Thursday 22 November 2012

Sorry!!


An Apology.

Hello Strangers! Apologies for the lack of updates recently, Have been working lots trying to save for next years holiday so not had time to post, Will come back again soon with more Benidorm related awesomeness to share :)

Monday 24 September 2012

Reason #24 London Bar



The London bar, as you can probably guess from the name, is another British bar. It's situated on the same road as The Yorkshire Pride and The Stretford end so convenient if you want a mini bar crawl.

It's a decent size inside, they have a lower section at the front and a raised section at the back. They have a pool table and dart board and all the other things you would normally expect from a bar.

 What I like about the London bar is that it's quite a chilled out place, The music is not too heavy or dancey and not too loud and you can have a conversation without shouting which I must say is a welcome change to some places I have been where conversation is pointless unless lip reading is mastered.

 Drinks are plentiful and really cheap ( I do mean really cheap, a round for 5 and I got change fro 10 Euros!) and they do a range of cocktails which my lady is a fan of, they even made one especially for my young one. Non alcoholic of course….

The staff are friendly and have always made us feel very welcome.

It's open til 1am(ish) which is nice for a few pleasurably late nights.

Sunday 2 September 2012

Reason #23 Happy Hour

One of the good things about the nightlife in Benidorm is that you will always stumble upon several pubs or bars that offer Happy Hour. This is basically a period of time when you will get 2 drinks for the price of 1.

This offer usually applies to bottled alcopops, beer and cider, glasses of wine, local spirits, mixers and lagers. The brilliant thing about the Happy Hour is that it is usually not available for just an hour. You will find that most bars will have Happy Hour for 2 - 4 hours so take advantage of this while you can. Me and my Mrs do!



 Be warned though! In the Benidorm Square, you may pay over the odds for your drink and although you think you're going to get a great bargain because someone is telling you to go into a bar for happy hour, you might order your drink and end up paying 8 Euros so technically you are really paying for 2 drinks anyway.

However, in the more subdued bars like some of the Vincent's bars (I refer to these ones a lot because they really are good bars), you will generally be getting a good deal on the happy hour and will have a great cheaper night out of you manage to get in there to take advantage of the offer!

Monday 27 August 2012

Reason #22 Bar Sol

If you are looking for somewhere to chill out, soak up the sun, have a nice cold beverage and watch the world pass by then Bar Sol is one of the best places to be in Benidorm. This bar is ideal in the day time as there is an outside seating area which is set back up some steps so you are not in the way of the passers by.

Bar Sol is situated on the front (Avenida de Madrid) and when you sit on the terrace, you have a lovely view of the Island and the Mediterranean. This is a perfect spot for sitting with a jug of sangria soaking up the rays and in the peak hours, you will be pleased to know that they have a fine mist spraying from above you occasionally and this will help to cool you down for a few seconds. A number of times I have been here and the bar staff will come out and have water fights with water guns and you might be lucky enough to get a few drops of the cool water on you.



The reason I like this bar so much is because it is so relaxed and laid back and the staff are friendly and chilled out too. You can grab a bite to eat but it is not a restaurant so you will only get light snacks like pizza's or a baguette, which is enough anyway if you go there during the day. I have stayed here for a few hours a couple of times during the day while my Mrs downs a couple of jugs of sangria and she loves it. You should expect to pay a little bit more than some places for the drinks but when you're on holiday, you don't mind paying an extra Euro or two per drink when you get the stunning views.

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Reason #21 The Weather



The Weather.

An obvious but important one. One of the main reasons Spain is so popular for tourists is the weather and the nearly guaranteed sunshine. Benidorm of course is no different and the basking Mediterranean sun and warmth is just lovely.

Benidorm itself is surrounded by large mountains over 1500 meters high which protect it 
from the cold northern winds. This is what they call a Micro climate. See, Benidorm is so awesome it has is OWN CLIMATE!

Not a cloud in sight.


