This weekend would have marked the start of the Benidorm fiestas, a massive deal financially for the resort. Hotels, restaurants, bars all benefit – not forgetting the florists who supply the thousands of bouquets of flowers for the floral offering, decorating the outside of the San Jaime church up in the old town. The entire process takes absolutely hours to complete but the end result is pretty amazing. Sadly all events except a couple of religious masses have been cancelled which also includes the British Fancy Dress Day - although this isn´t actually an official event.
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The lockdown and its aftereffects have hit Benidorm particularly hard – a resort reliant on tourism. Media scaremongering - both from UK tabloids and even those here in Spain do little to help the situation either. Sadly a number of bars, restaurants and hotels still remain closed, realistically waiting until the UK´s 14 day quarantine is lifted and more airlines start bringing holidaymakers here. Aqualandia and Mundomar opened, but last week regretfully announced that due to poor visitor numbers that it is unviable to remain so and therefore will be closing their doors early on Sunday 23 August. It almost felt like the final nail in the coffin…. but like a knight in shining armour Benidorm Palace, the jewel of our crown reopened last Friday night.
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The long awaited online booking system for Benidorm beach will be up and running on Thursday, although at the moment only applicable for Levante and not Poniente or Mal Pas beaches. It is free - apart from the sunbed section, which still have to be paid for as normal. So from Friday 17 users will only be able to access the Levante beach if they have pre-booked a slot. It means a little bit of organisation is required but does ensure that everyone has there own allocated socially distanced space.
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As holidaymakers slowly return to Benidorm, there is an audible sigh of relief from local businesses who only last month feared that they would be forced to remain shut and write off the rest of the season. The resort is reliant on tourism to survive and many are geared up for the British, who last year made up 41.3% of the market which equated to 4.8million people – only just beaten by the domestic Spanish market at 45%. However, it is the spending power of the British that sustains virtually all of the bars and clubs in the Rincon de Loix area.
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After 13 weeks of lockdown, Benidorm´s beaches were finally allowed to re-open this morning, albeit with strict social distancing rules. They have been divided up into 3 zones – green for over 70´s, blue for everyone else although over 70´s can use these too if accompanying a family group, which are marked out into 4x4 meter squares and free for users. The third area is the sunbed rental zone which remains at the same price, 5€ sunbed and 5€ parasol. Spaces have to be pre-booked, however, rather embarrassingly, the booking app, which has reportedly cost €700,000 isn´t yet ready.
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One of the main attractions to Benidorm are the stunning golden sandy beaches and along with the fantastic weather, helps to keeps Benidorm at the top of the holiday destination list for the Brits. Unlike others, Benidorm is blessed with 4 separate sandy beaches, in addition to a number of hidden rocky coves – so there is something for everyone. Sadly, despite entering phase 2 of de-escalation this coming Monday, June 1, Benidorm´s beaches will remain shut for a further 2 weeks until June 15, a real disappointment for the locals here.
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Spain and indeed Benidorm will be slowly coming out of hibernation following 7 weeks of strict lockdown. On the proviso that figures continue on a downward slope, from Monday May 11 bars and restaurants will be allowed to re-open their terrace areas. Seemingly a time to celebrate, however there is a big but… ONLY up to 30% of the capacity. In protest 150 businesses in Benidorm, reliant on tourism have put up ´Se Traspasa´ (for rent) signs in their windows in protest at the government to show what could and will happen unless they get financial support.
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Headlines in the UK press today appear to imply that the lockdown in Spain is over. It was exactly a month ago that the country stopped and we are now entering our fifth week. For the vast majority of those living here, they still have to remain at home. Hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants all remains firmly shut and will do for the foreseeable future. A trip through Benidorm resembles a scene from the movies, where time has literally stood still. A banner suspended from Jokers, to celebrate St Patrick´s Day on March 17 that never was, remains swinging in the wind after all bars were ordered to closed at midnight on Friday, March 13. Thousands of Brits that worked in the hospitality industry are now sitting at home, weathering the storm that has engulfed not just Benidorm, but the entire world.
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The current situation regarding Covid-19 or CoronaVirus as most refer to it, is totally unprecedented. Many here, referring to holidaymakers in particular, are still in a state of shock that bars, cafes and restaurants are closed due to the pandemic currently sweeping across the globe. At midnight yesterday, Friday 13 a decree stated that all clubs, bars and restaurants had to close and remain so for the next 15 days – at least and the beach, although open first thing in the morning was taped off at 11am with police on patrol along the promenade to ensure no one enters.
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Due to the current ongoing roadworks in the centre of Benidorm, eleven bus routes have been temporarily diverted and are now running along part of the very busy Levante promenade, as far as Avenida Europa where there are more temporary bus stops and includes the popular No 10 going all the way to Altea, No 16 once a day service to Guadalest and No 18 to the Fonts Algar waterfalls.
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Eating out can be a hit or miss affair. Restaurants are a very personal thing – what one person likes or enjoys the next person won’t. Thankfully there is certainly plenty of choice here in Benidorm, whether you like to stick to your traditional British fare or try something Spanish, such as tapas or paella. However, if you would like to try something totally different – and have a car, then head inland towards Jalon, around 40km from Benidorm and to the west, in a rural location heading up into the mountains you will find the Maserof Inn and Museum.
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What is probably one of Spain’s most bizarre traditions took place on Tuesday evening – ‘Entierro de la sardina’ or the Burial of the Sardine! Yes a huge plastic sardine was carried through the streets of Benidorm's Old Town and taken down onto Poniente beach. Mourners followed, dressed in black and carrying wreathes behind the sardine.
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It was exactly a year ago this week that Tiki Beach closed after years of legal wrangling between residents and the owners – a day many thought and hoped would never come. But fast forward and except for a few alterations, many wouldn’t notice the changes between what now stands in its place. For many Brits on holiday, it is one of the must go-to places during their stay here, to enjoy a drink with a view plus live music and most continue to refer to it as Tiki.
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On Sunday, March 8 the fourth ‘Save My Life’ charity fundraiser will take place at the iconic Benidorm Palace. As in the previous years, the money raised will be used by Benidorm Dog Homing and Manos y Patas to help rehome abandoned dogs and cats. It is a lifeline for both, to help the hundreds of animals in their sadly sometimes not so temporary care have a second chance in life. There is certainly no shortage of entertainers, only too keen to offer their talents totally free for this very worthy cause. The line up this year includes Jamie Somers, Sean Mac, Ben Ashley, Guy Melidoni, Kim Peters, Aisha as the Adel tribute, Blues Brothers, Mel & Dave, Colin Coco Channel, The Roller maniacs, from the Palace illusionist David Climent, silk acrobat Lara Cano and biker stuntman Jonathan Rossi and hosting Tim Ames and David James.
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