Calling all Benidorm Experts.

vfm

Hi the rastro i was talking about is the one called El Cisne. For quizzes in hotels, just go into the larger hotels and look for their animation board for details of the days and times. In the old town area the Villa de Mar used to have a decent/fun quiz night., not sue whether you need to stay at one of their hotels to gain access though.
Have you considered staying in the Princesa Hotel? It is a good standard of hotel close to the old town but also not very far from all the entertainment. The only thing is it is on a slight incline if you have walking difficulties. The food at the hotel is very good and they have an entertainment program. There is also a good mix of nationalites, This hotel is featured in Airtours winter brochure and the prices are reasonable. My sister stayed there last year, she has been to Benidorm many times and is very fussy, she states this was the best hotel she had stayed in.

villajoyosa_2

Hi Taff, sent you the longest private message yesterday before work, really a blinking essay and then it wouldn't send. I will try again cos there is so much to tell you. The Benidorn mayor should pay me for selling his little piece of Spain. I had a restaurant in La Cala Finestrat a few years ago and liked to serve the best food that I could. I loved it. There is a certain very very well known wealthy woman that has been apart of Benidorm for years who tends to visit new places "just to see" as she put it. She paid me the most wonderful compliment by saying I did the best food within a fifty mile radius of Benidorm. How good was that? I had to give the place up though because my children needed to go to university so I came back to England. Learning the language is great if you can do it. Best way by far is to live in Spain or at least speak with someone in Spanish daily. My children speak Spanish or English and my son speaks Dutch and German too. All because of school. The diffculty you find is that most people in Benidorm speak English, the Dutch the Belguims the Spanish.
villa

Taffyscot

Thanks for all the comments diane, vfm and villa,
The last time we were in Spain except for the actual xmas period we were with all Spaniards and only the reception staff could talk English. When the xmas season came we noticed that much more staff was employed that actually spoke English. It was good to be thrown into the deep end and that was the best thing for us.
Will look into the Princesca. Villa that was fantastic about the review on your restaurant wish it was still there.
Cheers all of you and don't stop the comments coming. I will have to cut and paste all the ones about places to visit, good hotels and where the markets, quizzes are. This is almost as much fun as going there and it is all free. Taffy

Taffyscot

Hi all,
Has anyone stayed in the Benidorm Centre Hotel or know anything about it? Saw it when looking at other reviews and it seems to be reviewed quite highly. Also saw a cheap price with travelsoon, anyone know anything about them I just came across them by accident. They seem able to book the flights with Globespan and do the transfers and the hotel, which other travel companies have not been able to do, especially the flights all added on.
Taffy

stephb34

Hi have decided which hotel you going to stay in and did you get the map.

beduth

This place is ok and very central.But sounds like Ambassador is for you. All brits over 50.Food average/ good. Paniels is very good for a meal out. Up in old town.Will be there for a week boxing day till 3rd jan. Please stay away from Queens hotel.Go and have a look while your there, you will be glad you didnt book it. Think this will be my 32nd visit, so obvious I like the place. Enjoy Benidorm, it realy does have something for everyone.:D

Taffyscot

beduth wrote: »

This place is ok and very central.But sounds like Ambassador is for you. All brits over 50.Food average/ good. Paniels is very good for a meal out. Up in old town.Will be there for a week boxing day till 3rd jan. Please stay away from Queens hotel.Go and have a look while your there, you will be glad you didnt book it. Think this will be my 32nd visit, so obvious I like the place. Enjoy Benidorm, it realy does have something for everyone.:D

Hi I do not like to be with all Brits I quite enjoy trying to communicate with the Spanish it is their country after all. You said stay away from Queens do you mean for food too? ARe you staying in the Ambassador? Where else have you stayed there? What entertainment do you suggest in the night and the day time? Are there any organised bus trips that you can recommend? Thanks and maybe meet up for a passing drink at the Ambassador when you are there. thanks for your tips.Taffy

Taffyscot

I just want to say a huge thank you to Stephanie who has gone the extra mile and sent me a very large package from Benidorm. She said her mum and dad were going there and she would ask them to get free maps, newspapers, flyers, adverts about restaurants, shopping trips, and entertainment. What a surprise yesterday when the postman came with this large envelope full of goodies. I spent all morning yesterday in bed drooling over the leaflets and restaurants. What a nice lot you are here and Benidorm sure does look like a hopping place and all the free blanket trips to all kinds of places. Thank you so much Steph.
Taffy

Thursdays_child_3

Our favourite place to stay in Benidorm is the Don Pancho in the New Town. We have been going there for the last 20+ years and some of the staff have been there that long too!!! The chef is from Scotland and the food is outstanding and as we are quite picky that is saying something. We like December or January and hire a car to get around.

elvisandbetti

A place full of Brits over 50 sounds like a nightmare to me. I am over fifty but like you Taffyscot I like to mix with Spanish if I can. I've been to Benidorm many times over the years and it does have something for everyone. Much prefer the old town to the new town. Always seems to be a drunk or a fight in new town. I have never stayed at queens but know many that go back year after year and highly recommend the place. Suppose its down to what you like really. However, I have eaten there often and also in the little tapas bars opposite. Food is glorious as is the friendly staff. The only thin I imagine is not to everyone's taste is the entertainment. The main man does not encourage kids, which is fine as the humour is adult. It is very near the knuckle but for me very very funny. I have only ever seen one group of people walk out and that was because it was a hen party that had dressed up an obvious 13year old to look much older. They were drinking very heavily and generally being a nuisance so were targetted by compare and they didn't like it. The place is always full at night so they must do something right. I think on the whole the entertainment is very good in Benidorm. You really do have to be good singer or comedian to play there. Benidorm palace is fine example of professionalism. Excellent show always.