We normally go the last week in June and the First week in July and every year, as soon as July 1st hits, the temperature rises by 5 degrees. It’s Hot. Very Hot. Some (Well, Me) would say too hot! You'll find me desperately looking for shade clutching one of those water squirters with a fan attached from a Chinese tack shop.

It's T-shirt and shorts weather in the day and evenings too. Don’t make the mistake of getting all dressed up as you'll regret it when drenched in sweat, especially if you happen to wonder in a place with no air con!

We did get some rain last year, it lasted about an hour and was quite welcome and refreshing. I hear it can get quite cold in the winter. We went in November a couple of years back and it was like a British summers day and was just lovely

Monday 13 August 2012

Reason #20 The White Horse



 The last of Vincent's corner and my personal preference for an evening out.

The white horse is a large pub and looks like a traditional British pub, 2 bar areas and a lot of seating with pool tables and dart boards add to this.

There is an area downstairs for kids to play with various amusements and arcade type machines along with a couple of PC's for internet use.  They have a stage area where the main entertainment takes place and a small dance floor area if you're feeling brave/drunk.



The entertainment is of a variable quality ranging from comedians who have not updated their jokes in the 8 years I've been going to some pretty darn good music acts including a Queen and Elvis tribute.

The drinks are cheap and plentiful and the ever popular happy 2 hours are much enjoyed and abused.

We'll go here normally twice during our holiday and I enjoy it very much. You can't really beat any of the Vincent’s pubs for a cheap and fun evening.


Wednesday 8 August 2012

Reason #19 Peacock Island Cafe



I have talked about the island previously but mentioned there was a restaurant on there which will be talked about at a later date. Well here it Is!

The restaurant is small and very basic, white plastic tables and chairs fill the area and you only get a table cloth if you order food. The selection of food is far from extensive and seafood is understandably the main feature. It's all very fresh and I can imagine most was caught on the day.



The Paella is something special. It's not cheap, 12 Euros each and it's not quick - You will be waiting at least 30 mins but it's certainly worth it. it's pretty huge with a large selection of meats and seafood in it with a large fech langoustine in the middle., it’s cooked wonderfully and tastes immense. It's possibly the best Paella I have tasted and Would happily have this every day if I could.

They also do sangria which my wife loves and could easily get though several jugs on her own if given half a chance. I'm no sangria fan but I have to agree it is very nice and very refreshing and the perfect reward after a climb to the top of the peak of the island. It's the only place on the island you can stop but it's well worth stopping a bit longer and sampling the food

Monday 6 August 2012

Reason #18 Festilandia


Located about 2/3rd the way along av del mediterraneo,Festilandia is a wonderful amusement park for young children.

It's not especially big but in the small area they do have they pack in a lot. The have a section at the front for the smaller kiddies rides which is next to the arcade games.  The Small kiddie section is full of the small rides you generally ride in supermarkets and have about a dozen variations. The arcade has a wide variety of video games and fruit machines as expected.



The section at the back is for the older kids, by older I mean my then nearly 4 year old could go on most rides.

The have a roller coaster, Bumper cars, a pirate ship, simulator and of course the obligatory cups and saucers which I still cant go on without wanting to puke. The rides are height restricted but all quite low so we are able to  go on all but the bumper cars. There were a few where me or Mrs had to go on also but not many and this was fine.

We had to pay 10 euros for a pass and this allowed 6 rides, the more you pay the more rides but I really think it's well worth the money.

It's busy in the night time when it cools a bit. There is a snack bar when you can sit which sells snacks, drinks ice creams and the such.

This is one of my little boys favourite parts of the holiday and now we have another it's a place we will being going back to often.

Tuesday 31 July 2012

Reason #17 The Duke Of Wellington

Yep, Another bar.....


This is my favourite bar in the old town. It's a English style bar on Carrer del Port next to MacDonald's. It's A fairly decent size bar with a large outside sitting area but word of warning, it's up a lot of stairs and a little awkward getting pushchairs up.



