Work has at long last begun on the new SATE office in the Rincon de Loix. SATE stands for "El Servicio de Atención al Turista Extranjero" - hence the abbreviation, which roughly translated means the Foreign Tourist Assistance Office. This is where you should go to file a report if you are in the unfortunate situation of being a victim of crime. There was much criticism when the current one was opened in the Old Town back in 2013 – with virtually everyone in agreement that it was the wrong place. But to everyone's shock and amazement, workmen and a digger arrived this morning to begin the construction – which is estimated to take up to five months. It will be located beside the current tourist information office on Calle Derramador – opposite the Flash hotel. The Town Hall have promised that it will be fully operational for Spring.
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The peamen – sometimes also referred to as the potato men are the scourge of Benidorm and should be given a very wide berth. They operate in gangs, usually on busy thoroughfares such as the Levante promenade, on the Avd Mediterraneo or around the Indoor Market. They entice people to stop by shouting and cheering, waving €20 notes that they have supposedly just won by guessing which potato half the pea is hidden under – hence the name. But the ‘crowd’ is actually members of the gang, some of which are Brits to make it look more authentic.
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The much anticipated Moors parade took place in Altea yesterday evening – the highlight of the annual fiesta calendar. After the carnival in Rio this must definitely come a close second for elaborate and eye catching outfits! Hundreds packed the main street to watch and admire, with cameras poised while jostling for prime position.
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Now that the peak summer season is over, the resort sees the return of the ‘snowbirds' – retired Brits who flock here to escape the cold British winter. In fact, it is not only the Brits that repeat this annual pilgrimage but other north European citizens such as the Dutch, Germans and increasingly Belgian nationals. Each year the numbers appear to increase, with Brits in search of winter warmth and thus avoid the spiraling fuel bills at home. Many drive over, either with a caravan attached or in a motorhome, with bicycles tied to the back. There is certainly plenty of choice when they arrive – some will have pre-booked a site space, reserving from one year to the next whilst other take their chance and pull up with their life possessions, looking for the best bargain at one of the many sites.
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It was a busy day in Benidorm today – firstly with the La Vuelta cycle race this morning, starting stage 20, a 193.2km route which was won by Pierre Latour (ALM) despite many attempts by Britain’s Chris Froome of Team Sky to overtake. But the real excitement was for the Pride Parade, which was scheduled for a 5pm start but was nearer to 6pm before it set off from the Rincon. Hundreds went to great lengths dressing up and getting into the spirit of the occasion – and even Her Majesty made an appearance...in addition to a number of other queens!
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The sixth Benidorm Pride has kicked off and there are plenty of events on up at in Old Town throughout this week. Tomorrow - Wednesday is the official Opening Gala Party at the Mirador with drag queens, local artistes, DJ's, full bar service and best of all - it's FREE! On Thursday there is a ‘White Party’ up at the Mirador, starting at 8pm until 1am and the following night, Friday is the ‘Black Party’ - which will be staged at the Auditorium Julio Iglesias (behind the Town Hall). But what many deem the highlight of the week, the Parade, takes place on Saturday afternoon where glitz, sequins and feathers will be the order of the day!
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The newly refurbished Port Benidorm Hotel – previously the Dalmatas has undergone a multi million euro transformation and is stunning. It certainly couldn’t be better located – a mere stones throw to the sandy Levante beach and the nightlife of Benidorm... an ideal combination! Now a superior 4 star the first thing which strikes you is the modern open airy feel throughout.
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Benidorm’s newest venue to open is Sinatra’s Premium – a brand new Dinner and Show Bar, located in the Rincon de Loix opposite the Hotel Levante Club. The opening party took place last night, where Manolo proudly showed off the months of hard work that it took to achieve the spectacular result. The 550 sq mt venue has been finished to a very high standard and he knows exactly what does and doesn’t work - having a number of other clubs and bars in the area. But this is different to his other venues in that it will not just be serving drinks but snacks and food throughout the day and ultimately a sit down meal with show in the evenings.
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Reminiscent of a scene from Wacky races or a Carry On film, a video uploaded to You Tube of the daily sunbed sprint at the Flamingo Oasis hotel here in Benidorm has caused much amusement worldwide. It has even made headlines in the daily papers – but rest assured, sadly this is not an isolated incidence, which only occurs there! The Brits even put the Germans to shame, historically renowned for bagging sunbed at the crack of dawn.
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The Segway originated in America but is now popular worldwide – and Benidorm is no exception. Unlike the mobility scooter, which you sit on and is almost out of control here – the Segway is a 2-wheeled electric vehicle which you stand on... hence doesn't appeal to those that hire mobility scooters purely out of sheer lasiness and as a cheap mode of transport, therefore making it difficult for the genuine users. You will see Segways around the resort but be careful who you rent them from. Just as there are counterfeits with everything these days, be warned that there are also inferior Chinese imitations about.
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Despite repeat advice on changing money, many still continue to use the Bureau de Change at an airport – which offer by far the worse rate possible, almost tantamount to robbery in my eyes. As an example I was at Alicante airport this morning, where there is exchange kiosk beside the rental car section as you exit the baggage reclaim area. On enquiring about today’s rate the response was £1 gets you €1 on “smaller amounts” without elaborating on what signified small! The exchange rate in Benidorm is 1.155 today … at most places.
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In a bid to try and tackle disruptive behavior caused by alcohol, Jet2 have announced that they are to stop selling alcohol before 8am across all their routes. The ban will come into force from Monday making them the first European airline to introduce such a measure – but will it realistically make any difference? It is nothing new to read a flight being diverted midway due to a passenger becoming disruptive – with the plane being met authorities to escort them off.
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Low cost carrier Ryanair have announced that from September 1, customers travelling with children under 12 will have to purchase a reserved seat to ensure that they are seated together. But they have reduced the fee from €8 to €4 and the child will be allocated a seat for free. By law children under 12 have to be seated with their parent or guardian, but a number of families take a chance on being randomly allocated seats together, free of charge.
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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 other holiday destinations, Benidorm is blessed with 5 separate sandy beaches, in addition to a number of hidden rocky coves – so there is something for everyone. Each beach has its own personality and attracts different people, but you can be assured that each one is meticulously maintained.
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