There is both good and bad news for those that drive or are here with a hire car for their holidays. Parking in Benidorm over the busy summer months is quite difficult anyway, with most trying to find one of the free white parking bays. These are generally off the main Avd Mediterraneo, on the smaller side streets.
Figures just published by HOSBEC, the hoteliers association, show that Benidorm has had its best June of the last decade, with hotel occupancy at 91.5% - 1.6% higher than last year. Over half of that figure is accounted for by International visitors - of which the British market features prominently at 45.6%.
User Rating: 5 / 5
Consumer laws are one thing that puzzle me here in Spain. When you buy something in the UK and it breaks or something goes wrong within the first year, you take it back to the store where you purchased it from and they would either replace or repair it. Your contract of purchase is with the store - however that does not seem to apply in Spain.After 15 days the store does not want to know
User Rating: 3 / 5
The owners of Terra Mitica theme park have plans for expansion. The president of Aqualandia SL, Georges Santa-Maria has confirmed that the park has put in a request for two fold plan.Firstly, to build three new hotels adjacent to the park which will offer over four thousand rooms with themed accommodation similar to that in PortAventura in Salou, a very popular resort about an hour south of Barcelona.
User Rating: 5 / 5
Yesterday, the Spanish government gave the green light to introduce tax increases on alcohol and cigarettes - which come into force as of today.... nothing like a little bit of notice is there!The increase for alcohol is 10% - but this only applies to spirits and NOT wine or beer, increasing the price of pure alcohol from 8.30 euros per litre up to 9.13 euros per litre.
The British Chancellor, George Osbourne has reviewed the "Winter Fuel Allowance" for expat pensioners living abroad. He has revealed plans which would restrict those British pensioners living abroad from receiving what is dubbed the "sunshine benefit" by introducing a temperature test - meaning that more than 100,000 pensioners would lose their right to claim it.
User Rating: 5 / 5
You couldn´t make it up if you tried ... how many thought that when they heard on the BBC news that British ex-pats in Portugal had been arrested and fined by a court of law for playing BINGO in a bar on the resort of Albufeira that its was a belated April Fools joke! The local police apparently spent 2 weeks "staking out" the Yorkshire Tavern for running an illegal gambling ring.....
Well it must be said that the Spanish certainly know how to party! Last night was the eve of San Juan - and beaches along the length of the Costa Blanca were packed with revellers.I joined the masses on Albir beach, armed with the obligatory cool box and chairs and joined hundreds of others. As expected parking was a little difficult, especially as the beach road was shut to traffic.
Now that the Summer and good weather have arrived, so has the return of the artisan craft market up at "El Castell" - or the Mirador, which is the look out point located just past the Santa Ana church at the top of the Old Town.15 stalls will be selling an assortment of hand made items such as pottery, jewellery, leather goods, ornaments, glass pendants and there will also be a stall represented by ASMIBE - Disabled Association of Benidorm
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I had the honour and pleasure of meeting Sheila Reid this week - now most widely recognised as the razor tongued perma-tanned matriarch from the ITV hit comedy series "Benidorm". However, in real life you couldn´t get further from the truth - which is a great credit to her acting abilities. In the series Madge has a sharp northern accent, often spouting caustic remarks but Sheila is very softly and well spoken
The biggest annual beach party takes place this Sunday, 23rd June on beaches across the region to celebrate the festival of San Juan. As Spanish state schools all finish tomorrow, yes I know it´s a LONG Summer if you have children, the beaches will be packed till the early hours as there is no school run on Monday morning.It is a fabulous tradition and there is a real party atmosphere.
User Rating: 4 / 5
The jellyfish alert is still on across beaches in Benidorm - which is now in its third week. The invasion of the "compass jellyfish" is in fact a common species that lives in the waters of the Mediterranean, but generally never seen at this time of the year.... normally it is July/August time. The council have even been compelled to raise a "Jellyfish" warning flag - white with jellyfish picture
When Brits are abroad, whether on holiday or ex-pats who have relocated, they have the reassurance that the British Consulate will offer help and assistance to its nationals in times of need. The one which serves this region is located in Alicante, in fact, it actually covers two entire provinces -Valencia and Murcia. It stretches from as far north as Castellon - which is half way to Barcelona all the way down to Murcia!
User Rating: 5 / 5
As is the tradition in Spain, every town holds a weekly outdoor market - and Albir is no exception. Located on the outskirts of Benidorm, it is easy to get to - hop on the number 10 bus and you will be there in no time, yet it has a completely different atmosphere! The market has been going for just over 2 years - having started at the very end of 2010.
B&H 50.00€
Camel 47.00€
Embassy 50.00€
JPS 44.50€
L&B 48.50€
Marlboro 50.00€
Mayfair 45.00€
Silk Cut 50.00€
Golden Virginia 89.50€
Old Holborn 90€