Blog Free standing ATMs or Automatic Thieving Machines in Benidorm should be avoided—here’s why by Barry Duke 7 January 2023 written by Barry Duke 6 minutes read As far back as 2019, a fella called Harry posted a video to Facebook about a massive increase of ATMs in and around Benidorm, saying that, in six months, more than 100 had appeared on the streets. Since then a great many more have appeared. Harry’s advice to holidaymakers using cards linked to non-Euro bank accounts was: Avoid them like the plague! Why? Because, in essence, they are electronic thieves. Harry pointed out that these machines will try to force you to withdraw “huge amounts of money, up to £1,000.” In doing so they will provide an awful rate of exchange, and you’ll get around 20% less than you would do if you were to use bank cash points, of which there is no shortage. To add insult to injury these ATMs will additionally impose a withdrawal fee—normally around £5.00. Watch this recent update on YouTube by Lucy, The Benidorm Enthusiast about these free-standing cash machines. A European-wide scam These street machines are, of course, not confined to Benidorm. They are sprouting up like mushrooms in all major European holiday destinations, and are making billions for the companies that operate them. Image via YouTube Another good reason to avoid these machines is that, if your card happens to be “swallowed” by one, you may have to wait for a week or longer to get it back. In fact, in some cases, you won’t get it back at all because these machines are susceptible to tampering, and your card will be taken and used by thieves. On the other hand, if your card is, for some reason, retained by a bank’s ATM, you can go in and ask for it back, either immediately or, if it’s shut, the following day. How to spot ATM tampering Worryingly it’s not only freestanding ATMs that are being targeted by scammers. In December 2021 Love Money offered advice on how to spot ATMs that may have been “customised” to record your PINs. Nowadays, more than ever, holidaymakers—Brits in particular who, due to the UK’s cost of living crisis—are having to watch every penny. So people must take all necessary steps to avoid getting ripped off when at home or traveling abroad. It’s also wise to always inform your home bank that you are going on holiday abroad. That way they will be expecting some withdrawals from your account in, say, Benidorm, which attracts millions of Brits each year. If you don´t do this you run the risk of having your card blocked. Money exchange shops If you choose to turn your hard-earned pounds into euros at one of the resort’s many money exchange outlets, you could be in for a shock. These outlets have boards outside that show current rates of exchange, but these relate to transactions involving £1,000 or more. This is not made clear, so always get a quote. Walk away if you’re offered less than current rates. Exchange Places to Avoid in Benidorm Back in 2019, in a video called “BEWARE of these 5 things in Benidorm” Asa Elliott showed how an elderly UK couple were, in essence, robbed when they changed £60.00 into euros (at the time the exchange rate was a lousy £1.11. Now it’s hovering around £1.16. Image via YouTube Bottom line: You’re here to kick back and enjoy all the wonderful things Benidorm has to offer—day and night—but always keep in mind that you can be fleeced in ways that are both legal and illegal. Planning Your Next Getaway? Let Benidorm Resort Expert, Geoff Gartland Guide You! Looking for the perfect holiday experience? As a Resort Expert, I’m here to help you navigate the myriad of travel options and find the ideal vacation that suits your style and preferences. Why Consult a Resort Expert? Tailored Recommendations: Get travel suggestions that match your unique tastes and interests. Insider Insights: Benefit from extensive knowledge and expertise in various destinations. Hassle-Free Planning: From booking flights to finding the perfect accommodation, leave the details to a professional. Authorised Agent: Jet2Holidays, EasyjetHolidays, Tui Holidays and more. Transform your travel dreams into a reality with expert guidance. Reach out today and take the first step towards an unforgettable journey. Your adventure is just a conversation away! 📞 [0034 637708491] 🌐 www.resort-experts.com/expert/geoff.gartland Click on the WhatsApp button if you want to chat with me now! 7 January 2023 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Fans of ITV’s Benidorm would love a return of the ITV series by Barry Duke 25 November 2022 written by Barry Duke 4 minutes read Those who attended a crowded gathering in Benidorm earlier this month of fans of the series, which debuted on ITV in 2007, were delighted to learn that new series of the sitcom might soon be on the way. Benidorm was axed back in 2018 after an impressive run lasting more than a decade, leaving fans of the show devastated over its demise. Reporting on Benicom, held over three days at the Meliá Hotel, The Leicester Mercury revealed today that Derren Litten “hinted” that a new season might be launched. Although it disappeared from the screens, Benidorm was resurrected in as a stage show that began touring the UK in 2019 and is still attracting delighted audiences. After it debuted as Benidorm Live in Wales, reviewer Karen Woodham enthused: As you can imagine Benidorm Live is certainly just has crazy and as funny as the TV show, if notfunnier. Image credit: ITV Litten reminded those at Benicom that onstage version is still running: He said in a tweet: But the story continues in the form of… benidormonstage.com. Come see us on tour and see what happens next! Many interpreted this as hint the series is due to return to TV screens. Benidorm has become one of the British classic sitcoms, alongside some of the greats such as Only Fools and Horses, Derry Girls and Friday Night Dinner. The series was highly acclaimed by British critics to the point of receiving two National Television Awards during its career, and nominations for the British Comedy Awards and the BAFTA awards. It reached an audience of almost eight million viewers in its fourth season, although it never fell below 4.5 million. There had been plans for a film, but, according to The Leicester Mercury, it did not go ahead due to Litten reportedly having left the show business to run a themed bar in Spain. A gallery of photos taken at Benicom can be viewed here. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights | popular hotels | airport transfers | car hire | activities. Disclosure: We may receive a small commission at no cost to you if you click on any of the links in this feature and make a purchase. 25 November 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Artistic tribute to the Mayor who put Benidorm on the world map is unveiled by Barry Duke 26 September 2022 written by Barry Duke 8 minutes read Benidorm’s current Mayor, Toni Pérez, opened his second outdoor exhibition in the resort this month when he unveiled a series of images detailing the period when his pioneering predecessor held office from 1950 to 1967. Photo by Museums Victoria via Unsplash In honouring Pedro Zaragoza Orts, whose most daring achievement was to get fascist dictator General Franco to approve the wearing of the bikini in Spain despite fierce opposition from the Catholic Church, Pérez—accompanied by local arts representatives—said the objective of the commemorative exhibition was: To let people get to know the person who made Benidorm what it is today in a fun, different and exciting way. The exhibition—part of the ‘Pedro Zaragoza Orts Year’ celebrations in the city—covers the personal life of the mayor as well as his political career as Mayor via 19 historic illustrations of Benidorm. The exhibition is to be found at the heart of the Old Town, at the L’Espai d’Art Urbà Ponent, located at 8 Av. Emilio Ortuño. From left, Mayor Toni Pérez, Barry Duke and Arne Quinze Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Pérez when he officially opened an exhibition of monumental works along Benidorm’s Poniente beach by Belgian sculptor Arne Quinze. Book Your Trip to Benidorm —Top Booking Websites and Services for Travellers Last-minute flight and airline deals Many journeys begin with a flight, particularly if you are traveling internationally. You can begin searching for tickets using Expedia & Aviasales websites. Our preferred partner is Skyscanner, which compares prices across most major airlines to help you get the best deal. Start your flight search here: Benidorm accommodation With such a huge selection of travel accommodation available, as well as different types it can sometimes be hard to know what to pick. Find somewhere to stay from the list below or you can also visit our page to start your search. It can be difficult to decide which form of lodging to select with so many options available. You can pick from the list below or visit our hotel deals page to start your search. One of the most important things about booking.com is that you get a fair deal: All prices are set well below the going rate and you can be sure that you won’t be overcharged or ripped off. Another advantage of booking.com is that you can search for accommodation by location and price range, so you can find the perfect place for you and your budget. You can also make use of their handy filters and advanced search options to narrow down your search even further. Alternative providers: Expedia | Hotels.com | Agoda | Trip.com | Snaptravel | Hotellook | VRBO as well as direct of course. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights | hotels | airport transfers | car hire | activities. We may get a commission at no cost to you if you click on our links and make a purchase. Thank you for your support. 26 September 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News New scheme will keep most Benidorm hotels open all year round by Barry Duke 13 September 2022 written by Barry Duke 9 minutes read Benidorm’s pristine beaches are a magnet to holidaymakers throughout Europe and beyond during the summer months, but the city also has a great deal to offer in autumn and winter. It’s for this reason that a scheme has been announced to keep many hotels open all year round. According to a report in Las Provincias more than 80 percent of hotels will remain open, making around 32,000 beds available. The scheme extended to tourist attractions and campsites. The Visit Benidorm Foundation together with Hosbec and Turisme Comunitat Valenciana is working on the scheme. Hosbec is quoted as saying: This work has many active fronts: from the hotel point of view, hotel companies have decided that the Covid-19 crisis cannot mean a return to seasonality and that the closure of companies is not an option. A “Benidorm Generation” promotional campaign has been launched to target tourists over 50 and retired people who have high purchasing power. The “Silver Campaign” will be publicised both nationally and internationally. In Europe, the campaign will focus on the United Kingdom and the Benelux countries. The campaign aims to portray the resort as one that: Offers everything and where everyone fits: diverse people in terms of age, lifestyle, tastes or appearances, who share solid values that make them special. The campaign presents Benidorm as a #Befoodie destination for lovers of Mediterranean food. Other hashtags include #Benatural Tolerant, which reminds people to respectful of the environment and #Beadventure, for daring people wanting to participate in adrenaline-fueled activities such as diving and rock climbing. Book Your Trip to Benidorm —Top Booking Websites and Services for Travellers Last-minute flight and airline deals Many journeys begin with a flight, particularly if you are traveling internationally. You can begin searching for tickets using Expedia & Aviasales websites. Our preferred partner is Skyscanner, which compares prices across most major airlines to help you get the best deal. Start your flight search here: Accommodation With such a huge selection of travel accommodation available, as well as different types it can sometimes be hard to know what to pick. Find somewhere to stay from the list below or you can also visit our page to start your search. It can be difficult to decide which form of lodging to select with so many options available. You can pick from the list