Latest news with #Benidorm
The Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Benidorm ‘becoming too POSH' as dejected expat complains of empty beaches & buzz-free bars after Brits ‘priced out'
A BRIT living in Benidorm has revealed that the holiday destination is virtually deserted as tourists have been 'priced out' of the party resort. Harry Poulton regularly shares his travel tips and advice about the Spanish destination with his 46,700 followers on TikTok. 5 5 5 In one recent clip, which has racked up 127,000 views and over a thousand likes, he reveals that Benidorm could be 'finished' - as it stands empty this summer. And he explained that tourists might be staying away because the holiday spot is becoming too expensive. The 24-year-old begins by asking: 'Is Benidorm finished?" He continues: 'Where is everybody? It's the middle of July, and it's absolutely dead. 'Normally at this time of year, Benidorm's mental – it's busy, there are people absolutely everywhere. 'I've just been walking down the beach; no one. 'I've been down the Benidorm strip; hardly anyone there. 'Bars aren't even that busy – what's going on? 'Is everyone going to Tenerife now? I've only been away a week.' Harry, from Brighton, said that he 'can't believe' how quiet it is. 'Did you expect smoked salmon-' Brit slammed for complaining his staggeringly cheap Benidorm fry-up tasted 'low quality' Even at peak time, around 7pm, the streets are still bare, he said. Brits flocked to the comments to explain what's been turning them away - and many had the same story. Ivan said: 'Have to say hotels are getting more and more expensive. Crazy prices." Anthony added: 'Everyone is going to Salou, Spain.' A lady called Jane commented: 'It's got too expensive." Rich said: 'People are fed up with being robbed, mate.' 5 And Jan said: 'Getting too expensive. Used to be my go-to holiday. "However, I cannot afford Benidorm this year. Other Spanish places half the price." In another clip, racking up 14,000 views and hundreds of likes, Harry reveals that he has the same feeling. The content creator says: 'Benidorm is getting expensive. 'Is it just me that feels this way? Especially the accommodation. 'Everything this year has gone so much more than last year. 'I'm not the only one that feels this way.' One comment which says that it costs almost £1,000 for a single room for a week, to which Harry said: 'Ouch, that's got to hurt. 'Don't get me wrong – eating out, drinking, all those sorts of things are still very reasonable, especially price-wise compared to the UK. 'Everything has got really expensive; not just in Benidorm, but in general. 'Is Benidorm falling off? Or is it just the world in general?
The Sun
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
‘Did you expect smoked salmon?' Brit slammed for complaining his staggeringly cheap Benidorm fry-up tasted ‘low quality'
A BRIT expat has been roasted by online comments after slamming the "cheapest" Full English breakfast in Benidorm. Louis Grier, who lives in the popular holiday hotspot, tried out the staple fry up for just £3.90. 6 6 6 The 32-year-old "Benidorm Fanatic" was stunned when he found a place that sells such a hearty breakfast so cheap. He shared his findings with his 43,000 TikTok followers - although he was less than impressed with the end product. Louis paid a total of £3.90 (€4.50), for the meal, but it failed to meet his expectations. "I visited Marianos, a renowned restaurant in Benidorm," he told What's The Jam. "It is celebrated for its exceptional chicken, considered by many to be the finest in Spain, and is also highly regarded as the best take away in Benidorm. "Considering its popularity among both English and Spanish speakers, this establishment has consistently provided excellent food to British patrons for numerous years, and I have thoroughly enjoyed many wonderful takeaway meals. "However, I regret to say that the breakfast was quite unappetising, and I was unable to eat it – it was that bad. "It tasted undercooked and of very low quality. "I would maybe go back but only for its famous chicken." The video shows him sat outside the cafe as he orders his low-cost Full English breakfast. Flooding leaves cars underwater and turns streets to rivers as hols hotspot in Spain is lashed by thunderstorms The plate had two pieces of toast, one sausage, two eggs, two mushrooms, a tomato, a hash brown and two rashers of bacon. But Louis called it "gross" and the "worst breakfast" he's ever had. However, commenters on his video were divided on the matter, with some voicing their support and others roasting the expat. "What do you expect for that money? Smoked salmon," one user posted. "Never thought of Mariano's for breakie haha," another said. "What was wrong with it, everything looked fine, that's not a fair review," a third posted. But other commenters were in full agreement with Louis. One user said: "That's all I've tried there. "It's terrible, so I've never been back. The place is a dump." "Mariano's has gone right down hill to what it used to be," another posted. It comes after a Brit gran was accused of "fabricating complaints" by a Corfu hotel boss after she moaned her stay was a "nightmare" thanks to "no bacon, sausages or chips". The OAP was accused by the hotel of fishing for compensation - and the manager even claimed she had blamed the staff for bad weather. 6
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hollyoaks to kill off FAN in huge competition for 30th anniversary
