Latest News Pioneering scheme gives people with mobility problems access the sea by Benidorm Travel Mart 17 August 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 6 minutes read A Spanish report published this week reveals that three accessible beach points set up more than 20 years ago are attracting record numbers of users. These points, explains Visit Benidorm, are areas where the disabled can gain access to the beaches and the sea via public transport, reserved parking spaces, access ramps, shaded areas and changing rooms and specially adapted toilets Image courtesy Visit Benidorm Help always on hand Specialised teams are on hand to assist users. So far this year these points have served almost 8,500 people during 2022. In June and July alone more than 5,000 have used them. The Benidorm beaches department has an agreement with the company responsible for sun loungers and umbrellas. Free cards for the service are available Those wanting to use the facilities can get a free card if they meet the following critera: More than 65% disabled.Registered as a resident at the town hall.Owner of a property in Benidorm. All documents must be presented at the following address: R.A. Benidorm, Provima building, Lepanto Street at the corner of Mallorca Street. Councilor for the area, Mónica Gómez, said that there are three three points in the resort: one at Levante beach and two on Poniente. She added: Benidorm was a pioneer in the year 2000 in establishing accessible beach points. There is a high demand for the service that has become a benchmark at a national and international level. Benidorm’s mayor said: For us it is an essential service and that is why it is active throughout the year. 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. 17 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 Spotted deer population flourishes in Benidorm by Benidorm Travel Mart 14 August 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 4 minutes read In April this year, staff at Terra Natura were delighted to announce the birth of two chital fawns, a species native to the Indian subcontinent. But problems arose when they were rejected by their mothers. However, thanks to the efforts of veterinarians and caretakers, the two young fawns survived, and this week we learned that they are now in the process of being reintroduced into Terra Natura’s growing herd of chirals. According to this Spanish report, the pair—a female and a male—had to be raised by hand by staff who bottle-fed them with an infant formula. One of the rescued chitals. Image via YouTube/Terra Natura Four months of tender, loving care enabled staff to begin the process of returning the youngsters to the herd. The reintegration process began with the offspring being kept for periods of 15 minutes together with the park’s herd of chitals. The result has reportedly been good. Causes of rejection Fawns can be rejected by their mothers for different reasons. One that the mother is a first-timer and does not know how to interact with her offspring. On other occasions, the mother may not feel strong enough to take care of her fawn. A third reason is that the fawn might be extreme weak at birth, which makes the mother instinctively reject it if she considers that It has no chance of surviving naturally. 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. 14 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
Latest News Terrific news: Europe’s largest water park has reopened in Benidorm by Barry Duke 9 June 2022 written by Barry Duke 6 minutes read Aqualandia, rated as one of Benidorm’s top ten attractions, has begun welcoming thousands for the summer season after its forced closure due to the Covid pandemic. According to this Spanish report, the Aqualandia team is expects to receive a huge influx of adults and kids over the coming months. Among its most popular attractions is Verti-go, the longest slide capsule in the world—it’s 34 meters in height—and Cyclón, an aquatic roller coaster guaranteed to to give thrill-seekers an enormous adrenaline rush. People who have visited the park rate a day out at Aqualandia very highly, praising its clean waters, grassy parks and shady areas where one can enjoy excellent food bought at a variety of outlets. One visitor wrote: The staff members were exceptional with us and we thank the lifeguards for their work!!!’ Via the Aqualandia website, you can plan your visit your way. Get to know the different routes that cater to all types of visitors to make your day at the park memorable. There are three routes: the Family Route, for adults and kids who want to have a great day surrounded by water, family fun, and entertainment. The recommended attractions are Adventureland, the Mini Zig-Zag, Splash, Black Hole, and the Rapids, amongst many others. The Friends Route includes the Amazon, the Lagoon, and the Wave Pool. Finally, there is the Extreme Route—made for those looking for maximum thrills. The Big-Bang, the Rapids, Verti-Go, and the Zig- Zag are some of the attractions that are suitable for this type of visitor. Terra Mitica is now also open Image courtesty Terra Mitica The park, in listing its many attractions, says: Are you a fan of extreme sensations? At Terra Mitica you will find rides to excite you and make you shout like there’s no tomorrow. Its attractions include Titanide, the inverted roller coaster that travels at more than 100 kilometers per hour; Synkope, a disk that rotates 90 km/h, and Tornado, a 100-meter-high tower with flying chairs. 