Benidorm (Spain) > Reviews > Sticky Vicky's Paradise in the Sun.

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Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
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Advantages:	A good all round holiday destination .   Lovely places nearby and excellent climate .
Disadvantages:	Has a bad reputation with some people .   I'm NOT there now and it isn't fair !

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I went to Benidorm again last spring for my holidays. It was our second visit; we enjoyed it so much last time that we were really looking forward to going there again. Our first trip was for our honey moon in September 1999 ~ this time was in May, so we’ve seen the place during two different seasons and built up quite a good picture of the place. Both times saw us in the same hotel (The Rio Park ~ a good, if a little large hotel suitable for families and couples alike) primarily because we got a very good deal on price and liked the central location.

WHERE IS BENIDORM?

It’s located in Europe, approximately at 38º 30' latitude north and 3º 30' longitude east (a bit technical I know, but this appararently is what helps give it a good climate). It’s in a great place geographically because it is backed by mountains on one side and the Mediterranean on the other. Benidorm enjoys a microclimate that helps keep the temperature warm throughout the winter months, making it an ideal “all year round” holiday destination.

Benidorm is part of the Costa Blanca ("White Coast") a lovely coastal region of Spain. It has two main sandy beaches (Levante and Poniente) and clean blue seas, with beautiful, quiet countryside dotted with vineyards, citrus groves and some serene Spanish villages ~ we went on a tour around some of these villages and were really impressed with how unspoilt they were (to say how close they were to the main tourist areas). It’s a lovely part of the world and has gone a long way to get rid of the “Blackpool of Spain” image it had a few years ago.

Days can be spent either by your hotel pool, sunbathing on the sand, or exploring some of the beautiful and interesting places nearby. The beaches are beautiful and are up to EU "Blue Flag" standards for cleanliness, safety and amenities. We did a combination of all of these things ~ and had a great holiday as a result!

GENERAL HOLIDAY INFORMATION

Currency~~~

Benidorm is in Spain, so the currency you will now find is the Euro (it was the peseta until January 2002). Banks will change money and travellers cheques. You may also change at authorised exchange offices, at a similar rate. Always check the exchange rate and minimum charge before exchanging any money or traveller cheque. As a general rule we took one euro to equal about 65pence sterling ~ exchange rates vary, but this helped us calculate prices.

Siesta~~~

Bear in mind that the Spanish have a Siesta in the afternoons, so most shops and banks, etc, shut down for a few hours. Pubs and bars don’t seem to be affected by this, so you can usually get a drink in one of the town’s many drinking places. We did find that it was a good idea to take a nap though ~ Benidorm gets going at night and if you haven’t rested then you can’t “get going” with it!

Language~~~

The official language in Benidorm is Spanish, with the regional dialect being "valenciano". Most people speak good English and there are a lot of English people working there too (as well as a large ex-pat community). You will have no trouble getting hold of English books, newspapers, etc and there is a tourist magazine that is free (and easy to find) that tells you all about what is happening in the area.

Electricity~~~

Voltage is 220 volts, however if you bring your own electrical appliances you may need an electrical adaptor that you can find in most hardware shops ~ you can buy them in your hotel or apartment shops too, but they can be overpriced .

WHAT IS THERE TO DO?

There’s so much to do, we didn’t want to go home last time we visited ~ and it was just as good this time.

~~~Daytime

Sightseeing around Benidorm~~~

A lot of people tend to spend their days round the pool or on the beach ~ we like to explore and visit other places. The days we spent in Benidorm itself saw us walking for miles. We explored the modern part of Benidorm, walked along the beach and went around the Old Town too. There is a lovely viewing platform on the promontory that separates the New and Old Parts of Benidorm; it gives great views of the nearby Peacock Island and of both bays. The Old Town has a pretty white church and even the Library (we are very sad and have to look at other people’s libraries) was in a nice old building. The Old Town isn’t what you would expect and isn’t at all the high rise jungle picture that most people will paint of Benidorm (usually this is by people who have never been or didn’t stray from outside their hotel!). There are some pretty rough bars and areas; but this is true of most places and it really does pay to venture a bit further afield!

Shopping~~~

Benidorm Market is a good place to go for a bargain. It takes place on a Sunday morning (near the Barcelo Pueblo Hotel), but you have to hold on to your belongings; it gets really busy and there are pickpockets about. Don't worry about not finding it - first thing on a Sunday morning it's the only direction people are going! There's also a good range of shops, selling souvenirs, clothes and just about everything else! Perfumes, alcohol, electrical goods, etc, are cheaper than in the UK - we came back well stocked with drink, chocolate and smellies! You can even get vodka, etc in plastic bottles to make packing easier!

Soaking up the Sun~~~

This is a common past-time because of the generally good weather. It’s also a good way to people watch ~ one of my favourite hobbies. There are concrete seats and benches at regular intervals along the seafront (which has been renovated and made very nice) and lots of places to sit on the viewing platform. You can also hire sun loungers and parasols on the beach, but we never bothered with this ~ ‘cos we can’t sit still long enough to get the benefit.