HOLLYOAKS is giving fans the chance to win a part on the show - and become serial killer Jez Blake's next victim. The Channel 4 soap is celebrating its Advertisement 1 Hollyoaks' serial killer Jez is going to kill a fan in a soap first Credit: Lime Pictures Jez has become Hollyoaks' most prolific killer ever with his out of control antics being covered up by mum Martha. And he's set to keep on killing - and take at least one other victim - the soap super fan. The lucky winner will appear on set and meet the cast and crew behind the show and film their appearance later this year for airing in October. Fans can apply through a form submission and a 30 second video in which they have the platform to tell the Hollyoaks team why they are the ultimate super-fan. Advertisement Read more on Hollyoaks The first round of the competition will be open for just seven days. The competition is now live, and fans can enter via the following link: The Channel 4 soap will celebrate its 30th anniversary this October with a huge month of celebrations as well as a trademark stunt. Show boss Hannah Cheers told us: 'You can't do a Hollyoaks commemoration without some kind of spectacle. So there will be a stunt.' Advertisement Most read in Soaps Exclusive And more than that Hannah also revealed a huge battle between two Hollyoaks titans will take centre stage for October. Having recently returned from the dead to the village after 12 years, Clare Devine is back and she's set to clash against serial killer Jez Blake in the run up to the big anniversary. 'Well, yes, obviously we've got two kind of Hollyoaks titans here,' Hannah added. Hollyoaks Star Sherrie Hewson Quits—Could Benidorm Revival Be Next? 'We've got kind of very iconic Hollyoaks faces. And it's not an accident that they are both in the show in the run up to the 30th anniversary.' Advertisement
CNN
10-07-2025
- CNN
A guide to the parts of Spain that aren't sick of tourists
For the past two years, summer in Spain has meant prominent protests against tourism: holidaymakers being drenched by angry locals armed with water pistols in Barcelona and protesters marching under banners proclaiming 'Your paradise is our nightmare' in the Balearic Islands regularly make headlines as the saturation of the summer season gets underway. Tourism is a pillar of Spain's economy, contributing over 12% to the national GDP. But in destinations where cruise ships constantly spill out crowds and Airbnb-style rentals in city centers exacerbate a housing crisis that helped push residents to the outskirts of their own hometowns, the annual crush of visitors has become a point of conflict. It's not likely the tourists will stop coming. More than 80% of tourists in Spain stick to the islands and the Mediterranean coast — and mostly during the summer season — according to Manuel Butler, director of the Spanish Tourist Office in London. Resorts such as Benidorm, Lloret de Mar and Torremolinos were built on tourism over many decades and do have the facilities to welcome visitors without strain, Butler told CNN. Yet he says that there's now a concerted Spanish effort to broaden tourists' horizons. 'Spain has a responsibility to lead the shift towards a more environmentally and socially sustainable model,' he said. 'We're encouraging visitors to explore our lesser-known regions, stay longer, and travel outside peak summer months where possible.' For those who would prefer to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem, Spain has many destinations untroubled by excess tourism, where visitors can not only enjoy a less overexposed experience but also the privilege of being a welcome guest. Among the least visited regions by foreigners is northern Spain's La Rioja — just 180,000 came during 2024, compared to the 15.5 million tourists who stayed in Barcelona. That's despite the area being a household name, thanks to one of the country's best-loved exports: wine. La Rioja, in the rolling foothills of the Pyrenees, is home to over 500 wineries, planted with Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano grapes. Wineries run the gamut from family-owned boutique bodegas to some of the celebrated names in the industry, all offering cellar visits and tastings. The Marqués de Riscal is a cathedral to winemaking with a hotel and bodega, or cellar, or cellar, designed by Frank Gehry — its exterior of billowing metal ribbon-like forms is a colorful counterpart to Gehry's Guggenheim Bilbao. Another winery, CVNE, has cellars that were designed by Gustave Eiffel's studio in 1909. But there's more to La Rioja. The medieval cities of Haro and Logroño, a 40-minute drive apart, are filled with cobbled streets, ancient churches and lively tapas bars serving regional specialties like patatas a la riojana (potato with peppers and chorizo) and lamb chops grilled over vine cuttings. Then there's culture. Around 40 minutes south of Haro are two Romanesque monasteries, San Millán de Yuso and Suso, both founded in the sixth century. Related video See Barcelona protesters squirt water at tourists Nature lovers will be drawn to the dramatic landscapes, from the rugged Sierra de la Demanda to fertile river valleys perfect for hiking and cycling following along a quieter stretch of the Camino de Santiago, the 'Way of St. James' pilgrimage route leading to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in northern Spain. On the last Saturday in June you'll find Haro, the town with the highest concentration of century-old wineries, transformed into a celebration of the grape. Revelers dress up in white for what's called the Batalla del Vino, or Wine Battle, in which they throw around 50,000 liters of red wine at each other from bottles, buckets and water pistols in a mock battle. 