Spain’s Costa Blanca is famous with us British holidaymakers for the stunning location,spotlessly clean beaches, very friendly locals and of course plenty to do and see whilst on vacation here. A great holiday in Benidorm can be had here for almost any budget and any taste, and it certainly has some surprises!

Certain sections of the British media has, for the past few years, not been very complementary to Benidorm, some would suggest, and images of lager louts, riotous hen parties and “Madge” scooters recklessly driven by drunk old ladies, seem to dominate the papers, but is it really like that?
Well, in some ways, this still exists, it is after all the party capital of the Costa Blanca, but Benidorm is a very large place and if you know where to go, and where not to go, the sort of things like this can be avoided without any problem.
So without further ado, we present five great things you can do here, all of which are either free or cheap, to make your Benidorm holiday a bit different this year.
1. Hit the beach! But which one?

One of the first things people seem to do when they come to Spain on holiday is to go and see the beach, and if you are someone who lives inland in the UK, such as the Midlands or London, just a glimpse of the sea, the soft sand and the glorious sun above, can set the scene for the whole week.

There are 3 main beach areas in Benidorm and they are Levante (meaning Sunrise), Poniente (meaning sunset) and Finestrat beach, which is much quieter and at the southern end of this vast metropolis.
Levante beach is the main one, the most busy, and the most “British” and it is the default location for many sun seekers but it’s not the best by a long shot. The promenade is lined with noisy and overpriced bars and discos and to be honest, we avoid the area, although it’s up to personal taste.
A more relaxing holiday can be had in the old town (in the middle of the photo above), or the Poniente beach end which is more “Spanish” and is to the left of the photo.
2. Which theme park to choose?
As befits a busy and established tourist resort, there are plenty of theme parks to keep the kids happy, and of course the thrill seekers amongst us old fogies too!

Benidorm’s theme parks are located in various spots on the outskirts of the town and include:
• Aqualandia: A water park, perfect for those hot days in the summer, and the place is packed with various water based activities.
• Terra Mitica: A traditional type of theme park with exciting rides, shows and displays to keep you entertained for the whole day.
• Terra Natura: a 79 acre animal and pet based theme park allowing you to get up close and personal with some of Benidorm’s more furry residents!
• Mundomar: A mini sea world with various displays and lots of aquatic based mammals and birds to see.
• Aqua Natura :Linked, in part, to Terra Natura, and is another water based theme park.
3. Horsing around!
Benidorm is not the first place that springs to mind when talking about horses, but located just on the outskirts are several riding schools that offer various horse based activities such as pony trekking, or for the more experienced, there is dressage, carriage driving and a whole lot more besides.

You don’t have to be an expert to experience the gentle plodding of your horse, sat high up on its back, meandering through scented pine forests with the warm sun beating down on your back!
4. Spot the stars of the ITV show Benidorm!
As I write this, filming is just about to start for the new series of the popular ITV1 show “Benidorm!” and there are various places that you can spot the stars of the show, although please don’t hassle them if you do see one of them!
The hotel where the show is filmed is actually the Sol Pelicanos, which is about 3 streets back from Levante beach, in the Rincon de Loix area. We took a look in the hotel after they had finished the 4th series and its quite weird to be sat at Mateo’s poolside bar, and as a non resident you are allowed to go in and see for yourself.

Other locations include various places in the Old town, well worth walking around anyway, and Morgan’s Tavern, a Cabaret showbar located at Calle Girona and is the set for Neptunes bar. Other locations include The Benidorm Palace, Levante beach and just walking or driving around the town, you will for sure encounter other places you recognise too.
5. Shop ’til you drop!
Benidorm, being such a large place, has a lot of shops, in fact it has LOADS of shops to see, some are just the everyday Spanish run type of nick-nack place, standing cheek to jowel with some of Europes most famous names, and there are of course the usual places like Eurotabaco where you can buy up all your cheap cigarettes for your holiday and to take home too.

A very popular shopping destination can be found in the old town, around the Avenida Martinez Alejos, and along the Passaig de la Carretera and also around the main square, the Plaza Mayor. The Rincon de Loix area also has many shops catering for Spanish, Dutch, German and British people, including some shops selling English food items, next to the now common Chinese “Cheapy” shops selling more or less anything and everything.
If you have a hire car, you can also head over to La Marina shopping centre in Finestrat where you will find names such as Mango, Zara, Casa,Ale Hop, Douglas,Druni, C&A, H&M and more. There is also a busy food court area, several reasonably priced snack bars and a fully air conditioned cinema too.
Whatever the reason you want to take a holiday in Benidorm, you can be sure to be pleasantly surprised at how different it is to what you first thought.