It's well worth it once your there though. A good selection of drinks and decent prices with typical Benidorm measures. It's does a fantastic selection of food (Yes, food again - I like to eat!) With a large and varied menu, mainly British fare.

Everything I have had has been lovely, cooked well and comes out super quick,. I can recommend the Sunday lunches and the Cottage pie in particular. Wide range of desserts to.

As the outside area is quite raised it's a lovely bar to sit and people watch and stare out over the streets of benidorm. Sitting with a cold pint, Benidorm in view and some nice music  in the background is a lovely feeling, you also get these cute little lizards that run up and down the walls.

Another bar to add to the list of recommendations!

Thursday 26 July 2012

Reason #16 The Cellar


The Cellar is for Kids. Alarming as this may sound it's actually a Children Friendly bar located by the plaza in Vincents corner.

It's a traditional Vincents bar in many ways, it has reasonably priced drinks and large variety of them and the "Happy Hours" with buy one get one free. It's has pool tables and Various TV screen showing sports.




The bar is also full of arcade games and kiddy based games, they have entertainment on for children including a clown (And not the scary type either which is good for a clown fearing Dad) and Magic.

My Little lad went here for the first time last year and loved it, for the rest of the Holiday he was asking to go back to the bar than he played games in and ate popcorn. It's Nice having a bar like this so the adults can sit and have a drink while the kids are entertained.

So go on, grab a drink, get comfy and put your kids in the cellar!

Monday 23 July 2012

Reason #15 The Buddah Bar


I love this place. It's quite new, only seen it for the first time last year.  It's perfectly located right on the front of the beach at the far end of Ave de Madrid and round the corner from our apartment which is perfect for a "lets just stop here for one more" pint before we tackle the short but steep ascent up to home.



Dude walked right in front of my picture!

The bar is very small but it's nicely done up, prices are reasonable, They do a small selection of food which is Nice and every time you buy a drinks they bring you a small snack (Nuts, crisps or sausage rolls) like Tapas but for Brits!

The view is great, a perfect view looking out to the beach and it's lovely to sit with a nice cold pint and gaze out at the sea and gave longingly at the island.

Staff are always friendly and they have a few newspapers left around for good measure.

Thursday 19 July 2012

Reason #14 Chinese Tack Shops


If you have been to Benidorm you will know exactly what I mean, if not, then here you are: Benidom is full of shops rung by Chinese which all sell exactly the same items.

These range from cheaply made toys and cheaply made cloths to cheaply made tacky souvenirs.  The consistent factor here is that everything Is cheap.



You literally cannot walk a few meters down any street without walking past one of there, you will know when you do as one the the cheaply made toys will start singing or dancing at you.

They are great though for the sheer amount of tack you can find here. if you want it, they have it. and if you don’t, they will have it anyway. My Little boy loves these and we cant go a day without buying at least one toy and almost always without fail they will break really early and really easily.  This is now part of our holiday tradition. They also seems to stock a large selection of binoculars and I still cant fathom why.

So, next time your out and about in Benidorm pop into one and pick up some tack today!

Monday 16 July 2012

Reason #13 The Yorkshire Pride


The Yorkshire pride is one of the most well know of the British bars in Benidorm and there are 3 of them
Yorkshire pride 1,2 and 3!) The one we frequented by us is The Yorkshire Pride II on Calle de Londres.

There are several bars on here which are pretty great (See Stretford End).



As with most bars in benidorm the drinks are cheap and the measures are generous. There is always a sports even of some sort on (Generally Rugby league) and music in the background.

What makes the Yorkshire pride stand out is the food. It's quite renowned around Benidorm for the enormous portions. It's not served on plates, it's on huge platters!

The Sunday lunches are epic and come highly recommended. The beef dinner is serves with what seems like half a cow and comes with 5/6 vegetables, several kinds of potato and all the trimmings. I have only finished 1 of these and to this day it remains one of my greatest achievements!

The rest of the males Are equally as nice, Saturday is steak night and again, Huge and tasty.

