RTN Benidorm - May

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Benidorm: A Stags & Hens Mecca

Win two tickets to Terra Natura!

IF YOU’RE in resort this month and ‘like’ our RTN Benidorm Facebook page you will be entered into a draw to win two tickets to Terra Natura every week!

Turn to page 5

BENIDORM HAS become the Mediterranean’s top destination for Stag & Hen celebrations. A vast range of superb hotels offer great accommodation and service at unbeatable prices.

ink PWeekend

Read the full story on page 27.

THE OLD Town will be holding its ´Pink Weekend´ from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th May. See page 8

Extra Summer police

by Irena Bodnarec

Benidorm to host Fitness Convention More on page 9

BOTH AQUALANDIA and Aqua Natura open their doors for the Summer season on Saturday 24th May. Read more on page 20

RTN Benidorm

www.roundtownnews.com

May 2014

Water Parks

Issue 008 @RTNNewspaper

Entertainer of the month

THIS MONTH we speak with Paul Carnaby who has joined up with Chris Chronos, to take you on a musical journey of British music.

Taste authentic Indian cuisine

See page 26

IF YOU want to taste authentic Indian cuisine while in Benidorm then head to the ´Spice of Life´ Indian restaurant. Page 30

BENIDORM CITY Council are looking to take on ten extra police officers to cover the busy Summer season – 4 months from June to September. The proposal will be the first item for discussion at the next Council meeting and the police union welcomes the news, although emphasize that these should really be permanent year round positions. 150,000€ has been allocated from the budget and one of the requirements will be a good level of English – an important point considering the number of British tourists that visit the resort every Summer.

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MAY 2014

Tel: 902 118 999 • Fax: 96 585 60 54

Oficina Charral, Emilio Ortuño 6, Floor 4, Office 1, Benidorm, Alicante 03501 • Monday Friday 10am - 6pm

DEADLINES; Adverts, copy changes, classifieds and editorial copy: Wednesday 28th May 2014.

CUSTOMER SERVICE: If you are dissatisfied with any aspect of our service you can call 902 118 999 or write to: Oficina Charral, Emilio Ortuño 6, Floor 4, Office 1, Benidorm, Alicante 03501.

TO GET YOUR PAPER: If you any difficulty in getting Round Town News each week please call 902 118 999 or visit our website www.roundtownnews.com for the distribution list.

Edita : Round Town News Group SL Servicios De Impresion S.A.- Deposito Legal : A-466-2013 Vall de Biar 14, 03530 La Nucia, Alicante. Distribution: iDs Logística. info@idssl.es, Alcoycourrier.SL.

t h i s n o s ’ month What OUTLET FAIR

Benidorm will host its second 3 day ´Outlet Fair´. It will be held at the Town Hall Square from Friday 9th May until Sunday 11th May, starting at 11am each day until 10pm on Friday / Saturday and 9pm on the last day.

PINK WEEKEND

All adverts must be prepaid whether they are placed at our offices, by email or fax, or via our sales team. The advertisers full name, address and ID number must be supplied (not for publication). RTN does not accept any responsibility for claims made by advertisers, either in advertisements or advertorials, nor can it be held responsible for any inaccuracies, errors, or the non-appearance of advertisements or advertorials. This publisher cannot accept responsibility for any errors as a result of poor quality artwork or logos supplied by advertisers and no responsibility is accepted for any loss or damage caused by any error or inaccuracy or nonappearance of an advertisement or advertorial. Every effort will be made to ensure the authenticity and accuracy of articles and advertisements in this publication, however the publisher does not accept responsibility for claims or opinions in the same. The publisher does not accept responsibility for opinions expressed by readers in the ‘Mailbox’ section of this newspaper. Reproduction of any part of this newspaper without the consent of the publishers is prohibited.E:&O.E.

´Pink Weekend´ will be held in the Old Town from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th May. There will be 3 days and nights of partying – centered around the main and popular Gay friendly establishments.

ROCK AND ROLL WEEK

If you are a Rock & Roll fan then you are in for a treat from 17th – 24th May. The Marina Hotel in the heart of the Rincon are hosting ´Rockin´In Benidorm´ - a week long extravaganza with a fabulous line up of live entertainment.

MS DAY

This year World MS Day will be held on Wednesday 28th May. It is a global day which aims to raise the awareness of those affected by Multiple Sclerosis – and Benidorm will be marking the occasion with a spectacular fundraising event outside the Indoor Market in the Rincon de Loix.

FITNESS CONVENTION

A ‘Funsport Weekend’ Fitness Convention is planned for 31st May and 1st June in the Plaza de Los Reyes de España and the Auditorio Oscar Esplá. Activities will include group classes, exhibitions and educational talks as well as children’s play areas with inflatables, entertainment workshops and a Saturday night party.

MAY 2014

Cruise Ship destined for Benidorm

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Stars greet their fans

The ´MS Amadea´

by Irena Bodnarec BENIDORM CITY Council has managed to secure the arrival of a Cruise Ship to the resort this Autumn. With a 46% fall in cruise passengers docking at Alicante last year and a failure of any to continue onto Benidorm, the Town Hall took the initiative of attracting ships di-

rectly here by wavering docking fees.

The ´MS Amadea´, a German owned liner will dock on 16th October for five hours and be the fifteenth stop of the itinerary, having departed from Germany on 28th September. The 193 meter vessel will be carrying 880 people – made up of 620 passengers and 260 crew. It will dock in the bay and passengers will be transported to the

harbor at Mal Pas by boat. It will be a fantastic opportunity for local businesses, particularly in the Old Town to showcase all that the resort has to offer and hopefully encourage German tourists to rediscover Benidorm and return here on holiday.

The last large ship to dock in Benidorm was the USS Gettysburg – an American warship back in 2011.

THE CREW have been out filming in Town and spent a day at the Chinese restaurant – Internacional in the Rincon de Loix. Tony Maudsley delighted fans by having a chat and picture between takes – a great memento for them of their holiday to Benidorm!

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MAY 2014

Practical information HERE IS some useful information to help make your holiday in Benidorm safe, worry free and a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

AIRLINE NUMBERS

If you need to contact the airline for any reason these are numbers based in Spain.

Monarch – 800 099 260 free phone number Jet2 - 902 881 269 – calls cost 6.7c per min plus 8.3c connection.

EasyJet – 902 599 900 from Spain – calls cost 8 cents per min from landline Or 0843 104 5000 UK number – calls cost 5p per min

ALSA BUSES

This is the bus which runs to Alicante airport.

You can catch it from either the Avda Europa, outside the Europa Clinica or from the bus station. Departs hourly and on the hour from Avda Europa from 7am until 10pm – but there is NO bus at 9pm: costs 9.45€ one way.

BANKS

In Spain banks only open for half a day, so make sure you go in the morning. Normal opening hours are 8.15am till 2pm, no Saturday opening. All banks have an ATM with an option to change the language into English – press the ‘cambio idiomas’ option.

BRITISH CONSULATE This is located in Alicante – Edf Espacio, Rambla Mendez Nuñez, 6th Floor, Alicante 03002. Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 1.30pm. In an emergency contact 965 216 002: if you have lost or had your passport stolen you will need to go there to obtain an emergency travel document to get you back to the UK, which will take about two hours to process. It will only be valid for that one journey and costs approximately 120€.

BUSES

The local bus service is run by Llorente. You pay the driver and the cost is 1.50€ regardless of distance. Generally the buses run until midnight. The following buses, which all stop on the main Avd Mediterraneo, are probably the ones which you will find most useful - but with baggage you would need to take a taxi as you are not allowed to take luggage onto local public buses.

No 2 - Goes to Carrefour hypermarket and the La Marina Shopping centre No 10 - To Altea via Alfaz del Pi and Albir: a great way to see the local area

BUSINESS HOURS

Most large stores stay open all day but smaller independant shops, particularly in the Old Town will shut at 2pm for lunch then re-open at 5pm until 8pm.

Shops are normally closed on Sundays except for small food stores which open until 2pm.

CHEMISTS

In Spain they are called a ‘Farmacia’. There is a 24hour farmacia on the main Avd Mediterraneo and the staff speaks English. Many local farmacias close over the lunch period from 1.30, re-opening at 5pm. If you need any sort of medication, including asprin or paracetamol, you can only buy them here: supermarkets are not allowed to sell any kind of medicine.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

There are plenty of currency exchange bureau´s in Benidorm. You will need to show your passport the first time thenyou will receive a card to show for subsequent visits, so there is no need to carry your passport with you. Reputable establishments include Eurochange who have several branches, Sheila´s at the indoor market and Wine Barrel on the Avd Mediterraneo. Bank rates are not as good as the exchange bureau´s . Hotels offer the poorest rate so only use for emergencies.

DOCTOR

If you have your EHIC – European Health Insurance Card you are entitled to see the social security doctor free of charge in an emergency, but you must also present your passport with the card. There are two ‘Centro de Salud’ (health centres) in Benidorm you can attend: Rincon de Loix - On Avd Derramador near to the Indoor market Foiettes in the Old Town - Calle Venuzuela La Cala - Avda de Benisa

EMERGENCY NUMBERS 112 is the European equivalent of 999 in the UK Ambulance – 112 Local Police – 966 807 766 or 092 in an emergency National Police – 966 831 930 or 091 in an emergency Guardia Civil – 965 854 475 or 062 in an emergency

EXCURSIONS

See pages 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 & 21

FOOD AND DRINK

See pages 28, 29 & 30

NIGHTLIFE

See pages 24, 25, 26 & 27

POST OFFICE

Again only open for half a day: Monday to Friday 8.30am till 2.30pm and on Saturday 9.30am till 1pm. The post office is located on Avda de L’Aiguera, near the Town Hall in the Old Town.

HOSPITALS

There is only one social security hospital covering Benidorm – the Hospital Marina Baixa, which is actually located in Villa Joyosa, a short distance from the centre of Benidorm (just past La Cala).

However, there are two private hospitals in the centre of Benidorm – you will have to pay for any treatment or you can use your travel insurance if covered.

