Benidorm ticks many boxes for fun for all ages, as it is home to glorious beaches, family-friendly attractions, lively nightlife, and an eclectic mix of bars and restaurants. It doesn’t matter if you are visiting the popular resort town with your other half, friends, or family; there are plenty of activities to keep you occupied during an upcoming getaway. Read this fun guide to a holiday in Benidorm.
Beautiful beaches aren’t hard to find in Benidorm. Many people flock to the scenic town to swim and sunbathe in a stunning setting. Also, many offer much more than golden sands, as you can take your pick from various fun water sports and outdoor activities during your visit, such as jet skiing, pedalos, scuba diving, snorkelling, kayaking, boat trips, and more.
Also, many of the best hotels are a stone’s throw from Benidorm’s beautiful beaches, making it easy to freshen up after a fun day in the sun. Experience sunny days in Benidorm with Voyage Privé to choose from various luxurious spots in the town. It will ensure you have a holiday you will never regret or forget.
If you want to get a photo taken with a dolphin or sea lion, would love to pet a lemur or porcupine, or are eager to feed some small animals, you must make a play for Mundomar. The popular aquarium and water animal park is ideal for all ages, as it provides a fun playground for little ones and exciting shows to delight young and old. It is not to be missed when travelling to Benidorm with your family.
Aqualandia provides various fun slides to get your adrenaline pumping, ensuring you finish your visit with a huge smile. When you are not screaming down a slide, embrace many relaxing activities at the water park, as you can journey through a lazy river, take a stroll through beautiful green spaces, or chill out in a jacuzzi. It will likely become a highlight of your well-deserved getaway to Benidorm.
Ensure your kids experience a holiday they won’t forget by buying tickets to Terra Mitica. The unique theme park is a tribute to the ancient civilisations of Greece, Rome, and Egypt, and provides plenty of activities to keep the whole family busy. For example, you can test your nerves on various thrilling rides and rollercoasters, watch interactive live shows, or take a dip in one of its fabulous pools. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit!
Animal lovers will not want to miss a trip to Terra Natura Benidorm. It is the perfect place to get up close to elephants, tigers, rhinos, crocodiles, lion monkeys, hippos, and various birds. Also, it is home to many poisonous yet interesting creatures. It is a must-visit when looking for a fun activity with your other half and/or children, as you could easily spend a whole day at the family-friendly zoo.
Spanish Road Trip 2024 Index and Tips
When you live in Benidorm a question you often get asked is where do you go on holiday? Well, we enjoy discovering Spain and this year will be our 6th road trip. In the past we have always taken these trips during the summer months, but as we are getting older we have found the heat too much for sight seeing. This year our road trip started on 2nd October and we decided to discover the South of France and even spent one night in Italy and drove through Andorra.
The idea of these road trips is to discover the real country areas, therefore, we always set the Sat Nav to avoid ALL Motorways and Toll Roads, by doing this you never quite know what you are going to come across and we have found so many wonderful surprises on our previous journeys.
Previous Road Trips
Road Trip 2018 - Lagunas de Ruidera, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Gibralta, Benalmadena, Granada and Huescar.
Road Trip 2019, Spain, France and Andorra. - Xativa, Cuenca, Madrid, Valladolid, Zaragoza, Lourdes (France) Andorra, Barcelona, Castellon de la Plana
Road Trip 2020, Spain and Portugal - Cartegena, Vera, Nerja, Estepona, Jerez, Seville, Lagos (Portugal) Lisbon (Portugal) Caceres, Toledo, Lagunas de Ruidera.
Road Trip 2022 - Murcia, Riopar, Jaen, Antequera, Guadix, El Ejido, Puerto Lumbreras, Villafranca de los Caballeros, Cuenca, Nogueruelas.
Road Trip 2023 - San Pedro del Pinatar, Mojacar, Cala Mijas, Tarifa, Ronda and Granada.
Spanish Road Trip 2024 - Index
Let the road trip begin.....
Check this out.October 3rd, Day 3. Follow us on our journey from Pals, Catalonia, on the Costa Brava, Spain to Perpignan, situated in the Occitanie region, Southern France. 173km travelled.
Check this out.Before heading towards Montpellier for our next overnight stop we decided to explore Perpignan. Perpignan’s location near the Spanish border means the cultural connection between the two regions is very strong, with many locals speaking and considering themselves both French and Catalan.
Check this out.One of the problems of a road trip this time of year in France is the weather, and we woke up to a wet and miserable morning and headed straight to Marseille.