Overall a great bar and great food for people with large appetites and well worth a visit!

Thursday 12 July 2012

Reason #12 Nightime Beach



I have made my feelings about the beach during the day quite clear previously, I am not a fan.

At night time however, this does change. The sand is a lot cooler and can be walked on without fear of losing your feet. It's much quieter so you can walk along the beach without fear of standing on heads and it has that certain romantic feeling about it.



That may sound a bit soft but I actually proposed to my now wife on Benidorm beach late at night  like the old romantic I am, Found a nice quiet spot, got down on one knee at popped the question.

It's nice just to sit and watch the waves at night, at least I do anyway, you can see all the lights along Benidorms coast and just watch the world go by, really quit nice and a stark contrast from the busy pubs and clubs.

So as much I as hate the beach in the day I love it at night

Wednesday 11 July 2012

Reason #11 The Stretford End


Ok, let me get this out of the way first. This is A Manchester United themed bar. I am Liverpool fan. Lets not ever confuse that.

Putting aside the fact that there is a Man Utd theme this is actually a great bar. The food is tasty and reasonably price. The drink is also cheap with a wide selection and some good offers on.

The Stretford End is located on Calle de Londres just down for the Yorkshire Pride (More on that one another time)



My main reason for including this bar though is that fact you can have a bet. I like betting (http://thistimenextyear.info). I'm not very good but it's good fun and this is one of the very few places in Benidorm I can have a nice cold pint, a bite to eat and a punt on the horses/football/whatever I can bet on. I could happily spend my whole holiday doing this to be honest!

We watched the Boxing here last year and the place was packed and it was really a great atmosphere. There a number of TVs both inside and out along with a large screen projector for the big events.

Well worth a visit sports fan or not!

Sunday 8 July 2012

Reason #10 - India Gate


Of all the places we eat in Benidorm this may be my favourite. Located in the old town area (Calle Girona) this is an Indian (you probably guessed by the Name) restaurant.



It's quite small on the inside and due to a lack of air conditioning is can get very hot. It's well worth putting up with this though.

They make some of the best Indian food I have tested anywhere. In the world. Ever. I have never had a bad meal there and we have made maybe 7-8 visits in total. It's all well cooked, well flavoured and cooked to perfection.

I will highly recommend the Tandoori mixed grill. It's a mountain of Lamb, Chicken, Shami Kebabs and fish served with a choice of sauce.  It’s lovely, Words cannot describe how good this is.  If I was to be executed tomorrow this would be my last meal. It's around 12 Euros and you get far more than any human can eat. To be fair though I always have rice and starters (The Onion Bhaji's also come recommended) along with a bottle or 2 of wine.

The staff are also brilliant and very welcoming too. I would recommend going here at least once even if you don't like curry!

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Reason #9 - Mundomar

Mundomar

This is Benidorms large wildlife area where you can see all sorts of animals and it’s a good family day out. It's a good size and to get around and take everything in will take a few hours.

They have a wide selection of animals, from birds to monkeys and Dolphins which even get their own show! The dolphin show is probably one of the highlights, it's pretty awesome and lasts a while. It's appears they are well look after and cared for which is always nice to see and you can have your pictures taken if you like.



I personally liked the meercats, lots of them and very amusing. It's also pretty cool going into the underwater parts and seeing the aquatic animals all swim around close up.

It can get very hot there and there is little shade so do bear this in mind. The do have some area's scattered around which spray mist out and intervals and this is lovely and refreshing. Also small parks for the kids and fast food joints. Well worth a visit!

Monday 2 July 2012

Reason #8 - The Triangle

This was the first place I was taken to when i first went to  Benidorm back in 2006 so It holds a special memeory for me. I probably don’t enjoy it quite as much As I used to but it's still a quality night out.

Anotehr of Vincents corner on  Calle Estocolmo in Rincoln, this is probably the one aimed more at the younger (I.E 18 - 25) group than the others, it's loud, too loud for my old delicate ears but it's a good laugh.



