Archive for the ‘Featured’ Category

Taking a Trip through the Old Town

The town of Benidorm along Costa Blanca in Spain is well-known for its popular beach destinations for tourists who love the sun and surf. Benidorm is proud of tourism as one of its biggest economy boosters over the past decades, and as a matter of fact, aqua sports are among the hottest activities for the millions of beachgoers in this region. However, taking a trip through Benidorm involves more than just getting a tan or splashing in the waves. There are actually more sights that create an irresistible charm, one that keeps visitors coming back to Benidorm every year. A great example of a must-see is the Old Town.

The Old Town is ideally nestled between the two main beaches of Benidorm, the Levante and Poniente. If you take a trip to the promontory or cliff overlooking these two beaches, you will surely be awed by the spectacular views. On top of this high land mass sits the Balcon del Mediterrano, which is historically known as a fortress built to protect the shores against Berber pirates hundreds of years ago. The promontory also over looks the Mal Pas Beach, known as a favored site for vacationers who love beach volleyball and water sports.

The Old Town proudly preserves its charm that has been there for centuries. Among the oldest buildings found on its cobblestone streets is the San Jaime Church, which was erected in the mid 1700’s. This iglesia, or church, features Neo-Classical architecture, and is well-recognized for its blue-tiled roofs, which locals popular call as the blue tile hats. The Benidorm Castle is a stronghold found near the Old Town, and it has been around since the 1300’s. This is an ideal venue for sightseeing and picture-taking.

There are several shops in the Old Town where you can get bargains on produce, fish, as well as souvenirs. For more modern shopping choices, you can head to the Town Center, where signature and designer labels can be found. If you are feeling a little hungry around the Old Town, you are sure to find lots of restaurants, cafes, and specialty food stores to tickle your palates. A famous spot for drinks like wine and beers is Santo Domingo street, and for great appetizers and delicious Spanish dishes, head on over to Tapas Alley. As the sun sets on Benidorm, the Old Town comes alive with venues that host musical performances, dinner shows, and more for visitors who enjoy a night out.

Conveniently enough, besides the multitude of shops, cafes, and restaurants you can see as you stroll along the Old Town, accommodations are also not a problem. There are several reputable hotels in the Old Town, ready to cater to the comfort of their guests. You can select hotels that are nearer to the beach, or more accessible to commercial establishments. If you would like to have accommodations that provide more privacy, you may opt to rent a holiday home or apartment, as there are also many available here at the Old Town.

Posted On: December 30th, 2008
Posted In: Benidorm, Featured
Tags:

Poniente beach


The Poniente beach- ideal recess for all and sundry

If you are looking for sand grains in their finest form and if you are seeking a beach recess with a difference, look no further than the Poniente beach. Well! The beach has a Blue Flag certification from the European Union. This was for the starters. It means that the beach has impressed the EU with its overall maintenance and energy. On another side of the old town and lying in west of the illustrious Levante beach, the Poniente gives freedom of all sorts to the tourist.

Laid-back air of the Poniente

You can look for the magic massage or a great chilled beer. May be some snack would do you good or the shopper in you is looking for some souvenirs. It may be anything; even the many water sports that you seek, chances are that the Poniente would not disappoint you. Poniente beach is far sandier than Levante. It means that you can look to have the long weekend walk without the fear of being obstructed by rock. While most tourists look for Levante, the casual native of Benidorm likes settling for the Poniente. It has a far more casual, laid-back air flowing in it.

Friendly sea and beach slope

The beach has a gentle slope and even the sea is shallow. This means that the children can play without much danger of slipping into the waters. The council initiative also looks over usage of perfect placards and glow signs. This makes children-spotting easier for parents. The disabled get definite ramps and the energy-blessed get many fun and frolic themes.

Showers

There are many sun beds where you can relax your workplace-ravaged bodies. The beach has shower and foot shower facility. This is an urgent need for those who get sand all over them. While in the waters, it goes with the sporty feel of the beach but then it hurts in the wrong places once you are in the hotel so the foot showers, showers and the hair-dryers(in hotel) really help.

Sunset scene

Even while swimming, no-rock beach helps. You can just get on with the business of swimming or sunbathing which in fact, is quite a mania with the westerners. Sun tanning is another sessile sport you can look for. Poniente is blessed with a great vision of the dusk so get your Polaroid ready and snap the sunset scenes for lifetime memories. It can be reached from old town on foot.

Water sports

If you are among the cautious ones or have children with you, do not look to venture into the water past 8 pm in the summer and 5 pm in the winter. This is because these are hours without guards. There are plenty of water sport facilities. You can look to enjoy rafting, snowboarding and motor-boat riding at the Poniente. If you have a customized excursion deal, you can go with the snorkeling and scuba-diving into the Mediterranean floors as well.

Posted On: December 26th, 2008
Posted In: Beaches, Benidorm, Featured
Tags: ,

Levante beach


The appeal of Benidorm beach

Benidorm has the Mediterranean appeal, say many tourists and rightly so. But all of us know how a sea or an ocean can be enjoyed only if it has a perfect beach-setting. A case in this point is the million dollar program that Virginia Beach has undergone recently. Now, Benidorm beaches are also quite up the ladder. They have a great setting that caters to the tourists of different mindset.

Levante

You can look for ethnic food spread, souvenir shops, and right kind of masseurs; though these are generally offered by all the beaches of some stature today. Benidorm’s Levante is doing amazingly in terms of tourist footfall and the Blue flag from the European Union is a stamp of its class.

Beach for all

Levante, also known as the sunrise beach is perfect for those seeking the right kind of holiday fun. The children, teens and as adults all have something to boot home. There are multicolored placards arranged as meeting points for children after they have their dose of fun. The idea is to affirm parents that they will not have the hard time of searching their children due to common board signs.

Child-friendly

The promenades with coffees and grilled beer bar variety are quite a summer retreat. It packs the right holiday spirit. Another high point is the slope of the beach. Steep slopes frighten parents who know that the game is as good as over for their little crops. The gentle slopes of Levante beach take this parent horror completely away. This means that they also lose sight of their child without much hesitation. Of course, the sea guards help in the leniency of supervision.

A variety of water sport

There is plenty of water sport available. The rafts are lined up and so too are the spring boards. You can choose to do all kind of sea frolic. The tire and tube is just as much fun if you have a guard to escort you. Wet playgrounds for those who have the right adrenalin-flow add up to the pleasure.

We talked about those who are infected with energy. It’s worthwhile to note those who are disabled. There are ramps specifically made to help those people out.

The blue flag prerequisite

Because it’s a blue flag project and has to keep up to its stamp, it takes proper cleaning initiative each morning. This cuts away the dirt and any garbage pile that has been added over the day. Thankfully, as it’s a blue flag thing, tourists are less willing to destroy it.

Be guarded

Now, you can look forward to an adventurous trip on the beach with great accessibility from town. Yes, if you a bent towards caution, do look to make the trip when the guards are available. The patrol is quite there till 8 pm in the summer and 5 pm in the winter.

People talk a lot about the theme parks and night life of Benidorm. Trust us, the beaches are not far behind. Ponente is another one that has a great tourist footfall.

Posted On: December 26th, 2008
Posted In: Beaches, Benidorm, Featured, Picked
Tags: ,