Check this out.Day 6 - Marseille to Saint Tropez 162km. A visit to the medieval village of El Castellet and a wet, depressing and incredibly expensive Saint-Tropez.
Check this out.Our first stop of the day was Cannes - Located on the French Riviera, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. Famous for its annual Film Festival, but it is also home to beautiful historical districts, luxury yachts, and vibrant cultural attractions, glamour and Mediterranean luxury....
Check this out.Its not often that you get the opportunity to visit 3 countries in one day.......France, Monaco and Italy.
Check this out.After enjoying our night in Italy, it is now time to start heading back home to Benidorm, we really did not plan to travel this far into France and certainly did not expect to make it into Italy, but that is the joy of a road trip, you can plan, places to see and stay as you go along on a day to day basis.
Check this out.Time to start heading even closer to home (Benidorm) and nothing really exciting along the way this time, no unexpected Medieval towns, just a couple of coffee stops as we head towards Avignon and our overnight stop just outside Nimes.
Check this out.Heading closer and closer to the Spanish boarder each day, this will be our last night in France, but we discover another wonderful Medieval town, a fantastic restaurant and the perfect place for our last nights stay in France......
Check this out.Sunday 13th October and this was our final day in France, and as we had already driven in Spain, France, Monaco and Italy, we thought why not add another country to the list and drive through Andorra to get back into Spain.
Check this out.After last nights stay in Lleida and thinking we would come straight home, but not wanting to cut our holiday short by a day and with such a disappointing end, we scoured the booking sites for somewhere to stay tonight and found what looked suitable in Terul, but before going there we visited a place that has been on my list for quite a few years, Albarracin.....
Check this out.Its been another amazing road trip and we have driven in 5 different countries, Spain, France, Monaco, Italy and Andorra, but its now time to head home back to Benidorm.
Check this out.*Note any maps posted are just a guide, as we do a lot of extra sight seeing along the way*
This year we travelled a total of 3,218km and stayed in 14 different places, and visited many other towns and tourist attractions along the way.
Total cost of 14 nights' accommodation - 775.49€ (including tourist tax in some areas). Average coast per night = 55.39€
Additional car parking expenses - 17€, most places we stayed offered on street, or private FREE parking.
Total Diesel cost - in the region of 200€
Tips for a stress-free Road Trip
1. Make sure your car is fully serviced before you travel.
2. Make sure you and your car are correctly insured.
3. Update your sat nav or any other interactive maps you will be using.
4. Make sure you know the rules of the road, especially if driving in a different country.
5. Keep an eye on the fuel gage at all times and fill up, when necessary, you never know how far the next petrol station may be, even some that are pinpointed on the sat nav can be closed.
6. Make sure you have enough cash on you for your journey, not everywhere accepts credit cards, especially in the small towns and villages. But don’t keep all of it in one place and make sure it’s safe and hidden.
7. Be flexible. Have a rough route planned but be prepared to change direction if you cannot get last minute accommodation exactly where you want, or need to change direction due to the weather.
8. Drive during the daytime, obviously the whole idea of a road trip is to see as much of the countryside as possible.
9. Take regular breaks from driving.
10. To get the best out of your road trip, avoid motorways and toll roads. Most Sat navs can be programmed for this.
11. Avoid unpaved roads unless you have a 4 x 4 or are a very competent driver.
12. Keep a close watch for any localised weather reports, especially if going into remote places or up mountains.
13. Make sure your mobile phone is always fully charged, you never know when you may need it.
14. Take photos of informative signs when you enter a city/town. Keep these in handy in case you get lost and need to retrace your path.
Road Trip 2024
15. Have a first aid kit handy in the car and always have a few bottles of water.
16. Learn some basic Spanish, we are far from fluent but always manage to get by but once we leave Benidorm hear very little English spoken for the rest of the journey.
17. Understand Spanish mealtimes. This caught us out for the first couple of years, when you live in Benidorm you take it for granted that you can eat any time of the day or night, this is just not the case in other towns, villages or even the main cities.
18. If you have neck or back problems, take your own pillow with you to make sure you get a comfortable nights sleep.
19. When booking always check if the property has parking facilities, either on site or at least nearby, and check the fees as these can soon add up.
20. Pack one large suitcase with everything you need, bring a few smaller bags and transfer what you need for each new day into these, that way you are not dragging a large suitcase into each new nightly accommodation, but if you forget anything its always close at hand in your car anyway, also keep a bag for laundry, so you are not constantly picking through dirty clothes.
Most of all enjoy your Spanish Road Trip.
