The City of Benidorm lies on the Spanish mainland, on the coast known as Costa Blanca (White Coast).
Originally a small fishing village with approx 3,000 inhabitants, development began in the 1950’s, and continues to expand today. The opening of Alicante airport in the late 1960’s being a major reason for the expansion.



The resident population is approx 70,000, but the mean (tourist included) population is approx ONE MILLION during the peak months.
A spot on the beach is hard to find!



I have given it the nickname of Mega City One, but other known nicknames are ‘Manhattan of Spain’ or ‘BeniYork’.
It contains the highest density of hi rise buildings per capita in the world.


Clearly Spain’s premier destination, so much so that it accounts for approx 12% of Spain’s GDP.

There are two bays and two sections, Levante and Poniente, Levante being the older section.
In my experience the Levante side attracts more Spanish visitors, the Poniente side attracting more European tourists.

View of the Poniente side.

The night life is mainly cabaret act orientated, there is simply something for everyone, country music, tribute acts, or the delights of ‘Sticky Vicky’!



The Gran Hotel Bali is a 186 metre tall skyscraper that dominates the skyline, it was for many years Spain’s tallest building, it still remains the tallest Hotel in Europe.

Fantastic review bud, Ive stayed at the Gran Hotel Bali once before, my friends told me it was really high up and stars such as Elton John had stayed there so we booked it ,the normal rooms were not as posh as we thought they were gonna be, infact our room had a huge smashed mirror across the room wall and was not very big. I was really disappointed. When you see Benidorm from the plane it looks horrible lol, Ive stayed in Benidorm a few times in my life now, it was my second holiday abroad, but I could not stay there for a week ,for me Benidorm is a good 2 to 3 day break for watching the shows and getting . Blackpool in the sun is a true statement.
Well done matey the photo's are brilliant.

Great review again Mark and those photos really give you the feel of the place.

I forgot to add, when we was there, there were building works going on opposite. They are finished now.
There was such a racket that i set up a short vid on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GigfExSwVE

Just looked at your vid and Im sure thats when we were there lol ,I remember walking up that road and there was some sort of massive pounding hammer all day long

Fabulous review Mark. I have always wanted to go, but have never been, probably because I like Magalluf PalmaNova so much.

If you was to put Magaluf and New York into a blender Mick, Benidorm is what you'd get

I am a sucker on hols for live singers.I 'fess I haven't been to any of the Magaluf places that put them on-maybe next month?-but I have seen some good'uns when staying at H Matias Beach in Palma Nova,H Alicia in Cala Bona and in particular at 3 hotels in Fuengirola and Nerja on Costa del Sol.2 names to mention Rikki Lavazza and Ricky Stevens.I also saw at Son Matias a young tenor who was appearing in Come Fly With Me and he was tops but didn't catch his name.

Mrs WS steadfastly refuses to go to Beni,I have been once,but I want to go back purely for the live cabarets.On our first Med cruise one of the acts was Smart Move a British vocal male duo from Blackpool.They were sensational.Wonderful harmonies.And then I discovered they were regulars on the cabaret scene in Beni.I like tribute acts too.There is a Rod Stewart in Majorca who is good and an Elvis.On the ships I have seen good Elton John and Robbie Williams.I can use tinternet buddies as a reason for loping off to Majorca on my own but what excuse can I give for wanting to have a short week in Beni? And that review of Ocas looks very good.Just hope I don't bump into Johnnie Vegas there. mrs WS says he is disgusting.I would like a night out in his company cos his humour appeals to me.Chubby Brown isn't everyone's cup of tea but many think he is the best Brit comedian.

We caught a Meat Loaf tribute called Pete Loaf while we was there... he even had a Cher in tow, both were really good.
I might have a vid of it somewhere :idea:

But the acts in that Morgans bar, night after night, were really good... other bars did far better drinks deals though. BOGOF's everywhere, so thats 2 lagers and two ciders for €6 and a live singer... can't be bad.

I'd probably go to Benidorm a bit more if it wasn't for the 1 hour transfer time. It also gets hotter there earlier on in the season... like any City with tall buildings does... it traps the heat. 80 in April easy.

Yes Beni is finding it even tougher than Majorca.Visitor numbers are way down.Turkey,Greece,Bulgaria and Egypt are pinching their regular customers.Also they have a much worse street crime/prostitution problem than Majorca.Think I will ask Daryn to go as my minder.From his taxi stories he can handle anything-except when he has been down the club with his Dad and his mates drinking Fosters at prices we can only dream about.

At the moment WS, prices in Magalluf/Palma Nova are the same as at Daryn's club.

I love Chubby Brown and have seen him all over the country mainly in Blackpool on lots of occasions but we seen the tribute Chubby in Benidorm and If you have never seen chubby brown before youwill love this but there was a gang of us and we all got very bored as all the jokes we had heard before from the man himself.

Oh! my Goodness, how Benidorm has GROWN!! Amazing pictures!

Benidorm was my first ever holiday abroad with a friend when I was eighteen,
(many,many years ago!) thought it was a huge resort then, loved it so much we
returned the following year!! Never been back since but would maybe consider
going in the quieter months ( if there is any!) just out of curiosity.....but only if
someone else was paying! :!: :!: :!:
I do recall the old town being rather nice though.