After hours

1) Hard Rin Bay

With the coming of each full moon it’s time to party on the tropical island of Koh Phangan, where Full Moon Parties draw close to 10,000 people each month. The crescent-shaped white-sand beach of Haad Rin Bay is transformed into nearly 20 pulsing nightclubs where some of the world’s best DJs spin beats of trip hop and trance music, bonfires dot the beach and bars line the sands. Vendors who line up along the beach dish out authentic Thai food, and body painting artists are at hand to dress you up for the celebrations. The parties continue through the night and into the morning, and often wind up with revellers falling asleep on the beach in the afternoon! You’ve got everything you’d want from a party — hordes of dancing bodies, on the sand and in the water, some of the funkiest rhythms and one of the most spectacular party scenes in the world.

2) Cabo San Lucas

It’s always fiesta time in Cabo San Lucas in Mexico, so pack those shot glasses (its tequila not vodka here) and head south of the American border. This resort oasis plays host to more than 400 bars and restaurants. Rock star Sammy Hagar who lives here runs one of the area’s hottest nightspots — Cabo Wabo. Frequent visitors will tell you that you haven’t truly partied unless you’ve partied at Cabo Wabo, where the tequila flows like water and impromptu performances by the star can sometimes be enjoyed. Or have tequila sprayed into your mouth at El Squid Roe. Here’s to a truly Mexican flavour.

3) Hedonism II

Definitely not a party spot for the faint of heart — clothes and swimsuits are optional, at this resort on the northern edge of Negril beach in Jamaica, but sunscreen is a must. Hedonism II packs the works into a one-package deal, including all the drinks and partying anyone could want. Of all the members of the SuperClubs chain, this is the most raucous. Sprawling across white sands and turquoise waters, the resort allows guests to take it all off on the beaches and at a few spots inside the resort. Those not quite ready to lose their swimsuits can muster up the nerve while sunbathing on one of the ‘prude’ beaches. It’s the perfect adult playground, where you can scuba dive, snorkel, play volleyball or just party all night long. If a slightly naughty, very voyeuristic vacation is what you have in mind, Hedonism II is the place to be!

4) Ibiza

This Spanish island’s club scene attracts DJs, cosmopolitan partygoers, celebrities, models and vacationers form all over Europe. With eight mega-clubs and countless smaller ones, the party never stops on Ibiza. The clubs spare no expense in ensuring that your night is unforgettable — world-class sound systems and all-night parties are the norm. Disco Privilege is a sprawling nightclub built to entertain 5,000, many of whom seem to rush the dance floor simultaneously. Wander from room to room, stopping wherever you feel the urge, as the interior contains more bars, semi-secluded patios, and romantic trysting spots than most hotels. Dance music, however, will conspire to keep you on the floor dancing, dancing, and dancing.

5) Reina

This is one of the hottest clubs in Istanbul — if not the whole of Turkey. It’s located at the foot of the European side of the Bosphorus Bridge, and the ‘world under one roof’ concept is in many ways a metaphor for multicultural Turkey. Reina is more like a vast entertainment emporium that includes several bars, restaurants and dance floors that can accommodate more than 2,500 people. Packed with Turkish celebrities, models, millionaires and media players, the restaurants run the gamut from Italian to sushi to some exciting local fare. To avoid confusion, the drinks are priced the same at all the venues. The vast main dance space spinning out everything from hip-hop to electronica, Eastern and European club sounds is never far away.

6) Kabuki Cho

This area northeast of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo has the craziest nightlife in all of Tokyo, with block after block of strip joints, massage parlours, pachinko parlours, pornography shops, peep shows, bars, restaurants and, as the night wears on, drunk revellers. A world of its own, it’s sleazy, chaotic, crowded, vibrant, and fairly safe. It can also be quite a time warp — here you’ll find men in zoot suits, women in bell bottoms, and of course Tokyo’s outrageous Gothic girls. Although Kabuki-cho was always the domain of salary-men out on the town, in recent years college-age men and women have claimed parts of it as their own and now outnumber the businessmen; the result is that there is a growing number of inexpensive drinking and live-music venues well worth a visit.