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We’ve taken an early break before and spent Easter in Benidorm, but this time, in 2024, the weather was quite different. While the temperature reached a high of 24 degrees Celsius, we did experience rainfall on two evenings. Additionally, there were a few days when strong winds blew, making it feel colder than it actually was. However, if you managed to find a sheltered spot with some sunlight, that was the perfect place to stay and enjoy the warmth.
When we last visited Benidorm, it was incredibly bustling. We mentioned how busy it was, but for this time of the year, it was quite surprising. Finding a place to sit in a bar on the Levante seafront was a real challenge, and even getting into restaurants proved difficult. There were a couple of places we were eager to try, but they were completely booked. It’s worth noting that we visited between Fallas and Easter, from the 20th to the 27th of March, so one would expect it to be quieter. However, since our return, we’ve noticed that it has only become busier in anticipation of Easter.
Madeira Centro
Yes, we managed to return to the same hotel once again, and since our last visit in October 2023, they have reorganized the dining area, resulting in a better flow and fewer queues. While I have always found the food in Madeira to be very good, it has actually improved even more this time. The dishes are served piping hot, and the quality of the ingredients, such as smoked salmon, prawns, crab, suckling pig, and quail, is top-notch. My only complaint would be the high prices of the drinks, but since I don’t drink there, it’s their loss.
We were fortunate enough to have a fantastic room on the 14th floor with an absolutely breathtaking view. We opted to pay extra for a balcony as my wife is a smoker, which was well worth it. The room also provided tea and coffee facilities, although we had to make a quick trip to the supermarket to get some milk.
Tapas
I must say, I’ve become quite disillusioned with Tapas Alley. Most of the staff we were familiar with have moved on, and it has sadly transformed into an overpriced tourist trap. Let me provide you with an example: on our first visit, we took my niece along, and it ended up costing us a whopping 40 euros for a meagre amount of food and just four drinks. In comparison, I recently discovered a new tapas bar that has quickly become my favourite (I’ll share a review soon), called Taparia la Mina. The most we’ve ever spent there in a single day was just 11 euros! Not to mention, the owner of La Mina is incredibly friendly and always extends an invitation for me via social media to introduce myself whenever I visit, although I have yet to take him up on it.
Entertainment
We did pay a visit to the Pig and Whistle, but it just didn’t resonate with us. So, we decided to explore the New Town in search of a venue I had been wanting to check out. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find it, and ended up at Hotel California instead. However, I found it a bit too noisy for my liking. Maybe I’m just getting old.
Let me tell you, the New Town is quite a mess. I’m not particularly bothered by the activities that take place there. I grew up in a rough neighbourhood known for its drug and prostitution problems. But walking through the New Town and hearing people shouting “Do you want some Charlie?” just isn’t my cup of tea.
Now, there’s this group of street dancers hanging around Benidorm lately. They’ve been here for a little while now, and let me tell you, they’re incredibly talented. When you see them perform, you’ll definitely feel like giving them a few euros. There’s this Colombian guy among them who is exceptionally strong and has remarkable control over his moves.
I must say, it’s quite impressive to witness their skills firsthand. And if I wanted to sound hip, I could even call them a crew instead of a group. These street dancers bring a vibrant energy to the streets of Benidorm and add an element of excitement to the atmosphere. It’s truly something special to see such talent on display.
So back home now and planning to go again in June this maybe looking to try the new Barcelo Hotel and there are a lot of new restaurants and bars that I need to get into.
If you are interested in submitting a review to Benidorm Old Town feel free to contact us we try and keep things positive if it’s negative I would rather not give them the publicity even if it is bad, and we should all remember they may have been having a bad day I get them often.