below or visit our hotel deals page to start your search. One of the most important things about booking.com is that you get a fair deal: All prices are set well below the going rate and you can be sure that you won’t be overcharged or ripped off. Another advantage of booking.com is that you can search for accommodation by location and price range, so you can find the perfect place for you and your budget. You can also make use of their handy filters and advanced search options to narrow down your search even further. Alternative providers: Expedia | Hotels.com | Agoda | Trip.com | Snaptravel | Hotellook | VRBO as well as direct of course. An interactive map can also be a fun way to find a hotel. To search for a hotel, simply change your dates in the box below Booking.com About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights | hotels | airport transfers | car hire | activities. We’ve partnered with top brands and services and may get a commission at no cost to you if you click on our links and make a purchase. Thank you for your support. 13 September 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Benidorm says farewell to the Queen by Barry Duke 9 September 2022 written by Barry Duke 9 minutes read The importance of British visitors to Benidorm was emphasised today by Spanish newspaper Las Provincias which reported that “beyond the United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and its other Kingdoms and Territories and the countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations, the news has caused a deep impact in the city of Benidorm.” The report was accompanied by a photo of a message of condolence on the huge Tecnohito sign in the heart of the resort. Image via Facebook. There were other signs too, such as the one outside the Flash Hotel, above. Message from the Mayor Mayor Toni Pérez said: I am deeply saddened by the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. We wish to express our deepest condolences to the British Royal Family and the People of the United Kingdom. Tributes at Pride The death of the Queen came as Benidorm was in the midst of celebrating its 12th Pride—a week-long event. Presenters Sammy Kruz, left, and Martin Kent. This and other images via a Facebook gallery. One of the Pride organisers, Sammy Kruz who hosted the White Party last night, told a massive audience: Tonight I would like you all to raise your glasses to an international icon, Queen Elizabeth II. Sammy said: Everyone fell silent. I then told the audience that they were free to applaud if they wished to do so, and a huge cheer erupted. Sammy said he would be repeating the tribute at events tonight and tomorrow when the festival draws to a close with a parade of thousands through the town from 5 pm onward. Book Your Trip to Benidorm —Top Booking Websites and Services for Travellers Last-minute flight and airline deals Many journeys begin with a flight, particularly if you are traveling internationally. You can begin searching for tickets using Expedia & Aviasales websites. Our preferred partner is Skyscanner, which compares prices across most major airlines to help you get the best deal. Start your flight search here: Accommodation With such a huge selection of travel accommodation available, as well as different types it can sometimes be hard to know what to pick. Find somewhere to stay from the list below or you can also visit our page to start your search. It can be difficult to decide which form of lodging to select with so many options available. You can pick from the list below or visit our hotel deals page to start your search. One of the most important things about booking.com is that you get a fair deal: All prices are set well below the going rate and you can be sure that you won’t be overcharged or ripped off. Another advantage of booking.com is that you can search for accommodation by location and price range, so you can find the perfect place for you and your budget. You can also make use of their handy filters and advanced search options to narrow down your search even further. Alternative providers: Expedia | Hotels.com | Agoda | Trip.com | Snaptravel | Hotellook | VRBO as well as direct of course. An interactive map can also be a fun way to find a hotel. To search for a hotel, simply change your dates in the box below Booking.com About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights | hotels | airport transfers | car hire | activities. We’ve partnered with top brands and services and may get a commission at no cost to you if you click on our links and make a purchase. Thank you for your support. 9 September 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News People warned to be wary of scammers as tickets go on sale for ‘El Gordo’ by Barry Duke 30 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 7 minutes read Each year Spain holds a Christmas lottery called El Gordo (“The Fat One”) which offers eye-wateringly high prizes. This year the jackpot will be €2,408-BILLION! El Gordo, and lesser lottery draws are used by criminals to carry out what’s called ‘Tocomocho’ scams, and today (Tuesday) Spanish outlet Información used the arrest of a man and a woman at a Benidorm campsite to issue ‘Tocomocho’ warning. The word, according to The Nomad Today comes from the Spanish expression Tocó mucho which occurs when a victim is approached on the street by a stranger who claims to hold a winning lottery ticket but is unable to collect the money for some reason. Scammers offer a fake or doctored winning ticket in exchange for a large sum of money. If the victim agrees, they accompany them to their home or bank, collect an agreed amount in exchange for the “winning” lottery ticket. Arrested pair allegedly part of a ‘tocomocho’ gang Información reports that the National Police arrested two alleged members of one of the most active Spanish gangs dedicated to carrying out “tocomocho” scam. Investigators link the couple arrested with at least four scams involving more than €42,000. Elderly victims were targeted in the Benidorm area and Alicante. The accused—a man and a woman of 35 and 32 years, respectively— are said to have targeted people aged between 70 and 80. One of