When it was suggested to me to go to Benidorm for a break the first thing that sprang to mind was the TV show and the people it portrayed. Boozed up Brits, all inclusive hell hole hotels and cabaret bars with tribute acts on rotation. Well some of that’s not far from the truth but what I can tell you is that Benidorm is not just for party people.
As the taxi approached the apartments where we were staying I realised that this wasn’t going to be a quiet holiday. We were in the old town, right on the seafront and right in the middle of everything. But, walking into the reception area of the apartments was like walking into a different world, in here it was cool and calm. We were staying at the Don Cesar Apartments in a premium Mediterranean suite and it was very nice. We had a stunning terrace with a view of Levante Beach. I was very impressed.
Of course it was the first night and we were tired so we popped out to a nearby restaurant and had a typical Spanish tourist meal, it was pretty good. Tomorrow we would explore, tonight we just wanted to get back to the terrace, open a bottle of wine and enjoy that view.
The Old Town
I quite liked the old town with its narrow streets filled with bars and restaurants, it did have a nice feel to it. Don’t get me wrong it could get busy, particularly at night and sometimes it felt a bit overcrowded.
There’s something for everyone here from the restaurants in Tapa’s Alley to a thriving gay scene it really does cover it all. I was surprised to find some amazing roof top bars here too.
The Mediterranean Balcony
The Mediterranean Balcony also known as Benidorm Castle is a large rock that separates Levante and Poniente beaches. The pretty white washed terraces offer stunning views of Benidorm and the Mediterranean. Definitely not to be missed.
Now, it gets busy here during the day and in particular at sunset but if you’re prepared to get up early in the morning you’ll have the place practically to yourself. My pictures were taken at around 7am at sunrise. It’s worth the effort as you can see.
Levante Beach
Levante Beach stretches for 2 kilometers from Punta Pinet to Punta Canfali and is the resorts main beach. It’s very clean and there’s plenty of places to sit and relax whether you wish to pay to have a sunbed and umbrella or not. The water is warm and you can easily walk out and still be in the shallows.
Running along side the beach is the lively promenade with its huge variety of bars and restaurants. Put it this way, you’ll never be short of anywhere to eat or drink. I enjoyed a morning walk along here before it got too rowdy. Go a couple of streets back and you’ll find the famous or infamous Benidorm strip.
Poniente Beach & Promenade
The larger and slightly less crowded Poniente beach stretches for over 3 kilometres and has a calmer more relaxed atmosphere than Levante. The old town end of the beach known as Platgeta Del Mal Pas still gets very busy and here you’ll find a small marina and a variety of restaurants and bars.
There’s a long modern promenade, great for anyone who likes to walk. If you stick with it and walk right to the far end of Poniente Beach you’ll be rewarded with some stunning views of the Benidorm skyline and a much quieter, more up market part of the city.
Walking to La Cruz de Benidorm
The Benidorm Cross is a large cross situated on a rocky bluff overlooking the city and the beaches in the Parc Natural de la Serra Gelada. Trying to walk up there in the heat probably wasn’t the best idea but we managed about half way. Even so, the views were amazing and we stumbled across a little cove called Cala Almadraba Beach, so pretty.
A bit of fun
Of course we couldn’t be in Benidorm and not go to the “Solana”, the hotel from the TV show “Benidorm”. After a little research we found it, real name the Sol Pelicanos. You can wander around the hotel freely however the pool area where they used to film is for registered guests only as we found out when we got asked to leave. I still managed a photo or two.
A few streets away from the hotel is another familiar spot, Morgan’s Tavern which was used as “Neptunes Bar” in the TV show. It actually has the Neptunes sign above the main entrance so it’s easy to find.
To finish off
Okay, so Benidorm isn’t the most cultural place you could visit. It’s got a certain reputation and I have to say it lives up to that reputation very well. But, what I would say is you don’t have to get involved in that side of things if you don’t want to. I didn’t and I actually had quite a relaxing holiday here, let’s just say, Benidorm, it’s not just for party people.
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