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Spanish Travellers Reports - Spanish hoteliers are warning tourists, including the British of the “chaos” that could be caused here in Spain with a new obligatory registration of travellers, whereby anyone in Spain who rents out accommodation or hires cars to tourists will have to fill in a traveller's report. (Spanish Included)
2nd December 2024 - The new system of registering guests staying at Spanish accommodation is in full effect from today.
There have been several articles in the UK press over the weekend, repeating false information, claiming that "guests have to hand over all their bank details"...This is totally false. Up to today, guests passport or ID details were taken on check in and sent to either the Guardia Civil or National police using their respective websites Hospederías or WebPol. Now, from today, guest data must be submitted to the Ministry of Interior via their dedicated SES.Hospedajes platform.
The number of data points to be collected has increased: the property will now need to gather 17 pieces of information per guest at check-in. Previously, only 9 pieces of data were required. This will apply to all travellers over 14 years of age.
The data collected is as follows
1. First name
2. First surname
3. Second surname (if applies)
4. Gender
5. ID document number
6. Document reference number
7. Type of document (DNI, passport, TIE)
8. Nationality
9. Date of birth
10. – Full address (Place of usual residence)
11. – City (Place of usual residence)
12. – Country (Place of usual residence)
13. Landline phone number
14. Mobile phone number
15. Email address
16. Number of travellers
17. Relationship between travellers (if any are minors)
As you can see......There is NO "field" on the online form regarding bank details.
* NOTE* Most apartment blocks or even some hotels ask for a deposit in case of damages nowadays, this has nothing whatsoever to do with this scheme. (It can normally be paid in cash or a "pending" payment on a card..
Updates 2nd October 2024 - The Interior Ministry now insist that this regulation will come into force on December 2nd,
Spanish Travellers Reports 5th August 2024 News.
Spanish tour operators, state it will be “impossible” to comply with due to the requirements demanded, it could also cause loss of sensitive information for travellers.
The Spanish Confederation of Hotels and Tourist Accommodation (CEHAT) state that this new requirement is going to cause chaos as hoteliers just will not be able to cope with this additional workload at reception, CEHAT also points out that more than 70% of accommodation companies are small businesses and don't have adequate cybersecurity protection to protect their guests data and many of the smaller establishments do not even have a reception, yet there is also the threat of large fines and sanctions to all those who do not act under new parameters.
Spanish Travellers Reports
This was first announced on October 27th, 2021, when a Royal Decree was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) which established documentary registration and information obligations for natural or legal persons carrying out accommodation and motor vehicle rental rentals, this has been postponed twice, they were initially delayed until November 2nd, 2023 and then to October 1st, 2024, due to protests from companies, allowing the submission to be made through the traditional electronic system."
The website set up to input data was inefficient and it was impossible to comply with the requirements. "Tour operators pointed out that this platform had proven to be very inefficient"
CEHAT state "For hoteliers, it is impossible to collect and certify the authenticity of some of these data, which would cause organisational chaos at receptions to the detriment of users and flagrantly contravening the data minimisation rules of European directives and their protection."
CEHAT have requested a new meeting with the Secretary of State or the Minister of the Interior and assures that it is currently working at a legal level to prevent its application of this Royal Decree on October 1st, so far they have received no response. For this reason, they assure that they have set their legal services in motion to prevent its application.
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What are your thoughts on filling out more forms upon arrival, let us know in the comments section below.
Smile in the Sun 2024 - At NOVA Cocktail bar, we are thrilled to unveil our newest annual fundraiser, "Smile In The Sun." Where Every transaction made through our Pay it Forward initiative contributes €0.50 to this year's summer fundraiser, #SmileInTheSun2024.
Whether you're commemorating a birthday, engagement, hen or stag do, or simply thriving in being in Benidorm, there's a way for everyone to participate. Simply scan the code on your table with table number and share around to get the ball rolling, all transactions come with a custom note option from the sender for some extra and sometimes embarrassing fun.
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SMILE IN THE SUN 2024
Our 2024 fundraiser is dedicated to bringing joy to mentally affected youngsters across the UK by organising a getaway to Benidorm. Through donations, we cover transportation, accommodation, and expenses, providing these individuals with the opportunity to enjoy a revitalising break in the sun.
These trips are more than just vacations; they offer a chance for these youngsters to rediscover happiness, creating cherished memories and offering a much-needed escape from their everyday challenges, Join us in spreading smiles and making a positive impact through #SmileInTheSun2024.
Edward Elsden-Smith 20th April 1996 - 17th October 2022
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