Benidorm Holidays

This place is the Swiss Army Knife of package holidays. It’s got everything you need to hand, from family-friendly theme parks and Blue Flag beaches to neon-lit nightlife and a charming old town. Everything’s up for grabs, from fry-ups to tapas, sherry to shots. And it’s not afraid to make a stand for its beloved holidaymakers – it was the first to break Spain’s bikini ban back in the Fifties.

Levante Beach – AKA Playa de Levante – rules the roost in Benidorm’s new town. It’s a broad-shouldered belt of sand, buzzing with sand sculptors, jet-skis and bars. And they’ve even added colourful meeting points for families. Behind it, you’ve got The Square. This is karaoke and beer-swigging territory, with bars flying the flag for England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Poniente Beach is the shyer of Benidorm’s two sandy beaches. You’ll find this golden-sand curl at the old town end. There’s still plenty to do, though, like watersports or strolling the tie-dye prom. Plus, out at sea, there’s a great viewpoint where Benidorm castle once stood. If you head up a few streets, you’ll hit the old town, which is a nest of tapas bars and coffee shops.

Benidorm’s got its hands on some of the best attractions in the Costa Blanca. You could spend a whole week in its theme and waterparks alone. Terra Mitica’s the big, Disneyland-style one. Just like the place it’s in, this massive theme park is multi-cultural – with zones dedicated to Egypt, Greece, Rome and Iberia. Two waterparks and a new generation zoo also join the party.