With its sun drenched beaches, miles of blue water and picturesque mountain villages the Benidorm area has all the aspects of a typical Mediterranean resort, but in truth it is much more than that. Due to its immense popularity it has a distinctly British feel, so much so that whenever you choose to visit the resort's famous white sands on the Costa Blanca you might feel like you've taken Britain with you, and put it in a much sunnier setting. Temperatures peak in the summer when they often climb as high as 35°C, while the winters are mild. Benidorm is within easy reach from the majority of UK airports with flights taking approximately two and a half hours and airport transfers taking one hour from Alicante airport.
With its distinctly British feel, Benidorm is a haven for young holidaymakers, families and mature couples...
Benidorm has something for every type of holidaymaker. The vibrant nightlife scene will entertain young adults and single travellers, while the many bars and traditional tavernas offer more romantic options for couples. Families will enjoy the beautiful beaches but you should be wary that some areas contain adult entertainers and might not be suitable for all tastes. Nevertheless, many hotels and complexes are custom made for families with plenty of children's activities to keep the little ones busy.
The beaches at Benidorm are award winning and stretch for more than 5km. Though they can get packed, particularly at the height of the summer season, you should be able to find a more secluded spot if you are willing to look around.
The high quality is maintained as beaches are cleaned daily and both Playa Levante and Playa Poniente have received the Blue Flag. There are bags of bars along the waterfront and a host of watersports available. During the high season, the Cable Ski operates at Rincón de Loix where you can hire boats, jet skis or undertake a diving course.
Benidorm is certainly the centre for nightlife on the Costa Blanca with a feast of discos, clubs, bars and restaurants. It is one of the hottest party spots in Europe, and has become renowned as a Club 18-30 destination with late night dancing, foam parties and adult-orientated entertainment. However, there is something for everyone in this resort and all tastes are catered for with beachfront bars, tea dances and even bingo. There are also extensive shopping options with many open-air and beachfront stalls as well as shopping malls.
If you want to stay active during the day, it's worth heading to the Terra Natura theme park, which has the longest wooden rollercoaster in the Mediterranean. The Aqualandia waterpark is a gigantic leisure and aqua park with many exciting slides, diving platforms and ropes across pools. For those who prefer something a little less strenuous, the area has golf courses and there's plenty to be enjoyed in the international restaurants, traditional tavernas and tapas bars. Most of the restaurants cater for all tastes and age groups and many offer British dishes along with local delicacies.
Peacock Island is just a ten-minute boat ride away and is a spectacular sight as the birds flock. You can also journey beneath the waves in the Aquascope to look at the fish and underwater creatures in what is now a marine reserve. Boat trips to picturesque Isle de Tarbarca are frequent. It's also well worth heading to Guadalest, which is considered one of the top tourist attractions in Spain, overlooking a deep valley and with a castle that literally hangs from the cliff it sits on.
