Benidorm has always been a favourite holiday destination and with the Foreign Office directive not to travel to Tunisia in addition to the financial woes in Greece, will probably see many more head this way over the next couple of months. There is much being made in the UK press about Spain now on red alert – most of this is just scaremongering… everyone is on red alert! The UK is on the same terror alert yet you don´t see people fleeing – London is still full of tourists.
Wherever you are in the world, you sadly need to be vigilant and sensible – times are changing. Benidorm is as safe as any other resort – the police are always quick to respond and be aware, they all carry guns. If you ever come across a road check – which is rather common here, the trafico police even have machine guns and aren´t afraid to use them either!
There are numerous hotels to suit all budgets, starting from a one star basic independent pension to five star all out luxury – Benidorm caters for everyone. One of the largest and most popular hotel chains here is Servigroup, which offers nine hotels in Benidorm alone – seven 3 star and two 4 star plus the luxurious five star Montiboli in nearby Vila Joyosa.
The fact that they offer FREE wi-fi access – often an important factor, especially if traveling with children, in all their hotels is a definite plus. Charges at some hotels here can add a substantial amount to your total bill – the Sol Pelicanos charge 30€ for a week, so check the charges out before logging on! You have the option to choose which board suits you – they do not offer All Inclusive, which is very sensible bearing in mind the vast number of restaurants available here, but do provide a fridge in every room. Free airport shuttle transfers are also included for all booking a seven night stay or more.
The very first hotel that Servigroup opened in Benidorm was the Hotel Orange, back in 1970. Located slap bang in the middle of the English Square, it is very popular with the young party going Brits – and the heart of the British Fancy Dress Day celebrations every November. Another bonus is that they offer all guests a free trip to Benidorm Palace every Wednesday night – they book the venue exclusively for Servigroup clients.
The new show “Q” is a definite must see – a clever blend of the music of the legendary rock band Queen with a mix of Royalty and James Bond! The show alone costs 29€ and with a meal add a further 20€ or 30€ dependent on menu choice – but even at that price it is well worth it to see a full visual extravaganza you are unlikely to witness on a similar scale elsewhere in the world.
Tempted to try? Well currently they are running a children’s drawing competition with a prize of a two night stay at a Servigroup hotel for two adults plus a child! Get those little darlings creating – you don´t have to be a guest at the hotel to be eligible to take part! It is open for children aged between 2 – 12 years and should feature the Servigroup kids mascot Delfi – check out details at their website: http://www.clubdelfi.com. You can submit entries by email, up to two per child and closing date is 15th September.