IMED Levante: located in the Rincon de Loix on Calle Doctor Ramon y Cajal. Telephone number 96 687 8787 Hospital Clinica Benidorm: located in the Old Town on Avd Alfonso Puchades: Telephone number 96 585 3850

REPORTING A CRIME

SATE The Foreign Tourist Assistance Office.

If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of crime this is ideally where you should go to report it.

Located on the first floor of the Tourist Information Office, at the very end of the Poniente Beach in the Old Town. Open Monday to Friday from 9am until 9pm and from 10am until 2pm over the weekend.

They have interpreters on hand and the use of a telephone to call relatives and your insurance company free of charge.

The 24-hour helpline is 902 102 112.

TELEPHONE

The International dialling code for Spain is 0034. If you wish to call the UK you need to prefix with 0044.

TOURIST INFOS There are 3 operational offices run by the Town Hall and 2 run by Round Town Travel. They can offer help, advine and information on making the most of your time in anda round Benidorm. You can pick up maps and leaflets of attractions and places to visit at any of the following offices.

Main Tourist Information Centre – located at the end of Levante Beach on the edge of the Old Town.

Contact number: 965 851 311 / 965 853 224 Opening times: Mon – Fri 10.00 – 21.00 / Sat

Getting there with ALSA

MAY 2014

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HIGH-VOLUME passenger traffic from Spain’s airports requires a reliable, frequent airport shuttle service to major cities, especially in the busy holiday season.

LUCKILY ALSA provides a swift and comfortable transfer with the added convenience for outgoing passengers of being able to leave the car at home, avoiding those pesky parking fees. ALSA stops are always handy at a central airport location, as close as possible to the terminal.

Booking an ALSA ticket couldn’t be easier, via www.alsa.es which is packed full of useful information

and where you can print out a ticket receipt and find insurance information as well as baggage advice. You can also purchase tickets by calling 902 422 242, at ALSA’s point of sales and on board ALSA buses. The first bus from Benidorm leaves at 7am and then on every hour up to 10pm.

Transit services from Valencia Manises and Elche Inter-

Win two tickets to Terra Natura!

IF YOU’RE in resort this month and ‘like’ our RTN Benidorm Facebook page you will be entered into a draw to win two tickets to Terra Natura every week!

Benidorm’s Terra Natura adventure park is home to exotic animals and birds with dozens of attractions, expertly laid out to ensure you get to see everything: an enjoyable and educational day

out! Names are drawn at random every Friday for ‘likes’ received the previous Thursday to Friday.

Winners will be notified by Private Message (PM) on Facebook and tickets may be collected from RTN’s central Benidorm office.

So to win your tickets, simply go online and search RTN Benidorm on Facebook and like our page. Good luck.

national at Alicante cover Murcia, Villajoyosa, Benidorm, Altea and Calpe.

Busplus is ALSA’s popular ‘loyalty club’ – you can earn points that are redeemable to qualify for special discounts and personalised offers. And you also get to wait for your connection in comfort in ALSA’s ‘Supra rooms’. You can join Busplus for free – see www.alsa.es for details.

Free Trips

IN AN article last month about the Protest Rally, it was mentioned that in clearing up the streets of Benidorm, “unregulated sellers” were being targeted as one of those groups. We in no way are insinuating that all “Free Trips” are classified as such and recommend if you want to take advantage of one, then use the Round Town Travel Shops to book yours – where professional and knowledgeable staff will advise you on your options.

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may 2014

New Trail Euroconverters

The disappearance of Benidorm’s beautiful beaches GREENPEACE HAS warned that as a result of climate change and the melting processes taking place in the Arctic, the sea could eat away at the Spanish coast by up to 700m inland by 2100.

“The loss of 700m of land would encroach upon the coastal life of towns such as Marbella, Benidorm and San Sebastian if leaders do not move quickly to stop it,” warned Spain’s Greenpeace Director Mario Rodriguez.

WORST SCENARIO

NEW TRAIL Euroconverters offer antiques and second hand goods for resale.

During the summer months they will open in the evenings from 4pm and they will also be in the local market on Sundays from 9am until 4pm.

Visit the Craft Booth for inspiration and enjoy a range of bars offering home-made Chilean cuisine as well as traditional Paella, not forgetting delicious home-made cakes and pastries.

And on weekends there is live music featuring different local artists as well as Karaoke and jam sessions!

Find Euroconverters at Avenida de Albir, Rotunda Excalibur, next to Restaurant Trinquet or call 603 14 64 56 for more information. See their advert opposite.

To illustrate the point, ecologists have constructed a dark and depressing ‘worst scenario’ virtual image of the Benidorm coast without its splendid beaches, showing the effects of the encroachment of the ocean and how it could wipe out coastal life as we know it.

The latest IPCC report states that maximum temperatures in Spain will rise between 5ºC and 8ºC over the course of the 21st Century and Greenpeace adds that Southern Europe is especially vulnerable with the likelihood of climate change negatively affecting tourism, agriculture, forestry, infrastructure, energy and public health.

FIRES Another alarming aspect is the de-

Before and after

terioration of land, already intense in some areas of the Mediterranean.

Along with prolonged drought periods and increased incidents of scrub fires, this will contribute to a greater risk of

desertification in the future.

Rodriguez concluded: “This is a stubborn reality that cannot be overcome with silence. There is no doubt about it Spain is walking into extreme weather.”

may 2014

MS Day acknowledged

Elaine, Howard and Vikki

by Irena Bodnarec THIS YEAR World MS Day will be held on Wednesday 28th May. It is a global day which aims to raise the awareness of those affected by Multiple Sclerosis – and Benidorm will be marking the occasion with a spectacular fundraising event outside the Indoor Market in the Rincon de Loix.

Last year was the first time that the day was marked, yet still managed to raise an amazing 3,400€ - and this year their target is 5,000€. A fantastic day of

events is being planned, with many of Benidorm´s favourite entertainers giving their time for free.

The people making it happen are 3 local business owners within the Indoor Market – Howard Stirrup of ´Just Denise Curtains´, Vikki Caton of ´Hepburns Hair, Nail, Beauty salon & Barbers´ and Elaine of ´Sheila´s Money Exchange´.

They are organizing a non-stop day of free entertainment, starting at 9am on the busy corner entrance of the Indoor Market. There will be plenty of seating, enabling you to sit and relax and local

bars and cafes from within the market will be providing food at special rates – with all profits going to the fundraiser. A raffle with some fantastic prizes, donated by local businesses will also help bolster the fundraiser – tickets can be bought from many of the shops before the day, so dig deep for this very worthy cause.

Some of the Benidorm cast have promised, filming schedule allowing of course, to pop in throughout the course of the day – so you never know who you may be rubbing shoulders with!

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Pink Weekend k n i P 8

MAY 2014

THE OLD Town will be holding its ´Pink Weekend´ from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th May. It is a great introduction to the beginning of the busy season and a little mid season prequel to the main Benidorm Pride week, which takes place in September – originally it was October.

THE OLD Town area is fast becoming a destination hotspot for the Gay community, not only in Spain but across Europe too. There will be 3 days and nights of partying – centered around the main and popular Gay friendly establishments such as Sensations, People and Casa Don Juan. Although Pink Weekend does not include a parade or a main stage, the local bars all group together, decorating the bars and streets.

Each bar will be organizing fun and outrageous events

– just turn up and join in. Get into the mood by dressing up – the more flamboyant and sparkly, the better! There will be plenty of pink themed parties and other events, including drink promotions and special drag shows. Sensations will even have a ´Pink Bingo´ on Sunday afternoon, hosted by drag queens Miss Ricardi Breezer and Miss Stella Artois. It´s a great opportunity for everyone to get together, party and paint the town – guess what colour, yes PINK!

Benidorm App for Mobiles

By Irena Bodnarec THE BENIDORM Tourism Foundation have launched a mobile App for smartphones and tablets, called ´Now Benidorm´. The device, for iPhone, iPad, Android smartphones and Android tablets, once downloaded will be available offline even with no Internet connection.

It will allow the user to access information on tourist destinations, places of interest, current events, a hotel, restaurants and a shopping guide in addition to useful information such as chemist locator, bus timetable and bike rental availability. There is a map locator which can pinpoint where you are in relation to where you want to go – helping you decide the best and quickest route.

Currently the App is available in 3 languages: Spanish, English and Russian and has 300 local businesses on board, with more being added weekly. You will soon also be able to make direct reservations with participating businesses.

Huge discounts on offer at outlet fair

by Irena Bodnarec FOLLOWING A successful event last year, Benidorm will host its second 3 day ´Outlet Fair´. It will be held at the Town Hall Square from Friday 9th May until Sunday 11th May, starting at 11am each day until 10pm on Friday / Saturday and 9pm on the last day.

A total of 40 local shops and businesses

have joined together and will be offering discounts of up to 50%. Much of the merchandise will be end of season stock so a good opportunity for both retailer and the consumer to benefit – certainly a great opportunity to grab a bargain!There will be a good cross section of products available, as well as a children´s play area and bar, which should keep every member of the family happy!

Benidorm to host Fitness Convention BENIDORM IS to host the next ‘Funsport Weekend’ Fitness Convention planned for 31st May and 1st June in the Plaza de los Reyes de España and the auditorio Oscar Esplá. Activities will include group classes, exhibitions and educational talks as well as children’s play areas with inflatables, entertainment workshops and a Saturday night party. And activities are attractively priced: Zumba and Body Combat – 13€; Combat and Zumba Party – 15€; Cycle, Outdoor Zumba & Combat – 26€ and a combination of Cycle, Outdoor Zumba, Combat and Party – 28€.

MAY 2014

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MAY 2014

The Streets of Londres MOST LOCALS and visitors to Benidorm know Calle Londres (London Street), in the Rincon de Loix.

IF YOU are staying in any of the hotels or apartments up on the hill you will probably be using Calle Londres to head down to the beach in the daytime and action at night.

On your way down you will pass some of the most popular British run establishments this side of town – London Bar, Drop Inn, Yorkshire Pride II, Stretford End, Battered Cod, Tommy Cooper. Don´t worry about your lack of the Spanish language here as it´s like home from home! You will be able to watch all the premier sporting events at any of the bars along this strip while enjoying a pint of the finest and tucking into a scrumptious home cooked feast. If it wasn´t for the glorious weather you´d think that you were back in Blighty.

