A Visitors Guide to Benidorm & Along the Costa Blanca.

Benidorm is situated to the northeast of Alicante and is just a 40 minute drive from the Alicante airport. If you don't have your own transport, you can either take a cab or if you can't afford the 50 Euro fare, you could catch the bus into Alicante and then the fast tram to Benidorm and that would work out at about 5 Euro.

Benidorm is very popular with the younger crowd in the high season and in the winter it fills up with lucky pensioners that can enjoy warmer winter climates and some excellent entertainment. I have heard of some pensioners that can afford to live in a hotel for three months on their pension and their winter electricity allowance, but whatever time of year you plan on visiting you will be able to chose from other 100 restaurants and nearly 50 night clubs.

The beaches of "Poniente" and "Levante" are of the best beaches on the Costa Blanca coastline as so much money has been invested in this once small fishing village and whenever Benidorm's beaches are shown on the news here in Spain, you can hardly see the sand, for the amount of people that set up camp on these golden sands. Bird island is just a ten minute boat ride and you will be amazed at the natural beauty that the island beholds and the wildlife is well worth the trip.

Tourists come to Benidorm from all over Europe and you will see Pubs of all European nationalities and the choice for international restaurants is without a doubt the best on the whole of the Costa Blanca region. Benidorm is also popular with Spanish tourists, although I see a few shocked faces sometimes when some waiters can't even understand them. The English language has taken a grip on Benidorm and is not usual in this Valencian district, but thankfully the Benidorm authorities have seen just how important it is to give a quality service to its visitors.

If you are traveling with Kids to Benidorm, well make sure you take them to "Terra Mitica" (Theme Park) and "Aqualandia" (water park) and golfers can also escape to a couple of local golf courses including one at "Terra Mitica". The ideal transport today is the tram that runs up the coast from Alicante to Denia stopping at every one of the seaside villages, where you can enjoy a different Spain away from the fish and chips.

One great night time trip though is a trip to the Alfaz Medieval Castle where you can enjoy and sit down barbecue meal while watching the jousting and other tricks that the knights get up to. Not far away you will also find Benidorm Palace which really is quite special with fine cuisine, a luxury setting and the excellent live entertainment.

Make sure you also visit Altea, Denia, Calpe and Vistahermosa, which are all within 30 minutes of Benidorm. Alicante is also worth a day trip and just in case you are golfing mad, then try a round on the Alicante Golf course, which is also found on the tram line.

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A Day Trip to Alicante

Alicante certainly has more then enough to offer visitors during a day trip so this would be my guide to a memorable day in Alicante. If you arrive by car, then head for the centre and follow the signs to "El Corte Ingles" department stores where you will find a handful of underground car parks. The average price is about one Euro per hour, but if you park in the "Corte Inglés" department store car park, a few purchases will get you a good discount.


Once you have parked check out the "Avenida Maisonnave" for clothes and shoes shopping in either the "Corte Inglés" or other well known high street stores and then find time for a bite to eat in one of the many cafes and tapas restaurants that are found in the adjacent streets. At the end of the "Avenida Maisonnave" you will see the "Calvo Sotelo" square, where you can sit and rest and enjoy the sights of the surrounding area. If you should need to visit the British
Consulate during your stay, it is situated in front of the square and close by you will also find "Hacienda" the Inland revenue office, should you need to sort out your fiscal affairs.

Afterwards you should head up the Frederico Soto street towards the "Plaza de los Luceros", which is another beautiful square which has recently be modernised due to the tram which will eventually run underneath up towards the train station. Then walk along the "Alfonso El Sabio" street, which is another important shopping street and at the end of the street you will find the Alicante municipal market and the tram station.

Have a look round the market just to see how things are done here and after that walk down the Rambla towards the sea. The "Rambla" actually means a flood escape which normally handle the rain water that comes into the city from the mountains after heavy rain storms called "La Gota Fria". The "Rambla" was traditionaly a shopping street, but today you are likely to find more restauarants than anything else, but I would suggest the you head up the "Calle Mayor", one of the oldest strrets in Alicante and in the heart of the old town. You will find many well priced restaurants along the Calle Mayor and if you head down one street you find find the town hall as well as another beautiful square and Museum, which highlights ruins of how Alicante used to look like.

From here you can head down towards the "Postiguet" beach, which is just a couple of minutes away and enjoy a walk along the "Esplanada" and make sure you stop for refreshments in one of the terraces that are dotted along the beach front. From there you can head back towards the Alicante harbour, where you will see many luxury yachts moored up and take a look at the harbour's commercial centers that offer a variety of high cuisine restaurants.

If you cross over the road you will be back on the "Esplanada" and you will find a variety of artisan stands that offer some unique hand made items, ideal as souvenirs. One thing to remember is that you should be security conscious in Alicante, especially in tourist areas of the city but just like you would have to in any major tourist town around the world.

At the end of the "Esplanada" you will find the "Doctor Gadea" street which will take you back to the "Avenida Maisonnave and your car. You should by now at least had a good insight into what Alicante has to offer visitors and you may wish to return another day to enjoy the wonders of the historical city of Alicante and the great selection of shops and restaurants that you would have seen during your visit.

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Alicante - Shopping, Golf and Beaches

If you are planning a trip to Alicante in the near future and love golf as well, you should consider a golf holiday package. The Beaches of Alicante combined with great golf make an ideal holiday destination and there is no better combination!

First, check with your travel agent or on the internet to find out if there are any discount package deals available. Not only is this a great holiday experience, but it can be a bargain holiday too. There are loads of options available, so be ready to decide what you want out of your holiday.

Your holiday package will include everything you need such as accommodation, theatre tickets and of course plenty of quality golf.

A great option for your golf holiday is the Alicante Golf Resort designed by Sevellano Ballesteros, which is one of the finest in Alicante and is visited each year by thousands of budding golfers from all over Europe.


An added bonus with Alicante is that there are a great variety of shopping centres with all of the high street favourites under one roof, or you should check out the "Avenida Maissonave" in the centre of Alicante, which is one of the most famous shopping streets in Spain and where you can find 2 "Corte Inglés" departments stores, ideal for the ladies to spend their time while the gentleman play golf.

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