'You will be welcomed by the locals who are proud to share their gastronomy and culture with the world,' said Jose del Moral, who rents out tourist apartments in the town. Few tourists venture deep into Spain's landlocked region of Extremadura, which shares its westernmost border with Portugal. If they did, they'd discover a land rich in history with no fewer than three UNESCO World Heritage sites: Cáceres, Mérida and Guadalupe. There's also Monfraguë, an internationally important national park that is a haven for migrating birds, Villuercas-Ibores-Jara, a Unesco GeoPark, and Spain's first freshwater Blue Flag beach, Orellana Playa. Despite providing several filming locations for 'Game of Thrones' — Trujillo Castle stood in for Casterly Rock and Caceres was King's Landing, while a grand, dragon-fueled battle in season seven was filmed outside the city — Extremadura still isn't a regular haunt for international or even domestic tourists. The city of Mérida is home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins outside Italy. On summer evenings during July and August, classical dramas are performed in the Roman Theater. The provincial capital of Cáceres, one of Spain's best-preserved medieval walled cities, has long been a destination for food fans thanks in part to the Michelin three-star restaurant Atrio and a new wave of taperías, or tapas bars, along lively Calle Pizarro focusing on local ingredients (like Torta del Casar, a local cheese made from sheeps' milk). As for culture, there's an annual edition of the WOMAD music festival every May, while the Museo de arte contemporáneo Helga de Alvear, which opened in 2021, showcases works from the vast private collection of the late collector Helga de Alvear, who died earlier this year. The Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, another UNESCO World Heritage site, is a place of pilgrimage that was visited by Christopher Columbus to give thanks on his return from the New World. Extremadura is also home to a site on UNESCO's 'tentative' World Heritage list: Trujillo, a medieval city perched on a hill. The town was home to conquistadores who, having returned here with riches from South America, built elaborate palaces dotted around a grand square. 'The people of Extremadura tend to undervalue the wealth they have around them in the landscapes, nature and traditions, and show surprise, delight and pride that people come from far away to visit this forgotten treasure,' explained Martin Kelsey who runs Casa Rural El Recuerdo with his wife Claudia and organizes birding trips to Monfragüe National Park, which is home to one of the largest colonies of black vultures on the planet. 'For people seeking this sense of authenticity and timelessness, then Extremadura is the place.' If lazing on a sandy beach is a requirement for your summer vacation, away from the overpopulated Mediterranean resorts, Spain has a vast coastline that is not only virtually unspoiled but is also relatively undiscovered by tourists from outside to the green north coast, but skip the foodie paradise of San Sebastián — it's heaving during summer — and start further west, in the region of Cantabria. Head west through Asturias and follow the Atlantic coast to Galicia. Here you'll find a dramatic Jurassic coastline of rugged cliffs, hidden coves and fishing harbors, with vast stretches of sandy beaches pounded by surf in between. 'Travel along the northern coast of Spain is a favorite of mine — especially for summer travel where the temperatures are usually cooler than the rest of the country.' explained Karen Rosenblum of Spain Less Traveled, who advises travelers on how to plan their trips in a responsible way. Visitors will discover that the north of Spain has its own distinct cultures and cuisine. Try the bizarre-looking percebes (goose barnacles) harvested from craggy rocks offshore, pungent cheeses made in mountain caves, and local cider served with a special pour to aerate the drink before it hits the glass. Rural tourism is at the core of Spain's new national tourism strategy. Galicia's Senderos Azules is a network of walking paths to rival the oversubscribed Camino de Santiago; it was bolstered this year by the addition of seven new trails in the provinces of A Coruña and Pontevedra, including paths along the Atlantic Coast and riverside trails inland. 'These offer hikers a chance to explore one of Spain's lesser-known natural treasures,' said Jessica Harvey Taylor, a spokesperson for the Spanish Tourist Office in London. 'We are all passionate about developing more sustainable travel… and about tackling the challenges of overtourism.' While overtourism on Spain's popular holiday destinations such as Mallorca, Ibiza and Tenerife has dominated headlines, that doesn't mean you should avoid island life altogether. The smaller island of El Hierro, the wildest and most westerly of the Canary Islands, has become a beacon in sustainable tourism. 'We want to increase tourism and simultaneously improve the island's standard of living, but not to the detriment of the residents' quality of life or the island's natural resources,' said Davinia Suárez Armas, El Hierro's tourism minister. With no direct flights from outside the archipelago, only the more intrepid traveler will venture to its shores — of the estimated 26,100 visitors to El Hierro during 2024, just 4,102 came from outside Spain. Compare that to neighboring Tenerife which saw 7.2 million visitors during the same period, 87% of whom came from other countries. 