the swindlers pretended to be illiterate or “insane” and used O.N.C.E coupons already drawn to make their victims believe they had won. These types of scams are are reported on the rise, which is why the Citizen Participation Units of the National Police regularly give talks in day centers, civic centers or nursing homes, alerting mainly elderly people about the existence of this type of crime. Agents give older people guidelines for prevention and how to act against them. It is also recommended that you immediately report the facts to the National Police if you have been a victim of one of these crimes to enable them to start investigation procedures immediately. Tips from the Police to avoid scams • Buy lottery tickets only in authorised sites, either in person or online. • If you make your purchase on the Internet, save the emails related to it and take screenshots of the management if necessary. • Buy lottery tickets only in authorised sites, either in person or online. • If you make your purchase on the Internet, save the emails related to it and take screenshots of the management if necessary. • Be suspicious of the messages you receive informing you that you have been awarded in a draw that you do not know and in which you have not participated. • When you share a Lottery ticket with friends or family, photocopy it and write down who participates in that purchase and how much each of them plays. • Try to keep the ticket in perfect condition, because its deterioration could create problems in case of being awarded. And remember that awards expire after three months. • Take a picture of your ticket or write down in a safe place the number, the series and the elements that help you to identify it if you lose it. • Report the loss or theft of your ticket at any police station, in addition to notifying Loterías y Apuestas del Estado. • If you have been the victim of a scam, do not hesitate to report it by providing all the information you have about the perpetrators and their way of operating. • And if you have not been a victim of fraud but have information about one, report it at www.policia.es About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. Tips from the Police to avoid scams This is the titleI am text block. Click edit button to change this text. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. 30 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Board a Benidorm bus and save a great deal on holiday transport costs by Barry Duke 29 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 8 minutes read Whenever friends come over from the UK to visit me, the first thing I advise them to do is to buy one of several travel cards offered by bus operating company, Avanza. These are sold on board buses and they can save you a sizeable amount of money. For example, the seven-day (7D) card costs just €32 and allows unlimited travel throughout Benidorm, neighbouring resorts such as Altea as well as excursion trips to places like Guadalest and Fuentes del Algar. If you are planning a longer stay, then choose the simple Avanza bus card (BonoBús), pictured above. It costs €2 plus an initial top-up fee of either €10 or €20. Each time you use the card, €1.40 will be deducted from your balance. You can top up you balance at any time on any bus. A single journey on all routes (excluding bus numbers 21, 22 and 23 which serve the Villajoyosa area) costs €1.40 if you use BonoBús, This represents a saving of 15 cents per journey. This does not sound like much, but if you are on a tight budget, as so many of us are these days. it’s important to watch the pennies. See the full list of tariffs here. A great deal for the over-65s and the disabled. My Tarjeta Oro makes me look like I’m on the run from Interpol but I wouldn’t be without it. For ex-pats living in Benidorm, I would highly recommend the Gold Card (Tarjeta Oro), which brings each journey price down to just €1.09. These personalised cards are only available from the city hall. You will need to show your passport and other documents such as your Padron, plus two passport photos. Once you’ve filled out a form, you’ll need to go to a bank to pay €4, bring the receipt back to the Ajuntament de Benidorm and within a couple of weeks you should get a notification that your card is ready for collection. You can then load it on any of Benidorm’s buses with €10 or more. Don’t top up for more than €20 because if you lose the card, you can say goodbye to the credit balance that was on it. The same, of course, applies to other cards that can be topped up. Please observe bus etiquette The buses operated in Benidorm by Mexican company Avanza are kept immaculate—more so since the pandemic— and Spanish people, by and large help maintain this levels of cleanliness by not treating them as garbage trucks. Unfortunately, some holidaymakers tend not only to drop their litter in them, but also behave disrespectfully by shouting and singing and putting their feet on seats. Also, men try to board buses bare-chested and get stroppy when drivers order them to put on shirts. A few years back I wrote a column for an English weekly in Spain about tourists behaving badly on buses. It was sparked by a trio of middle-aged Brits who were bellowing out I’ve Got a Lovely Bunch of coconuts. They annoyed the hell out of me and the rest of the passengers, and I commissioned a Californian artist friend of mine, Shell Fisher, to do an illustration to accompany the article. More about Avanza According to its website (in Spanish) Avanza is the largest private operator of urban transport services in Spain, with a presence in more than 40 cities with a fleet of more than 2,000 vehicles. It is part of Mobility ADO, a multinational company of Mexican origin, specialising in global mobility. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. 