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
Blog Bag a bargain, plus a taste of Spanish food and culture, at Benidorm’s fabulous antique market by Benidorm Travel Mart 22 August 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 5 minutes read So many of us love bargain-hunting. But few first-timers to Benidorm are aware that, in addition to the marvelous seaside attractions that make the resort one of Europe’s key holiday destinations, the city has a large antique emporium and flea market on its outskirts called El Cisne where you’ll find treasures galore. One lover of the market summed up El Cisne well when they wrote on Tripadvisor: A worthy trip out around the market with a multitude of secondhand and vintage items for sale. Prices vary but a great chance to enjoy Spanish hospitality with good food at great prices and entertainment. A great way to unwind from the beach and bars and get a taste of real Spain. Buses are easy to use and stop right outside. Another enthusiast wrote: Great second-hand and antique market selling hundreds of different types of goods. The market is held every Thursday, Saturday and Sunday with free entertainment on Sunday lunchtimes. You will find antiques, clothes, electrical goods, pottery, china and some real junk too. It’s a great market, particularly on Sundays when it is really busy. You can wander around the stalls, grab a bite to eat and maybe pick up a real bargain. El Cisne is on the road to Alfas de Pi, and the best way to reach it, if you rely on public transport, is the No 10 bus. Once there, according to this site (in Spanish), you will find a large antiques emporium. The adjacent market area has around 80 stalls where you can discover items ranging from used military equipment to decorative china plates, jewellery, and books in several languages. A recreational area has several cafeterias that can accommodate more than 700 people. These offer a variety of entertainment, including flamenco shows. Image via YouTube 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. 22 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 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
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
Blog How the istsy bitsy, teeny weenie bikini led to Benidorm’s famous hilltop cross by Benidorm Travel Mart 1 August 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 5 minutes read Earlier this year, in a piece about Benidorm’s many myths and truths, we looked at how the resort got permission from General Franco to become the first resort in Spain to allow women to wear bikinis in the 1950s Benidorm’s visionary mayor—Pedro Zaragoza—was the man who approached the murderous fascist dictator directly and asked for permission to allow bikinis. Surprisingly, Franco, a staunch Catholic, readily agreed, but Zaragoza’s determination to unleash “immodest” swimwear on the resort’s beaches horrified the Catholic Church, which at the time had enormous power in Spain. Photo by Mikhail Nilov via Pexels So angry was the RCC that it threatened him with excommunication. The mayor explained: In those days excommunication was a form of civil death. You became a leper in society. In addition to threatening excommunication, the then Bishop of Orihuela—Pablo Barrachina Estevan—also threatened to put up signs up outside the town, branding Benidorm “El Infierno” (Hell!). And as part of a “Day of Forgiveness” back in 1961, the faithful carried a huge wooden cross from the church of San Jaime up to a high point overlooking this “sinful town.” The cross was toppled in a storm in 1975. So another cross, this time made of metal, was put in its place … and that’s the one that stands today on a hill—the Serra Gelada—at the end of Levante beach. Be aware that, if you have a mind to visit it, prepare yourself for a marathon hike, lasting 45-50 minutes. No refreshments are offered at the site, so bring your own. The View from La Vila blog—which provides a map showing how to reach the site—says that the cross has since become a kind of unofficial shrine for mostly Brits. They leave photos, flowers and tributes to dead friends and family. The scrawled graffiti on the cross and its base is definitely on the tacky side though. 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. 1 August 2022 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Travel Tips Last Minute Accommodation deals for Benidorm Pride Festival 2022 by Benidorm Travel Mart 29 June 2022 written by Benidorm Travel Mart 7 minutes read If you’re quick, you can still get a last-minute accommodation deal for the Benidorm Pride Festival 2022. Budget accommodation without compromising on quality If you’re on a budget you can get a week for 2 people in the Old Town for €420. Click here to search. The Hotel Andalucia is offering a double room with a balcony for just €360 for 7 nights. This offer also includes free cancellation. Guests rate these hotels as wonderful Guests have rated these hotels as wonderful and prices start from just €504 for 7 nights. Book this wonderful apartment for just €505 for 7 nights Quality hotels at affordable prices for Benidorm Pride Festival 2022 If you’re looking for 4-star luxury at affordable prices, there are still a few hotels that have availability. Click here to check the prices. The H10 Porto Poniente is offering a junior suite with a terrace for 2 people for just €1429. The price includes breakfast and free cancellation. This is a fabulous hotel with a rooftop pool that overlooks the beach. Junior suite at the H10 Porto Poniente Long weekend offers If you want to stay for a weekend and catch the fabulous pride parade, main stage event, and closing party, check out these 4-night offers from just €162. These offers are for stays from Friday to Monday. This year’s pride parade will be on the 10 September There are still some fantastic bargains to be snapped up but you’ll have to be quick as they are guaranteed to sell out! Click here to search all Benidorm Pride Festival accommodation options. 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. 29 June 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