At the bottom of the road, where it joins the main road you will find KFC on the corner – a good marker for when you are heading back after a night out in town. All taxi´s know Calle Londres and the number 11 bus also heads all the way up.

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may 2014

Our mystery man on the street Enjoys a sneaky look at the HOTEL SOL COSTABLANCA right on the beach.

The Hotel Located directly on the Levante Beach offering the perfect location with the very best sea views yet only a five minute walk from the old town bars, restaurants and shops. The building was refurbished in 2012 with some updating to the rooms and guest areas. The 4* Sol Costa Blanca is an exclusively ADULT only hotel (16+). We particularly enjoyed the fact that the journey to the beach takes just five steps!

The Rooms The best rooms are of course the sea views ones, these do not cost more but the non-sew views do cost less! So do make sure you pay for or book a sea view if you like to sit on your balcony and enjoy the sound of the Mediterranean! We were on a tiny budget so stayed in a no view room, sadly. Having said that the rooms are a good size, very well maintained, perhaps a little dated with all you need for a beach holiday, nice firm mattress and excellent attentive room service. Overall deserving of the 4* holiday hotel rating.

The Food Served in the buffet restaurant offering all the usual international favourites and depending on numbers staying show cooking and theme nights. Breakfast was excellent with a big choice to start the day, fill your boots and you should last most of the day!

The Pool Terrace The pool overlooks the beach and offers a great bar seating area plus about 40 quality sun loungers. When full it may be a struggle to get your place in the sun, but with the beach right there, it is not really an issue as most guests will hop onto the beach.

What You Should Know The hotel will suit couples who prefer great service from very well trained staff (they are all very friendly and helpful) not really a hotel for young groups. As the attraction is the beach location make sure you get a room with a view! When booking it will state if the room is a sea view, if it does not say so then it will be at the back of the hotel, it is no good requesting a sea view if you do not pay for one. Transfer coaches are banned from the Levante beach, you will have to walk up to 400m unless you book a private taxi. The hotel is closed in winter from November and opened again at Easter.

Book this hotel by visiting www.realbenidorm.net/sol-costa-blanca

EAT CHEAP, get a new hairdo, stock up on British goodies, buy some Euros or just soak up the atmosphere!

THE INDOOR Market in Benidorm suffered a great deal when the financial dip hit us way back in 2009. However, it is all good these days at the famous market in the centre of the Rincon de Loix in Benidorm! Having ridden the storm pretty well the retail outlets are once again almost full.

You really notice the difference in the market of today compared to only a few years ago. With a few empty units left the variety for shoppers is now greater than ever. If you have not popped over to the market for a browse on recent visits, you are certainly in for a surprise.

There are more cafĂŠs today with more seating areas where you can rest for a while and enjoy a cheap brunch or very late breakfast from just a couple of Euros. As has been the case for many years, the Indoor Market is a mix of local Spanish stall holders and a large number of British units offering all manner of products from tasty homemade Sausage Rolls to branded toiletries that we recognise! You could be forgiven for thinking that you are in a local market in Stockport rather than sunny Spain.

There are some long established stall holders who have been trading for many years. These include Sheila´s Money Exchange (no rip off fees) for good rates on your Euros and for those on a self-catering holiday there are two superb family Butchers who make fresh meatballs, fresh burgers and sell best quality meats.

Last Friday afternoon the people were certainly arriving in their hundreds, the market was busy with serious buyers and lots of folks browsing. The old Indoor Market is certainly back on top where it belongs and is a must visit place whilst in Benidorm. Whatever you are looking for or when you simply cannot find something in town chances are the Indoor Market will have it in stock! Enjoy a few fun hours of happy shopping at the Indoor Market or visit www.benidormindoormarket.com for details.

Opening times are Monday to Friday 08:00 to 18:00 and Saturday 08:00 to 15:00 closed Sunday.

Av.Ametlla Del Mar 9, Ed.Mercaloix, Benidorm, The Indoor Market is open from: 8am till 6pm Mon – Friday, 8am till 3pm Saturday.

www.benidormindoormarket.com

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may 2014

health & beauty

Treat yourself!

COLOR NAILS is a brand new nail salon in the heart of the Old Town run by Tom & Tina from the USA, with over 20 years experience in the nail salon business.

Located on Av Emilio Ortuño, at the bottom of Avd Ruzafa and a few shops along from Ale Hop towards the glass bridge, they have some spectacular opening offers. If you fancy treating yourself then you certainly won´t find this quality at these prices – they have a 2 for 1 offer on all services this month! If you are popping in to have your nails done then you can have your feet done free of charge.

Everything is included in the offer – Gel, Shellac, Acrylic, Manicures and Pedicures.

An added bonus of the pedicure is that you get to relax in an electric massage chair. As well as this you also have the added luxury of a water jet massage – just mind you don´t nod off! Definitely a welcome treat for tired feet after a busy shopping session.

The salon is open 6 days a week, from 10am until 9pm – closed on Sunday.

Come in anytime no appointment necessary or to book an appointment call 966 803 712.

health & beauty

may 2014

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Clinica Dental Costa Blanca

FOR MANY, going to the dentist is often a stressful experience, but at ´Clinica Dental Costa Blanca´ it is anything but.

Centrally located in the heart of the Old Town on Avd de Martinez – almost opposite the Ale Hop store at the bottom of the Avd Ruzafa, you can´t fail to miss the huge green tooth sign hanging outside. If coming from the Rincon de Loix , go to the end of the Avd Mediterraneo and then walk to the top of Calle Gambo –the pedestrianized street and you will see the clinic at the end to your right.

The clinic is situated on the first floor and upon entering you are instantly put at ease by the tranquil relaxing environment. Dr Thomas Anton together with Dra Rosa Zaragoza & dental assistant Lisa are all completely fluent in English – often a stumbling block for many and over half of their clients are British. They are open Monday to Friday from 10am till 2pm then again from 4pm until 7pm – however, they are always on call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for emergencies (contact 695 055 330).

Dr Anton is proud to have built a practice based on quality, honesty and a commitment to providing his patients with the highest quality dental care – his soothing and gentle approach will put even the most nervous patient instantly at ease. He has been practicing dentistry in Benidorm since 1991 and moved to the current premises in 1997. The clinic has all the most up to date, modern high tec equipment, including a digital panoramic x-ray machine. In addition standard dental work they also offer other dental services such as teeth whitening, veneers and dental implants – for which a specialist comes in who has successfully carried out over 10,000 implants. ´Clinica Dental Costa Blanca´ offer free check ups and estimates for work and procedures and will provide any holiday makers requiring emergency work with fully itemized invoices for insurance claims. Out of his work environment Dr Anton is an accomplished sculptor – specializing in alabaster and marble, who has exhibited his works in many prestigious venues. Tel: 96 586 4777

Be safe on the beach…

by Irena Bodnarec THE BEACHES are one of the reasons why many people choose to come to Benidorm on their holidays - understandable with its miles of golden sand. In the busy summer months the beach is packed with holiday makers - sometimes it’s a struggle to find a square metre of sand on which to place your towel! But have you ever wondered what the brightly coloured candy-striped wooden huts along the beach are? Well they are first aid stations – and if you are holidaying with children it may be an idea to familiarise yourself with their location and set your towel, bucket and spade in close proximity.

If you do happen to need any sort of treatment then head to either the yellow and white stripped hut which is located on Levante beach or the multi-coloured ones on Poniente beach. They are manned all year round by staff contracted by the council - not volunteers such as Cruz Rojo. During the peak summer months they are open from 9am until 8pm and out of season (October - April) they are open from 10am till 5pm. And there is always a yellow ambulance parked nearby for any emergencies which cannot be dealt with on site.

The beaches are out of bounds between midnight and 7am to allow for cleaning - just be aware as it is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the country’s local by-laws. Some of the infringements include playing games with balls or other equipment outside of designated areas that could disturb other beachgoers; using bath products such as soap/gel in sea or showers on beach; playing loud music that will disturb others; swimming when the red flag is flying; lighting a BBQ on the beach; fishing; leaving glass or toxic material on the beach and what will surprise many I guess - drinking alcohol on the beach. Now I have seen many of these by-laws being abused and I think it would be up to the individual police officer to decide whether to fine the offender for a particular offence, but they would certainly be within their rights to do so. Remember, the saying goes: ‘Ignorance is no excuse to break the law’ ... you have been warned! If in doubt, ask at the hotel reception or your holiday representative.

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MAY 2014

The Cav Canelob

See the sights 1

PARC DE ELCHE

2

PEACOCK ISLAND

3

BALCON DEL MEDITERRANEO

Better known to the Brits as ‘Dove Park’, it can be found at the beginning of Poniente Beach on the edge of the Old Town: a lovely, shady park area with plenty of palm trees. Here you can sit and ‘people watch’ with a massive population of white doves which you can feed – very popular with the Spanish.

NEAR THE village of Busot around 40 Benidorm are the fascinating Caves o descent into the depths reveals a coo

The giant rock jutting out directly in front of the Levante beach is ap 4 km from the shore. You can catch a glass bottomed boat from the marina at Mal Pas which gives you some amazing views of the reef and fish then explore the wildlife and bird population on the island.

AN IMMENSE gothic-like cathedral features cleverly illuminated stalactites and stal jellyfish and dragons! Several ‘candelabra’ form from the limestone, hence the nam the temperature inside the cavern is always at 17º and the acoustics are superb. O become extremely popular. The entrance to the caves was made by Republican tro an aircraft factory and ammunition store. It is at an altitude of about 700m on the n There is a car park and the entry fee is reasonable at 6€. A guide is available and on the A7 to Murcia take Exit 67 for Busot and from there follow the signs (there ar

Located up in the Old Town, right at the top and often referred to as the Mirador. A little bit of a steep climb but well worth it when you see the beautiful panoramic views of both the bays. You can also access it from Mal Pas beach where there is a staircase which leads all the way up. A very pretty blue and white tiled gazebo with seating makes a lovely backdrop for a photo and the square has a selection of bars so you can take in the stunning scenery.