As ever with Vincents it's cheap, local spirits (Benidorm Measures, at least 2.5 times the British ones) and a mixer for only a couple of euros. Large selections and of course again with Vincents, the staff are great and really friendly.

The music is a mix of modern chart music along with recent classic and of course the ever popular Karaoke which is always a laugh - Providing I don’t sing.

As I say, it's not quite as much fun As it used to be, maybe due to it not being quite so busy but it's always a good, cheapish night out and ringing ears aside, I doubt you'll regret it.

Saturday 30 June 2012

Reason #7 - The Island

The Island is one of Benidorm's most distinctive landmarks and is one of my favourite excursions on holiday.


It's an enjoyable 20 or so minute boat ride away (You can get the boat from the old town or the Rincon area) and will cost around 12 Euros per adult and a bit less for the children. This ticket gets you there and back and gets you on the sub which I'll come to a little later.


One of the best things about the Island is that there is not much there, stark contrast to mainland Benidorm. A small restaurant (Which will be in a post of it's own) and plenty of seagulls and not much else.


Seagull on the siland sitting a top the peacock cage


The view




To get to the top of the Island is a fair trek and can be a little difficult. It's quite steep and can be quite slippy due to the rocks but well worth it when you get to to the top. The view of mainland Benidorm is quite fantastic and it's one of the few places in Benidorm that is untouched by developers which is a nice change of scenery.




It's easy to spend a few hours here walking around, climbing to the top, talking to the seagulls (although that may just me my Mrs) and taking in the view before heading to the restaurant for refreshments.


As I mentioned you also get a seat on the Aqua sub which takes you on a short trip around the island and lets you have a look at life under the sea. It's nice for the first few times but can get a little tedious as it's just fish and water. my eldest loved it though!

Tuesday 26 June 2012

Reason #6 - Crazy Golf

Hi folks,

Back again with my next reason. You can play crazy golf anywhere but I only even play hen I'm in Benidorm and it's brilliant! There are 2 course's I know of, One in the Square (to all you yet to experience Benidorm, The square is the area when all you youngsters go with all the nightclubs and stuff, bit noisy for my old ears!) and the other is on Ave de Mediterannee. I'm sure there are more but I've yet to stumble across them.



It's a simple yet fun game and it's on part of my holiday I enjoy. Me and Mrs get quite competitive but She usually wins - Make for a easier life...

I would not recommend playing during the day, It gets very hot and if you're standing waiting for someone to finish a shot then there is a very good chance you will melt. Or at least pass out.

It's more fun playing at nighttime when it's a little cooler and a little quieter. Golf is probably not every ones cup of tea but I would always recommend giving it a shot next time you're there!

Saturday 23 June 2012

Reason #5 -The Plaza

Hello!

Today is another Bar but this one is much preferred by myself for it's food. Located on Calle Estocolmo in Rincoln it's part of Vincents corner along with The Triangle and The White Horse.



It's a good bar all around, the drinks are cheap which is the standard for Vincents and there is a great selection. The Staff are brilliant and really make you feel welcome. There is also something on every night whether it be Bingo or a Cabaret act, There is even The Cellar for the Kids (Not as creepy as it sounds, actually a kids friendly bar with games and a clown, Gumble Junior loves it!)

The Plaza though is one of my favourite places in Beniorm for the food. It's British food with a wide selection and It's almost all great. I can recommend the home made Chili, the Curry and the Roast Dinners.

What makes it really special though and our first stop on our first full day are the breakfasts. Traditional English fry up where you're in control! You can pick from a wide range of options and get exactly what you want, it's brilliant. Words cannot describe how much I look forward to this. I sit here months in advance trying to figure out my order (2 Bacon, 2 Sausage, 2 Fried Eggs, Hash Browns, Black Pudding, Mushrooms and Tomato's if you care!)

Back again soon :)

Thursday 21 June 2012

Reason #4 - Burger King

Yes, Burger King. The same ones we have in the UK and indeed worldwide.