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. • Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission if you make a booking. 9 June 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Benidorm prepares for a fantastic tribute to 90s music by Barry Duke 6 June 2022 written by Barry Duke 5 minutes read Top DJs are set to gather in Benidorm’s famous Julio Iglesias Auditorium in Parque de l’Aigüera on June 18 to present a major event called “Tribute to the Route”, a celebration of the music of the 90s. The event will feature 15 performances and follows a similar celebration held in 2019 in Valencia, before the pandemic. The Councilor for Festivals and Events, Jesús Carrobles, unveiled plans today (Monday), accompanied by Víctor Pérez, representative of the organising company, and José Vicente Fuster, President of the Comissió de Festes Majors Patronals. Carrobles said the event—‘La Ruta’— will be a “the starting signal for Benidorm’s musical summer”, while Pérez said that audiences would come from all over the region. It will no doubt enhance Benidorm’s reputation for being one of the best party resorts in Europe. Seven hours of “Bacalao” music Among the celebrated DJs who will provide “bacalao” music for seven hours will be Danae, Jerry Daley, New Limit and Two Power. “Bacalao” is Spanish for cod fish, and was a slang term used by Valencian DJs who were central to the the region’s rave scenes from the 80s onwards. More than 120 people collaborated to make the Benidorm event possible, including representatives of Benidorm clubs. Organizers revealed that those who bought their tickets when this event was announced before the pandemic will receive a CD with original “La Ruta” songs as a gift. If you have not yet booked, your can get your tickets by following this link. Tickets cost €25.00. A gift will also be given to the first 500 people who enter the auditorium, the doors of which will open at 4:00 pm. The music will start at 5:00 p.m. and end around 1:00 a.m. “to cause as little inconvenience as possible.” An estimated 2,000 people are expected to attend the event. 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. • Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission if you make a booking. 6 June 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Benidorm strikes gold with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee break by Benidorm Travel Mart 3 June 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 5 minutes read On February 6 this year the Queen became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, and to celebrate the occasion Brits were given a four-day holiday from Thursday, June 5. Thousands seized the opportunity for a quick getaway, with huge numbers choosing Benidorm, according to the Costa Blanca hoteliers’ association, Hosbec. Hosbec was quoted by Euro Weekly News as saying: Thousands of British families looked at the principal holiday destinations and Benidorm was one of their preferred choices. According to Hosbec’s calculations, the 15,000 Britons staying in Benidorm hotels for the four-day break or longer make up a whopping 45 percent of all visitors to the resort. It was estimated that they would spend 60,000 nights in the idyllic resort during this period, boosting the economy by €6.3 million. Inevitably, reported EWN, the airport saw increased traffic with 38,000 seats on 206 Alicante-bound flights taking off over the four days. Hosbec said: The Jubilee has had repercussions all over the Costa Blanca. The same communique also pointed out that not only hotels are sharing in the bonanza. Hosbec’s calculations were based on hotel stays, without taking into account visitors staying in tourist apartments, or second residences as well as campsites. Benidorm business owners are delighted by this boost, which follows news that the resort is strongly bouncing back from the Covid lock-downs. 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. • Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission if you make a booking. 3 June 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News ‘Green’ Benidorm sets a magnificent example with its recycling strategies by Benidorm Travel Mart 19 May 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 5 minutes read According to the data provided by the resort’s Mayor “in the first four months of 2022, the volume of glass recycling has almost tripled compared to 2021, going from 288,630 kilos recovered to 832,340”. Cool Radio quoted Councilor for the Environment, Mónica Gómez as saying: For more than a decade, Benidorm has always been among the municipalities in Spain with the highest volume of glass recycling per inhabitant, far exceeding the national average Recycling dipped during the Covid pandemic but according to Gómez, people have started to recycle their waste materials once more, making use of an increased number of containers spread