off there in the morning the pound got you 123 according to eurochange this morning

i noticed last week benidorm wasnt as busy as the last few times ive been in april

I think if you'd been in Benidorm two weeks before, then you probably wouldn't say Benidorm wasn't busy.
The week you were in Benidorm is the week that usually is Easter, so maybe it seemed quiet if comparing it to previous years, and anyone who has any doubts about either the popularity of the resort or the weather, can have a peek at the video I made called "Benidorm Beaches" in the video library.

I can only speak for myself, but no I won't and never will spend more than 4 hours max sat on a plane and neither will I spend hours on a plane to visit a third world country to save a few bob"¦. my days of staying in poo holes are well and truly gone.

People worry about the crime in Benidorm, but there are places in Europe where you are advised not to leave the complex after dark, and if you could, there is nothing but crime and poverty around you.
The people who book All Inclusive are the winners, once they have paid for their holiday, then they can chose to spend very little outside the hotel and the exchange rate will not affect them as much as the people who book H/B or S/C accommodation.

If you look at the Spanish Med resorts, then Benidorm wins hands down for value for money, entertainment and standards of accommodation, there isn't anywhere else that can come near it.

The exchange rate also affects the Americans and they are having to give roughly 2 dollars for every pound and approx 1.50 dollars for every euro, so there'll not be too many yanks coming over to Britain and Europe for their holidays either, and the Americans that I've met in Spain are usually doing a grand tour of Europe and they spend far more money than the likes of me.

If I was being cynical then I could think that this is a master plan and when or if the situation £1=€1 arises, then Gordon Broon would say it's a good time for Britain to go over to the euro currency, but I read that the door for Britain to change to the euro has been firmly shut in Stockholm because of the deficit that Britain has, and it's so far on the back burner that no politician seems to even want to discuss it these days.

But it's not all doom and gloom as some people would have us believe and if the pound falls much further, then Britain with a softer currency could become less attractive to migrant workers.
Activities located years ago to other parts of Europe when the pound rose sharply against the euro, they might find their way back to these shores and we could see a revival of British manufacturing and with the creation of more jobs, we might actually have less benefits to pay out.

I've just read in the Times newspaper that Thomas Cook are cutting back the holidays in the euro zone, they want us to go to Russia instead talk about a rat leaving a sinking ship, they have the good times and bail out as soon as the going gets tough :roll:"¦.
well again that is not all doom and gloom as they'd have us believe because with less people going to Benidorm, then hoteliers will be begging you to stay in their hotel and some bargains may be on the horizon for those of us who prefer to keeping going back to our favourite resort.

Sanjiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Let's hope you're right Sanji - we could do with a few bargains back to the Flamingo Oasis to have another H.T. meet-up after the last two weeks.

Jean

Make it the 15th of November and I will meet you there.

Looks like we've made a good choice to go AI in November and full board at New Year with the state of the euro. However that won't stop us having the odd meal out.

I found drinks to be quite expensive in some of the bars and it will be even worse now, but that won't stop us. We will still drink the same, which is only 4 or 5 drinks a night, as we go on holiday to enjoy ourselves and not to count pennies.

That said, I think when we go to the Flamingo Oasis we will probably have a few drinks and watch the entertainment in the hotel before hitting the bars later than usual.

As for value, we had a 3 course Chinese lunch for €6.00 each and that included a bottle of wine between us, £4.80 at todays rate.

luci

Sorry Luci it won't be this year. You'll enjoy the entertainment at the F.O. The animation team are really good, especially doing Grease, Mama Mia and skating. Some of them were there last year also. Jake has set up on his own but was in the Piano Bar one night so we had a chat to him.

Jean

sanji, that was a cracking post. Couldn't have put it better myself!
I'm in the levente club apartments in 4 weeks so I'm sc; couldn't give a fig about the ex. rate. If you spend your time thinking about it then you might as well stay at home.

Good post Sanji.

I personally don't think it's quieter in Benidorm this year. To be honest, we have been talking about it being busier so far in 2008. The first quarter of last year was much quieter than this one in my opinion. It definitely wasn't quiet during Fallas! The Spanish come in their droves during the fiesta times.

I'm due out for the 5th time this year on Monday.

We also go to America, and with the £/$ as it is just now it is definitely good value for money. We wouldn't dream of giving up Benidorm though. Even with the poor rate at the moment it is still good value for money. Groceries are cheaper and better quality than we get in England, and who could complain about a pint of beer for 80 pence?