Why so defensive?

I see nothing wrong with anyone being defensive or supportive of a resort which they love. Nor do I see anything wrong with negative but constructive feedback from those who have tried it and don't like the resort or a specific hotel in that resort.

However, I think there is a major difference between being defensive and being offensive. It is not acceptable that a few should somehow try and justify their opinions of Benidorm by being rude, insulting or argumentative towards those who dare to hold different views. The tone of some forum responses recently just demeans and invalidates what might otherwise have been an interesting opinion or worthwhile discussion.

Whilst those unfortunate attitudes are not representative of this forum or of the site as a whole, I am receiving far too many complaints from members who are now reluctant to post their questions or opinions in the forum for fear of having their comments disected with the possibility of being publicly embarrassed, humiliated, or insulted by others. That is not acceptable and things must change.

David

Sanji,I like you many years ago did not fancy going to Benidorm,my first holiday there was in 1996,since then hubby and I go twice a year,and have made lots of friends,people back here ask me why I go to the same place every year,I tell them because we love it there,like you say it gets a bad name,but every place has a few problems,but we hope to spend many more happy times there,going for 2 months.April and May,so looking forward to that..... Rosietulip

yes agree david but i just got slated on the menorca site because i did not like it mind you i am glad i never liked it. cause i would never have found a wonderfull place like benidorm. i was one of the many people who said i am not going to benni it a concrete jungle how wrong was i. as another poster says never judge a place until you have been witch i did how wrong could i of been roll on july the rosamar hotel he i come woo hoo

I started this topic because I was mentally stimulated not insulted by zebedee's remarks, as I said at the outset, I found her posts articulate and coherant (and I still don't know whether I spelt that right).

I am another 'convert' to Benidorm. Since my visit to France in 1968 (I was 17) I have been to many diverse places around the world, both work and leisure. When I was invited to Benidorm in January 2003, I was a Benidorm virgin, and I was scared stiff! By the second day there, I was ashamed of myself, me, a person who for years has argued vehemently about how gullible we can be to the press and the media, and realising that I had been taken in myself.

I would not for one minute suggest that it is an ideal place for everyone, just as not everywhere is ideal for me. Ju33les and myself love the place, it is where we fell in love, we go back three times a year. Benidorm and the surrounding area has something, somewhere, which you would find in many other places - the difference is that it is all accessible in the same place.

Ju33les and I love a wide variety of things: we can be serious and stupid; formal and informal; quiet and loud; we can speak to anyone about anything, whether it be deep and meaningful or tittle tattle, that is why we love the place and keep going back there.

Am I defensive? I suppose I am like the quiet evangelical, I believe in the place, but I don't shove it down other peoples' throats, yet I speak freely about it, and do not react with animosity to silly, unfounded comments. Some of the people I interract with in my business activities may find it strange that a person like me not only likes the place, but goes there often. This in itself may well pose a question as to what the place is really like.

Benidorm isnt at all like the Blackpool of today. I have been there in every season, Febbuary, May, October,and for 5 school holiday weeks 3 summers on the run. I have swam in the sea with kids at 11pm on a well lit beach full of families, feeling safer than I ever would during the daytime in Blackpool or any other resort I have visited (and Ive visited many places believe me)
I have never once in Benidorm seen anyone fighting, or mugged, yet Ive stayed at the Ambassor Player opposite all-night bars, several times up in the Flamingo Playa area and I've spent 6 summer weeks altogther in the Triangle area.
I dont sleep well even after a few drinks, and have sat on balconies til 4am many times, so its not as if Ive slept through it all.

Benidorm has something for everyone, as people have said and it has also regained its popularity with the Spanish holiday maker too.

I personally will be giving Benidorm a miss for a while, partly because although I love the place and will maybe retire there, I feel I need to see more places first, (although last time I thought like this I regretted it and went back to benidorm) and also because we have always spent most evenings in Panchos with Phil, a place I cannot bring myself to enter yet.

The Benidorm programme is crass and carp, I wince when I watch it, and only watch it for the sights. (not the sights of people wearing ill fitting swimwear either).

"(not the sights of people wearing ill fitting swimwear either)."

That's what you say, we know the truth.

I only watch it for the swinging tips!!!

I have been to Benidorm, the reason i didnt like it was due to it being too large, too busy, too many high rise buildings and busy road, i didnt like the noise........the beaches were nice and well kept, but again way too many people for me

I prefer a little greek island and if someone said that's my idea of a holiday from hell - then fine by me

I really dont understand this defensive stance at all - so what if someone doesnt like where you holiday?

May I ask why you are even posting in this site dedicated to Benidorm and the Costa Blanca if you don't like the place.

Sorry but imo you're not a 'new' user, I smell a rat.

"I prefer a little greek island"

Very strange then that this is the 1st board you choose to visit and post on then isn't it, I would have thought you'd have wanted to have visited 'a little greek island's' board.

well i was interested in the television program actually

and i thought i would give my opinion - but it seems like ive said on the other thread that you dont like it

thanks for the nice welcome

Pleasure

Hello Sammy, I have been to a beautiful Greek Island called Andros, and I will visit it again when I can get there - no company is running it at the moment, so far too much organisation and expensive add-ons.

Hi Dorm - well its what i prefer - but i wouldnt mind if people didnt like it!!!!

i will have to look up Andros

actually my Mum and Dad loved Benidorm, they went every winter and stayed for weeks.....the climate suited them and they loved a walk along the prom

welcome Sammy!

I think the problem is a lot of people say things that they have only heard about!
It's like your little Greek Isle. It wouldn't seem fair if someone said they wouldn't go there after watching Shirley valentine because it's full of sleazy Greek men with mustaches and you have to put your loo paper in a bin!

Oh and don't worry about people slating you, it happens quite often on here! You just need to remember it's just words on a pc screen and most would never speak that way to your face! It does seem though theres a lot of bitchiness going on!
anyway cheers!

She's been exposed as a wind up merchant on another thread.

Yeah I just saw.
To Be honest I keep forgetting which of the two threads I've been posting on! lol

I am only defensive when someone who has been to any resort I have been to, and say its awful, and then when I ask them "did they see so and so", and they say "no", "we stayed in our Hotel most the time".

A couple of my relatives went to Beni about 3 years ago, and believe it or not they never even made it to the beach, let alone the old town, and now all I hear is Beni was awful, and they were ill whist they were there ( Beni's fault again) and the usual all high rise buildings comments, and that they would never go back again. I can honestly say I have enjoyed all my Hols, both home and abroad, except Devon Cliffs and Tenby, but think this was because of time of year we went. And the Canaries are the only place I wouldn't go back to now, due to having found Beni for our Xmas hols, and other times of the year there are loads more resorts to choose from.

I am more defensive of Beni though, and always feel I have to justify why I have been going for 9 years at Xmas time, and get the "there's better places then there! And I say ""I've been to most of these other places, and they are not better for me" and its always from people who have never been away at Xmas.

So roll on Xmas, all being well we will be in Beni for our 10 time.

Lizzie.