throughout the resort. Not only glass Image by Jan Helebrant via Pixabay The recycling of packaging has grown more than 27 percent in the first months of the year. A total of 220,400 kilos were recovered. Add to that the recycling of 323,380 kilos of paper and cardboard and you have an increase of 45 percent of materials recovered. Benidorm’s green strategies have also seen a greater increase in the number of recycled batteries, an increase of over 120 percent. Gómez said that in addition to recycling “glass, paper, packaging and batteries, which are usually the most common waste, the City Council also favours the recycling of other waste such as furniture, electrical appliances, rubble, pruning remains, car batteries or fluorescent tubes. In 2020, the resort gained its third mobile Ecopark vehicle. Image via Benidorm.org The mobile Ecopark service operates from Monday to Friday. This enables people to get rid of all manner of unwanted items, usually from the comfort of their doorsteps. Items picked up include cooking oil, vehicle oil, batteries, small electronic devices, and small toxic container devices. It’s practically a door-to-door service and is proving enormously popular. 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 flight and hotel prices on the web BTN’s powerful search engine can compare hotel prices from all major booking companies including: ExpediaBooking.comHotels.comAgodaTrip.comSnaptravelHotellook 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. Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission if you make a booking. 19 May 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News 100% occupancy as Eurovision Fever invades Benidorm by Benidorm Travel Mart 15 May 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 5 minutes read The Spanish representative’s performance in Turin was broadcast live last night in Benidorm, provoking Eurovision Fever. Eurovision fans turned out in their 1000s to enjoy a free afternoon-night party at the Plaza Triangular thanks to the City Council. It’s all about Eurovision in Benidorm A stage was set up at the base of the tecnohito, a tall, cylindrical structure that has been erected in the Plaza Triangular forming part of the revamped Avenida del Mediterráneo. With its 20-meter high and 264-square-meter ‘led’ screens, the ‘techno-milestone’ was a spectacular visual feature during the event. ‘tecnohito’ in Benidorm At 10:00 p.m, the Spanish representative’s performance was one of the night’s most intense moments. Chanel electrified the audience as they sang and danced along to the song. The mood intensified as voting began As the voting began, nervousness increased in the Plaza de la Hispanidad, where, with flags in the air, the public cheered and celebrated each of the 12 points that Spain received from the technical jury of several of the participating countries. Live transmission of the Spanish jury votes took place on Poniente beach, showcasing the resort to the world. 1000s of people joined in the celebrations Finally, the European public vote confirmed the third position for Spain, behind Ukraine and the United Kingdom. SloMo and Chanel were the highest-ranked Spanish contestants in almost three decades. Benidorm Town Hall is already planning for the second Benidorm Fest, which will take place early next year. The 2023 contestant will be chosen at this event. 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, and airport transfers. Here are just a few of the benefits you’ll get by booking your holiday through Benidorm Travel Mart. The cheapest prices on the web Our search engine can compare hotels from all major booking companies, including Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com, and help you find the best available deal. Save valuable time searching No more trawling through dozens of websites. Our powerful algorithm will dynamically present you with the best possible prices on the web, all in one place. Have more money for fun in the sun Finding a bargain accommodation deal means more money for fun in the sun. No need to pay over the odds, we have hundreds of cheap deals. No hidden charges There are no hidden charges or fees to worry about. You’ll find lots of information about Benidorm on our site, including where to eat, the best nightlife and the many daytime activities Benidorm has to offer. Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission if you make a booking. 