29 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Expats living in Benidorm are among those who will get help with energy costs by Barry Duke 28 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 5 minutes read Benidorm residents who took advantage of a scheme announced earlier this month to help with energy bills can expect to receive payments of least €50. A total of €300,000 had been allocated to the scheme by the local authority and the Alicante Provincial Council. Image via TouTube Benidorm Mayor, Toni Pérez—pictured above speaking to an elderly Benidorm resident—said: This new aid aims to prevent energy poverty. At a time when the cost of the average shopping basket continues to rise, and month after month energy prices escalate, there is great economic uncertainty and it is vital we support our senior citizens who have been the mainstay in many moments of crisis. If not all of the €300,000 is applied for the remainder will be distributed amongst all the beneficiaries and the single payment of €50 will be increased to a maximum of €100. Applicants had to be over 65 and have been registered in Benidorm for at least the last five years without interruption. They had to be the owner or tenant of a property intended for habitual residence. if you hadn’t taken advantage of the scheme, I’m afraid you’ve missed the boat. The deadline for applications was August 26. Why I didn’t apply for the payment Although I am now on a very tight budget, having being summarily fired in January from a job I held for 24 years, I used this guide to reduce energy consumption and have managed to make significant savings. My average bill this year for an apartment with two bedrooms and two bathrooms is €63.68 a month. In the same period last year the average was €76.06. And my average bill for 2020 was €83.52. Given the current energy crisis these figures show an impressive downward trend, so my feeling was that the money allocated by the authorities should go instead to people in greater need than I. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. 28 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News New hotel on Benidorm’s Poniente beach will feature the resort’s first suspended pool by Barry Duke 23 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 6 minutes read Due for completion next May, the Villa España Hotel—a unique creation of the Magic Costa Blanca Hotels & Resorts chain—will replace the old Magic Fenicia Hotel near Park de Elche. According to Spanish site Husteltur, the four-star hotel will be the first conceived as an international showcase for Spanish culture, technology and cuisine. Image courtesy Magic Costa Blanca Hotels & Resorts The hotel will have many unique features. Apart from the elevated swimming pool—a first for the resort—there will also be four mini glass pools, two outdoor jacuzzis and a solarium. A gateway to Spanish and international gastronomy The company plans to make the new hotel a key attraction for gastronomes. Its the bars will have the finest Spanish wines and top-class craft beers, while the seventh floor will accommodate a restaurant specialising in both Spanish and international cuisines. The top floor will feature an adults-only area, offering drinks and delicacies such as foie gas macarons, oysters, Denia red prawns and Iberian cold cuts. Image courtesy Magic Costa Blanca Hotels & Resorts The hotel will have individually themed rooms and suites, each showcasing a different aspect of Spanish life, art and culture—the first in Spain to do so. Javier García, Vice President of Magic Costa Blanca Hotels & Resorts, emphasised the group’s commitment to continue providing Benidorm and its visitors with the latest advances in the hospitality sector. The rooftop area of Villa España Hotel aspires to be a benchmark for tourism in the Valencian community with areas such as the first suspended pool in Benidorm and premium restaurant areas facing the sea. … We will offer tourists and residents an enriching experience, disseminating our heritage and that of hundreds of Spanish municipalities. In this Spanish report, García said that the project will cost of 23 million euros, and will extend the area now occupied by Hotel Magic Fenicia to two adjoining plots close Poniente beach and Elche Park. Each floor will be dedicated to an autonomous Spanish community, while the rooms and suites will have the name of a Spanish city. García said: The new project will make the richness and uniqueness of Spain’s heritage known throughout the world. We hope that it will be a real stimulus for the sector and employment in the Valencian Community. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. 23 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
ActivitiesBlog Benidorm’s ‘Pirate Island’ is a magical portal to an underwater paradise by Barry Duke 20 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 5 minutes read If your dream is to get up real close and personal to exotic marine life, including octopuses and moray eels, the place to head for is the rock that’s a short boat-ride away the centre of Benidorm. Photo credit: Barry Duke The small island—only around seven hectares—is home only to birds such as seagulls and peregrine falcons. Oh, and a restaurant called L’illa that specialises in rice dishes. But in the clear blue waters around this rock, a wealth of marine life abounds and people come from far and wide to scuba dive and snorkel in the vicinity. We learned from the Spanish site Viajes that about 300 meters to the south of the island there is a diving area called Bajo de la Llosa. It’s 30 meters deep and home to a variety of exotic sea creatures. So, how to you get there? Viajes recommends a company called Excursiones Marítimas Benidorm, which has boats that make the two-and-a-half nautical mile journey hourly from 10 am to 4 pm. You can buy tickets from Benidorm Top Trips at the indoor market. Once on the island, visitors are offered free journeys on board the glass-bottomed Aquario or Aquascope boats, which offer fantastic views of the sea life around the island. Tickets, ranging in price from 12 to 18 euros can be bought online here. The island has several names Most people in Benidorm call the rock “Bird Island,” but Viajes informs us that it’s is also called “Pirate Island” and “The Island of Journalists.” The former derives from the fact that it was once used as a settlement by pirates who attacked the towns along the coast. The latter came into use in 1970 when the Federation of Press Associations of Spain sponsored the island. Viajes also reveals that it was used as a refuge for families fleeing the cholera epidemic of 1834 that affected Benidorm and nearby Villajoyosa. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. 20 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Petita, Benidorm’s famous elephant, turns 50 this month by Barry Duke 16 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 7 minutes read Once upon a time, there was an elephant that was so skinny and malformed that other elephants in the herd rejected and bullied her. Sounds like the theme of a book for children. Well, it certainly is, but Trompetita, una elefantita de mucho peso (Trumpet, a very heavy elephant)—written by María Luz Pontón and illustrated by Mabel Piérola—is based on the true story of how a herd of elephants at Benidorm’s wildlife park, Terra Natura, learned to accept and love Petita. According to this El Mundo report (in Spanish) Pontón used Petita’s experience to tackle the issue of bullying. The story of Petita began in 2006 when she experienced rejection by both male and female elephants at Terra Natura because she did not rise to their standards of beauty. Weighting in at a skinny 2,900 kilos and having excessively long legs, Petita spent a lot of time alone and isolated, and on occasions she even had to run to avoid being attacked by others in the herd. But one female, Kaiso, weighing almost 4,000 kilos, took pity on Petita and helped integrate her into the herd. This resulted in Petita gaining a lot of weight, and she learned how to assert herself. Petita and Kaiso are now inseparable. Kaiso, left, and Petita. Image via YouTube/Terra Natura. As soon as she read about Petita, Pontón knew that she had to write a story about this “so vulnerable and special” elephant. The poor thing had to pay a very high price for being different. The story could be a clear model of bullying, and as such it would be very useful to reflect on bullying. Petita’s birthday 50th birthday promises a joyful experience In announcing Petita’s Big Five-O, Terra Natura said that it would be holding a very special Holi party, similar to the ones held in the past for her August birthdays. A Holi party held for Petita before the Covid lockdown. Image via YouTube/Terra Natura. But this time round it will be even bigger, better and more colorful because you only turn 50 once, right? (The average lifespan of elephants in the wild is 56.) Terra Natura added: This celebration is the only one of its kind in the world to be organised to celebrate the birthday of an Asian elephant. The Holi festival will start at 11 am. Staff will put the typical bindi (also called tilak) on visitors’ foreheads. This red dot is placed on the forehead of both men and women at the level of the sixth chakra, which symbolises wisdom. The bindi is considered a symbol of protective energy in Hindu culture. The festival will continue with a parade of musicians and dancers dressed in saris—traditional Indian dress—where they will offer Petita and Kaiso a special offering of fruit and vegetables. A “battle of colours”, involving multi-hued powers thrown in the air, will be a feature of the celebration, which will also include Bollywood songs and choreography performed by dancers dressed in original Indian costumes. Tickets for the event can be bought directly from Terra Natura via this link. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. 16 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Chilling news: Spain has an ice crisis by Barry Duke 11 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 7 minutes read Apart from having some of the finest tapas restaurants in Spain, Benidorm has numerous bars and clubs that serve a delectable variety of cocktails and drinks created with enough ice to sink a battleship. Think mojitos, sangia and the like. But will venues have to cut back on ice usage in during the summer season? Or, heaven forbid, charge for ice cubes? Mojito image by Ralph (Ravi) Kayden via Unsplash One sincerely hopes not, but there are are warning signs. Last week The Local reported that this summer in Spain the intense heat combined with rising energy bills have made ice much harder to come by. The country reportedly produces around two million kilograms of ice every day. During a normal year, the spring months would see another 2 million kilograms put aside and stored every day in preparation to meet the increased demand for ice during the summer, which doubles to around 4 million kilograms a day. But this year, sweltering heatwaves have seen the demand for ice cubes skyrocketing to a staggering eight million kilos per day. This shortage has made ice a very hot commodity and increasingly hard to come by. In some supermarkets purchases of bags of ice have been limited to one per person, a move reminiscent of the rush for toilet rolls in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. And with the current volatility of the energy markets, it’s unlikely to go away anytime soon. Ricardo Blasco, owner of one of Madrid’s oldest ice manufacturers, Hielo Blasco, told Reuters this his power bills have risen by between 50 and 60 percent since the start of the year and that he was forced to delay production from March to May to try and offset the crippling costs. Blasco’s story is a common one. At the start of the year, Spanish ice suppliers did not produce as much as normal – certainly not enough to stockpile as much as they usually would – because of a combination of the financial impact of energy bills and the unpredictability of tourist demand during the first real restriction free summer following the pandemic. A recent HuffPost investigation (in Spanish) revealed that several large chain supermarkets in Madrid are limiting the amount of ice customers can buy. These measures show that supply problems are real. Individuals have two options in the face of the situation: either resign themselves or resort to the circuit of small food stores that still hoard some bags of ice and they sell them, yes, at prices that can double those of just a few weeks ago. It reported that shortage is not likely disappear in the short term. Spokespersons for the first and third largest ice-making companies in Spain point out that it all started in May and that the situation will not be resolved until mid-September. Rationing in supermarkets and skyrocketing prices in stores Images have been circulating on social networks for several days. They show “no ice” signs and empty supermarket refrigerators. Poll shows which bars serve the best cocktails in Benidorm. BenidormSeriously is currently running a poll, asking readers to vote for their favourite cocktail venues. Based on these votes, The Stag and Pheasant— a bar located on Levante beach is way ahead of its rivals, with an approval rating of 42.9 percent. Just four of the many icy cocktails on offer at the Stag and Pheasant. Image via Facebook. News of the ice crisis coincides with regulations that came into force this week that limit air conditioner temperatures in public area in order to save energy. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. 11 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Satisfaction with Benidorm’s beaches continues to rise by Barry Duke 8 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 5 minutes read Last year Benidorm’s longest beach, Poniente, lost it cherished Blue Flag status. There were fears that the loss would impact negatively on tourism, but this simply did not happen. Image courtesty of the Foundation for Environmental Education In fact, a satisfaction index showed that people were more happy with all Benidorm’s beaches and their facilities than they were when the Mabrian Tourist Intelligence tool began collecting data in 2015. In June Spanish newspaper El Confidencial reported that UK tabloids sensationalised the withdrawal of the Poniete Blue Flag by the Foundation for Environmental Education based in Denmark. The Express, not renowned for its accuracy, reported on the Blue Flag loss, and declared: Poniente Beach is a favourite with British tourists in Benidorm. This is simply not true. Most tourists from the UK gather at Levante beach. El Confidencial reported: The British market rarely leaves its preferred area: Levante. However, Poniente is the refuge of the Spanish family tourist. The paper also reported that the Poniete area is experiencing a real estate boom that has seen a succession of futurist skyscrapers taking root close to the beach. Two Sunset Waves buildings are located in the immediate vicinity, and there are two TM Inmobiliaria towers that make up new Sunset Cliffs residential complex. One is still under construction. An artist’s impression of the twin Sunset Cliffs residential towers. Behind them is the recently completed Sunset Waves complex. Image courtesy of TM Inmobiliaria. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. 8 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Libraries add to the pleasure of Benidorm’s beaches by Barry Duke 6 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 5 minutes read You’ve packed the refreshments, the sun cream, the towels, your phone and all the other bits and bobs that make for a glorious day at the beach. But then you discover that you forgot to include the book you were engrossed in, and start gnashing you teeth. But all is not lost, for Benidorm has two libraries on the Levante and Poniente beaches that offer books, magazines and newspapers in several languages, including English, and the service is free. Below is a photo of one. Photo credit: Arjan Beune via Twitter Since their introduction, the libraries have provided reading matter to millions of holidaymakers. In addition CDs and DVDs are on offer, and people also gather at them to play chess. The libraries only close for one month in the winter in order for the beaches to be cleaned. This requires the structures to be dismantled. The project came about with the aim of bringing together the concept of beach fun, reading and more broadly, culture in general. It is about bringing books closer to readers, no matter where they are and without their nationality being an obstacle. The Levante beach library is 352 square metres and has seats for 125 readers. In addition, there are chess tables, which can be used to play, even if opponents do not speak the same language. There are around two thousand documents in Valencian and Spanish, but also in English, German, French and Dutch. The Poniente beach library is 125 square metres, has 50 chairs and 750 books. How did they come about? A 2016 report in El País (in Spanish) reported that the marriage of sea, sun, sand and literature in Spain originated in Torrevieja in 2005, and was the idea of entrepreneur Francisco Javier Gómiz. He provided the necessary capital to build several biblioplayas and packed them with more than 5,000 second-hand books. The idea quickly caught on in other Spanish resorts, and by 2016 twenty-six had appeared on beaches and public swimming pools, thanks to funding provided by local authorities. The concept was seized upon by other countries, and, according to this report, beach libraries are now to be found in places ranging from France to Israel. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. The cheapest hotel rooms on the web BTM’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including:• Expedia• Booking.com• Hotels.com• Agoda• Trip.com• Snaptravel• Hotellook You won’t have to visit numerous websites to find the best deals anymore. Our algorithm will present you with the best prices on the internet and direct you to the hotel or airline booking agent of your choice, where you can book with confidence. Sign up for our newsletter and get all our latest news, views, and exclusive offers delivered to your inbox each week. Leave your email in the form on this page. 6 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Will Spain’s new energy-saving measures leave holidaymakers roasting? by Barry Duke 3 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 5 minutes read I detest air conditioning. It plays merry hell with my eyes and sinuses, and I avoid entering premises that feel like walk-in cold storage units in the summer months. Last week I lay back shivering in a dentist’s chair in Benidorm for more than three hours while an orthodontist performed a complicated procedure on a molar that