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TAPAS ALLEY

If you are fed up of pie & chips and fancy a taste of the real Spain then head to Calle Santo Domingo – better known to all as “Tapas Alley” in the Old Town. The tapas are displayed behind glass and you can walk up and down pointing to whatever takes your fancy - the prices vary depending on which ones you choose but are generally between 1.50€ and 2.50€.

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VIEWPOINT AT GRAN HOTEL BALI

If you want to see Benidorm from a different perspective then pop to the Gran Hotel Bali in La Cala where you can go up to the panoramic view point on the 43rd floor - in a glass lift! Open from 11.00am until 13.30pm then again from 15.30pm until 21.30pm there is a 6 euros charge for non-residents, but you do get a drink at the viewpoint bar included – chlldren under 12 go free (1 per adult).

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PONIENTE PROMENADE

The brand new Poniente Promenade is the envy of every seaside resort and runs from the Old Town down towards La Cala. The promenade took over two years to complete and cost near on 20 million euros - but much of that was funding from the EU. The innovative multi coloured wave design won an architectural award and definitely worth seeing.

TERRA NATURA

More of a wildlife park than a zoo, with three zones: America, Asia and Europe and you can see animals native to those Continents living within their natural environment with shrubs and plants from their natural habitat. There are plenty of interactive activities going on throughout the day such as feeding the animals and for the more adventurous you can even Zip Wire across a 400metre stretch above the elephant plain.

THE CROSS ON THE HILL

A Benidorm landmark situated on the Sierra Helada mountains in the Rincon. The cross was erected in the 1950´s by residents and is 8 metres tall. A popular walk route taking ap 45 mins each way with breath taking views of the town.

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Poniente Centro / Old Town New Town / Rincon

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Terra Natura – Buy 2 ge

TERRA NATURA wildlife park in Benidorm is a must when here. The 32 hectare park is divided up into 3 zones; America, Asia and so comfortable walking shoes are essential! Animals and plants typical of each continent can be seen within each region, making only an enjoyable visit but also an educational learning experience. The park runs a breeding programme for endangered anima there are plenty of interactive activities going on throughout the day - for the more adventurous you can even Zip Wire across a stretch above the elephant plain. The park is easy to get to – by public transport take the Llorente bus number 1 from anywhere the Avd. Mediterraneo or the number 15 from La Cala or alternatively jump into a taxi (approximate 15 minute journey from the of Benidorm). RTN have an exclusive reader offer available – Buy 2 get 1 FREE. All you need to do is call 902 118 999, pay with y card and then present yourself at the entrance with ID and your credit card – no messing around collecting tickets. Free tickets a so be quick if you don´t want to miss out.

MAY 2014

ves of bre

See the sights 9

0 minutes’ drive from of Canelobre. A 141-step ol and spectacular cavern.

Hotels

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Flash Hotel Sol Pelicanos Sol Ocas Nereo Levante Club Los Dalmatas Agua Rock Gardens Regente Dynastic Melia Buenavista Mediterraneo De Loix Palm Beach Don Jorge

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PALACE 11 BENIDORM For a first class night out you cannot beat

Benidorm Palace - voted Europe’s best cabaret theatre and nightclub for 2012, beating the likes of Moulin Rogue in Paris!

It is probably the most visited attraction in Benidorm and you are guaranteed a night to remember. A magnificent show lasting 3 hours incorporates a troupe of dancers with the most amazing costumes you are ever likely to see.

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OF SAN JAIME AND SANTA ANA 12 CHURCH The distinctive blue domed roof is located up at the Mirador.

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Built in the 18th Century it is dedicated to the patron saint of the town and a statue of the Virgin del Sufragio can be seen inside the church. Last year the church controversially spent 332,000 euros on a new organ which takes pride of place in the gallery.

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Various boat departures for an adventurous day out. From here you can catch the hourly glass bottomed boat to Benidorm Island which departs from 10am until 5pm. Or try the mini cruise to Calp which takes you on a picturesque tour of the coast, passing by Albir, Altea and some small hidden coves – a daily service departing Benidorm at 11.30am and returning from Calpe at 4.30pm. For the more adventurous how about a boat trip to Tabarca Island, sometimes referred to as ‘Flat Island’.

known landmark in the town. It has been a permanent fixture there for the last three years and can accommodate 850 people. The tent is totally wheelchair friendly with the installation of ramps for easy access to the ringside, with heating and air conditioning to ensure a comfortable evening.

There are NO animals in any of the performances - the show is based around a dramatic mix of traditional circus acts but also incorporates highly skilled performers.

In total there are 45 dancers and performers training three times a week for the weekly show: every Saturday evening starting at 6pm.

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BENIDORM HARBOUR

CIRCUS 10 BENIDORM You will find ‘The Big Top’ behind Benidorm Palace - a well

lagmites resembling exotic objects and creatures such as me ‘Canelobre’. The caves are a great escape from the heat as Occasionally there are concerts held within the vault that have oops during the Spanish Civil War when the cavern was used as northern slopes of the Cabezón de Oro mountain ridge. d there is a short wait to join the next group. From Benidorm re plenty) for the Canelobre Caves, about 2km north of Busot.

Poseidon Playa Magic Villa del Mar RH Royal Hotel Victoria Avenida Bristol Park Princessa Sandos Monaco Hotel Cimbel Flamingo Venus Helios Presidente Riveria Beach Hotel Rosamar Calypso

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PARK 13 L’AIGUERA Neoclassical designed park sandwiched between the Town

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Hall and bullring. It has two amphitheatres which during the summer months host shows, concerts and cultural Spanish events.

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et 1 FREE!

d Europe g it not als and a 400 metre e along e centre your credit are limited

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CULTURAL CENTRE 14 MARITIME Located just past Elche Park heading towards Mal Pas Beach:

contains interesting artifacts, models and pictures associated with the sea. Open Monday to Friday from 9am - 2pm then 4pm - 6pm. Saturday it is open mornings only and it is closed on Sunday: entry is free.

15 MUNDOMAR A marine animal park which also has exotic animals - a great

hit, particularly with young families. There are lots of shows throughout the day and you can even book to swim with the sea lions or get up close to the dolphins. However, both of these need to be pre-booked. It is really easy to get to there: if driving the best place to head for is Benidorm Palace - then take the road almost opposite and it will take you all the way there - about a 2 minute drive. Parking is free. Or catch a public bus - either the number 1 or 11 - to take you straight to the entrance - but if there are four of you it will probably work out the same to take a taxi, especially if you are coming from Benidorm.

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MAY 2014

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Ronda & Gibraltar with Gandia tours

Ronda

JOIN GANDIA Tours for a fabulous 4 days trip to see Ronda and Gibraltar leaving on 20th May staying Half Board in a 3* Hotel.

20th MAY Travel from Benidorm to the Costa del Sol arrival, dinner & accommodation..

21st MAY Breakfast and morning departure to the Serrania of Ronda, Malaga, just north of Marbella - one of Andalucia‘s most fascinating and historical towns.

Among the last of the Moorish cities to be conquered by the Christians, Ronda sits on a clifftop plateau and combines breathtaking views with an interesting shopping experience. Quaint and old-fashioned, Ronda has managed to hang onto its small, family owned shops rather than encourage huge retail outlets.

Visit the home of famous bandoleros and bullfighters and the capital of the Pueblos Blancos (white villages). The famous Plaza de Toros, the oldest in Spain, is well worth

a visit. And the Church of Santa Maria, a mosque during the 13th Century, was converted into a Catholic church in the 17th Century and has a beautiful main altar. And of course Ronda‘s famous bridges (if you have a head for heights!) (Entrances not included). The afternoon sees the journey to chic, sun-drenched Marbella followed by free time, dinner and accommodation.

22nd MAY Breakfast will be followed by a day trip to the British-held territory of Gibraltar (passports required). After crossing the border there will be free time for shopping in Gibraltar’s Main Street where you will see good old British bobbies on the beat and old fashioned red pillar boxes! Here you will find designer goods, superb cafes and a myriad of electronic stores and perfumeries.

Colourful, full of atmosphere and a great way

ive Quote reference RTN1 and rece

to spend a few hours!

If you are feeling fit, try a brisk trot up the Mediterranean Steps, a path and nature trail originally built by the British military but now a favourite with tourists seeking spectacular views of Gibraltar.

There is a possibility to take an optional tour of the Upper Rock (not included), an opportunity to see the famous Barbary Apes with a professional guide and learn about local legends and history before returning to the hotel and dinner.

23rd MAY Travel from the Costa del Sol to Benidorm.

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JOIN GANDIA Tours for a fabulous 4 day trip to see Ronda and Gibraltar leaving on 20th May staying Half Board in a 3* Hotel.

You will visit beautiful Ronda a Moorish city with breathtaking views, see the sights in Gibraltar and shop until you drop in its main strreet.

Space is limited so call today and reserve your place.

Pick up from Benidorm bus station

MAY 2014

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see the sights

Rincon de Loix

View from ‘the hill’

THE AREA often referred to as The Rincon is part of what is deemed the ‘New Town’, probably the most popular location with British holidaymakers.

IT IS certainly the life and soul of the resort and where you will find all the nightlife.

The vast, sandy beach is lined with bars and restaurants which are lively to say the least. You will definitely find all your home comforts here such as all day British breakfasts, UK television in most bars and fantastic value food and drink.

During the day you are spoilt for choice of activities. Here you will find Aqualandia, the biggest waterpark in Spain and Mundomar, a marine animal park, both at the far end and next door to each other. For the adventurous there is the cable water ski which is found at the beginning of the Levante beach – great for adrenalin junkies.

One of the most breath taking views to be had of resort must be from the top of the Sierra Helada, often referred to as ‘The Hill’. Many holidaymakers trek up to the top, where you will find a Benidorm landmark: The Cross… just be aware

that it’s a good 45-minute trek to the top!

Terra Mitica theme park is a great day trip with its exciting rides and shows, suitable for the entire family and not far away you will find Wildlife Park Terra Natura and beside it Aqua Natura, a smaller waterpark more suited for younger children. For golfers, the magnificent Villaitana golf course offers two 18-hole courses with a view of the Benidorm skyline.

