The reality of the financial crisis continues... yet another tour operator has gone into voluntary bankruptcy. "Dias Libres" a Spanish company - part of "Dias de Ocio S.A" leaves many hotels on the Costa Blanca with outstanding debts amounting to nearly 3 million euros.

Click on "Read more" button below to read full article

Once again, the Brits have been screwed by the French! The 6 day French air traffic controllers strike, which started yesterday is causing untold misery to millions - not only for the holiday makers but also the travel industry in general. Airports across the UK, as well as here in Alicante resemble a warzone, with passengers lying wherever they can find a space. It is worse for those already on the plane - yesterday some passengers were stranded for 3 hours on the tarmac, not an enviable situation for families with children. Flights are being delayed and cancelled with passengers left in the dark thanks to the selfish actions of so few - merci beaucoup!

Click on "Read more" button below to read full article

Good news for Brits coming away on holiday to Benidorm – or anywhere across Europe. As of tomorrow, data roaming charges are set to be slashed by more than half the current extortionate rate, which mobile users are being forced to pay. With the current craze of social networking, many are constantly wanting to update their statuses and post pictures on Facebook or Twitter. But until now, the cost has been unfairly high and the EU has finally capped the roaming charges for using your mobile in another EU country. The EU commission has already agreed that roaming charges should be abolished by the end of 2015, but this has yet to go through the final stages of being signed off. This would mean it would cost the same amount to make a call or send a text from Levante beach to Blighty as it would from within the UK.

Click on "Read more" button below to read full article

Rising like a phoenix, construction of another brand new 4 star hotel in Benidorm is underway – which will be located within the Terra Mitica Theme Park. The themed hotel – Grand Luxor, will be situated in the Egypt section, occupying an area of 29,000 sq mts with 346 rooms spread over five floors. A total of €32 million will be invested for its creation.

Click on "Read more" button below to read full article

One of the most asked questions at the newly relocated SATE office in the Rincon – opposite the Flash Hotel is from lost or disorientated holidaymakers, after a long hard night of partying asking “Where is my hotel”? Often the only clue is that the hotel is tall and has a swimming pool – not really much help considering that probably describes virtually every hotel in the resort!

Click on 'Read more' icon to read full article

Great news and not a moment too soon – a Liverpool couple, Julie Lavelle and partner Michael McIntyre who tried to make a fast buck by submitting a false holiday sickness claim for £10,000 have had the case thrown out by a judge. Not only that, but they have to pay the tour operator, Thomas Cook £3,744 compensation within 28 days. What is really intriguing is that the holiday was taken in 2013 and the claim was not submitted until 3 years later. Interestingly, neither made any complaints or notified the hotel or tour operator at the time that they were suffering from sickness, diarrhoea and vomiting, returning to work as per normal the day after they got back.

Click on "Read more" icon to read full article

Sitting a stones throw from the Levante beach, the old Hotel Dalmatas – very popular with the Brits, is undergoing a major renovation. In fact, the entire building has been virtually gutted, leaving just the walls but is now well on its way. It is on schedule to re-open on June 24 and will be renamed the Port Benidorm Hotel.

Click on "Read more" icon to read full article

The CEO of Thomas Cook, one of the UK’s leading tour operators has admitted that action needs to be taken to clamp down on the false compensation culture which is costing the industry millions of pounds. Cowboy firms actively encourage tourists to make false claims of food poisoning, promising to reclaim the entire cost of the family holiday – something which is unique to British holidaymakers. HOSBEC, the Hoteliers Association in Benidorm said that they do not have this problem with any other nationality – only the British that come on packages through a tour operator, namely Jet2, Tui, Thomas Cook and Monarch. In one year the claims rose from 1,000 to 10,000 – an absolutely bewildering statistic.

Click on "Read more" icon to read full article