Ibiza, verdict by verdict

Ibiza is two islands in one: the party machine of San Antonio and Playa d'en Bossa, and a quieter pine-and-stone island of coves, farm restaurants and hippy heritage that most clubbers never see. The UNESCO-listed Dalt Vila citadel above Ibiza town is impressive, and the water clarity around the island rivals anywhere in the Balearics.

The caveats cluster in high season. July and August prices are extreme for what you get and triple on a tight budget, the club corridor is built for a specific crowd with 4am taxis a competitive sport, and anyone after deep sightseeing finds the monuments thin beyond Dalt Vila, while anyone after a quiet local island finds tourism at scale. November to March turns properly quiet and many venues close.

Four to six days works: Ibiza town and Dalt Vila, a Formentera hop, the south or north coves from Cala Comte to Portinatx, one boat trip or the Es Vedra sunset at Torre des Savinar. May to mid-June and mid-September to October are the sweet spots, warm sea and sane prices. Over Mallorca it wins on concentration, sunsets, coves and boat circuits all inside a forty-minute drive, the sharper pick for beach days with one big night out rather than a week of sights.