BOBBIE THURGOOD follows party-loving A-listers and heads off for hedonism in Ibiza...

Every summer the rugged Balearic island of Ibiza, set adrift from the Spanish mainland in the twinkling Mediterranean Sea, becomes party central. Nowhere is hipper or hotter – something that hasn’t bypassed our favourite celebrities. Katie Price partied here after her split from Peter Andre, Wayne Rooney came for his stag weekend, Steven and Alex Gerrard escaped to the White Isle after England’s World Cup misery and Kylie Minogue recently launched her new album in Ibiza. Other island regulars include Sarah Harding, Dizzee Rascal, P Diddy, Kate Moss and Cheryl Cole.

There is, however, far more to this miniscule island than summertime hedonism and mega-clubs. Outside the tourist mecca of San Antonio and the boho-chic sophistication of Ibiza Town, you’ll find an unspoiled countryside dotted with quaint whitewashed farmhouses, almond and olive groves and a stunning coastline punctuated with secluded coves and sandy beaches.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY?
If you want to party, spot celebs and lounge around in ultra-hip surrounds, check into the adults-only Es Vivé Hotel, located between Playa d’en Bossa and Ibiza Town. Housed in an all-white art deco-style building with turquoise shutters, the 55-room Es Vivé (www.hotelesvive.com) is reminiscent of Miami’s cool beach-front hotels. The bedrooms have a hip feel with funky wallpaper, lights and flat-screen TVs, while the bathrooms have Elemis toiletries. Some rooms have huge balconies, while others look over the palm-fringed pool – although these can be noisier in the party season. With its own nightclub featuring big-name DJs, this is were Katie Price partied last year.

If you prefer a less full-on experience, splash out on an ultra-spacious room at the five-star Ibiza Gran (www.ibizagranhotel.com), a new port-side hotel with wonderful views across to the Old Town. Some of the rooms boast private terraces, others their own hot tubs and there’s also a spa, gourmet restaurant and the island’s only casino.

WHERE CAN I GO FOR DINNER?
In contrast to the many chips-with-everything eateries in San Antonio, you’ll find some top-notch restaurants in and around Ibiza Town.

Bambuddha Grove (www.bambuddha.com) is a popular celeb haunt. This exotic Balinese-style lounge bar and restaurant, set beneath a pyramid roof made of reeds and bamboo, serves up tasty Med/Asian fusion dishes and cocktails in lush lantern-lit gardens.

You’ll find a string of beach clubs – think cool double sunbeds, chill-out tunes and beach dancing – along the two-mile Playa d’en Bossa. OK! loved the Sands (www.sandsibiza.com), where Sarah Harding and Tom Crane were pictured recently, and enjoyed a beach-side Japanese lunch of sushi, teppanyaki and yakitori while watching bikini-clad beauties dance to tunes spun by the resident DJ. Elsewhere, the Nassau Beach Club (www.nassaubeachclub.com) is perfect for a romantic dinner of fresh seafood and ice cold bubbly.

If you’re missing home, have the Sunday roast lunch at  JD’s. Over in lively San Antonio, the perfect spot for pre-club sundowners are the legendary Café Mambo and Café del Mar on the infamous sunset strip. For a dressier experience, OK! feasted on lobster tagliatelle at the restaurant within Pacha while superstar DJ David Guetta had prawn tempura rolls at the next table!

WHERE CAN I PARTY?
Ibiza has the best clubs on the planet and you can party around the clock. In addition to the mega-clubs such as Pacha, Ministry Of Sound and El Divino, the Ibiza Rocks hotel (www.ibizarocks.com) hosts a series of high-profile gigs with The Prodigy, Dizzee Rascal and Florence + The Machine headlining this summer. Meanwhile, David Guetta has a residency at Pacha (Ibiza Town) every Thursday, while Ibiza legend Pete Tong’s Wonderland night at Eden in San Antonio attracts some big guest names such as Fatboy Slim and Mark Ronson. The hottest ticket this season is said to be the Black Eyed Peas gig with David Guetta in September. Bora Bora in Playa d’en Bossa is great for daytime dancing on the sand after a night of partying in nearby superclub Space.

WHERE CAN I SPOT A CELEBRITY?
Everywhere! Celeb spotting is a piece of cake at the Blue Marlin restaurant and beach club (www.bluemarlinibiza.com). Set in a bay encircled by pine-clad sandstone cliffs in Cala Jondal, a day here sums up Ibiza in the summer. Looking out across sparkling crystal clear waters, we enjoyed a day sipping ice-cold Cava sangria and snacking on sushi on one of the comfy double sunbeds while listening to the DJ play chill out tunes. Keep an eye out for VIPs guests as they disembark from their yachts – the beach club is so popular it was even name checked in Dizzee Rascal’s number one hit Holiday. When OK! visited we found ourselves on sunbeds next to Steven and Alex Gerrard. Other fans of the Blue Marlin include Sarah Harding, Kylie and Dannii Minogue, P Diddy, Cheryl Cole, Will.i.am and Paris Hilton. This is definitely OK!’s favourite place on the island – just remember to book a table for lunch.

WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?
There’s plenty to keep you occupied away from your sunlounger and the clubs. There’s beachside yoga and Pilates (www.ibizaretreat.com) or more adrenaline-pumping bike rides with Ibiza Sport (www.ibizasport.com), which will organise trips on island’s southern salt plains or in the island’s rugged interior. Wander up the tiny alleys and steep cobbled streets of the UNESCO-protected Dalt Vila (the walled old town), which is lined with delightful souvenir shops and boutiques selling leather belts, sandals, denim hotpants and embellished bikinis. For those who like to bargain, a trip to visit the many stalls in the famous hippy market in Es Canar is a must.

HOW TO GET THERE?
Easyjet (www.easyjet.com) flies from Bristol, Glasgow, Liverpool, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted and Newcastle to Ibiza, while British Airways (www.britishairways.com) has a new flight from London City airport to Ibiza. A double room at the Es Vivé hotel (www.hotelesvive.com; 0034 971 30 19 02) costs from £90, including tax and buffet breakfast.

Doubles at the five-star Ibiza Gran Hotel (www.ibizagranhotel.com) start from £260 per night in October based on two people sharing a junior suite, with breakfast and tax included.