I can't believe it's Ibiza! Made In Chelsea star Cheska Hull discovers the party island isn't so 'TOWIE' after all

After six long months of filming series five of Made In Chelsea, with plenty of tears, tantrums and slaps handed out, I was exhausted, pretty much handcuffed to the Kings Road and in desperate need of holiday.
My birthday was coming up – so my boyfriend Mike Henry wanted to whisk me away to a sunny, beautiful place to relax and revitalise. There I was, thinking we would be jetting off to Bali, Bora Bora or even the Maldives, when he revealed we were in fact heading to the party island of Ibiza.

Out of the blue: Cheska was surprised to discover just how beautiful the Spanish island is

I wasn't impressed with his plan. I'd had enough of clubbing and parties, whether in front of the camera or not. Chelsea life after dark revolves around mojitos and designer handbags in dark spaces such as Embargo 59, Raffles or Dukebox.
I thought I knew Ibiza's reputation and, to put it bluntly, it was not great. To me it was a party island whose hedonism, drug culture and 'Brits abroad' mentality did not fill me with national pride.
After much protesting, I conceded to go for a week to experience what he promised would be the 'real' Ibiza. I was surprised to discover that the Spanish island is astoundingly beautiful. What's more, it's only a two-hour flight from the UK, which shocked me – as it takes me longer to get home to my mother's house in Devon.
The 'White Isle' is small, so our best bet was to hire a car to avoid being stuck in the party towns of San Antonio and Playa d'en Bossa. We bagged a huge lime-green monster jeep, which certainly turned heads as we explored the untouched north of the island.
It is mountainous and green with beaches reminiscent of Thai islands. I soon realized Ibiza has an incredible amount going on for families or even friends who want to be active and not just relax reading 'chick-lit' on the beach.

Exhausted: Cheska needed a break after six long months of filming Made In Chelsea

My birthday was on the second day of the trip, and fabulous Mike had arranged a surprise day out. He teased me with the possibilities – would it be hiking or a bike excursion? No wonder I was dubious about what he had planned. But he drove me to a mountaintop where horses roamed in the valley below.
Having grown up around horses, it's always been my dream to ride abroad. Thanks to the team at Ibiza Horse Valley, we set off trekking across mountains on an unforgettable horseback experience that took in the nature and sheer beauty of the island.
At the most idyllic of private coves, my dream came true: I 'swam' in the sea on horseback. I even got to catch the horses, groom, tack up and then hose them down when the ride was over. It was perfect and Mike had gained huge brownie points!
Nearby San Juan has a hippy market every Sunday, which is alive with bands, craft and food stalls in the quaint village square – and a visit rounded off the day perfectly.
The next day we took a boat excursion to Ibiza's smaller sister island of Formentera. Forget doing a booze cruise with the 18-30s – I've watched The Inbetweeners movie and it's definitely not my idea of fun. Instead we chartered a private boat to gently take us over to the unspoilt island.
Formentera boasts powdery white sandy beaches, turquoise water and secret coves. However, make sure to do your research; there are also a few nudist beaches where you don't want be caught with your cossie on! I'm not afraid to admit I like my food – it's an essential part of my holiday.
There are fabulous restaurants on Ibiza, including a couple of hidden gems. I loved the barbecue restaurant Cami de Balafia. The locals would hate the English to know about this bijou spot, but I just have to mention it.
Mike and I heard a rumour about it from a German couple and set out to find it. It's off the beaten track an hidden behind trees, so we had to stop several times and ask people where it was.
Set in a beautiful candlelit courtyard full of lemon trees, the open-plan restaurant is dominated by a large barbecue grill. There's no menu, you simply choose your meat – lamb, steak, rabbit or chicken, which comes with a juicy tomato salad and chips.

Hippy chic: You can bag a bargain at the island's markets, which are alive with bands, craft and food stalls

The other hidden gem was El Chiringuito on Es Cavallet beach. It's very glamorous and the atmosphere is electric. We went for lunch and had the most sumptuous fresh tuna tartare and lobster lasagne while sitting among Ibiza's cognoscenti as they relaxed to the mellow beat of the resident DJ.
Ibiza has many luxurious hotels but we were looking for somewhere a bit more unique and discreet, so it was recommended we try the island's agroturismos. These are amazing country farmhouses transformed into chic boutique hotels where you can dine on produce sourced from local farms.

Cheska's top Ibiza tips

Best five-star hotel: Hacienda Na Xamena, www.hotelhacienda-ibiza.com
Best agroturismo: Can Guillem, hotelruralenibiza.es
Best activity: Ibiza Horse Valley, ibizahorsevalley.com
Best restaurant: El Chiringuito, elchiringuitoibiza.com
Best nightclub: Pacha Ibiza, pacha.com
Best pool party: Ushuaia Resort, ushuaiaibiza.com
Best day trip: Formentera

I recommend Can Guillem near Santa Gertrudis, especially as I was seeking privacy for sunbathing and relaxing. It's perfect for couples and the service was friendly and impeccable. We opted for a suite in the main house but it's possible to rent your own private villa on the farm.
If you have cash to splash and want somewhere truly spectacular, check out the five-star Hacienda Na Xamena on the north coast. This astounding hotel is built on a clifftop more than 500ft above the sea and has the most breathtaking views and sunsets I've ever seen. It's within a natural park and the hotel stresses nature, harmony and finding the 'soul of Ibiza'.
We ate outside at the hotel's fabulous and well-known Eden restaurant. And I can truly recommend visiting the so-called 'Suspended Cascade' at sunset to immerse yourself in the thalassotherapy pools while gazing out over the cliff edge. It's the most romantic thing I have ever done. This is the perfect place to unwind, relax and rest your feet, far from the nightlife in the southern part of the island.

However, I could not visit Ibiza without touching on its party side. There are certainly some venues that I would recommend and some to avoid (namely San Antonio). Clubs in Ibiza are not just about dancing.

Some 40 years ago, Pacha began the White Isle's reputation as a 'clubbing mecca' and in my opinion it is by far the best club. Originally it was a hippy destination where love, peace and music reigned while revellers wore no shoes and long, white flowing Balearic dresses as they danced the night away.
To this day Pacha is still one of the most sexy, chic and unforgettable clubs on the island. If you want to experience its original hippy party rather than an electronic night, do what we did and head to 'Flower Power', on every Tuesday during the season.
I have recently heard of a new club that has launched called Booom! in the Ibiza town marina. It boasts a new state-of-the-art Pioneer sound system – another reason for me to head back there before the season is over.

Unspoilt: Formentera boasts powdery white sandy beaches, turquoise water and secret coves

For those wanting to party 24/7, there's an awesome day pool party which we visited in the luscious, glossy surroundings of Ushuaia Beach Hotel in Playa d'en Bossa. It's a state-of-the-art beach hotel, which recently opened its own roof terrace bar and has a Glastonbury- style stage by the pool for DJs to perform in an electrifying concert atmosphere.
The parties are glamorous and fun; a posh rave in your bikini with glow sticks, confetti and champagne. It really is a fantastic venue, the kind where you will see artists such as David Guetta or Avicii perform while partying next to Paris Hilton, Kylie Minogue or Adrian Brody. I don't think I could recommend Ibiza enough. I'm already planning my next trip and am only annoyed that I have left it this long to go.
One thing I do recommend is to plan your budget. And budget well if you want to go clubbing, as it can be extraordinarily pricey. As with anywhere, it's all down to where you stay and eat, but for an unforgettable time, save up and do a mixture of something a bit special as well as something a bit more modest!