Following last weekends San Juan celebration on the Levante beach, Benidorm Town Hall announced that they removed over 4100 kilos (4 tonnes) of rubbish - now that´s an awful lot of beer cans! Pepe Marcet, the Councillor responsible for Beaches and Environment said that cleaners got to work shortly after the last of the revelers left, and that by the morning the beaches were clean and ready for use.
Click on "Read more" button below to read full article
With no sign of the ongoing financial problems easing, 3 local towns in the area have decided to join forces in an effort to reduce costs. Yesterday the Mayors of La Nucia - Bernabe Cano, Altea - Miguel Ortiz and Alfaz - Vincent Arques held a meeting at the Palau in Altea and announced that in order to cut costs in the height of the crisis they intend to share the management of municipal services.
To add to the excitement and atmosphere on the Eve of San Juan, those that went down to Albir beach joined the locals watching Spain playing in the Euro quarter finals on a huge screen. You could cut the tension with a knife every time the ball drifted towards the Spanish goal, but when Spain scored I should think you could here the cheer in Benidorm.For those that may still be unaware, Spain is now through to the semi finals...
The Government has implemented a campaign of enforcing sanctions on bars and pubs in the Old Town of Benidorm. Regional Police are demanding that establishments are adhering strictly to official closing times and imposing fines on some premises. According to Town Hall sources, last weekend alone over 2000 euros was collected in one night - and penalties can accumulate up to 30,000 euros for "repeat offenders".
Click on "Read more" button below to read full article
CTomorrow night is party night across the region - not because Spain are playing football but it is the traditional night of the Eve of San Juan - 23rd, with the day falling on the 24th June. It is a very ancient festival, originally with deep religious meaning but has become diluted and is basically a night of partying and fun with friends and family.
With the arrival of the Summer season, Avibe - the Association of Travel Agencies and APTUR - Association of Tourist Apartments have called for increased police presence in the town.... particularly in the English quarter. As with all holiday destinations Europe wide, the mass arrival of toursits attracts pickpockets and organized crime gangs.
Back in April I reported about the introduction of charges for prescriptions to all - including pensioners. This is now in motion and will be introduced from 1st July. Everyone in possession of a SIP card, which entitles you to health care much like the NHS in the UK will have a number between 1 and 6 ranked against them. This number will determine how much you will pay towrads your prescription charges.
Yesterday Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez announced plans to reduce the speed limit on "secondary" roads from 100kph to 90kph with the reasoning that this is where the highest percentage of accidents occur. Speaking to reporters he explained that they are "fairly confidant that by lowering the limit it will improve road safety.
As of today, Terra Mitica Theme Park in Benidorm is open every day of the week - up until now it has only been open on certain days causing confusion to many holiday makers who turn up to find the gates closed.The opening hours are 10am until 8pm then from 16th July it will remain open until 10pm.The park is now under the management of Grupo Aqualandia Espana - the company that manages Aqualandia water park and Mundomar sealife park.
Click on "Read more" button below to read full article
El Altet airport, which serves Benidorm is in free fall after airport operator Aena reported a loss of 440,000 terminal passengers in the period January to May - compared to last year. Figures confirm that the economic crisis and deprogramming of Irish carrier Ryanair has resulted in a 12.5% drop - 10% more than Palma de Mallorca, 12% more than Tenerife and 8% more than Malaga.
Well Summer has well and truly arrived - and how do I know that? No not because of the sweltering heat but because the hypermarket chain Carrefour, (equivalent to Tesco in the UK) have increased their opening hours and are publicizing that they will soon be opening on Sunday!
Back in April I wrote about the cost of flying with luggage on so called "budget airlines". In yesterdays Mail on Sunday they ran the same article (Im not trying to say they copied me!) but it highlighted the extortionate fees being charged by a certain Irish airline ... no need to guess which, yes my favourite - Ryanair!
Well I made it to the Hotel Gran Bali in La Cala yesterday morning to find that the base jumping had been suspended due to high winds .... what a disappointment - both for the contestants and the spectators. However, it gave me the opportunity to stop and chat to some of those brave enough to be taking part. As well as the competitors there was a display team "Sky Force" that was there to do some demonstrations.
Click on "Read more" button below to read full article
Benidorm City Council has decided that it will clamp down on illegal advertising boards that have sprouted up across the city illegally - on both public and private land.The main access roads into Benidorm are littered with billboards displaying a variety of company brands and products - but many of these have been put up without permission.