Spain’s Costa Blanca is famous the world over for stunning scenery, clean beaches, friendly locals and plenty to do and see. A great holiday can be had here for almost any budget and any taste, so here are the 5 best places to stay, and why.
1. Benidorm. Party on dude!

The sprawling and lively city of Benidorm is by far the areas top attraction, with the large majority of sun seekers arriving at El Altet Airport in Alicante heading straight for Benidorm for a week of fun and partying in the sun.
Benidorm makes no shame of the fact that it is a hedonistic place where “Anything goes” (To a limit) and has remained popular with the British for decades.
If you just cannot be without your home comforts whilst away on holiday then Benidorm is probably the destination for you, with loads of quality accommodation in Benidorm to choose from, and plenty of fellow countrymen to meet and share the experience!

There are plenty of places to eat in Benidorm and it’s not just the stereotypical English fish n chips on offer because it is actually a very cosmopolitan place!
The range of food available when dining out in Benidorm will surprise you; from traditional spanish fayre, to German food, Chinese, Indian, Latvian (!), Irish, Dutch and a whole array of tasty cuisine from more or less any country that ever is!
It’s not quite 24 hours a day partying though as the city is big enough to have quiet areas too, and is very suitable and safe for families. A more relaxing holiday stay can be had in the old town, or the Poniente beach end which is more “Spanish” and is quieter than Levante beach, however Benidorm is packed with things to do to suit all ages and all budgets so you will never be bored on holiday!
2. Happy holidays in Javea
Javea is a smaller town just up the coast a bit from Benidorm and is again a cosmopolitan town, attracting not just the British, but the French, Dutch, Norwegians and Germans too. It is noticeably more “Middle class” than it’s larger cousin, but still retains an air of fun in the sun for the discerning holiday maker.

Javea is very different from Benidorm, more noticeably lacking the high rise hotels and apartment blocks, and enjoys an enviable climate for most of the year. The British presence here is conspicuous in such a small place and is reinforced with the many English cafes, bakeries, charity shops (!) and even a full size Iceland British supermarket selling more or less everything you could possibly need for a self-catering holiday in Javea.

Javea has lovely golden sandy beaches, plenty of bars, restaurants and things to do and is somewhere for a relaxing holiday with all the home comforts that one could imagine, in fact they even have their own radio station in English (Bay Radio) which is worth listening to as anything that goes on, is advertised on the radio.
3. Altea, an alternative Spanish destination
Popular with German families for many years now, but a viable alternative often overlooked by the British, Altea is a short distance along from Benidorm, but a world apart from it’s neighbour.
It can be found just a short drive up the N332, or it is possible to take a tram from Benidorm to Altea too.

Although sadly the town is bisected by the busy main road that runs through the centre, the harbour area is delightful and retains the look and feel of a traditional Spanish fishing village.
There are various high quality apartments to rent in the area, and there is plenty to do and see in the town. The beaches are not so good as it’s larger neighbour but the seafront promenade is a lovely place to sit and enjoy a cool beer, watching the world go by, and giving you time and space to relax and enjoy your holiday on the Costa Blanca.
4. Santa Pola
Moving some distance further south, Santa Pola is nearer to Alicante airport and not far from the interesting city of Elche, which if you are renting a villa in Santa Pola, is only a short drive away, with a great array of shops, including the eponymous (but expensive!) department store of El Corte inglés, or the variety of other interesting and varied stores to be found in the “palm tree” city of Elche.

Santa Pola’s main industries are tourism and fishing, and boat trips can be taken to the wonderful and enchanted island of Tabarca which is the smallest permanently inhabited islet in Spain. It is also a very important nature and marine reserve and dolphins can sometimes be spotted playing in the nearby waters.
Not only that, the Island boasts a quaint but quiet fishing village, an ancient fort, a few very good seafood restaurants, a rocky beach with clear turquoise water, several coves and a scattering of secluded, tidal pools ideal for safe and private bathing.
5. More and more to see in Moraira
Moving back further north up the coast, the town of Moraira is a very upmarket tourist destination 80km north of Alicante and about an hour and 20 mins drive from the Airport. It offers a more relaxed pace of life for the many Europeans who choose to stay in Moraira each year.

