Finished the Leaving Cert? It's time to celebrate. Our top 5 holiday spots for you and your friends are Magaluf, Marbella, Zante, Cancun, and Ibiza. Each offers a unique way to relax and party after all that hard work and marks a perfect start to the next stage of your life.
Key takeaways:
- Destinations range from budget-friendly Zante to higher-cost party spots like Ibiza and Cancun.
- While our list covers the top 5, other popular student destinations include Albufeira and Malia.
- Marbella offers a mix of nightlife and daytime activities, like exploring the Puerto Banus marina.
- Look for unique experiences like boat tours to Shipwreck Cove in Zante for around €25 per person.
- Remember to get your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for travel within the EU.
- Get a travel insurance quote to help protect against unexpected issues like missed flights or lost items.
Why Celebrate Your Leaving Cert?
After all those years in full-time education, it's finally over - well, for the time being at least. Yes, a few years in college or at university may well be on the horizon, but getting that final Leaving Certificate exam out of the way is still an enormous milestone and one that certainly deserves a little celebration.
The lead-up to the leaving exams can be a stressful period, not to mention the actual examinations themselves. Sweaty palms, a dry mouth, a pounding heart - sitting down to take an exam is rarely pleasant, and the elation that follows the final Leaving Cert is perfectly understandable.
You might march into the big bad world of real work after the summer, take a gap year or head off to university. The months following the Leaving Cert are an important time in any young person's life.
A rite of passage, a time to blow off some steam - a final hurrah. No matter how you describe it, it's the perfect time for you and your friends to head to a sunnier climate and toast the next stage of your life with unforgettable leaving cert holiday experiences.
Planning your big celebration
The last exam paper is down, and the group chat is already on fire. Someone suggests Zante for the boat parties and cheaper pints, but another friend is pushing for the big clubs in Ibiza.
You're scrolling through flight prices, trying to figure out how to make your summer job savings of €800 stretch for a week of sun and unforgettable nights out with your best mates.
We've chosen the top 5 places to go this Summer to celebrate completing your Leaving Certificate.
1. Magaluf
Magaluf in Majorca never fails to deliver a fun party-packed holiday for you and your friends.
Where to stay
BH Mallorca is the place to be, with a water park and stage that hosts multiple DJs every day, located right inside the grounds of your hotel. BH Mallorca offers all-inclusive packages that can help manage your budget, though these can be a little on the expensive side. Nearby Santa Ponsa offers cheaper accommodation, only 15 minutes away in a taxi.
Nightlife highlights
Known as 'The Strip,' Punta Ballena provides more bars and nightclubs than you'll ever have time to fully enjoy, and a heady variety of dance music, drink deals, and free shots await you.
Superclub pick
Follow a torrent of people as they amble down the Punta Ballena hill to the premier destination, the world-famous BCM nightclub (The biggest Nightclub in
Mallorca). With a capacity of 4000 people, BCM is considered one of the world's super clubs and is an experience that shouldn't be missed on any visit to
Magaluf. Look out for BH Mallorca deals, as you can get bundle discounts for concerts and a night in BCM.
2. Marbella
Marbella is a hugely popular holiday destination located on the Costa del Sol in Southern Spain. Famous for its long beaches, nightclubs and luxury venues, there's plenty for you and your friends to do, from relaxing after your exams to partying until you board your flight home.
Promenade walks and runs
Unlike Magaluf, Marbella isn't all about the nightlife. Its 12 km long promenade is ideal for sports lovers and a popular place with locals running, cycling and skating from sunrise to sunset.
Puerto Banus
We recommend walking to one of the best-known marinas in Europe, the glamorous Puerto Banus, a location that's crying out to be included on your Instagram.
Take time exploring old towns in the area, where you can experience authentic Spanish culture and dine at traditional tavernas serving local cuisine.
Canyoning trip
If you and your mates want a break from the beaches, take a canyoning trip to El Guadalmina, where you can spend the day jumping, sliding, and swimming through natural pools, with something for beginners or more experienced explorers.
Rooftop bar views
If you're looking to wind down and enjoy a few drinks, look no further than the Belvue Amàre Marbella Beach Hotel. This famous rooftop bar offers a 360-degree view of the city with excellent cocktails to match. On a clear day, you can see the African Coast and the Rock of Gibraltar from your recliner - an absolute must for any visit to Marbella.
3. Zante
Zante (commonly known as Zakynthos) is a Greek Island in the Ionian Sea that's perfect for leaving cert students to head to after those stressful exams to let loose.
Stretching your holiday budget
Combining stunning scenery and a cheaper cost of living than other options on our list, Zante is the place you can let your hair down without worrying about your savings running out.