The one in Benidorn (Rincon of course) is better. It's in Benidorm for a start. These is something liberating about being able to order a beer with your burger at 2am and sit outside and watch the world go by and watch the beach at nighttime.



It's also one of the few places I attempt to use my admittedly poor Spanish and due to this I never really know what food I have asked for of will receive, it's the little mysteries like this that really make a place special.

I could also have chose the McDonald's next door for pretty much the same reasons but I have always preferred BK's food.

Back Soon!

Wednesday 20 June 2012

Reason #3 - The Beach (Daytime)

A little obvious maybe, and to be honest I don't even like the beach during the day (Beach at night Will be a separate entry, I gotta fill this thing somehow!).

It's too busy, It's too hot and most importantly, it's too sandy - This is every beach that has this issue though, not just Benidorm.



The reason that Daytime beach is included on here is for Mrs Gumble and Gumble Junior, they both love the thing. Mrs loves lying back in that burning sun tanning up without a care in the world. Junior, after being smothered in several layers of sun lotion, loves playing, building sandcastles, digging holes, burying feet and just generally loving the freedom.

Providing I have some shade and a good book I can cope with it for a small amount of time too I suppose. The people walking down the beach offering cold drinks and water melon helps ad providing its just once or twice during the holiday I can put up with days of picking sand out my toes.

Tuesday 19 June 2012

Reason #2 - The Geordie Bar

You will probably come to see a lot of bars as reasons why Benidorm is awesome. It may be due to the food, the cheap alcohol, the atmosphere or a combination of all of these.

The Geordie bar is a combination of all of these.

The Geordie Bar can be found on Avenida Ametlla Del Mar just behind the indoor market in the Rincón de Loix area of Benidorm (Again, most of the bars I write about will be in the Rincón Area, It's how I roll).



We stumbled across this by accident one November evening a few years back and we're taken in by it's warm friendly atmosphere and drink prices. We have since been back on several occasions in the summer and always had a great night.

The food is terrific, I had a Prawn Salad last year which came with a staggering amount of juicy prawns and was delicious, the rest of the party also have positive things to say about their meals too, To be honest I was too engrossed in my prawns to take notice of what they ate.

The quiz night is also tremendous fun and would recommend this for anyone for a cheap and entertaining night.

Monday 18 June 2012

Reason #1 - Arrival.

May as well start this off with what is the start on the holiday!

After all the rigmarole of flying, waiting for luggage and waiting for your transfer to arrive, there is no better feeling to when you finally arrive into Benidorm. The moment that warmth hits you after leaving the Airport is great.



The drive from Alicante is pretty good too though, some lovely scenery and beautiful views but the moment you crawl into resort (literally due to traffic and pedestrians) and see all the familiar sights and sounds, the bars and clubs, the restaurants, the beach and everything else that makes it such a great holiday, that is the moment when the holiday truly begins.


Welcome!

Hello!

I'm going to use this blog to run down 365 reasons why I believe Benidorm is the greatest holiday resort.

You may be wondering why 365? Well for the numerically gifted amongst you, you have already probably worked out there are 365 days in one earth year (this is true, check if you want, I'll wait....). In one year, give or take a few days, I will be going back to Benidorm for a further 2 weeks.

We try to go once a year but due to financial restraints the addition of further children to our clan we are missing this year and focusing on next.

My Name is Garry (Hi) and for ease of naming I'll be referring to my wife as Mrs Gumble (Thats my nickname), My elder son, 4 1/2  years old as Gumble Junior and my baby son (5 months) as Baby Gumble. We go on our holiday with Wife's Mother and Father - now known as MIL and FIL and her brother, BIL.

My wife's family have been going to Benidorm for around 12 years and when I was first invited back in 2006 I was not overly keen as my pre-conceived notion of Benidorm was Blackpool in the Sun.

I was wrong.

Please join my countdown with the best bits of Benidorm. I will try to update this daily but Probably wont remember so expect double entries some days and none for a few.

Enjoy!