15 May 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Benidorm Bull Ring to get facelift by Benidorm Travel Mart 14 May 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 3 minutes read The old bullfighting ring in Benidorm is getting a complete facelift costing €8.7 million. The project will include multi-functional social facilities, like libraries and youth centers. There will also be renovations made to stands in the square where the bullfighting once took place—including a stage, creating another useful space for community members looking for entertainment and other activities. The state of deterioration of the Benidorm bull ring and the surrounding area has not gone unnoticed by locals or tourists alike, so it’s good to see something happening to improve it. Artist’s impression of the entrance to the proposed new bull ring Save time and money with our online travel service 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, and airport transfers. Here are just a few of the benefits you’ll get by booking your holiday through Benidorm Travel Mart. The cheapest prices on the web Our search engine can compare hotels from all major booking companies, including Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com, and help you find the best available deal. Save valuable time searching No more trawling through dozens of websites. Our powerful algorithm will dynamically present you with the best possible prices on the web, all in one place. Have more money for fun in the sun Finding a bargain accommodation deal means more money for fun in the sun. No need to pay over the odds, we have hundreds of cheap deals. No hidden charges The price you see is the final cost. There are no hidden charges or fees to worry about. Go to our home page by clicking here. Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission if you make a booking. 14 May 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Chaos at UK airports as passengers burst into tears by Benidorm Travel Mart 13 May 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 4 minutes read The chaos at airports in the UK continues today. Passengers have complained of long queues at both Leeds Bradford Airport and Birmingham Airport. Holidaymakers who were caught up in the chaos took to social media to express their frustration about “mile-long” queues. Ongoing disruption at airports across the country has been blamed on an industry-wide problem with staffing levels following Covid and a spike in demand for travel. One Twitter user with the handle @DerrenN said there were “unbelievable queues” at Birmingham Airport just after 5 am. They said: “@bhx_official this is the worst I’ve ever seen at an airport. Unbelievable queues today.” Photo credit TWITTER/@papagiak Another raged: “@bhx_official we can’t get through to your help desk for anything- a queue of 400m long and you’ve done nothing to fix it?” The queues are the latest chaos hitting airports up and down the country in recent weeks. Passengers have warned of people bursting into tears, feeling faint amid long delays. Dennis Hall slammed his check-in at Leeds Bradford last Friday as a “disaster” after he waited more than three hours to board his flight to Greece. Sarah Dreier said she’d missed her flight to Fuerteventura despite arriving at the airport three hours before; there was total chaos, according to her. The spokesperson for Birmingham Airport said, “Queues were long but managed and moving this morning as we helped many of the more than 14,000 customers booked to fly out of BHX today.” Asking passengers to arrive at their airport on time is one way they are helping keep queues moving. He continued by saying that it would be helpful if people removed any liquids, gels, pastes, or electrical items from their bags before going through security. Save time and money with our online travel service 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, and airport transfers. Here are just a few of the benefits you’ll get by booking your holiday through Benidorm Travel Mart. The cheapest prices on the web Our search engine can compare hotels from all major booking companies, including Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com, and help you find the best available deal. Save valuable time searching No more trawling through dozens of websites. Our powerful algorithm will dynamically present you with the best possible prices on the web, all in one place. Have more money for fun in the sun Finding a bargain accommodation deal means more money for fun in the sun. No need to pay over the odds, we have hundreds of cheap deals. No hidden charges The price you see is the final cost. There are no hidden charges or fees to worry about. You’ll find lots of information about Benidorm on our site, including where to eat, the best nightlife and the many daytime activities Benidorm has to offer. Get inspired and plan your Benidorm holiday with us today! Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links, at no extra cost to you, we earn a small commission if you make a booking. 13 May 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Latest News Hotel Melia Benidorm is Open for Business by Benidorm Travel Mart 25 May 2021 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 1 minutes read The hotel Melia Benidorm opened its doors to guests on Friday the 21st of May. It’s a very stylish hotel with beautiful gardens and two huge outdoor pools. The Levante beach is just 800m away. The hotel Melia is offering some fantastic discounts, for example, A 1-week stay on the 8th of June for 2 has been reduced from €1003 to €773, that’s a discount of 23%. There’s even a free breakfast included in the price. Search all Hotels.Hotels are slowly starting to open up in Benidorm in anticipation of tourists returning for the summer season. On the home page of Benidorm Travel Mart, you will find an up-to-date list of all accommodation in Benidorm currently open. The list will be updated on a regular basis. 25 May 2021 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