It is certainly somewhere that attracts the monied crowd and is home to many affluent expatriates from the colder climes of Europe, including British, French, Dutch and German.
However that does not mean that only millionaires are welcome here, there is something for everyone, and just browsing through the accommodation available in Moraira will show there is something for most budgets although due to high demand, real bargains are few and far between.
Although the town is another place where fishing is still evident today, it boasts another claim to fame as being an area of high quality grape production, notably the Moscatel grape variety, which is ideal for wine making.
It is an area which, along with it’s outstanding natural beauty, is protected from development and high rise buildings and for a true Spanish holiday, the town has three sandy beaches which are very popular with families.
There is also a glut of rocky coves and inlets which are frequented by snorkelers and scuba divers and basic courses, from approved and licensed diving school are available for the intrepid traveller.
All in all, a visit to the Costa Blanca makes for an enjoyable and unforgettable holiday break for all the right reasons!

A day trip to the picturesque town of Altea, famous for its blue and white tiled roofs and many art galleries and studios. See a different landscape on the way there and enjoy a day of walking along narrow, winding streets, looking out over the sea from a village up in the mountains and finish it all off with a coffee or drink in one of the many bars and restaurants at the small port. An absolute must on the list of the five best day trips.
All about Altea

Located just about 15km north of Benidorm, Altea is a very different kind of holiday resort. Divided into an old and a newer part, and separated from the harbour by the somewhat unfortunate run of the N-332, it´s nonetheless a haven of peace and quiet.

Altea is the seat of the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Elche and it’s art in all its forms which dominates the atmosphere of this charming town. Be it music, literature, sculpture or painting, you can´t take a few steps in Altea´s old part without running into an art gallery, a bookshop or see paintings hanging from the balconies of houses and tiny squares.

Outdoor paintings,Altea

Eye catching and a landmark of Altea, are the brilliant blue and white glazed tiles which cover the cupola of the Church Nuestra Senora del Consuleo. Narrow streets, bordered by well kept houses lead in all directions, often ending in platforms from which you can either see the Mediterranean as far as the peon of Calpe, or the peeks of the Sierre de Bernia in the background.

Street,Altea

The bay of Altea, down below has several beaches and, of course, the crescent shaped harbour, mooring place for plenty of yachts of all sizes and a lovely place to visit one of the restaurants to sample the typical rice dishes of the area.

The newer part of town which lies at a lower level than the old one, is reached by steps and has many of the shops you will find in other places too. An exception is a small chocolate confectionary, the speciality of which are dark chocolates made with olive oil and filled with olive paste and another which is topped by a few crystals of coarse sea salt, a very savoury combination.
What to do in Altea

Walk around and enjoy the different scenic views. Climb up and down the steps connecting the streets and peer into courtyards filled with flowers. Visit the church, the interior of which has a beautiful baroque altar and glass cupola.

Interior of church,Altea

If you are looking for gifts or need some decoration for your own home, you have come to the right place. You will find handmade candles, sculptures of all sizes, paintings and any other kind of decorative objects, from hand painted umbrellas to bags and scarves.

Handpainted umbrella,Altea

Rest your feet and enjoy a coffee, drink or meal in the shade of tree bordered cafes in the old town or down at the port.

Cafe,Altea
How to get there

A day trip to Altea from Torrevieja is one which lends itself to two different ways of getting there.

One is by car, taking the AP-7or N-332 to Benidorm and from there north following the road signs to Altea, climbing steadily higher.

Another way is to take a Costa Azul bus from Torrevieja to Alicante or else drive to Alicante. From there take the local train, also called TRAM and marked with a T in a red circle. Head to RENFE, then turn right into Avenida de la Estacion until you come to Plaza de los Luceros which is also the terminal for T. Catch L1 to Benidorm, then change to L9 which heads for Denia.

The train ride along the coast is delightful. You´ll see the fabulous beach of El Campello and the theme park Terra Mitica near Benidorm.

Do not alight at the stop Altea, which will leave you in the new part of town and requires quite a long hike to reach the Town Hall and the old part, but get off at the next stop, Garganes and you are right in the middle of things.

Connections at Benidorm tend to be good and fast and the entire journey takes about 1 1/2 hours. The return ticket costs €6.50 pp and you´ll get a time table at the Luceros terminal to plan your return journey.

If you choose the bus/train combination, bear in mind that the last bus from Alicante to Torrevieja leaves at 8pm, which is quite early. Miss it, and it´s a taxi at approx. € 45 as opposed to the bus fare of € 4.50. If you set off from Torrevieja early enough, you have ample time for a leisurely day out in Altea without worries about where to leave your car or getting lost at the many roundabouts.