WELCOME TO BENIDORM - Spain.

In the early 1960´s Benidorm was a small village. Today it stands out for its hotel industry, beaches and skyscrapers, built as a result of its tourist-oriented economy. Benidorm is the fifth most populous town in the Alicante province. It is one of the most important holiday destinations in Spain. Due to the unique skyline formed by its numerous tall hotels and apartment buildings it is sometimes referred to as the "Manhattan of Spain" or "Beniyork", which is unlike any other town on the “Costa Blanca” (White Coast).

Benidorm has a special micro-climate all year round thanks to the mountains which surround the town. It enjoys some 3,400 hours of sunshine a year and an average annual temperature on the coast of 18°C (15°C in winter and 26°C in summer). Between December and March the temperature of the sea water is around 15°C.

Benidorm is popular all over the world, but most of the tourists come from the UK, Germany, United States, Austria, Swiss, Belgium and the Netherlands. The initial growth of Benidorm in popularity can be attributed to the package holiday explosion, and it continues year round, due to the night-life based around the central concentration of bars and clubs. There is a large number of free entrance clubs opening around 21:00 and the party goes on till the sunrise.

The author and Guardian journalist Giles Tremlett identified Benidorm as the birthplace of package tourism in the book Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country's Hidden Past and remarked that culturally the resort contradicted conservative notions of National Catholicism that General Franco had espoused.

The accessibility of Benidorm to a wider social strata was also detailed in 1990 by the columnist Jani Allan describing in the Sunday Times “These days you just have to look at the numbers of wide-bodied jets bearing wide-bodied holidaymakers to Benidorm to realise that package holidays and airborne cattle trucks make fun in the sun accessible to everyone." In the 1980s Benidorm developed a reputation for British drunken lager louts and violent binge drinking. This did not happen all year round but mainly in the summer months of July and August. During the 1980s families were put off visiting Benidorm. However today the problem of drunkenness and lager louts has largely gone and Benidorm has become more mellowed. Many such people tend to visit other places like Ibiza or Malia. Now there is a very good police presence in the town which has greatly improved safety and provided for a good atmosphere. Nightlife is very popular and mainly involves cabaret acts and Tapas bars. The town is now very popular with families. Also, more and more elderly people from Northern Europe decide to stay here during the winter.

Benidorm has three major beaches: Playa de Levante ( Val. Platja de Llevant), Playa de Poniente (Val. Platja de Ponent) and Platja del Mal Pas; all of them have a blue flag since 1987, the maximum quality standard recognized by the European Union. The Gran Hotel Bali, a four-star hotel located in this city since 2002, is a 186-metre-tall building which stood as the tallest skyscraper in Spain for five years, until it was surpassed by the CTBA towers in Madrid, it is however the tallest hotel in Europe.

Local Events and Attractions in Benidorm:

Each summer, since 1959 to 2000, the city celebrated the Benidorm International Song Festival, a song contest where international or Spanish celebrities like Julio Iglesias, Raphael or the Dúo Dinámico became famous.

Since 2010, In July, Benidorm celebrates an Indie Music Festival, with national and international music groups, called "Benidorm Low Cost Festival".

Benidorm has three family-oriented theme parks: Terra Mítica is located inland from the city. At the base of the mountain tourists can visit the Aqualandia – a fantastic water park – and the third park is the MundoMar - where visitors can understand all about the local sea animals. Those parks are located on the outskirts of the city on the Llevant side. Benidorm has also a large number of shops, restaurants and a great commercial area, with all kinds of services. Tourists love to spend the summer in Benidorm.

Here are some pictures.

(click on the pictures to enlarge).



Benidorm in 1960.



Benidorm Boulevard.

Levante Beach.

Levante Beach - Benidorm - during the Summer.

Aqualandia Water Park.

Egypt - Terra Mítica - Theme Park - Benidorm.

Magnus Colossus - Terra mítica Theme Park - Benidorm.

 Nowadays there are lots of great hotels and resorts to stay in Benidorm.

Here are my top tips about places to stay and enjoy the best of  it.

 

Grand Hotel Bali - Benidorm.



Grand Hotel Bali - main entrance. - Fantastic Service and Excellent Rooms.

Hotel Villaitana.   - very exclusive. -

Villaitana Beach Resort. - pool view. -
Guests feel like the best place in the world to relax and enjoy
the South Spanish aura of Benidorm at this hotel.