Calling all Benidorm Experts.

Taffyscot

yvonneem wrote: »

I can agree with most comments although i must say Villajoyosa is a wonderful place if you want Spanish. It is nearly all Spanish with loads of Spanish culture if thats what you like where as Altea and Albir, although very nice, have a mix of English Spanish and lots of Norweigans. Depends what you are looking for really.
The old town does have little bars doing quiz and kareoke nights. You have to look up the side streets to find the places. Also I would suggest trying Queens in the old town. I have stayed there many times and it is very cosy with Wayne and Derek making you so very welcome. Its easy to book yourself and the bus from Alicante is hourly and only about 10 euros I think.

Hi thanks for all your replies. Villajoyosa sounds like a great place to visit and I do love to be with the real people from the region. Will have to brush up on my Michael Thomas Spanish he does wonderful tapes.
I did a search on trip advisor for the queens and looks like it is worth a visit certainly but not to stay as all the trip advisors complained about the noise from the wheely bins or the night club facing the other way.
Has anyone stayed at the President, Ambassador, Rosamar, Sol Pelicanos or Hotel Castilla? These seem to be coming up the best reviews on Trip Advisor but all of them are not without drawbacks from some whinging.
When we were in Portugal we found out that you could buy a bus pass for a month if you were a senior and take the local bus around for the one price. Is there anything like that in benidorm does anyone know?
Thanks again all of you for being so helpful in true Martin Lewis style.
Taffy

yvonneem_2

Hi there, glad you like all of our replies, its nice when everyone is nice isn't it? Anyway, I'm not at all sure about the bus thingy as I hire a car and use buses rarely although this is a bad idea as parking is awful in Benidorm. I'll ask about for you and if I hear anything I'll let you know.
Think my dad stayed at the Ambassador and liked it very much but don't be put off by reviews you know. I don't recall noise enough to disturb me and all other things like the food views entertainment etc outweigh any negative. When you go have a stroll around to Queens one evening, sit outside and have a gorgeous three course for about 8 euros [ its not Benidorm fare at all ] then go inside and watch the entertainment. I can guarantee that it will be one of the nicest friendliest trouble free places you'll visit.
Whatever you decide i'm sure you'll love it.
Yvonne

yvonneem_2

Hi Taffyscot again, just had a thought. Did you look at Grand Bali by any chance? Its bit big but lovely atmosphere and very reasonable. They do have entertainment but its usual stuff you get in hotels a bit okish. Believe it or not you really do have to be good to entertain in Benidorm or else they will get rid quick. The food is very nice but like all hotels a bit same old same old after a while. Staff are nice and friendly always I have found. Its situated just outside of Benidorm in a place called La Cala Beidorm a very lovely area and very quiet. Try travel republic as we got really good deal with them. Its cost £116 for two people full board for three nights in March. My husband says that there is a bus directly outside to take you into town or anywhere. Beware of the Hotel Monica. It is not in Benidorm as advertised, its in La Cala Finestrat and is not very nice. Finestrat is nice in the day time but totally dead at night.
My husband has just said that buses are very cheap, I think only a euro or two to get about the whole area.
Hope this helps

vfm

Hi
Benidorm really has something for everyone, but it is important that you know what you like/want and tailor your holiday accodingly.
We love the old town of Benidorm, its narrow cobbelled streets, spanish tapas bars etc. and we totally dislike the new Levantee area of Benidorm with all it bars, english ticket touts etc. We find the Pontinentee side of Benidorm has a lovely prom and you don't get pestered.
We have always found the weather in Benidorm better in December than it is in January. There are lots of good hotels in Benidorm, all the hotels mentioned (apart from the Queens) are based in what I would class as the Levantee area. Most of the hotels run by tour operators have entertainment on every evening and many do quizzes both on an evening and during the day.
I would agree with others that Villajosa and Guadalest are good days out. Some may say not a lot there, however I would say lovely spanish scenery. I would also recommend Alga Falls (where the Timote advert was supposidly filmed) you can combined the falls with a trip to Guadalest. Albir and Altea are also nice places and very easy to get to by local bus. There used to be a Rasto (car boot) complete with live Jazz band playing on a Sunday at Alfaz de pi a lot of locals go to this.
If you want to experience spanish culture then I would say stay in old town / Pontinentee area, if you want a Britsh holiday in the sun then book the Levantee side.

