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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Just found out I’m off to Benidorm.

76 replies

BeebleBums · 01/05/2023 19:58

Group of 5 friends going away for a long weekend holiday for the first time together, and stupidly since we all agreed on Spain I’d just left it to 2 of them to plan/book as they were happy to and are used to booking trips.
I don’t know much about Benidorm but what I do know has been enough to put me off ever visiting ever.
I’m now panicking as we go in 3 weeks, and I was expecting a few quiet nights in the sun with decent wine, a book, and tapas!
I’m so so stupid aren’t I!

OP posts:
Blogswife · 01/05/2023 20:40

You can get great tapas in Benidorm- just stay in the Old Town , it’s lovely there .
You can also take a boat along the coast to Calpe or the train will take you up and down the coast for a couple of Euros . There’s some very pretty typically Spanish towns only a few stops away. Or go to the bus station and take a trip up the mountains to Guadaleste - breathtaking !

The new part ( the strip) with English bars and clubs is a bit sleazy but no worse than most other busy holiday resorts

Its what you make it !
Have a great weekend Op

QueSyrahSyrah · 01/05/2023 20:42

Agree the flight might be the luck of the draw; there's load of gorgeous quiet places in Majorca but I once had the misfortune of being on what appeared to be the Ryanair Manchester to Magaluf shuttle. Never again! Confused

ThinWomansBrain · 01/05/2023 20:44

It wasn't Benidorm, but I once went on holiday with a friend to somewhere equally tacky sounding who'd been lent the holiday cottage of a friend of a friend.
One evening we viewed the tacky tourist strip quite early on, but other than that ate in or a quiet restaurant, had a fab time.

Erex · 01/05/2023 20:45

As others have said, the old town is quite nice and there are plenty of places nearby you could visit for a day.
I do sympathise though, I used to live in Spain and went to Benidorm with a friend to see how bad it really was. The popular holiday areas weren't great if I'm honest, it was like a British seaside resort but with more sun. 😂 I made an order in a cafe, in Spanish, and was asked "so, erm, just a cheese sandwich and a Coke then, yeah?" 😅

IHeartGeneHunt · 01/05/2023 20:47

I went to Benidorm a couple of years ago and thought the same, but it's really lovely if you stay in the old town and you can easily avoid the clubbing and drinking parts- I don't drink alcohol and I still loved it.
It's very clean, very friendly and I'm going back again next year!

Oblomov23 · 01/05/2023 20:47

I'm going in a couple of of weeks. Chose to go. The stereotypical nastiness doesn't need to apply here. It has loads of great parts, good food, tasty tapas, great weather. What's not to like?

Eaternotbaker · 01/05/2023 20:54

It really won’t be that bad. There is something for everyone. I have been, it was very safe because there are both the local and national police who visibly patrol. The beach and promenade are kept spotless. There are a wide choice of bars and venues. Some rowdy others quaint. There will be lots of Spanish holidaymakers there too, so a real mix. As others have said the old town is lovely and playa poniente is gorgeous . Go with an open mind and you may have a good time xx

Original poster
BeebleBums · 01/05/2023 20:55

Ok thanks everyone.
Feeling less panicked, thank you!!

OP posts:
Stressedafff · 01/05/2023 21:02

It’s Benidorm, hardly a tour of Afghanistan so no need to “panic”

FernGully43 · 01/05/2023 21:06

I lived in Alicante for a year. Jump on the tram and visit San Juan for a day, south of benidorm. It's beautiful and quiet there

Enfys1982 · 01/05/2023 21:17

The flight to Alicante is only two hours long. Who cares if there’s a load of stag and hens on it? I’d rather that than a load of screaming kids.

lunaloveroo · 01/05/2023 21:27

Holiday is what you make it, parts of Benidorm are lovely and not rowdy. It is cheaper than other parts of Spain though so maybe why it was booked?

GirlOfTudor · 01/05/2023 21:42

Oh good grief. What a stuck up post 🤦🏽‍♀️

gypsytrampandthief · 01/05/2023 21:45

Oh good grief. What a stuck up post

This.

Curtains70 · 01/05/2023 21:46

Sending thoughts and prayers about your break away in the sun with your friends 🤣

TeenLifeMum · 01/05/2023 21:49

Dh and I spent a day there accidentally once (long story) and had a fab day - beautiful beach and lovely Chinese food for dinner. While it wouldn’t be my top choice we actually had a lovely time and didn’t see any drunken antics.

Sugarfish · 01/05/2023 21:50

Aww just try and embrace it OP! I’ve been a few times and it’s been a lot of fun. It’s not as full on as Magaluf for example. More of an older crowd and lots of tribute acts. Yes they’ll be sillyness and you’ll see some sights but just go with it! You’ll only be there for a little while

Elaine450 · 01/05/2023 21:50

I thought you were going to tell us you'd won the postcode lottery. 🤑

YouWonJayne · 01/05/2023 21:58

The old town is absolutely gorgeous.

Theres plenty of lovely places in Benidorm - it’s about knowing where to go and where to avoid.

WallaceinAnderland · 01/05/2023 22:19

You can walk south (or take a bus) to a little cove called La Cala which has bars and restaurants on the beachfront but is quieter than Benidorm. If you want a day out go to Guadalest which is very pretty. Also, the waterfalls at Algar is a nice trip.

Benidorm itself is quite big and the stag groups are not usually on the sea front but further back in the town. The old town is nice. The beach is beautiful. I wouldn't bother with a boat to Peacock Island as there's nothing there.

Itwasnaeme · 01/05/2023 22:21

I love this part of Benidorm

Just found out I’m off to Benidorm.
Doggydarling · 01/05/2023 22:23

A few year ago dh and I ended up there with ds and his gf. We were at our house (holiday home shared with my dp's) further south and my db, sil and kids arrived unexpectedly, house is big enough to take us all but we didn't fancy it so just got into the car and drove. Stayed in a lovely little hotel called Roca-Mar and had a lovely surprisingly quiet time. Out looking for somewhere to eat one night we ended up in an Indian restaurant that had long tables and benches, you sat where there was room beside strangers and the craic was brilliant, the food was good, the wine flowed and everyone was in great form. The old town is nice to stroll around and the beach better than I expected. We did spend some time people watching and trying to match people to the characters in the TV programme Benidorm. I'd go back without hesitation, not for a week but a long weekend, no problem.

Squidlette · 01/05/2023 23:01

I'm well past clubbing days and my musical taste has never been club music anyway. Still didn't manage to get in before 4am on any of the nights we were there. Had my first 3am kebab in about 20 years. I'm mid 40s. Just go with the flow and enjoy the bonkers vibe.

StillWantingADog · 01/05/2023 23:08

My best friend who is NOT a Benidorm sort of person recently went- not deliberately but their original trip somewhere else was canceled and it was the only alternative available apparently.

anyway she was pleasantly surprised and really liked it.

ladygindiva · 01/05/2023 23:16

I know a couple ( late 50s, quiet, well travelled) who have been to benidorm multiple times and insist that it's one of their favourite places and don't understand the bad rep it has. Apparently it's quite easy to avoid the trashy parts and there's lots of really lovely areas.