Benidorm

But as a tourist, you don't go there to visit museums and historical sites. You go to Benidorm simply for a holiday full of fun, sun and the thrills.

Benidorm was a sleepy, forgotten fishing village till an enterprising investor discovered its potential as a holiday destination. Today, Benidorm is one of the Spanish tourism hubs with skyscrapers and beaches, qualifying as the "Manhattan of Spain" or "Beniyork".

Located around 45 km north east of Alicante, Benidorm is famed as a holiday destination for its beaches and nightlife. The weather is mild all through the year as the coastal area is protected from the cold northern winds by the 1406m tall Puig Campana, one of the most impressive mountains of the Costa Blanca, making it a picture perfect place to spend your holiday.

Benidorm is a popular holiday destination for Flemish, British and Dutch tourists. Benidorm summers are a riot. It has to be, considering the fact that there are more than 1000 restaurants and 40-odd discos that would extend your day well into the night. Finding an accommodation is never a problem. According to tourism statistics, Benidorm hotels have a 35,000-plus room capacity. There are more than 200,000 apartments and other stays for your holiday.

Being a small coastal village, you don't have to ponder over maps to locate your favourite holiday spot. For starters, you can head straight to Benidorm's two beaches, the Playa de Poniente and the Playa de Levante. The Playa de Poniente Beach is not much preferred as a holiday spot because of its proximity to a busy central Benidorm road. People prefer Playa de Levante for a quiet relaxation under the sun or bathing in the beach. The beach is divided by a rocky promontory. The old city is located here.

If you think that your holiday would be incomplete without searching for Benidorm's past, you can visit Casco antiguo - the old Benidorm city centre comprising the San Lorenzo, Santa Fez and San Vicente Streets.

There are several other tourist attractions in Benidorm that would enrich your holiday experience. If you get bored by the fast nightlife, head for the theme parks around the city. If you are holiday with family and kids, the theme parks is would be a big hit with them. One may head for Mundamor for the rare dolphin shows or Aqualandia Water Park.

Benidorm is one of the few holiday destinations that have entertainment for all ages. Top it up with pizzerias, hamburger joints, taverns and restaurants, both budget and expensive. What you have is a perfect holiday.

You can hire car services for travel in and around Benidorm or take a bus as soon as you land in Alicante Airport. You can also take the narrow gauge railway from downtown Alicante. Unlike several other Spanish holiday destinations, the travel trade is promoting Benidorm through several holiday packages attracting large number of visitors.