BlogLatest News Benidorm: Expat Unveils ‘what Brits don’t know’ about Holidaying in Benidorm by Benidorm Travel Mart 22 April 2021 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 5 minutes read BENIDORM holidays are beloved by countless Britons eager for sun, sand and sangria Indeed, it’s become almost synonymous with drunken, disorderly behaviour over the years – but what do the British expats who live out there think?Benidorm is a resort that has attracted hordes of Britons looking to call Spain their new home. Express.co.uk spoke to one expat about his experience of party-loving ‘Brits abroad’ in the town. Tony Harrison shared his angle on how Benidorm has evolved over the years. Benidorm: "The concept of cheap booze, loud music and party until dawn was born" “Benidorm was, up until the late 1990s, a predominantly family resort, holiday brochures marketed it as a typical sun, sea and sand resort for all the family,” he said.“However, with strong competition from other destinations within Spain and other countries offering cheaper more up-market choices, Benidorm began to suffer a decline and the burgeoning stag and hen market became an alternative.“As this segment developed, many bars, hotels and venues adapted to serve these customers; the concept of cheap booze, loud music and party until dawn was born.”It’s this emphasis on booze and boogieing that changed Benidorm.“Bars and clubs in Benidorm, predominantly down the ‘New Town’ are open until 7am and it is possible to drink 24 hours a day,” Harrison explained. Benidorm: Harrison, like many British expats, steers clear of the rowdy areas “This of course has attracted the usual issues including drugs, prostitution, and occasional violence within a small pocket around what is known as the ‘British Square’.“The majority of the Brits are well behaved and have a great time, most look to party at beach bars and the hundreds of bars offering cheap booze down the side streets.“Recently, issues around drunkenness have been addressed more stringently more by the local police.”The expat revealed there is a crucial point that tourists don’t understand. The Spanish love to holiday in Benidorm too “What many Brits don’t know is that thousands of Spanish tourists also holiday in Benidorm and aren’t used to seeing drunken stag parties throwing up in streets and exposing themselves,” he said. Harrison, like many British expats, steers clear of the rowdy areas – although he appreciates the importance of tourism.“Personally, I avoid this area as do many Brits who live in Benidorm,” he said.“It is often featured on TV programmes including the popular ITV show called Benidorm. I understand the need for such tourism and whilst I don’t particularly like it, the money it brings to the local economy is significant.“Famous bars like Tiki Beach and Café Benidorm are a mecca for Brits and are well known for their party atmosphere, I have known people that have partied nonstop for three days and never went to bed.”For Harrison and many others, it’s the old town that has “charm and tradition.” Benidorm Old Town is a mecca for the Gay community. Benidorm old town has a thriving gay scene “Most of my time is spent in the old town which has a large gay population and many gay bars which are small, quaint, and far more friendly and are located in cobbled streets close to the church,” he explained.“The old town has become a big party town for gays, straights and many seeking a mixture of traditional Spanish food in the many tapas bars along with a more vibrant night scene with small nightclubs open until 4am.“There is also a more eclectic mix of people and nationalities and reminds me of Ibiza from years ago.”As for recommendations for those heading to Benidorm, “walking down cobbled streets and stopping in the many small bars and restaurants who serve some amazing traditional Spanish cuisine [in the old town] is a must,” Harrison advised.“The late bars are safe and attract many couples and solo travellers as they are friendly and safe, most of these bars are located in once what used to be stables so some are minute.” Benidorm sunsets are spectacular Harrison went on: “Watching the sun go down in the old town is amazing and places like Dove Park which is lined with palm trees is the perfect spot.“On the other side of the old town is Poniente Beach which is far more sophisticated and attracts many different nationalities from across Europe who love the long clean beach, high-end restaurants and some very cool bars which rival those in the south of France.“It is far more relaxed and chilled vibe in Poniente with most bars closing before 2am. Hotels are smaller and the whole area is tree-lined and a lot greener.“Benidorm has reinvented itself many times and now attracts some amazing events including cycle races and marathons, it hosts one of Europe’s largest gay prides and even has an annual Elvis competition where hundreds of Elvis lookalikes compete for the title.“There are also many amusement parks including Aqualandia, Terra Mitica, Terra Natura and others.”By HARRIET MALLINSON 22 April 2021 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail