As of today, Terra Mitica Theme Park in Benidorm is open every day of the week - up until now it has only been open on certain days causing confusion to many holiday makers who turn up to find the gates closed.The opening hours are 10am until 8pm then from 16th July it will remain open until 10pm.The park is now under the management of Grupo Aqualandia Espana - the company that manages Aqualandia water park and Mundomar sealife park.
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El Altet airport, which serves Benidorm is in free fall after airport operator Aena reported a loss of 440,000 terminal passengers in the period January to May - compared to last year. Figures confirm that the economic crisis and deprogramming of Irish carrier Ryanair has resulted in a 12.5% drop - 10% more than Palma de Mallorca, 12% more than Tenerife and 8% more than Malaga.
Well Summer has well and truly arrived - and how do I know that? No not because of the sweltering heat but because the hypermarket chain Carrefour, (equivalent to Tesco in the UK) have increased their opening hours and are publicizing that they will soon be opening on Sunday!
Back in April I wrote about the cost of flying with luggage on so called "budget airlines". In yesterdays Mail on Sunday they ran the same article (Im not trying to say they copied me!) but it highlighted the extortionate fees being charged by a certain Irish airline ... no need to guess which, yes my favourite - Ryanair!
Well I made it to the Hotel Gran Bali in La Cala yesterday morning to find that the base jumping had been suspended due to high winds .... what a disappointment - both for the contestants and the spectators. However, it gave me the opportunity to stop and chat to some of those brave enough to be taking part. As well as the competitors there was a display team "Sky Force" that was there to do some demonstrations.
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Benidorm City Council has decided that it will clamp down on illegal advertising boards that have sprouted up across the city illegally - on both public and private land.The main access roads into Benidorm are littered with billboards displaying a variety of company brands and products - but many of these have been put up without permission.
Whilst back in the UK you had an extra long 2 day Bank Holiday to celebrate the Queen's Diamond jubilee, here in Benidorm and the surrounding areas we had a celebration of our own - most that live here are on a permanent Bank Holiday anyway! Bunting was draped from many British bars and cafe's and television screens relayed the weekend proceedings... what a shame that the weather was so typically British.
Benidorm has become synonymous as a destination of cheap booze, full English all day fry ups and Chinese 3 course meals for under 5 euros ... and that includes half a bottle of wine. Walk around the Rincon End and you cannot fail to see the boards outside various bars and cafes advertising food and drink at unimaginably rock bottom prices - 1.50€ for a pint of San Miguel or full Sunday roast for under 5€.
How many of you were aware that the Coastal Act of 1988 prohibits any advertising on the beach or promenade along the front? It only came to my attention on hearing that a debate has opened up on the matter at Benidorm Town Hall. The Liberals and PSOE want to change the law to allow advertising on the beaches - but the PP are against such a proposal.
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The fifth B.A.S.E Jump Extreme World Championship 2012 is taking place in, or rather off the Gran Hotel Bali in La Cala next weekend - 8th and 9th June. Base Jumping is an extreme sport where participants jump from fixed objects and use a parachute to break their fall ... as opposed to a body part!
Without a doubt, if you asked anyone who is the king of all snakes you would probably hear "The Cobra". Most peoples experiences of a Cobra are either reading or watching Rudyard Kipling's classic "The Jungle Book" or enjoying a cold bottle of Cobra beer! Talking of which, did you know that Jake Canuso, aka Mateo from the Benidorm series did a television commercial for Cobra beer just before he got the part 5 years ago?
Following the success of Channel 5's documentary "Benidorm ER" which was screened at the beginning of the year, a second series has been commissioned. Last year the camera's followed unfortunate British holiday makers and ex-pats that ended up in casualty at the private Hospital Clinica Benidorm - one of two private hospitals in the town.
With the bars brimming over every night in the centre of Benidorm you are spoilt for choice as to where to head. Many of the Stag & Hen parties head to the big themed bars which offer round the clock entertainment in the evenings - which is all FREE. If you went into any equivalent place anywhere around the world you would be charged an entrance fee but here in Benidorm there is no charge what so ever.
Despite the economic crisis or lack of direct flights, Benidorm has remained relatively unaffected thanks to a new niche market - the weekend visitor. This is composed of two completely different types of visitors.Firstly there is the domestic Spanish market, with many coming from Alicante, Valencia, Madrid and Castellon on a Friday night and returning back on Sunday afternoon - resulting in hotel occupancy reaching nearly 100%.
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