Every Saturday night and held all year round is The Circus. Starting at 6pm and located behind Benidorm Palace, you will be captivated for over two hours (children are not compulsory to attend!)

And for a first class night out you cannot beat Benidorm Palace – probably the most visited attraction in Benidorm and you are guaranteed a night to remember with its magnificent show. The Rincon is where you will find all the

Poniente/La Cala

cabaret bars and nightclubs, open well into the early hours. With the bars brimming over every night you will be spoilt for choice as to where to head. Most of the bars offer free entertainment and you can hear and watch a huge variety of very talented people ranging from singers, tribute groups and comedians catering to all tastes. And last but not least, the legend - Sticky Vicky!

The Old Town

THE OLD Town is located between the Levante and Poniente beaches, a far cry from the ‘British Square’ in the Rincon, that people associate with Benidorm.

This area is like stepping back in time – full of narrow, cobbled streets adorned with white washed houses and an abundance of boutiques, bars and restaurants.

Head toward the blue-domed church and at the top you will arrive at the lookout point, or Mirador as the locals would say. The climb up to the top is certainly worth it for the wonderful view of both bays. On your way back down, stop off at the famous Tapas Alley – which as the name suggests is a street full of tapas bars. If you are fed up with pie and chips and fancy a real taste of Spain, this is where you should go.

The Old Town is also where you will find the Gay quarter – hugely popular for an alternative night out. A visit to the Rich Bitch Showbar and Kaffe Klee are a must if you appreciate drag humour and the many gay bars make everyone feel welcome and comfortable.

Mal Pas beach is located in the Old Town and it is from this harbour that you can catch a boat to both Tabarca Island and Calpe, great days out.

STARTING AT Parc del Elche in the Old Town, generally referred to as Dove Park due to the hundreds of white doves, is Poniente beach, which runs for more than 3km and finishes at La Cala. The promenade, which runs along the entire length of the beach, won an architectural award for its innovative multi-coloured wave design and is certainly worth seeing. This side of Benidorm is much quieter, so great if you just want to relax and unwind.

At the far end of Poniente you will find La Cala – which technically belongs to the town of Finestrat but everyone refers to it as Benidorm.

The skyline is dominated by two buildings – the Gran Hotel Bali and the newly constructed ‘Intempo’ twin towers, with its gold clad frontage, rumoured to be the tallest residential building in Europe. Away from the beach you will find the La Marina indoor shopping centre – a great way to while away a few hours to enjoy some retail therapy whilst on the top floor there is a 10-pin bowling alley to keep the men and kids amused.

If you fancy a bit of a thrill head to Karting Finestrat – located behind the shopping centre on the mountain side with beautiful views over Benidorm.

What is Bicidorm?

BICIDORM IS a system of loaning bicycles to promote efficient and healthy city transportation, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly commuting network. This is an experimental plan launched by the City, designed to reduce the use of cars and promote the use of non-motorised transport.

CYCLING HELPS: Reduce pollution - noise and all those nasty exhaust emissions Develop healthier transportation habits Reduce traffic, avoiding frustrating jams Reduce energy consumption

Reduce travel time within the city and increase the likelihood of punctual arrival Remove the stress connected with motorised traffic WHAT IS BICIDORM NOT? Bicidorm is not a public bicycle rental system for tourism or recreational use: it is a means of transport and an ideal complement to public transport within Benidorm, covering the small displacements that occur daily inside the city. For bicycle tours in and around Benidorm or weekend jaunts with friends there are plenty of stores dedicated to

bicycle rental in the city.

HOW DOES IT WORK? To qualify for a Bicidorm bike you need to be older than 14 years and healthy.

Simply download the registration form and terms of use at www.labici.net and follow the instructions. Remove your Bicidorm bike from any station (they are located at points all over the city) and away you go – the bike is yours for two hours.

You can also have a handy app for your Smartphone showing the locations of Bicidorm terminals.

Happy – and healthy – cycling!

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MAY 2014

Top 5 Water Parks see the sights

‘must do’ things when in Benidorm

ONE THING is guaranteed when in Benidorm – you’ll never be bored. But with so many things to do and places to visit it can be confusing to know where to start. Here is our guide to what we consider to be the Top 5:

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TAPAS ALLEY

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VIEWPOINT AT GRAN HOTEL BALI

If you want a gastronomic experience head to Calle Domingo in the Old Town – it’s like eating a work of art.

IT IS getting to that time of the year when you will be able to experience thrilling water slides, wave pools, plumes and keeping cool in one of the two fantastic water parks that Benidorm has to offer.

BOTH AQUALANDIA and Aqua Natura open their doors for the Summer season on Saturday 24th May. Aqualandia is the bigger of the two and if you are thrill seeker, then this is definitely the one for you. Their newest attraction, Vertigo is the tallest capsule slide in the world – so not for the faint hearted! Height restrictions apply to some of the slides but there is certainly enough to keep everyone amused.

Adventureland is specifically designed for the little ones, with plenty of slides and activities to keep them and the parents happy. Located in the Rincon de Loix, head towards Benidorm Palace and Aqualandia is at the top of the road directed opposite.

Free parking is available or you can catch the number 1 or 11 buses.

Aqualandia

See Benidorm from a different perspective then pop to the Gran Hotel Bali in La Cala where you can go up to the panoramic view point on the 43rd floor.

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SHOWBOAT

AquaNatura is located beside Terra Natura Wild Life Park, a stones throw from Terra Mitica. Smaller than Aqualandia and more suited to younger children, but also has a good selection of slides and shoots, a wave pool, waterfall and even a sandy beach! The bonus of this water park is that you can go to the free sea lion show – very popular and for an additional charge experience swimming with them too. The number 1, 3 and 15 buses go to Terra Natura.

You will find ‘The Big Top’ behind Benidorm Palace - a well known landmark in the town.

Better known to the Brits as ‘Dove Park’, it can be found at the beginning of Poniente Beach on the edge of the Old Town, make sure to feed the birds!

AT LEVI’S Showboat, one of Benidorm’s most visited attractions, everyone is welcome. The food is great and the live entertainment is outstanding. The Top Deck Sports Bar and sun deck is always popular and The Florence Rose Restaurant offers fine dining at a competitive price. Book by calling 96 681 2387 or visit www.benidormshowboat.com for more information.

Aqua Natura

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MAY 2014

see the sights

Have a brilliant day out in Valencia THE JOURNEY to Valencia is an interesting one offering the bonus of the almond, orange and lemon orchards, making this a pleasant, relaxing journey. Castles, towns and villages whiz by, bringing you to Valencia for lunch time.

First impressions of the city are of beautiful, ornate buildings set amongst green parklands. Old and new Valencia blends sedately and in the centre there is a range of museums, shops, markets, historical sites and buildings, along with bars and restaurants to meet all tastes. For the romantic man, a chance to impress: the town square is full of flower vendors, with the most exquisite range of flowers imaginable, and not expensive.

On the other hand the girls want to treat the fellows, how about a visit to the FC Valencia football ground? Other interesting places in the city centre include the old ‘Lonja’ silk exchange – a fine old building supported by ‘candy twist’ pillars and desks displaying the name of workers of yesteryear on brass plaques. A buzzing lively indoor Market is housed in a building very much the rave at the time of its construction - tiled with tiles from Barcelona at a time when Barcelona tiles were to die for!

The town hall building dominates the town square. A hidden treasure

Top 5 Places to visit as recommended

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within the town hall, which you could easily miss, is the historical museum of the city containing manuscripts, banners and swords dating to the 13th Century.

The National Museum of Ceramic Arts displays the best ceramics the country has to offer. You won’t believe the beauty of the building which houses this collection. And in the Cathedral of Valencia, there is yet another treasure. The Holy Grail from which Christ is believed to have drunk at the last supper is on display here.

An incredible park runs through the city, following the course of the dry riverbed where once the River Turia ran.

The City of Arts and Science complex is on the edge of the city. The modernist buildings and surroundings are stunningly beautiful and within you will find a ‘hands on’ science museum; an Imax cinema which places the viewer in the centre of the film; a botanic area; art galleries and theatres plus Europe’s largest marine park complete with dolphin show, fish tunnel (including sharks) and a huge range of exotic plants and animals. If you want to do it the lazy way, a mini train ride round the complex is available.

Have a brilliant day out in this fabulous city with David’s Coachtrips Every Wednesday from 14th May: return coach travel 17€. Booking couldn’t be easier. Simply go online www.coachtripsonline.com and book or call us on (0034) 96 678 5910 and speak to one of the Coachtrips English-speaking operators. Go on - it’s too good to miss! Local pick up points are available.

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MUNDOMAR Mundomar has an area of 60,000 square meters with a wide variety of animals, such as flamingos, turtles and swans, storks, sea lions, seals.

With numerous different shows with parrots, sea lions and dolphins.

BENIDORM PALACE

A magnificent spectacle of colour with fabulous dancers and glamorous costumes. Featuring a variety of original, top artistes from around the world, this will surely be an evening to remember.

TERRA MITICA

Do you know what adrenalin is? You don’t need to. The most important thing you need to know is that here you will find so many rides you won’t have enough breath to do them all.

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PLACA DEL CASTELL

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TERRA NATURA

It’s a great place where you can see Benidorm’s beautiful skyline. Sometimes there are dancers, market stalls and people playing instruments.

At Terra Natura Benidorm you can see more than 1,500 animals from 200 different species, 50 of which are in serious danger of extinction, and over 2,500 examples of more than 160 species of trees, shrubs and ground cover plants from these regions.

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MAY 2014

Say HelloDuckie!

Our Quacking reporter takes a flying visit to the WATCHTOWER AGULIÓ

THIS MONTH Duckie our intrepid explorer took a Sunday afternoon waddle high above the lovely bay of Cala de Finestrat, where a gem of walk up to the watchtower of Agulió on the peak of the hill. You cannot miss it!

Part of the old coastal defences since the XVI century, built to look out for invaders and latterly as part of a series of towers looking out for Smugglers avoiding payment of taxes to customs.

The walk is quite easy and is best reached by taking the pathway directly behind the restaurant located right on the beach. With a few stops on the way to take in the stunning scenery, the walk should take just 30 minutes from the beach. Once at the top you can see almost a ¼ of the entire Land of Valencia toward Benidorm and Calpe

in the north to Alicante and Villajoyosa in the south.