'El Hierro is one of the most sustainable islands in the world, which is a major attraction for visitors,' said Suárez Armas. El Hierro's energy self-sufficiency ambitions saw it producing island-wide energy for nearly 36 days using renewables last year. With stark volcanic terrain and dense forests providing homes to some 100 endemic species of flora and fauna, El Hierro is designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. There's the black-pebble Timijiraque beach on the east coast, the red-hued El Verodal on the west, and the white-sand Arenas Blancas at the western tip but it's in the water that you'll find the real treasure: El Hierro is feted as one of the best scuba diving destinations in Europe. It is also known for outdoor pursuits such as paragliding, trekking and cycling. 'In addition to our island's natural and scenic beauty, visitors are drawn to the friendliness of the local people, the authentic cuisine, and the diverse opportunities to enjoy the surroundings,' said Suárez Armas. If you really want to discover a hidden gem then head to the province of Teruel in eastern Spain. The population there felt so forgotten by the modern world that they even launched a political party — 'Teruel Existe,' or Teruel Exists — to remind the rest of Spain that they were there. It won its first seat in the 2019 election. With no rail network, travelers must make their way overland, driving at least four hours south of Barcelona or inland from Valencia to a landscape of legend dotted with walled Mudejar towns, mixing Islamic and Christian architecture, clinging to steep hillsides around ruined castles. Here truffle hunting is one of the key activities. You'll also find hiking trails that take you past 150 million-year-old dinosaur tracks and beside waterfalls and rivers which offer irresistible wild swimming spots. Alasdair Grant is one of the pioneers who spotted the tourism potential of the neglected region and transformed an old nine-bedroom fortified farmhouse into the Mas de la Serra Wilderness Retreat, overlooking the Els Ports Natural Park, which straddles the borders of Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia along the Ebro Delta. 'Here you are away from the crowds where foreign visitors are still welcome as a novelty,' he said.'Tourism is important for the local economy but is not overwhelming and there is no resentment which can be seen in some cities and coastal areas. This area needs visitors — and you can have it to yourself.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman buys beer and tapas in Benidorm bar and price leaves her floored
A British woman who has lived in Benidorm for 40 years has said she found a 'hidden gem' bar – and called the price of beer and tapas 'outstanding'. Michelle Baker used to run a newspaper in the holiday hotspot for two decades and she now shares tips on her Benidormforever Facebook page, the Mirror reported. And it was here that the mum, who has raised her children in Spain, revealed her latest find. READ MORE: UK tourists heading to Italy, Spain and more told 'act fast' in 'significant' warning READ MORE: Man 'sucked into plane engine' at Milan Bergamo Airport pictured for first time After strolling through the Old Town, Michelle discovered Rumbo Bar, which she said has been there since 1968, and was recently taken over by Juani and Nico. Writing on her page, she said: 'Regular followers know I'm a HUGE supporter of the small bars, and in the Old Town yesterday I stumbled across this little gem; Bar Rumbo.' She added: 'Realising their location is just off the busy square that overlooks the little Mal Pas beach is slightly hidden, the couple have put their heart and soul into making their pet friendly pub as welcoming as possible. "They've quirky decorations, a selection of board games and they've some outstanding offers too.' And as for the incredible prices, Michelle explained how a beer and two tapas cost just €4.90 (approx £4). A glass of wine meanwhile is just €2.20 while a coffee is priced at €1.50. For something fancier, the owners also sell two cocktails for €10. Michelle pointed out that the air conditioned space provided a 'peaceful escape' from the raucous part of Benidorm. Explaining why she was keen on highlighting it, she said: 'I love to point out the hidden places in the hope more of you will support them before they are all swallowed up by the big boys. "Your choice to pop in for a round or two of drinks makes all the difference to their day and it shows in their eagerness to please their customers.' Speaking to Michelle during her pleasant visit, Juani joked that he had no music playing in the bar, but being a musician, he sometimes sings to customers. He added: 'What we really want is for people to feel welcome and meet new friends and they do. Once they find us they come back night after night.' After posting on her page, one person replied: 'In all the years visiting Benidorm I have never seen this bar and we always stay in the old town. I will certainly be looking for it next time we visit.' Another said: 'We used to live above the Rumbo bar. It's a lovely little bar I know the original owner and his son who took over. Miss living in the old town such good memories.' A third went with: 'I don't want to be in a bar full of English people, I know that sounds bad but it's how I like to spend my time when over in old town.'
