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!

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!

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 :)

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!

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.

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.

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!