What's Benidorm like ?

hayday75

I'm thinking of booking a week in mid August for myself ,hubby and 14 year old son .
Have heard good and bad things .
Any views ?

keigcf

We went last year with a 16, 14 and 11 year old. Some of the entertainment was too much, but a lot of it was fine. The beach etc was lovely to walk along in the daytime, and the old town was nice. I had heard the bad storys as well, but to be honest found it fine. We only saw one drunk, after many bad tales of stag do's etc and we were staying at the pelicanas ocas which is just off the main strip. It was a very reasonable holiday and would happily go back again. Also, to note didn't feel threatened at all at night which was good.:j

jacques_chirac

Chav hell

Many people love it and return year after year, but it is my worst nightmare - Blackpool with sun.

Valli

jacques_chirac wrote: »

Chav hell

Many people love it and return year after year, but it is my worst nightmare - Blackpool with sun.

and without the Pleasure Beach.

I went, a few years ago, at Easter (Low Season) and I vowed I would never go there in summer. Having said that, I didn't go into any of the bars - the ones with 'entertainment'.

But IF you want cheap and cheerful, it's fine. No waterparks nearby though (well not then), and the Old Town is nice. but DD was a bit younger then, and I did feel obliged to divert her attention from some of the 'entertainment' posters - displayed openly :eek:

budgetflyer

Its the biggest holiday resort in Europe.
It caters for all tastes. The Levante area is where most of the "British and Irish pubs" are.
There is some top class cabaret as well as some sleazy stuff .
The Old Town has a more traditional old Spain feel about it as well as being the "gay" area
The Poniente side has a new promenade and has quite an international clientel

Chocolate80

It appeals to some but I would never go back there! The hotel we stayed in (can't remember it's name) had awful food, dingey rooms and a freezing cold pool. Benidorm itself was naff and tacky. I would recommend looking at the Balearics instead.

Lincoln_Imp

Budgetflyer`s description is spot on
If you want night time entertainment you wont beat it anywhere
http://www.benidorm-spotlight.com/night.htm
I go every year in October as everywhere else is just about shut down

Wouldnt go at the height of summer though as prefer Majorca where its a bit more laid back but thats just me

Plenty to do
http://www.mundomar.es/s/1/entradas-para-un-dia
http://www.aqualandia.net/
http://www.terramiticapark.com/index.asp?idioma=_ing
http://www.terranatura.com/inicio/index.aspx
To name but a few

There is some dodgy hotels with very bad reports but thats no different to any holiday resort
Try looking at any of the servigroup hotels
http://www.servigroup.com/en/hoteles/hoteles.html
Their food and hotels are some of the best in Benidorm and they will throw in free transfers from the airport

If you decide to go ahead ask here first about the hotel
Suggest you let us know what you like to do on a holdiay then that will help decide if its for you

andrea_louise

I loved Benidorm. My boyfriend booked a holiday for me following spinal surgery in 2008, he told me that we were going to Majorca (with me being a bit of a snob??? Pfft, as if).

Anyway it was fantastic, we stayed up "cardiac hill" mont park hotel I think it was called, right At the far end of levante beach. Food was great, location was great, and the entertainment on the evening (in the pubs) was superb! We returned 4 or 5 times.

madelaine

Benidorm, is a nice resort, a lot of people say they don't like it, or its Blackpool with Sun, and they have never been, go on the Benidorm forum, on trip advisor, it is one of the busiest forums, should tell you something, a lot of people go the first time and love it, return year after year, they call it the Beni bug.

I am off to Majorca tomorrow, been to Tenerife in May, going to Benidorm, in September, and the Canaries for New year.

[Deleted User]

Benidorm can be what you want it to be,loverly beaches, entertainment, old town,new town etc. Do not forget what's in the area around it, bus to Albie/Altea, tram to Denia through lovely scenery, the other way to Alicante and lots of stops in between at reasonable cost. Trip to Guadeloupe not to be missed if you enjoy views and history

ibizafan_2

I think Shrimper means Guadalest. I've been to Benidorm a few times to visit, although we always actually stayed further up the coast at Calpe. It's got fanatastic beaches, but it isn't for me I'm afraid, although I realise that it's got an army of fans. After twenty years of holidays spent in the area, I "discovered" the Balearics and have never been back since 2000, as I much prefer the islands. However, it's horses for courses as they say!