~~~Nightime

Pubs~~~

There are loads of pubs and bars around, ranging from Spanish places to Traditional English pubs. As with all holiday destinations there are some dodgy pubs, but there are some really nice, friendly places too. Many serve food and most open until the early hours of the morning. Our favourite pub was called Churchill’s ~ it had some really good entertainment and the staff were really friendly. There are so many bars and pubs around that you could probably stay for a year and go in different one each day ~ we went in quite a few and barely scratched the surface!

Clubs~~~

Now attracting major DJs, Benidorm is one of the biggest nightlife capitals in the Med. Try out the Hippodrome or the Bahamas down in the Square, the main area for partying. Or for serious clubbers, there's Pasha, KM Club or KU disco. If you'd rather be entertained, enjoy a flamenco show at the huge Benidorm Palace, watch the live bands at The Shamrock. We aren’t really into clubs so tended to stick with the bars and pubs.

When we were there Elton John was doing a Concert to celebrate the official opening of the tallest building in Benidorm (and I think in Europe), a really big luxury hotel that can be seen from miles away!

OUT AND ABOUT FURTHER AFIELD

Terra Mitica~~~

We were looking forward to going to Terra Mitica, the new theme park that has opened nearby. I can’t tell you much about it because I have already written about it in another opinion ~ don’t want to stop you reading that one too! I will tell you that it is divided into themed regions; Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia and the Islands. The theme is based on mythology and it’s really interesting and well worth a visit.

Calpe~~~

Calpe is a port along the coast from Benidorm. It can be reached by local transport, car or by boat. Trips go there from Benidorm harbour (they go twice a day - once in the morning at about 10.30 and once in the afternoon about 3.00). It's a really nice place and is very popular with artists. It has a few restaurants (serving locally caught seafood) and bars, as well as a nice beach and a museum. It has a Gothic Quarter and some very nice shops. It's a place I would recommend that you visit. Calpe has a Market day on Saturdays and it can get very busy. If you just want to relax and see the sites, then I would advise a different day for your trip.

Alicante~~~

This is the capital of the region and it’s well worth a visit; it’s where the Airport is too! Alicante is located in a bay and there are some pleasant streets lined with trees to stroll down. Shopping is good too and there is even a Castle to visit. The Tourist Information (both in Benidorm and Alicante) had a free street map and it was quite easy to get directions. It’s quite a popular tourist destination and is getting to be a well known holiday destination too. My brother went there for his holiday and broke his elbow falling off the rough pavement while looking up at the buildings!

Valencia~~~

Valencia is the Capital of the region that Benidorm is in. It’s a beautiful and historic city that also has some great shops and modern buildings too. We only went for the day and didn’t have long enough to take in all of the sights and shopping opportunities ~ but, what we saw we loved and will definitely be going back!

Guadalest Monastery~~~

This is a gorgeous fortified monastery in the hills, 22km inland from Benidorm. It’s a great place for photographs and, despite the amount of tourists that visit, it a quiet relaxing destination too. Please remember that it is a religious building and, as such should be treated with respect. The village of Guadalest is lovely too and has some little shops and beauty spots of its own. It's pretty hilly though, so be prepared for a steep walk!

Lemon Express~~~

This is a “must do” thing in Benidorm! It’s as essential as seeing Sticky Vicky (just ask anyone who’s been” ~ erotic entertainer is all I'm revealing!). You travel on an old train on a five-hour journey through Benidorm, Altea, Rock the Ifach and Teulada and other places you might not normally get to see. The train stops in Gata de Gorgos where passengers visit a guitar factory. The fun starts on your return journey, where you are bathed in sparkling white wine…you do get to drink some too! I would certainly advise you to book this trip if you can; it’s well worth the money and I laughed until I felt ill!

There’s a load more to see…I hope this has whetted your appetite without giving too much away. I’m so excited about visiting again soon and hope that it’s as good as I remember. We have our photographs to remind us, but they are no substitute for going back again!