This is one of the best kept secrets in the area with rarely another soul sharing the truly stunning views and tranquillity with you.

If you do just one walk whilst in Benidorm, this is the

Tea Dance

FOR THOSE of you that hark back to the old times and fancy some old fashioned waltzing or a quick step, you´ll be delighted to know that you can do so right here in the Rincon de Loix. Head to the “Cafeteria Roman”- located next to the Hotel Brisa and opposite McDonalds at the end of the Levante beach. Every day between 5-9pm you will find a live band playing and a room packed full of like minded people – it´s an absolute delight to watch.

Better still, there is no charge – just the cost of your drinks and any snacks you may wish to order. It is a very popular afternoon activity, so dust down those dancing shoes and head down to the Cafeteria Roman and give it a go!

Crossword and Puzzle Solutions ANSWERS FOR APRIL Quick solutions Across: 6 Compare; 7 Snake; 9 Try; 10 Manifests; 12 Second sight; 15 Short-handed; 17 Community; 19 Bad; 21 Agony; 22 Massive.

Down: 1 Worry; 2 Spy; 3 Area; 4 Undecided; 5 Sketchy; 8 Hidden; 11 Detriment; 13 On hand; 14 Through; 16 Halve; 18 Tear; 20 Ask. Wordwheel: SENSITIVE

one to do, probably more interesting than the walk up to the cross on the opposite side of Benidorm. To get there take the number 3 bus from Benidorm and hop off at Cala Finestrat beach. Enjoy, it really is a Quacking walk, don´t forget the camera!

Shop ‘til you drop OLD TOWN

The Old Town is a great place to start. Calle Gambo, the pedestrianised street that begins at the Plaza Triangular, where the huge rubber tree is, has a great selection of popular boutiques such as Masimo Dutti – a must for fashion-savvy customers, and Zara, which is now everyone’s favourite High Street fashion hit: even the Duchess of Cambridge and Coleen Rooney want to be seen in this leading Spanish fashion brand. The prices tend to work out cheaper here in Spain even taking into account the exchange rate, so it is certainly worth a visit. One well-known English name here and one you will be familiar with is Specsavers - the UK’s most popular opticians, run by Phillip, a British ex-pat. Paseo de la Carretera is another must-do street and will take you all the way to Elche Park.

INDOOR MARKET

The Indoor Market in the Rincon de Loix offers a huge variety of independent shops and beauty salons. Don’t bother bringing heavy toiletries with you, pop along to Super Drogeria where you can purchase all the UK High Street brands with which you are familiar.

LA MARINA

La Marina Shopping Centre offers a broad selection of shops in an air conditioned environment. Known as ‘Centro Comercial La Marina’, it has shops and restaurants and even an entertainment complex on the top floor. C&A, a UK department store which disappeared from the UK High Street some years back, you will still find here – and particularly popular with visiting Brits.

MAY 2014 Kenny Corris For Readings, Consultations and Castings email: kennycorris@hotmail.com / www.kennycorris.net Mobile: 686 361 594 / Tel: 965 878 424

horoscopes This is a great time to use the communication process to your advantage as Mercury takes on Ceres and timing is of an essence .It is not what you do right now that is important but when you do it. Ignore the negativity of others who are not acting in your best interests and go it alone if you have to.

Venus dallies with Pluto..helping you to see things from a different angle, with a view to making change where it is due and not before time either! Be absolutely sure that what you have is what you want since there should be no further compromise in sealing the current deal.

Quick Crossword

Wordwheel

You are waiting for a result and have shaken your resolve to make the peace you need to. Something tells you that something is wrong but before you know it the tables will turn. Actions between wily Saturn and resolvent Neptune urge you to sit this one out so wait and see.

Look within to see just what an impact you have made by putting your own stamp on something.It is high time that you stood up to be counted in the current scheme of things..but leave no stone unturned in seeking the solace you both want and need as you are rewarded this month.

Basking in the Sun you are receptive and alert as to what needs to come your way this month. The rise of your psychic energies signifies that a problem isn’t a problem if the solution is out there. Actions between a negative Mars and the luck of Jupiter will see you safely through once more.

Sudoku

Call it a hunch but though you cannot put a finger on it just yet time will tell.You are empowered for a reason that is about to be made crystal clear. Venus directs with a fleeting connection with Mercury that will back you to the hilt and confirm once and for all your base suspicions and intuitions.

Venus takes on Chiron and dallies with Saturn midmonth.

This is a good time to start to wade through the debris others have left you with as you throw caution to the wind and deal with an emotive energy that is bugging you. You will get all the help that you need but don’t be afraid to ask!

It’s just a case of putting two and two together and making more than four. Time was when you would have turned a blind eye....but thankfully not now. You are ready to gamble for what your priorities have brought you and to take things to a safe and logical conclusion for all involved.

Jupiter takes on Mars as good luck and fortune shines on you this week. With negative energies brought to the fore by a hapless Planet of War it may be easier to just sit back and see what’s in store however. Much good can come from your need to have planned a suitable and safe exit.

Make hay while the sun shines as the elemental energies combine to show you your options. Mercury takes no prisoners after a jaunty action with mighty Uranus. Aquarian energies bring new light on a matter that,try as you may, seems to be more trouble than it’s worth.

loving care right now.You have been asked to take sides but this is not viable right now and never could be. In good faith remember that you have bitten off more than you can chew and that who dares wins.

The

Down 1. Recognises (5) 2. Explode (8) 3. Apprehend (6) 4. Compassion (4) 5. Recount (7) 6. Promotion (10) 9. Jarring (10) 12. Under obligation (8) 14. Permission (7) 16. Contrive (6) 19. Expiate (5) 20. Clever (4)

All answers can be found on page 22.

Word Ladders

At last you have started something you had not finished.

This has had a positive effect on those around you and shows others that you are ready to take on new instructions and go with the flow. Chiron attracts the right energies that could accelerate the whole thing for you.

Neptune is poised to support you as you need some tender

Across 1. Taking Hostage (10) 7. Perch (5) 8. Secluded (7) 10. Stronghold (8) 11. Overtake (4) 13. Tell (6) 15. To this (6) 17. Every single (4) 18. Perverse (8) 21. Defensible (7) 22. Overwhelm (5) 23. Contrition (10)

The key rule is that you must only change one letter at a time as you move from one rung to another, and the word you make must be a proper word! Therefore you may move from BATH --> BATS but not from BATH --> CASH because that changes two letters in one go which is not allowed.

Coffee break interview

GARY GEORGE – an excellent Benidorm comic and funny man in addition to being owner of the Carousel Bar in the Rincon. He moved to Benidorm having been on many happy holidays here and already knew many of the entertainers, having worked the UK circuit with them years ago. Although born and raised in Leeds his family now all live back in Monaghan, Ireland which Gary visits a number of times a year – if he didn´t live on the beautiful Costa Blanca then that would be his next choice. He performs in Zodiac every night – starting at 11:30pm and 4 nights a week at Levi´s Showboat, once the cabaret show finishes.

After that you will often find him in the Carousel Bar – one of the best karaoke bars in Benidorm and where many of the entertainers end up in the early hours, once they have finished their own shows.

Where are you from in the UK? Leeds How long have you lived in Spain? 14 years What do you like most about living here?

The liberty and freedom What did you eat for breakfast today? ´Blackppol breakfast´- coffee and fag Describe yourself in 3 words – Emphatic, Congruent and Passionate – about life!

Marmite, love it or hate it? Hate it What´s your guilty pleasure? Guinness What´s your proudest moment?

Birth of my daughters What makes you see red? Abuse of power Do you have a hero? Carl Rogers – An American humanistic psychologist Favourite food? Steak

What´s your tipple? Guinness Favourite music?

Enjoy listening to everything Desert Island song? ´The Whole of the Moon´by the Waterboys Favourite film? The Fisher King starring Robin Williams and Jeff Bridges Favourite read? Anything by Mitch Albom – American sports writer Is the glass half full or half empty?

Depends what day it is!

X-Factor or Strictly? X-Factor Who is your favourite Benidorm series character? Swinger Donald Old Town or New Town? Altea!

Beach or pool? Beach

23

24

MAY 2014

nightlife

May Queens

at Klee Kafee

OWNERS JOE and Alan run Kaffee Klee, a small and super-friendly Drag Queen bar in the Old Town ranked amongst Benidorm’s Top Ten Attractions. Here you are assured of a legendary welcome and a top night of laughs and adult entertainment!

JOE IS celebrating his birthday on Sunday 4th May from 8pm onwards with Kaffee Klee’s usual brand of humour and laughter.

PINK WEEKEND ‘Pink Weekend’ on 16th – 18th May, is hosted by Peggy Wessex starting with a ‘Diva Show with Agatha’ at 10.15pm on Friday.

Agatha came to Benidorm from Belgium.

She speaks French, Belgian, Spanish, English and Dutch and is known as the ‘Queen of the Night and a Belgian Delight!’

A great mix of diva impersonation and comedy with an outstanding Cher act!

Agatha is at Kafee Klee every Friday from 10.15pm. And she is also the Head of

Entertainment at the Flash Hotel in the city.

Colin Campbell hits Kaffee Klee at 9.30pm on Saturday with Peggy Wessex and the Same Old S**t Show at 10.30pm.

Winding up a fun-filled Pink Weekend on Sunday are the Horror Sisters at 10.15pm, the side-splitting drag sisters!

UNMISSABLE The entertainment at Kaffee Klee is legendary and the drinks prices very reasonable. The shows are brilliant and the staff friendly and welcoming – an ‘unmissable’ and constantly buzzing Benidorm venue.

Get there early to ensure you find a seat!

MAY 2014

nightlife

JJ Jones Neil Diamond Tribute JJ JONES has been portraying his solo Neil Diamond Tribute Show for nearly 20 years, with his love for the creative writing of Neil Diamond taking him all around the world. His detail to voice, mannerisms and costumes has made him one of the best Neil Diamond Tributes in the world. JJ has performed his tribute on cruise ships and around Australia with a 7 piece backing band, which he still does when regularly returning to perform in the UK theatres to fund raise for his late daughter’s favourite charity – RSPCA Danaher Centre in Essex.

JJ has now brought his one man show to Spain performing most nights on the Benidorm cabaret circuit and at weekends in the mountain bars and restaurants north of Benidorm.

For more info on JJ Jones, phone 622 765 932. Also check out: www.neildiamond-tributeshow.com VENUES Every Friday- Jail Rock Music Bar, 9pm Every Monday - Tropical Cabaret Bar, 9pm Every Tuesday - Jail Rock Music Bar, 9pm Every Wednesday - Tropical Cabaret Bar, 9pm Every Wednesday - Tower Lounge, 10.30pm

25

26

MAY 2014

nightlife

Tribute acts

The Benidorm

VENUE Uncle Peds Stardust C/Gerona Morgans Tavern C/Gerona Amy Winehouse Valentines C/Gerona Bee Gees Tropical Avd. Severo Ochoa Stardust C/Gerona Beni Beatles Stardust C/Gerona Black Eyed Peas Morgans Tavern C/Gerona Blondie / Pink Tropical Avd. Severo Ochoa Blues Brothers Tropical Avd.Severo Ochoa White Horse, Avd Estocolmo Steptoes Bar, Avd de Castello

Show Guide

Abba Nights Adele

Welcome to RTN’s monthly Show Guide. Here you will find different acts for all tastes, for the young and the old. Enjoy your night!

Drag & Sexy

DAY/TIME VENUE Every Night 9.30pm na Gero C/ Pitt The g stlin Mud Wre na Every Night 11.45pm Gero / C Lion Red Stick Vicky Every Night 12.45am Zodiacs C / Gerona y Night 10.00pm Broadway C / Gerona Ever y Night 1.30am Ever na Gero / C llas Rockafe y Night 1.00am Ever na Broadway C / Gero Kinky Karen y Night 2.30am Ever na Gero / C y dwa Broa Martin & Samantha Sat / Fri na Gero Red Lion C / Wet T Shirt See main advert (p27) wboat Sho ’s Levi Levi Wed & Sunday 10.15pm Klee Kafee Horrors Sisters Mon & Thurs 10.15pm Klee Kafee Sheila Blige Tuesday 10.15pm e Kafe Agatha & Carlotta Klee Friday 10.15pm Klee Kafee Agatha Saturday 10.15pm e Kafe Klee Colin Campbell

Comedy

Karaoke Scruffy Murphys Every Night Rovers Return Wooky Hollow 1 Queen Victoria Rockys Black Chicken Last Stop Outback Gallowgate

Every Night Every Night Every Night 9 - 12 Every Night From 8pm Every Night Every Night From 9pm Every Night From 8pm Every Night From 9pm

ACT

Albi Senior

VENUE

Zodiacs C/Gerona Every Night 10.00pm Rockafellas C/Gerona Every Night 11.15pm Chubby Brown Red Lion C/Gerona Every Night 12am Gareth Fulton Zodiacs C/Gerona Every Night 1.15am Red Lion C/Gerona Every Night 9.15pm Gary George Zodiacs C/Gerona Every Night 11.15pm Tony Scott Stardust C/Gerona Every Night 10.00pm

Vincents C/Merkat 8 Old Town Every Night 9pm

Entertainer of the month

Paul Carnaby

THERE WAS much panic when rumors spread that popular singing duo Carnaby Street had split. But fear not, although Alan has gone off to do his own thing, original and lead member Paul has teamed up with Chris, performing as ´Paul Carnaby with Chris Chronos´ and continues to delight the crowds.

It is often difficult to find something that particularly appeals to the 40 plus age bracket, but this pair certainly ticks all the boxes. They aren´t a tribute band but take you on a musical journey of British music which inspired generations from the 1960´s to the 1990´s, featuring classics from the Mod Era such The Jam, Madness, Sex Pistols, The Who and The Specials through to Oasis. Energetic and full of fun, front man Paul engages the audience for the full 2 hour show, with banter and witty conversation between songs. Fiercely patriotic to all that is British, his act is a great follow up to comedian Albi Senior.

Originally from Liverpool, Paul settled in Benidorm 10 years ago and is loving it, despite having lived in many exotic places including California and Hawaii. He has always loved music and was inspired to pick up the guitar in his teens – which still features prominently in his performance today. You can catch Paul and Chris every night – except Tuesday in Rockerfellas, where they are exclusive, starting at 12.30am. They will take you back in time and have you singing and dancing – you definitely won´t leave disappointed.

Ambassador Hotel, C/Gerona Bon Jovi

Heartbreak 2 C/Gerona Morgans Tavern C/Gerona Bruno Mars Valentines C/Gerona Eagles Jailrock C/Gerona Elvis Rock N Roll House Francisco Jackson Red Lion C/Gerona JJ Jones/Neil Diamond Ambassador Hotel Steptoes Cabaret Bar Tower Lounge Tropical Avd.Severo Ochoa Joe Dolan Valentines, C/Gerona Joe Longthorn Valentines C/Gerona Lady Ga Ga Tropical Avd. Severo Ochoa Rockafellas C/Gerona Broadway C/Gerona Michael Jackson Broadway C/Gerona Neil Diamond Jail Rock C/Gerona Olly Murs Tropical Avd.Severo Ochoa Valentines C/Gerona One Vision (Queen) Rockafellas C/Gerona Morgans Tavern C/Gerona Pink Valentines C/Gerona Radio Ga Ga Sinatras C/ Lepanto Rod Stewart Tropical Avd. Severo Ochoa Ronan Tropical Avd. Severo Ochoa Shania Twain Jail Rock C/Gerona Stylistics Stardust C/Gerona Take That Stardust C/Gerona UB40 Jail Rock C/Gerona West Life Rockafellas C/Gerona Whitney Houston Tropical Avd. Severo Ochoa

Queen Tribute

ONE VISION

Rockafellas every night 10.15 pm Morgans Tavern every night 11pm

DAY TIME Tues & Fri 10.30pm Every Night 9pm Every Night 8pm Every Night 1.00am Every Night 10pm Every Night 11.30pm Every Night 11.30pm Every Night 12pm Every Night 12pm Tues & Thurs 12pm Wednesday 11pm Mon/Wed/Fri 12pm Thurs & Sun 1am Tues 5th & 19th 11pm Every other Tues 11pm Every Night 11pm Every Night 1am Every Night 12.15am Mo/We/Th/Sa/Su 9pm Mon - Sat 10.30pm Every Night 01.15am Every 2nd Monday 11pm Tue/Thu/Sun 8.45pm Thurs 10.30pm Mon/Wed 9pm Fri 8pm Every Night 8.45pm Every Night 11pm Every Night 9pm Every Night 11.15pm Every Night 10.30pm Every Night 9pm Every Night 9pm Every Night 10pm Every Night 10.15pm Every Night 11pm Every Night 11.15pm Every Night 11pm Every Night 10pm Every Night 11pm Every Night 10pm Every Night 12.30am Every Night 1.30am Mo/We/Th/Sa 10pm Every Night 12.15am Every Night 11pm

Rock, Pop, Soul & Country GENRE Pablo Bloom RnR Dean Rogers RnR Guitar Boy RnR Dean Ryan RnR Carlos Soul Angie Pop Tad Cocker Pop Deb N Her Pop Timeless Pop Jessie Brook Pop Irish Rovers Irish Ron Jones C/W Cabeytu C/W B Sharp C/W Lee Duffy Rock Palanca Y Cambio Rock Rafa Badia Rock Joe Dylan Rock Paul Carnaby Rock with Chris Chronos

VENUE DAY/TIME Rock N Roll House Weds - Fri 9.30pm Rock N Roll House Mo/Th/Sa 10.30pm Rock N Roll House Weds 00.45 Rock N Roll House Mon/Thu/Sat 22.30 Sinatras C/ Lepanto Every Night 1am Rachaels Avd Every Night 12pm Yokshire Pride C/ Gerona Every Night 11pm Morgans Tavern C/ Gerona Every Night 9pm Morgans Tavern C/ Gerona Every Night 10pm Red Lion C/Gerona Every Night 9pm Shamrock C/ Gerona Every Night Western Tavern C/ Gerona Every Night 4.00pm Western Tavern C/ Gerona Every Night 1.30am Western Tavern C/ Gerona Every Night 2.30am Guiness Bar Levante Beach 7 Days 3.30 - 10.30 Guiness Bar Levante Beach 7 Days 3.30 - 10.30 Guiness Bar Levante Beach 7 Days 3.30 - 10.30 Daytona Rock Levante Beach 7 Days 4.30 - 10.30 Daytona Rock Levante Beach 7 Days 4.30 - 10.30 Rockerfellas Every Night 12.30am

Rock and Roll Week

Pablo Bloom Rock & Roll House

Weds - Fri 9.30pm

17th - 24th May

IF YOU are a Rock & Roll fan then you are in for a treat. The Marina Hotel in the heart of the Rincon are hosting ´Rockin´In Benidorm´ - a week long extravaganza in the downstairs banqueting suite.

A fabulous line up of live entertainment will have you bopping nightly until 2am – with many top UK bands coming over specially for the event, including The Kingcats, Woody & The Peckers and Good Rockin´Tonight. A Fancy Dress night, afternoon parties with top DJ´s ´Blast from the Past Paul´ and ´Wild Wolfie Smith´and quizzes are just some of the planned events. There will be special drink concessions for attendees and day passes will be available to buy at the door.

Acts and times subject to change without notice. To include your act email: rtnmail@roundtownnews.com

MAY 2014

27

Benidorm: a Stags & Hens Mecca BENIDORM HAS become the Mediterranean’s top destination for Stag & Hen celebrations. A vast range of superb hotels offer great accommodation and service at unbeatable prices.

And entertainment establishments provide a varied and pocket-friendly choice of amusements.

POPULARITY More than five million travellers flock to Benidorm each year from all over Spain and the rest of Europe, second in popularity only to Madrid. They come seeking sun, sand and Sangria, among them hordes of fun-seeking soon-to-beweds of all ages, ready to party night and day on package breaks that start at an economical 2 – 3 day excursion right up to seven or 14 nights bursting with activity. Many return for the honeymoon!

And why not - sunshine is guaranteed, the cuisine is first class and entertainment runs to just about anything they fancy. This includes sporting action: Go-Karting, JetSkiing, Scuba-Diving and Catamaran Sailing… you name it - Benidorm has it!

PLENTY TO DO Monster Sprees offer shopping addicts fantastic retail therapy in Benidorm’s hundreds of shops, stalls and malls.

Themed evening cabarets such as Pirates Uncut are followed by pub crawls, many providing live entertainment,

Sun, sand and Sangria

then dancing through the night until a delicious breakfast and a warm beach beckon…

EASY REACH One of Benidorm’s bonus features is that everything is within easy reach: the beach is not far from the shops and the cabarets and restaurants are an easy stagger to your hotel. A hospitality Mecca: astounding value for money; top quality accommodation at the heart of the action; sun-drenched beaches; top international cuisine and a shopper’s paradise.

And the city has music for everyone – Country & Western enthusiasts find all the live country entertainment and line dancing they could wish for; Salsa lovers are thrilled by the Latino-themed bars with

their intimate dance floors and Jazz fans find a new, exciting venue to explore every night. Club life features some of the world’s hottest DJ and most of the clubs are along Avenida Communitat Valencia, only a 7€ of 8€ taxi-ride from the city centre. Most of the main clubs in Benidorm are situated along the same SPANISH BREAKS For residents of Spain looking for a fun break Benidorm is an easy drive up or down the Costa Blanca. Spain’s first ‘package break’ holiday destination offers superb food and entertainment at incredibly competitive prices drawing visitors from all over the country; a great alternative to a costly foreign holiday, providing a relaxing change of scenery in one of the world’s most unique holiday resorts.

In Benidorm you can have the most fun you’ve ever had in your life in just a few days at a fraction of the price you would pay to go anywhere else in Europe.

28

may 2014

food & drink

Authentic and delicious Italian cuisine at Pizzeria L’Originale PIZZERIA L’ORIGINALE was founded as a pizzeria and takeaway, with delicious and traditional dishes of ancient Rome later introduced.

Wonderful pastas infused with parmesan such as La Carbonara; Lasagna; I Tonnarelli (similar to spaghetti, but handmade) with sausage and mushrooms are treated to an improved blend of seasoning; I Rigatoni with fresh tomato sauce and oregano, and much more… Most importantly, Pizzeria L’Originale works only with authentic recipes, genuine Italian ingredients and fresh produce in season. Nothing is frozen or preserved and it is perhaps for this reason that diners return again and again.

The menu varies according to what is fresh and available on the day – an exciting and delicious way to provide incomparable Italian cuisine and at a very acceptable price for the quality on offer.

The restaurant is on Avenida Doctor Orts Llorca, Ed. Principado Arena Loc, 13, Benidorm.

The rooms are small and intimate so to avoid disappointment it is best to book in advance on 96 585 8752: Open from 11.30am www.facebook.com/pages/Pizzeria-LOriginale to 3am.

Voted number 1 Italian in Benidorm by you on Trip Advisor

Vincents Benidorm Old Town Traditional English

VINCENTS IN the Old Town of Benidorm is the oldest British pub in Benidorm, dating right back to 1965.

Recently re furbished and under new ownership, Vincents has had a new lease of life. Many of the things that have long been associated with Vincents are still there such as Karaoke every night from 9pm and at weekends any one of the singers who have performed can win a full English breakfast and also go into the draw in November for a free, weeks holiday in Benidorm.

All sports events are shown on large screen Tvs and the venue is air conditioned for your comfort in the summer months.

The kitchens have now opened and a wide range of food (nothing frozen) is served from midday till 9pm with buffets available for organised events like birthday parties.

See the main advert on p24 for examples of a night in Vincents.

may 2014

29

food & drink

El Rincon de Perdidó Benidorm Old Town

Spice of Life Benidorm Old Town

Authentic Mexican Dishes

Delicious Indian Cuisine

WE welcome you to our traditional Mexican Restaurant & Saloon with authentic Mexican Chef Veronica Bravo.

This is not to be confused in any way with Tex Mex! So lighten up your pallet with authentic Taco’s, Guacamole, Chicken & Steak Fajitas & spicy Guacamole dips. True flavours & tastes of real Mexico.

The Spice of Life is Benidorm’s longest

Not Hungry?

Why not pop down to our beautiful terrace in the Centro Commercial Plaza Mayor (just off Benidorm famous walking street) and enjoy our famous margaritas, tequila drinks or our fabulous cocktails.

EL RINCON de PERDIDO Centro Comercial Plaza Mayor, Benidorm Old Town.

Tel: 691 94 57 14 or 610 95 77 49 for reservations or more information.

Find us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/RinconPerdido Read some of our amazing reviews on Trip Advisor. Stag and Hens welcome, we also cater for parties!

established and most luxurious Indian restaurant on the Costa Blanca, offering original Indian cuisine and voted “Best Indian cuisine”.

The talented chefs cook with traditional herbs and spices, all freshly prepared to your personal taste.

You can enjoy your meal in the elegant dining room, on the large terrace amidst the hustle and bustle of the town or for special occasions or private parties there is a private dining room available.

The set menus and meals are available everyday along with their full a la carte menu.

Spice of life is open everyday 13.00 – 1am Thursdays 18.00 – 1am Find us at: C/Doctor Orts Llorca 11, Edificio Zeus, Benidorm 03503. For reservations call 965 866 881/ 632 330 938

O’Maras Benidorm Old Town

Traditional English meals served in a friendly atmosphere

Long established British bar, O’Maras, in the Old Town of Benidorm, has just undergone a major refurbishment and is now open.

Dave, Jan and Ian are pleased to welcome customers old and new to their bar, which offers a menu of typical British pub fare as well as a good English breakfast. In fact it is often said that “they don’t serve fast food, they just do good food as fast as they can”.

Apart from the large regular menu, O’Maras serves up a daily “specials” board, and is also well known for their excellent Sunday lunches, and a word to the wise, booking in advance to avoid disappointment will ensure you a seat.

Behind the bar there is a large selection of imported beer and spirits as well as local stock. To add to the friendly atmosphere, all your favourite music plays from the 50’s to present day, and all the major sports events are shown on 3 big screen televisions. The bar is open from 10am till late and food is served from 10am till 10pm. Find O’Maras Bar at C/ Quatro Esquinas 9, Old Town Benidorm or phone 965 862 134.

Taj Mahal Rincon de Loix

Authentic Indian Cuisine

THE TAJ Mahal in the Rincon de Loix offers outstanding Indian Cuisine and excellent value for money with a menu price of 7.90€ for three courses.

For starters choose from Onion Bahji or Chicken Pakora followed by Main Couse choices of Chicken Curry, Jalfrezi, Madras, Vindaloo or Rogan Josh, served with fragrant rice and delicious plain Naan. Follow with a tempting sweet dessert, ice cream or coffee.

And the price includes half a lager, a glass of wine of a soft drink!

The Taj Mahal also sells roast chickens and Kebab Pizza at 5.90€ or a ‘Munchy Box’ at 7.50€.

KEBABS Mixture 4€ Seech Kebab/Naan 4.90€ Vhicken Tikka/naan 4.90€ Mix kebab roll 4.90€ Visit soon at Avda Atmella de Mar, Edif.

Principado Loix Local 12, Rincon de Loix, Benidorm: Tel: 96 629 8892 / 666 954 455.

See the Taj Majal’s recommendations on Trip Advisor.

30

MAY 2014

restaurant review

Taste authentic Indian cuisine

IF YOU want to taste authentic Indian cuisine while in Benidorm then head to the ´Spice of Life´ Indian restaurant.

Located on Calle Doctor Orts Llorca, almost at the junction of the pedestrianized end of Calle Gerona towards the Old Town, you will definitely not be disappointed.

The longest established Indian restaurant in Benidorm, the Spice of Life opened in 1999 and has a good loyal customer base, having served both locals and holidaymakers for the last 15 years.

Mohammad, together with his team of courteous and attentive staff will gladly advise and recommend dishes to suit your palette from the vast menu.

You have the choice of dining inside the elegant air-conditioned interior or take advantage of the fantastic spacious terrace during the warm sunny months, which can accommodate up to 100 dinners. They also have a separate room available for private parties, which can seat up to 18 – ideal for

stag and hen parties.

All the dishes are freshly prepared using traditional herbs and spices so can be adapted to individual tastes. They offer a fantastic value daily menu for only 12.50€ per person which includes poppadum with dip, starter, main, dessert plus drink, which is available for lunch and evening dining. Alternatively, for 15€ you could go for the deluxe menu, which offers a far more extensive selection of starters and mains to choose from. There is also an a la carte option and additionally they have a selection of non-Indian dishes on the menu to choose from.

The Spice of Life is open daily from 1pm in the afternoon until 1am, with the exception of Tuesday, when it opens at 6pm for dinner. They also offer a take away service with a free bottle of wine

Special offers are available for groups

on orders over 25€ - not a difficult task given the exceptionally extensive and tasty menu. If you are planning a celebration contact Mohammad on 965 866 881 or 632 330 938 and ask about the special

offers available for groups.

The Spice of Life has been continuously voted the best Indian restaurant in Benidorm – why not try it to find out for yourself.

may 2014

31

Classifieds&Services All Major Credit Cards Accepted - 0.31€ per word + IVA

Drainage

qualified drain technician no job too big or small, for all your drainage needs.

contact nigel 602 458 623

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APAD (ANIMAL) CHARITY SHOP Calle San Antonio 1, Jalon. Open 9.30/1.00 Mon- Sat. Stock needed - clothes, toys, misc. For more info. Tel: Jane 680717118

Maintenance, palmtrees and all services. Free estimate.

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ADVICE WITH THE SPANISH SYSTEM Whatever you need to integrate into the spanish system, we

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS - COSTA BLANCA Confidential Helpline 648 169 045. www.aa-costablanca.org

STRUCTURAL SURVEYS Mark Paddon BSc Hons. MCIOB. CAAT. Property buyer’s surveys and expert defects diagnosis.

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