has more than enough room to dance. Amnesia is a raver’s paradise. A giant warehouse-like space divided into two sections with balconies overlooking the dancefloors. It almost resembles the old concert spaces in Chicago.

The venue is huge. But then again, it is appropriate for the size of the audience. A younger crowd than at Pacha, I would say. If you have any reservations about traveling solo to Ibiza, Amnesia would reassure you that you made the right decision. A few hours into the night, the club was packed.

More casual attire (tennis shoes and “raver” outfits) filled the scene. If the outfits are any indication of the crowd, this would be the best time to mention that you should not buy drugs from strangers. Technically, you should not be buying drugs anyway, but especially not from strangers in foreign countries. It seems that drugs are sold like candy in Ibiza – at convenience stores, on the beach, and from any person at the nightclub. Be careful. A little less hectic, Pacha is definitely more my scene.

Our flight back to Madrid was departing Ibiza Airport at 8:35 that morning, meaning we had to leave Amnesia, return to the hotel, checkout, and get to the airport in time for our flight. Running on close to no sleep for the past 48 hours, we knocked out before takeoff and woke up in Madrid on Sunday, October 9 [see post: Ibiza Aftermath: Fighting to Stay Awake in Madrid].

See you next year, Ibiza!