All the world loves a party. And fun-loving students and adventurous youth travellers are no different.
Find a killer venue, pump it up with some serious tunes, add a liberal dash of party 'spirit' and you have the business end of a busy night! With this in mind Shannon Oddie, marketing manager for Student Flights, has rounded up the best party destinations around the world starting with the legendary Ibiza.
Ibiza Rocks!
Well-known as the party destination and home to the world's largest club, Ibiza rocks from May through to October. Head for Ibiza Town or Sant Antoni to sample the delights of Priviledge (the biggest) , Pacha, Eden (the busiest), Amnesia (foam parties) and Space (awesome afterparties) where internationally renowned DJs use Ibiza as an outlet for presenting new songs within the house and trance genres of electronic dance music.
Priced from R15 626 per person sharing this package includes return flights, return transfers, fives nights accommodation with breakfast daily and approximate airport taxes and levies. Valid for travel from now until end October 2008.
Thailand's Full Moon Party
The Full Moon Party is an all-night beach bash that takes place once a month on the eve of every full moon. So head for Ko Pha Ngan to experience an all night beach party to the soulful sounds of house, reggae and a little R&B. The world's biggest and best beach bash has been going since the late 80's and draws crowds of over 10 000 every full moon. Twelve mega sound systems run the length of Had Rin beach, catering for up to 30 000 'full mooners' at New Year. Entrance to the Full Moon Party is free and the rhythms carry on until dawn.
Priced from R10 360 per person sharing celebrate the full moon with your fellow party animals. This package includes return flights to Koh Samui, return transfers, return pier to hotel service, three nights accommodation with breakfast daily and a travel bag. Excludes ferry charges to Koh Pha Ngan. Valid for travel from now until end October 2008.
Oktoberfest - Prost!
This festival of beer drinking takes place between September 18 to October 5 this year and 6 million visitors are expected to consume over 61 000 hectolitres of ale! At noontime on Saturday, 20 September, the lord mayor of Munich will have the honour of tapping the first keg of Oktoberfest beer in the Schottenhamel tent. Once the barrel has been tapped all visitors will be allowed to quench their thirst and the Festival is officially declared OPEN.
Priced from R2 790 per person sharing (land only) head for the Oktoberfest with Contiki. This package includes return transfers from London to Munich and a 5-day Contiki tour to the daddy of all beer fests (with breakfast included). Flights to London start from R6 990 (including airport taxes and levies).
Piste - off!
A ski holiday is just about the most fun you can have standing up (or not…) but best of all is the legendary Après Ski action to be had. Livigno is the perfect resort for adventurous skiers with over 100km of skiing to sample.
Travellers to Livigno will find excellent value for money and lots of Après Ski entertainment in this charming Italian village. Enjoy traditional Italian cuisine at one of the many restaurants in Livigno or taste the extensive nightlife at the bars and nightclubs.
Priced from R6 119 per person sharing (land only) hit the slopes of Livigno. This package includes return transfers from Malpensa Airport, 10 nights accommodation in a studio apartment, a welcome dinner, representative service, bum boarding and ski discing. Flights start from R7 035 (including airport taxes and levies) . Valid for travel between 10 and 20 December 2008.
New Year in New York
Start spreading the news... The yearly countdown in New York's Times Square is the most iconic of New Year's celebrations and should be experienced by everyone at least once in their life. Bright lights, celebrity MCs, a ton of confetti and a crowd of over one million people contribute to this huge event, counting down the last minute of the year and watching the famous Waterford Crystal ball drop from atop the Times Square building. While the New Year is still…er… new head for one of the many pubs and clubs to continue the party in the city that never sleeps.
Priced from R21 585 per person sharing this package includes return flights, return airport/hotel shuttle transfers, seven nights accommodation in Manhattan and a travel bag. Valid for travel from December 21, 2008 to January 3, 2009.
Rio Carnival - samba time
Soccer is not the only thing Brazil is famous for. Come February Rio de Janeiro bursts into celebratory mode with the start of the 'Carnaval'.
Said to originate from the Catholic Church Spring Thanksgiving celebration, 'Carnaval' has evolved into a four-day celebration of abandoned merriment and street pranks. A parade of samba dancers in the most extravagant (and tiny) costumes and incredible floats traverse the length of the Sambodromo, after which street parties and all night costume balls are the order of the day.
Priced from R16 480 per person sharing this package includes return flights to Rio, return airport/hotel transfers, five nights accommodation with breakfast daily and a travel bag. Valid for travel between February 20 and 25, 2009.
Magical Mardi Gras
Party up a storm on Fat Tuesday in Bourbon Street and the French Quarter of New Orleans. Fat Tuesday is the day before Lent in the Christian calendar and is the highlight of all Mardi Gras celebrations. Parties, balls and countless parades light up New Orleans. Cover yourself in the beads and trinkets passed on by the masquerading 'Krewe', load up with doubloons and dress in the traditional colours of Mardi Gras: purple, green and gold.
Priced from R19& 190 per person sharing this package includes return flights to New Orleans, return airport/hotel shuttle transfers, six nights accommodation and a travel bag. Valid for travel between February 20 and 26, 2009.
All flights depart from Johannesburg. Add on flights from major centres are available on request.