had gone horribly bad. When I returned to Via Parque Dental & Salud for a brief check-up I politely asked a nurse to turn off the air conditioner. She looked at me as if I was totalmente loco. So when I learned today that Spain, under a decree that comes into effect next week, will not allow air conditioners in public buildings, shopping centres, cinemas, theatres, rail stations and airports to be set below 27C (80.6 Fahrenheit) I let loose a loud cheer. But The Mirror reports on Spain’s energy-saving measures as if they were somehow a Very Bad Thing: British holidaymakers have been warned of new air conditioning rules in Spain that could leave them sizzling amid heat alerts. A new law has been passed which means Spanish shops, offices and hospitality venues will no longer be able to set their cooling systems below 27C in the summer. Heating should not be set above 19C [66.2 Fahrenheit] ….Doors will need to be closed so as not to waste energy, and lights in shop windows must be switched off after 10pm. The Guardian adds: The measures, which were published in Tuesday’s edition of the official state gazette, will remain in force until November 2023. These lay out a series of measures to save energy and use it more efficiently, which are urgent and necessary when it comes to reducing energy consumption in general, and reducing our dependence on energy outside the Spanish economy. Home use and energy-saving tips Neither the Mirror nor El País reports that the measures apply to home use, so I assume that households remain unaffected. I have three huge wall-mounted air conditioners in my apartment—one in each of two bedrooms and the third in the living room—and, since taking occupation in 2010 of our fabulous apartment in Sol de Poniente II, I have never used any of them, making do instead with a freestanding water-cooled unit that cost me less than 100 euros, and is used very occasionally. Image via Amazon.es This is because the west-facing apartment is on the 31st floor and is constantly filled with cooling breezes. As I write this, the temperature is a tolerable 31 degrees ((66.2 Fahrenheit). This, of course, limits my electricity usage. My average monthly bill is around 50 euros, which makes one wonder why on earth fuel prices in the UK have been allowed to soar to at all all-time highs, and are set to rise further at a time when providers are making indecently high profits. Other factors that keep my energy costs low are using an induction hob and a table-top halogen oven to prepare food, rather than the cooker. In the summer I hardly cook at all and just eat cold salads, which my husband Marcus claims is turning him into a rabbit. I also turn the boiler down to its lowest setting. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. 3 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Blog Reaching for the sky: all you need to know about Benidorm’s Intempo building by Barry Duke 2 August 2022 written by Barry Duke 5 minutes read Gazing from my 31st-floor balcony, a friend from the UK, on his first visit to Benidorm, exclaimed “geez, what the hell is that monstrosity?” He was staring at Europe’s tallest residential building standing 198 meters high close to the resort’s pristine Poniente beach. When I arrived in Spain in 2010, the Intempo building was under construction and I wondered when I would be completed. Then, In July 2011, when the building had reached the 46th floor I was on my balcony when I heard a terrible crash and saw clouds of dust rising skywards from the base of the Intempo. A freight elevator had collapsed with 13 workers inside and ambulances were unable to access the site because no vehicle entrance had been built in order to save money. Several workers were seriously injured. Construction was immediately halted, and for what seemed like years I saw no further activity at the site. But work resumed in earnest just before the Covid pandemic, which further delayed building work. However, in July of last year Spain’s leading newspaper, El País, reported that the 47-storey-high building, with 256 apartments, was set to receive its first occupants. Photo by Andrey Lapikov via Unsplash The M-shaped building, according to this report, was to commemorate the victims of Madrid’s March 11, 2004, terrorist attacks that killed 193 people and injured around 2,000. Interesting facts A cone joins both parts of the tower from the floor 38th to the 44th.The building’s design was officially presented on the 19th of January 2006.It surpassed Gran Hotel Bali as the city’s tallest building.The building was erected on a lot of 12,950 square metres.The towers resembles two giant 1 numerals with a cone joining them at the top floors.First proposed to have 75 floors.The two sides are separated by a 20 metre gap.The works on the tower were halted several times. First due to the 2008 financial crisis and again in 2014; months before completion the investor went bankrupt. The El País report, which describes Benidorm as “the New York of the Mediterranean is also a city that never sleeps” has more interesting details about the project. The Intempo has 13,000 square meters of common areas, including an 800-square-meter pool on the ground floor. It takes around seven minutes to walk the 200 meters to the nearby Poniente beach from the building. On the 46th floor, there is another pool, and from the sun loungers you can enjoy a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the city. The 47th floor is the highest point, and is home to common areas. There will be a cocktail bar up there, along with four jacuzzis. The building managers estimate that around 800 people will live in the building in the high season … The most exclusive apartments are located on the 45th floor. The two residences there boast 300 square meters of space, and have been sold for more than €2 million. El País has a stunning gallery of photos which you can see here. About Benidorm Travel Mart As an online travel service, Benidorm Travel Mart helps you build your own holiday by providing access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels, airport transfers, car hire, and activities. 2 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail