Benidorm is a place we always seem to return to. if you want a nice holiday..then this is the place, lots to do.

Benidorm is a great place for couples and families alike and bridges all age gaps. It must come close to being one of the best entertainment places ever with clubs and bars open till 5/6am offer varied high quality uk act ( the comedians are especially good) the beach is very clean and it is well worth a walk along the promenade to the old town to view the fantastic sculptures made of sand

The resort of Benidorm has everything, no complaints whatsoever.

Levante area - beach stretched for miles. Plenty to do.
weather was fab. Will go back.

Love Benidorm, will be going again and again.

The resort is fairly clean but lets it self down by allowing people to give out flyers out side bars and clubs, which just get dumped on the pavement.

The entertainment is very good, some of the acts have been in Benidorm for years it is time some new acts are brought in.

Benidorm is a place that if you have not been to before, then you will fall into one of two categories.

(1) You will fall in love with the resort and will want to go back over and over again.

(2) You will hate the place and never want to return.

I fall into the first category. I have been to Benidorm several times over the past twenty years and at the end of each holiday I cannot wait to return. There is so much to do and see, and there is something for everyone. However, depending on what you are looking for then when you decide to go is very important. If you are young and travel with loads of friends then you will want to go during the height of the Summer Season. If you are, I'll put this as politely as possible.....in receipt of your Pension then you would be best to go during the Winter Season....perhaps booking a Long Stay Holiday of three or more weeks over the Christmas and New Year period.
Benidorm as two wonderful beaches....the Poniente and the Levante. The former is in the Old Town and is where you will find most of the Spanish Tourists and the homes and apartments of the Hotel workers. Loads of Tapas Bars to explore here. The latter is in the New Town as is where you will find most of the British staying. Its much more lively and its here where you will find most of the Bars, Clubs, Shops and Restaurants.
There really is something for everyone in Benidorm. Unfortunately though most of the touristy shops are now owned and run by Chinese and Asian people (nothing wrong there I hasten to add), and they do tend to sell very cheap, tacky tired old souvenirs.....a lot of rubbish actually, but the clothes shops are good and there are many bargains to be found. Don't be taken in by the signs which advertise "Todos Un Euro" (Everything 1 Euro)....as once you get inside the prices rise quite steeply. Booze and Cigarettes are cheap and there are numerous shops in which to find these.
Yes there are Tower Blocks everywhere.....and this is where Benidorm gets its "Concrete Jungle" name from.....its often referred to as 'Beniyork' due to its resemblance of New York. Please do not be put off by the towers though. You are in a Cosmopolitan City and thats that. There will also be building work taking place somewhere in Benidorm....new Hotels and Apartments rising from the ground to join al, the others so one sound you will become familiar with is the 'pile-driving'. You get used it though and I am confident it should not spoil your holiday but if you refer to the Hotel Reviews on this site you should know before you book where building work is taken place. As I write this building work is currently taken place in the Street that has the Indoor Market and Underground Car Park and all the Hotels in this area WILL suffer from constant pile driving thump thumps from early morning to early evening. Try to avoid booking into The Calypso, Sol Pelicanos and the Ambassador Playa, as these hotels are all within earshot of this building work.
There are now FOUR Theme Parks within easy reach of the Resort:- TERRA MITTICA (Currently only open at weekends), TERRA NATURA, MUNDOMAR and AQUALANDIA (Closed for the Winter season). I would advise you to refer to the Parks own websites for more information but I can recommend them all, EXCEPT Terra Natura....which is just basically a glorified Zoo, and not recommended if you are an Animal-Lover.
Unfortunately Benidorm does tend to let itself down on cleanliness. The pavements are very filthy and in desperate need of a good scrub! Potholes and loose paving slabs are also a problem. There is also a few areas that have been let to go to rack and ruin which good be turned into nice quiet parks......one such place is on the road leading down by the Rio Park and through to the Pueblo.
The small road beside the Pueblo and behind the Centro (I think its called) supermarket is very filthy, with old mattresses and graffiti covered walls. You will also see tramps 'dosing-down' here.
The so called Zebra Crossings....which are NOT zebra crossings as we know them, well the white stripes have clearly not been painted for years and have almost worn away from the constant stream of vehicles and pedestrians using them.
Please do not be put off by what you have just read. Benidorm is still a magical place and I am sure you will love it, but the Authorities could pay a little more attention to tidying up what they already have as opposed to building yet more tower blocks.
Benidorm is also very proud of its newest hotel....the Hotel Grand Bali which boasts to be the tallest Hotel (with 52 floors) in Europe. You can pay €5 and take a trip in the exterior glass elevator all the way to the roof, or just €1 if you are a guest at the Hotel....apparantley the views from the top are breathtaking but as I have not been up there myself I cannot pass comment.
If you fancy a really good night out, then you must visit the Benidorm Palace....I think its around €25-€30 Euros per person but well worth it for the extravaganza of a show. 'The Rich Bitch' ( the subject of a BBC 'fly on the wall' documentary a few years back ) is also a great evening out, but as its such a popular show you are best advised to book up as soon as you arrive in resort.
Pick up a free copy of 'Around Town' when you arrive at Alicante for lots of advise on what to do and see in Benidorm.
Getting around Benidorm is quite simple on local buses...90cents each trip. Agree the fare with Taxi Drivers BEFORE you get into their vehicles as some do tend to take advantage of tourists and do not switch on their meters, so you could be 'stung' for a fare you can't afford if you don't first agree a price.
Please IGNORE the 'Pea-men'....let me explain. These are a group of con-men who set up a table on street corners and then get you to guess under which cup the pea is. Whilst you are watching him spin the cups around an accomplice will be picking your pocket. If you see these men, cross over the other side of the road and do NOT get involved.....you WILL loose your valuables if you do.
Please also be careful when crossing the Aviendo De Medeterraneo....its the main road running right through Benidorm, and it is always busy with fast moving traffic. There are pedestrian traffic lights but Spanish drivers rarely take any notice of them. Also watch out for parked cars.....it seems to be the norm in Benidorm to just pull up and switch on the hazard lights and thats it.....'I'm parked'!!. Even if that means double parking and parking on street corners and even just stopping in the middle of the road.
Benidorm also boasts a twice weekly market...Wednesdays and Sundays. It attracts visitors from all over the resort and as such does get VERY crowded and you do need to be on your guard for petty thieves and pick-pockets....only take as much money as you think you will need with you. Leave everything else of value in your safety deposit box. The market can be found right next to the Benidorm Pueblo Hotel (NO longer called the Barcelo Pueblo as it has now been acquired by the Servigroup of hotels).
All in all, Benidorm is a great place for a holiday where you can do as much or as little as you like. I recommend it to all.
Hope this report helps you decide when you are booking. Many thanks for reading it.

The weather is very nice, there are tones of great shops to go to, the beach aint far away from Rio Park, loads of great bars to go to like Titanic, which has lovely food, entertanment and drinks.

Benidorm has lovely and friendly people everywhere, you can make loads of friends there. Its a great place and Rio Park is a great hotel to go on your holidays!!!! WE LOVE BENIDORM!!!! xxxxxxxx

Benidorm is a place you will either hate or love there is no in between, and it changes at the time of year you visit.January to May OAP,May to September,familes and youths,September to November, Middle Aged.

There are all types of entertainment to suit everbody. Music from Country to Classicial. Entertainers from Frank Carson to the infamous Sticky Vicky.Disco Bars,Themed Bars,Bingo Bars,and also Scots,Ulster, Welsh,Irish, and English Bars.

Also every Premier League club must have its own bar in Benidorm. There is also one of the largest Theme Parks in Spain on the outskirts. To best describe Benidorm is Blackpool in the sun.

Benidorm at first glance is a Hot busy dirty city. However when you realise where the main areas are and the Promenade and the Old town it certainly begins to look a lot better. We have to remember that this is a lerge City and just as many blocks are residential as well as Hotels.

For Entertainment there is Loads for everyone whether you be 18 or 80.

The beach is second to none and the Promenade walk we did daily as did about 2000 other people.

A holiday which we first went on with our 2 young kids in 2005 and now in Aug 2006 we will have been 3 times.
Recommended. and if you do have kids then you need not go too near the rowdy bits.

It can be as quiet or as hectic as you want it to be.
Festilandia is a fairground in the middle of benidorm which is worth a visit my 7yr old and 3 yr old couldnt wait every evening.