For short holidays like this, you may prefer a single-trip travel insurance policy that can provide cover for medical, baggage and some activities, depending on your policy terms.
Laganas Strip
Zante has more than 1000 bars and is home to the Laganas Strip, considered one of the best clubbing strips in all of Europe, without the high prices of
Ibiza. We recommend chilling on the beach, gazing out over the seductive Mediterranean Sea before warming up for your big night out, or spending the day at one of the many beach clubs that line the coast.
Iconic boat trip
Porto Vromi should be at the top of your bucket list. For €25/person, you can take a boat tour to Shipwreck Cove, a truly breathtaking view that will surely be one of the highlights of the entire holiday.
Turtle encounters
Experience the famous beaches and reefs in Zante by swimming with some of the oldest lifeforms on Earth, the Loggerhead Sea Turtle - one of the best €30 you'll ever spend.
Boat rental costs
If you and your friends want to be independent and enjoy Zante without a tour guide, you can rent out a boat and cruise around the island for around €150 (including the cost of boat rental/fuel/cooler for drinks, etc).
4. Cancun
A little further afield, Cancun in Mexico continues to provide a world-class partying experience. Home to Spring Break and renowned for its beaches, numerous resorts and top-rated nightlife, Cancun is a true juggernaut and a wonderful place to celebrate completing the Leaving Cert.
Party Zone
Cancun is split into two parts: the Party Zone and the Cancun Hotel Zone. You'll find Cancun's nightlife in Punta Cancun, also known as the Party Zone.
Coco Bongo
The most popular club in Cancun is Coco Bongo, which holds wild nights with '80s and '90s music accompanied by circus and acrobatic shows. Entry is a little steep at €75, but a hell of an experience, nonetheless.
Planning a Cancun club crawl
For €90 per person, you can enjoy CunCrawl, a club and bar crawl experience like no other. Cuncrawl lasts for 6 and a half hours and includes entrance to 3 top clubs and bars in Cancun, a no-limit open bar for 5 hours, VIP access to Cancun clubs and private reserved tables and bottle service in selected venues.
Price watch
Like Ibiza, Cancun has a lot to offer, but at a high price. You will pay much more for flights, and drink and club prices are easily comparable to the highest prices in Europe.
Managing expenses carefully and setting a daily budget will help you make the most of your trip without overspending. Do not let that put you off, though.
Cancun is a fantastic destination, and if you choose to splash out a little, you are likely to feel it was worth it.
5. Ibiza
There is something eternally classic about our next destination. If you're planning to go to Ibiza for your sixth-year holiday, then you're doing it right.
Ibiza is all about staying up all night, enjoying music and getting handed free drinks on the San Antonio strip.
San Antonio
San Antonio on the west coast of the island is the world-famous sunset strip that offers bars and small nightclubs along the beach, as well as daytime pool parties in Beach Ibiza & Ibiza Rocks Hotel.
Superclub Privilege
If you and your mates are looking to live the Ibiza lifestyle, get yourselves in a taxi to San Rafael, where you'll find the Number 1 Superclub in the world, Privilege. With a capacity of 10,000 people, standing (or dancing) in the midst of all is an experience you'll never forget.
Playa d'en Bossa
Playa d'en Bossa on the east coast boasts the longest beach in Ibiza, filled with restaurants, bars and small clubs like Sankeys - self-described as the best club in the universe. The east coast is home to the super-club Ushuaia with big names like Elrow, David Guetta and Dmitri Vegas & Like Mike all playing throughout July.
Keeping Ibiza affordable
Everything about Ibiza is positive, but this comes at a high cost, so we hope you've been saving well. Everybody should experience Ibiza at least once in their lives, so if not now, then when?
6. Travel Protection for Leaving Cert Holidays
We know that in between choosing a destination and then plotting out your partying route of choice, there probably won't be much time for anything else - especially something as seemingly mundane as travel insurance - but these are the types of holidays that often come with at least one hiccup.
Reasons to add travel cover
Maybe it is all that sun and sangria, as Leaving Cert holidays have become linked with missed flights, sickness and the odd lost item. It's important to stay safe while abroad - drink sensibly, never leave drinks unattended, and always stay with your group.
Before you travel, make sure you have your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for medical coverage, and keep a photo of your passport stored separately for passport safety.
If the worst happens, see our guide on what to do if your passport is lost, so you know the steps to take before you call your insurer.
We’ve got you covered
Getting some Travel Insurance with 123.ie helps you manage many of those worrisome possibilities so you can focus on enjoying the holiday that you have been planning for years.
Acceptance criteria, terms and conditions apply.
