Hi all, I will be going over to Denia for 2 weeks over Christmas and new year and was thinking that Denia might be a bit quiet at new year so i was thinking about heading down to Benidorm for a couple of day for the bells. I have been reading the posts on this thread with interest and i think my mind has been made up, i will be travelling with my 2 kids 6 and 11 and my wife and her parents who do like a drink so i was hoping that someone could recommend me a hotel with great entertainment at that time of year.
Thanks , Stephen.

Roll up folks.....
Who's going to be in Benidorm for Christmas and maybe the New Year.?

I am
anyone else.?

SanJi x

Hi Sanji i am going as well lol boxing day we go and return jan 7th can't wait.

Hi Sanji, we are going to Benidorm 28th dec till 4th January. Maybe some year we will get there for Christmas too, when the family are settled and stay at home, till then we make the most of New Year.

Stephen has posted just above looking for hotel recommendations. Are any of you New Year visitors able to suggest any which are not already mentioned in the thread ?

David

I have just looked on the Thomson website and these hotels are available from Durham Tees Valley on 19/12.Has anyone been to these hotels at Christmas?.The Regente £269,Ambassador and Pelecanos £289,Dalmatus £355.I have stayed at the Dalmatus and seen Sanjis videos but if is going to be affected by the total smoking ban,even though I dont smoke I would rather go to a hotel which is still "lively".I am still debating whether to go away for Christmas after having a holiday from Hell in Portugal last year.

Perhaps this is a bit off thread, but when we stayed at the Dalmatas coming down to the ground floor was like entering an ashtray, everyone was puffing away and although the food was excellent in a very professionally run dining room, the place was a bit jaded.

That said I am not having a go at anyone who smokes I have had a lot of pleasure from sixty a day, The best poster on here by a long way is Sanji with a wealth of knowledge of Benidorm and the Dalamatas, they will be sorry to lose her, that said i won't go again.

Wishing you all a very merry xmas and a happy new year !

Are'nt I a silly old sod

Dave.

If anyone is staying in an apartment in Beni over the Christmas period, and are wondering what to do about a Christmas meal, I can totally recommend the one at Los Amigos Chinese Restaurant (opposite the Ambassador Hotel). We had a fantastic meal there with decent wine, champagne and liquers included. There was loads of food - too much really - and it was about 15Euros each. We thought that as it was our first time away for Christmas that we would go the whole hog and do something entirely different for our Christmas meal by having it Chinese style. We were not disappointed and did the same thing the following year. My Mum who is in her 80's thoroughly enjoyed herself (mind you a trip to Los Amigos was a must for her duirng any Beni holiday)

Be warned though, don't eat too late, because there is so much delicious food we had to walk some of it off before we felt like having a few drinks!!

Hi Stephen
Sorry I missed your post my excuse is that my post had been moved and didn't originally follow yours

This is just my opinion, but it depends on what type of board you want.

If you had been going without the kids, then I could have recommended loads of hotels, but because you are taking the kids, then I personally would say the hotel Pelicanos.
It is a very cosmopolitan hotel, people from all Nations go there and they certainly seem to always have a fair share of children staying in the hotel, whatever time of the year.

If you are wanting All Inclusive, then it has to be the hotel Flamingo Oasis.

I'm basing these views on the fact that whenever I have gone into these hotels, there has always been plenty of "activities" on the board for kids and adults.

At this time of the year, alot of the guests are of the mature type and some hotels tend to gear the entertainment towards this age group only.

Both these hotels are in the new town, (levante)

Other posters may have different views and hotel recommendations, but if I had children, or I should say Grandchildren, then those hotels would be the first on my list.

Regards
SanJi x

Hi Sanji no problem and thanks for that. I did have a look on the flamingo oasis owen web site but when i put in the dates that i would want to stay being the 31st and the 1st it came back saying that there was no availability for those dates not sure if that's normal for that time of year or if it is just because i am just booking 2 nights, i will try pelicanos and see what i come up with there. Thanks again Sanji.
Stephen.

Hi Stephen

not sure if that's normal for that time of year

The one word answer to that...is yes!
Benidorm is very popular at Christmas/New Year time and we had a poster on here saying the place was dead....well, they always say that the camera doesn't lie, so have a look at the video that I made on Christmas day, this will give you an idea of just how popular Benidorm is.

People have to realise that the Spanish themselves flock there for Christmas and New Year, some going home on the 2nd January to spend "their" equivalent of "Christmas" on the 6th January with their families....so they have the best of both worlds.!

If I was you, then I would try a different route, either by phoning the hotel,( rather than going through the booking process on the net,) or do a bed search via other companies.
Same applies to the Pelicanos but, it may be the case that the hotel is actually booked up.

Hope you find somewhere, I'm sure with perseverance, that you will.

Regards
Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

hi stephen ,flamingo oasis is available for those 2 nights but would cost £460 for 2 adults and 2 children,thats all inclusive,the pelicanos would be £310 for 3 people,kev

I have just looked on the Thomson website and these hotels are available from Durham Tees Valley on 19/12.Has anyone been to these hotels at Christmas?.The Regente £269,Ambassador and Pelecanos £289,Dalmatus £355.I have stayed at the Dalmatus and seen Sanjis videos but if is going to be affected by the total smoking ban,even though I dont smoke I would rather go to a hotel which is still "lively".I am still debating whether to go away for Christmas after having a holiday from Hell in Portugal last year.

A few points about the Los Dalmatas......The staff and the standard of food/service in the dining room, is first class....but the hotel is ready for refurbishment and there is no doubt about that.
It is going to be refurbished and extended, but the date could not be confirmed and knowing the Spanish, it could be manana, next year or 5 years, but it is going to happen.!
I have stayed in the los Dalmatas at Christmas/New year and I've thoroughly enjoyed it....otherwise we wouldn't have returned year after year.
The xmas and new year gala dinners are excellent and would cost you an absolute fortune to eat the equivalent in a top London restaurant and believe me, they are good enough to serve in a London Restaurant.
After the gala dinners there is an "open bar" with entertainment "brought in" and the resident group/duo.
The staff work their @ss off all night long and last year everybody in that hotel rose to their feet and applauded the head chef, as he walked in the restaurant at the end of the meal...on both occasions.

I'll very briefly explain that when the smoking ban came into force on 1st Jan...the hotel completely lost the atmosphere overnight.
What was a packed room one night became virtually empty thereafter...until I came home on the 7th Jan....and as I have stated previously, it wasn't much better in April & June.
I'm sure that people will stay in the hotel on the free bar nights and a jolly time will be had by all, but I'm going with an "open mind" this Xmas and will adjust my leisure time accordingly.

This Christmas will be the first since the introduction of the smoking ban, therefore several hotels which have adopted a total ban....will all have to see the effect on the numbers of guests, because the full effects due to the summer weather and people sitting outside, as oppose to the cold nights in December, have yet to be seen.
I guess this IS something that even I as a smoker will just have to get used too, the distant drums tell me, that within 5 years Spain will have a total ban.

I've not stayed in the Hotel Regente at Christmas, but I did go inside talking to people just after Xmas and I was sooo impressed that it made me book this hotel for June and I even ended up spending my silver wedding anniversary there.

Having walked out of the Dalmatas and into the hotel Regente, the friendly festive atmosphere smacked me right between the eyes and that IMO is something that you cannot buy .!"¦the hotel has a designated area for smokers that separates the 2 groups without making the smokers feel like lepers and giving non-smokers the right to enjoy the hotels immenities in a smoke free zone, but going back to this hotel a few days later in the evening, it was obvious that the smokers were staying in the hotel and contributing to the atmosphere.
Being a Thomson exclusive hotel, then all the guests will be British and I picked up a copy of the menu for the gala meal that someone had left under a table .it was a "typical" British Christmas dinner, eg: Turkey, stuffing, sprouts etc and NO ONE had a bad word to say about it, they all said it had been an excellent meal and good value for money.
The hotel Dalmatas on the otherhand, having guests from all over the globe, caters for an international audience, eg, Lobster, turkey and red cabbage and not one sprout !

This is the menu for last years Christmas Gala dinner at the hotel Dalmatas.
Chef`s frivolities
Early Vegetable Soup
Monkfish supreme with prawns
Lemon sorbet with Cava
Traditional Christmas turkey Risolee
(chestnuts,glazed red cabbage and dutchess potatoes)
Yule Log
Christmas Pudding
Sweets
White wine- Red Wine.
Mineral Water
Cava. and finally, Coffee.

I cannot comment on the Pelicanos, but again, we have walked in to say "hello" to some friends that we acquired from our stay in previous years (who work there) and the place was buzzing, however, this year and this hotel also adopting a total ban then I wouldn't like to say.

There is a really friendly festive atmosphere that takes over the town and watching people walking the length of the promenade wearing their santa hats and trinkets ...and everyone wishing you ¡ Feliz Navidad y Feliz Ano Nuevo! is lovely....even the disabled adorn their wheelchairs with tinsel.

For me personally, until I have grandchildren, then there is nothing to keep me in the UK at this time of the year, where I probably wouldn't go through the door and end up being a personal cook/slave for the family.
I'd much rather walk by the sea....anytime.!

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Hi all

I will be flying out on the 21st dec with my hubbie and 2 kids and returning on 4th Jan, So I am looking forward to a rather different (I hope) Xmas and Newyear. We are staying at the Hotel Flamingo which I hope will be ok.I am a bit surprised to find out that all the main attractions are closed as it will also be my daughters birthday and was hoping to take her to teramittica but it is closed so if anyone has any idea's they will be gratefully received.

Regards Heidi

Hi Kevin, can you tell me is that booking direct with the hotel or through an agent , if agent what one.
Stephen

stephen ,that booking is with thomsons accomodation only,go to thomsons website and click on hotels, then put in your dates and it will bring up all available hotels,good luck

Cheers Kevin.
Stephen.

stephen ,staying another night in oassis,2nd january will only cost another £74 for 4 people

Thanks kevin i will have a look .