Benidorm has been made famous by planeloads of Brits who pour themselves into the fun-loving resort on Spain’s Costa Blanca looking for a bargain holiday in the sun. And that’s just what you’ll find in this laidback destination that crosses genres – with groups of twenty-somethings looking for the next party happily mingling with families and retirees.
The Best Things in Life (and Benidorm) Are Free – Or Pretty Cheap!
If you’re heading to Benidorm with a group of mates and, after flights and accommodation, there’s not all that much collective cash left to flash, don’t worry – Benidorm is no less fun on a budget! Here are some of the excellent things you can get up to without spending too much of your beer money.
The Beaches
Not everything in Benidorm is cheap – some things are actually free! The most obvious of these is, of course, the fabulous beaches. Aside from the partying, this is really what you’ve come to Benidorm for, right? You can choose a different Blue Flag beach for whatever mood you wake up in.
Levante is the most famous, and its 2km stretch of white sand fills up pretty quickly. There are lots of water sports available and the abundant food choices have a distinctly British flavour. Head to Poniente, close to the Old Town, if you fancy a cute tourist train ride to get you there, a trendy promenade, and a cheap three-course meal for around €15. La Cala Finestrat is smaller and more intimate and you’ll rub tanned shoulders with more locals than tourists.
Culture and a Castle
There’s no faster way to lose friends on a mates holiday than by suggesting a cultural excursion. But call it a trip to a military fort and you’ll suddenly be king of the castle. Hire a car and head out the short drive to the 13th century Castillo de Biar, in the nearby town of Biar. The castle’s fortified walls and cylindrical towers look straight out of a film set, and it is one of the finest intact examples of Spanish military architecture, and a designated national monument. Selfie time!
Entry to the castle is free.
Take in the Healing Waters
As long as you’ve got the hire car, just 30 minutes from Benidorm is the village of Polop, which nestles under the shadow of Puig Camapana – the Lion Mountain. (It’s not hard to figure out the name when you see it.) Around the village are 200 natural springs, whose sulphur-rich waters are reputed to have healing properties (good news for that hangover). If you’re feeling invigorated after a slug of the healing waters, you might be in the mood to grab some bargains at the leather shoe factory in the town.
Non-stop Party Fun
Benidorm doesn’t cost a lot to party, and there are more happy hours and themed events than you can poke a stick at. If you want to party for free, come to Benidorm in November, when the Fiesta Week takes place from the Friday of the second week. On the year-round fiestas, festivals and Saint’s days you’ll also find lots of free parties in the streets.
The good thing is that most of the nightlife is condensed into one area along Avenida Communitat Valencia, and it will only cost you around €5-10 for a taxi to and from your hotel.
Cover charges for clubs vary dramatically, from as little as €15 up to €30, however there are always free drink tickets included in that cost. KU Benidorm is one of the biggest and liveliest clubs, and comes complete with an indoor swimming pool. Dance ’til you sweat to international Djs then cool off in the pool – perfect! And if you want to party with the ‘beautiful people’, get on your glad rags and head to Club Penelope, with music, cocktails, and an atmosphere just as cool as the clubbers it attracts.
It’s certainly not hard to follow the crowd to the fun in Benidorm, no matter what kind of a budget you’re on.
How to Get to Benidorm
As a major UK tourism hotspot, Benidorm has an excellent transport infrastructure to make getting there easy. There are plenty of cheap flights available from all over the UK into Alicante International Airport, which services Spain’s Costa Blanca.
From Alicante Airport you can take a public bus into the centre of the city, then a tram or bus to Benidorm. Trams run every 30 minutes and take around an hour. However, to save the hassle of making public transport connections with your luggage, you can book a budget beating shared or private transfer with Shuttle Direct, to get you and your mates from Alicante Airport to Benidorm in just 45 minutes, direct to the door of your accommodation.
If you want to drive to the Costa Blanca from the UK, you can go via the Eurotunnel at Folkestone, then from Calais through France (passing through Paris if you like) and all the way down the coast of Spain to Benidorm. Actual driving time is around 18 hours, and with multiple drivers, you won’t need to overnight anywhere along the way.
Where to Stay:
Rosabel – Location, location, location! The budget friendly Rosabel offers simple, comfortable accommodation just a short walk from both the beach and the Old Town. Relax with the free Wi-Fi on your private balcony and enjoy the hospitality of the ambient lounge bar and breakfast room. When you’re ready to party, you’re just 30m from a popular hotel nightclub.
Ambassador Playa – Right in the heart of the action in Benidorm, the Ambassador Playa provides you and your mates with everything you need to workout, rest and play! With a bright, funky décor and an impressive contemporary foyer, you can swim indoors or outdoors, work off your holiday guilt in the onsite fitness centre, and you don’t even need to travel for your entertainment, with live music and shows onsite.
Hotel Boutique Villa Venecia – Save on all the free activities, but why not splurge on your accommodation, in the 5-star Hotel Boutique Villa Venecia? You’ll think you’ve died and gone to heaven (or had one too many beers in the bar) when you wake up to the stunning sea views, designer linen, and your very own Nespresso machine. With a spa, restaurants, terrace bar, and a truly spectacular location, luxury is the last word here!
