FIRST TIME
Benidorm has something for everyone, with over 25 four star hotels, some fantasic vilas and apartments, magnificent theme parks and some great places to eat and drink, Benidorm has it all.
Well it's your first visit and what do you do and where do you go?.
Accommodation
Whether you looking for a 5 star hotel, a luxury villa or beachfront apartment, or a campsite, Benidorm has it all. We would recommend the Marina Hotel for people wanting to stay in the heart Benidorm, the hotel Alameda if you fancy staying in the Old Town of Benidorm.
Places to Visit
Benidorm is a great place to stay and many don't venture far, for the ones that do there are lots of places to visit. We have listed some popular places below:-
The Falls of Algar
The easiest route to Algar begins by taking the road to Callosa d'en Sarriá and then following the signs for the Fuentes del Algar. On arriving you will find plenty of attendant controlled parking areas with trees or carports offering ample shade. Parking tickets per vehicle in these areas is no more than a couple of euros. The ticket you are given is then redeemable when buying food or drink in the bar ajoining the parking area.
The walk up to the waterfalls begins by passing a number of bars and restaurants. You will enter the waterfalls through a bar/restaurant and there is a small entrance fee of no more than 2 euros per person (Last checked Sep 09). Maybe not the largest waterfalls in the world, but well worth a visit and remember to take a camera or video camera!.
Altea
Altea is a Valencian town and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain, north of Benidorm on the section of Mediterranean coast called the Costa Blanca. It has an area of 34.4 km² and, according to the 2002 census, a total population of 17,608 inhabitants. At present, the economy of Altea is based on tourism, which started to grow in the 1950s because of its good weather, beaches and the beauty of its labyrinthine streets with whitewashed house-fronts. Altea is protected on the north by the bluffs of the Serra Bernia, creating an especially mild microclimate. Its seafront esplanade is planted with palms.
The Iberian coastal settlements at the mouth of the Algar River in the wide Bay of Altea were joined by a Greek marketplace, named Althaia. During the Moorish domination the land around Altea belonged to the Taifa de Denia until it was recaptured by Christian Spaniards in 1244 under James I of Aragon. The town was quickly fortified, and walls were erected to enclose what is now known as the "old town" from outsiders.
This maze of cobbled narrow and crooked streets with glimpses of the bay is one of the better features of the town. One of its places of tourist interest is the church of Nuestra Señora del Consuelo or La Mare de Déu del Consol ("Our Lady of Solace"), easily identifiable by its picturesque blue and white domes, tiled with glazed ceramics.
L'Alfàs del Pi / Playa del Albir
L'Alfàs del Pi (in Valencian) or Alfaz del Pi (in Spanish) is a Valencian town and municipality located in the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Spain, lying at the foot of Sierra Berina.
The Playa del Racó del Albir in L'Alfàs del Pi
L'Alfàs del Pi has an area of 19.3 km² and, according to the 2006 census, a total population of 18,469 inhabitants. It has the second biggest concentration of Norwegian residents abroad along with sizable Dutch end English communities. The economy of L'Alfàs del Pi is mainly based on tourism. The most important monument in the city is the Catholic church of Cristo del Buen Acierto, built in 1784. The town's symbol is a pine tree, which can be found in the church square. It is home to a nationally renowned film festival which runs each year.
L'Alfas del Pi has created a planned sea-side community - Playa de Albir - situated betweenBenidorm to the south and Altea to the north in fields earlier dominated by citrus and almond groves. Since 1995, Albir has grown into a village of about 5 000 inhabitants; - the majority of which are originally from Northern Europe.
Calpe
Calpe is a coastal town located in the comarca of Marina Alta, in the province of Alicante, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of 23.5 km² and a population density of 855.45 persons/km². The town is located 67 km from the city of Alicante, lying at the foot of the Natural Park of Peñón de Ifach, (Ifach Rock).
The economy of Calp is mainly based on tourism and fishing. Many Iberian, Roman and Arab archeological sites exist in the town, due to its strategic coastal location. Some of the most important monuments in Calpe are the ruins of Los baños de la Reina, (the queen's baths), the flooded salt flats, a bird sanctuary for migratory birds, its Gothic Catholic church and the tower of La Peça, dating from the 18th century.
There are some remains that determine that there were inhabitants in the region of Calp in the Prehistoric Era, indeed some remains date back to the Bronze Age. However the Iberians were responsible for the first buildings, which were constructed on the higher grounds.
The Rock of Ifach (meaning "North" in the Phenician tongue) was the impressive natural lookout for the inhabitants that lived in the surrounding areas. Another lookout was the Morro de Toix Mountain, from which the Mascarat Ravine, an essential passage along the coast, could be controlled. The area gained in importance during the Romanisation period of the history of the Iberian Peninsula.
The township's proximity to the sea favoured marine trade and fish factories. Evidence of this can be found at the historical site, los Baños de la Reina (the Queen's Baths).
After the Peninsula was conquered by the Arab invaders, they were the first to build a "Castle of Calp" overlooking the Mascarat Ravine. When the area was conquered by the Crown of Aragón, the Muslim administration was maintained: small townships set apart and protected by a castle or fortress. Therefore, the inhabitants of the region were dependant upon the Castle of Calp.