vfm

Sorry just read above post and hotel Bali is not in the Levantee area but as stated in La Cala which is at the end of the Pontinentee.
We like the Gran Bali and it is where we intend to stay on our next viist. They do have Spanish staying there (surprise to some) and sometimes the entertainment is tailored to this, however we like to have the nationality mix. For the cost of this hotel you are getting good standards and as previously stated the bus stop is close if you want to go to the other end of Benidorm. If you like walking it is a lovely walk along the prom. We have walked from the old town, in winter after midnight and always been safe.

villajoyosa_2

Hello again, I agree completely with vfm. I am wondering where the rastro is in Alfaz as I lived in Golf Bahia for a few years and my kids went to school in Alfaz but didn't know about rastro. There is one at the very back of Benidorm towards Albir that has a band on on a sunday morning and one on the road to Villajoyosa also on sunday that has a kind of kareoke affair going on. They are brilliant way to spend a morning if you like that sort of thing. Also I think I said Villa market is on friday but my friend in Spain just rung me and tells me its thursday so Taffyscot don't go on friday if its the market you want to walk around or else I will feel awful.

Taffyscot

villajoyosa wrote: »

Hello again, I agree completely with vfm. I am wondering where the rastro is in Alfaz as I lived in Golf Bahia for a few years and my kids went to school in Alfaz but didn't know about rastro. There is one at the very back of Benidorm towards Albir that has a band on on a sunday morning and one on the road to Villajoyosa also on sunday that has a kind of kareoke affair going on. They are brilliant way to spend a morning if you like that sort of thing. Also I think I said Villa market is on friday but my friend in Spain just rung me and tells me its thursday so Taffyscot don't go on friday if its the market you want to walk around or else I will feel awful.

Hahhaha me wandering around and no market no chance. I always find out where the markets are. Actually I do not like the tacky Spanish markets selling joking designer bags and tshirts. I love car boots tho mooching through other people's stuff maybe old stuff. I love wandering around old areas and enjoy the scenery and the Spanish people.
I do not fancy the hotel grand bali it is too huge and sounds as if once you are here you are stuck there. I looked at the queens and it does look interesting, the food looks great. Rooms look too small and no telephone tv and no pool either. Maybe I should stay for a few days tho and then the rest somewhere else.
So I look for rasto -- car boot do I?
Sounds like the old town would suit us better. Anyone got a good hotel to recommend in the old town?
Thanks vfm for all those tips sounds lovely. Do you know which hotels have the quizzes?
This is more fun than the holiday looking at everything and everything to do.
Thanks all
Taffy

villajoyosa_2

Hi Taff, I like advising folk about my old home town. I appreciate that everyone likes different things and to be honest i'm not a market person but Alfaz and Villa markets are very Spanish, the food is amazing, no health and safety there you know. The cheese sweats more than me thinking i've won the lottery. The Rastro near Benidorm is called El Cisna. Its on the N332 on way to Albir. Just jump in Taxi and tell him where you want to go but be precise with your words or he'll look at you as if you've gone mad. Its worth going to just to see what people are selling. Plus there is a good band playing so you can sit in the sunshine with a coffee or sangria and have a lovely morning.
Don't know if you like animals but up in guadalest there is a kind of zoo run by a Spaniard who started off rescueing maltreated animals and ended up with this lovely place. He is an amazing guy who seems to know the animals personally. Bit like the Australian crocodile fellow Steve something or other.
Anything else?

villajoyosa_2

If you go on the "walking street" towards Dove Park there are old Spanish shops and a large chemist shop on left. Just past there you will find on your left a narrow street with some English bars that i'm sure will do a quiz night or two. Not sure about the hotels. Oh and one more thing, if you find the Spaniards a little "off" in bars etc then don't take it personally will you. Its there way. Half of my family are Spanish and when they visit I refuse to acknowledge them unless they say please and thank you. Ha......... In fact my cousin has just gone home after living with me for a few months and she says she loves to be polite now! Hope I've helped anyway.

Taffyscot

Thanks so much villa for all the info. Hahahha to the cheese sweating more than you thinking you have won the lottery. Those are exactly the kind of markets I love. Last year in Lloret we found all kinds of Xmas markets with home made jams and baking and I loved it. They were church fetes. The Spanish OAPs were wonderful to us and always asked us to join them at their tables in the night because we played the silly darts, and put the ball in the hat games with them in the afternoon. We had fun and really tried very hard to communicate with them. I especially loved getting to know them and coming down dressed up for dinner and them snapping their fingers and saying "muy wappa". I know it is not spelled like that but you will know what I mean. I am getting excited now at the thought of some sun, good food and good company.
Taff