Guadalest
El Castell de Guadalest, known more briefly as Guadalest, is a Valencian town and municipality located in a mountainous area of the comarca of Marina Baixa, in the province of Alicante, Spain. Guadalest has an area of 16 km² and, according to the 2002 census, a total population of 189 inhabitants.
Food and Drink
Spanish Cuisine
Spanish cuisine consists of a variety of dishes which stem from differences in geography, culture and climate. It is heavily influenced by seafood available from the waters that surround the country, and reflects the country's deep maritime roots. Spain's extensive history with many cultural influences has led to an array of unique cuisines with literally thousands of recipes and flavors. It is also renowned for its health benefits and fresh ingredients.
The first introduction of a product to the ancient Iberia was that of wheat. Wheat was thought to be brought by Iberians from the south of the peninsula. It was perhaps brought from Aquitaine in the north of the peninsula, due to the difficulty of transporting from the south. In time, the wheat of Iberia came to be considered to be the best in the Roman Empire, and became one of the main commodities of foreign trade. The Romans' early approval of the wheat led to the spread of wheat from Spain to Greece and Egypt.
There were two major kinds of diet in the peninsula. One was found in the northwest part of the peninsula, with more animal fats that correspond to the husbandry of the North. The other could be considered the precursor of the Mediterranean diet and was found in the southerly parts of the peninsula.
Foods found in archaeological excavations include diverse types of legumes, onions, and garlic. The olive was introduced by the Phoenicians. Other components of a Spanish meal include tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers, all of which were introduced from the Americas after Spanish colonization.
Tapas
Tapas is the name of a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as puntillitas, which are battered, fried baby squid). In North America and the United Kingdom, tapas have evolved into an entire cuisine. In these countries, patrons of tapas restaurants can order many different tapas and combine them to make a full meal. The serving of tapas is designed to encourage conversation because people are not so focused upon eating an entire meal that is set before them.[citation needed] Also, in some countries it is customary for diners to stand and move about while eating tapas.
Paella
Paella is an inexpensive rice dish that originated among the poor in its modern form in the mid-19th century near lake Albufera, a lagoon near the eastern coast of Spain's Valencian region.
Many non-Spaniards view paella as Spain's national dish. However, most Spaniards consider it to be a regional Valencian dish. Valencians, in turn, regard paella as one of their identity symbols.
There are three widely known types of paella: Valencian paella (Spanish: paella valenciana), seafood paella (Spanish: paella de marisco) and mixed paella (Spanish: paella mixta); but there are many others as well. Valencian paella consists of white rice, green vegetables, meat, snails, beans and seasoning. Seafood paella replaces meat and snails with seafood and omits beans and green vegetables. Mixed paella is a free-style combination of meat, seafood, vegetables and sometimes beans.
Most paella chefs use calasparra or bomba rices for this dish. Other key ingredients include saffron and olive oil.
Spanish Wines
Spanish wines are wines produced in the southwestern European country of Spain. Located on the Iberian Peninsula, Spain has over 2.9 million acres (over 1.17 million hectares) planted—making it the most widely planted wine producing nation but it is only the third largest producer of wine in the world, the largest being Italy and France. This is due, in part, to the very low yields and wide spacing of the old vines planted on the dry, infertile soil found in many Spanish wine regions. The country is ninth in worldwide consumptions with Spaniards drinking, on average, 10.06 gallons (38 liters) a year.
The country has an abundance of native grape varieties, with over 600 varieties planted throughout Spain though 80 percent of the country's wine production is from only 20 grapes—including Tempranillo, Albariño, Garnacha, Palomino, Airen, Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel·lo, Cariñena and Monastrell. Major Spanish wine regions include the Rioja and Ribera del Duero which is known for their Tempranillo production; Jerez, the home of the fortified wine Sherry; Rías Baixas in the northwest region of Galicia that is known for its white wines made from Albariño and Catalonia which includes the Cava and still wine producing regions of the Penedès as well the Priorat region.
Spanish Beers - Estrella Damm
Estrella Damm is a Spanish Catalan pilsener. It has been brewed in Barcelona since 1876 and is the flagship beer of S.A. Damm, a prominent Barcelona brewery. "Estrella" means "Star" in both Spanish and Catalan.
Estrella Damm is available in the UK in a 4.6% version. It is also available in Australia where it is imported by the Coles Liquor Group. Coles has an exclusive arrangement with the Damm brewery for Estrella's distribution in Australia. Coles sells it through their 1st Choice, Liquorland and Vintage Cellars stores. Estrella Damm is available in New Zealand through Federal Geo Ltd. who has exclusive rights to distribute and market the brand in New Zealand.
During the heyday of baseball in Spain in the 1950s and 1960s, S.A. Damm sponsored a local baseball team, Picadero Damm. In 2007 Estrella Damm was one of the major sponsors of Emirates Team New Zealand,a challenger for the America's Cup who won the Louis Vuitton Cup. Estrella Damm is not to be confused with another Spanish lager called Estrella Galicia.
