The sunny seaside resort of Benidorm on the Costa Blanca has a big reputation. It cer-tainly lives up to this, and any fun-loving independent holidaymaker will have a blast here. It is a popular holiday destination that has a little bit of something for everyone, including a pulsating nightlife, gorgeous beaches, tantalising tapas bars, beautiful nature areas and plenty of culture. It also boasts a fantastic climate that is kept pleasant by the cool sea breeze in the middle of summer. Another reason that it is popular with holidaymakers is the fact that it is really easy to get to, with the journey from Alicante airport to Benidorm taking just 45 minutes.
If you are the type of traveller who likes to know a little bit more about their sun, sea and sand destination, here are a few cool facts about this lively seaside town.
Climate: According to the World Health Organisation, Benidorm boasts one of the heal-thiest climates in Europe thanks to its clean seas, unpolluted air and warm weather. You will notice the freshness as soon as you arrive and this is a key reason why so many people flock here during the summer. You are sure to return home happy, refreshed and nicely tanned!
UNESCO: Officials have applied to make the Spanish resort a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is due to its historic role in the mass tourism boom in Spain during the 1960s, but also to protect the vast stretches of golden sand and the beautiful surrounding coun-tryside.
Bikinis: When you stroll down to the beach you are sure to see lots of women in bikinis, but this was once not the case as Spain had a ban on this type of swimsuit. Benidorm became the first Spanish resort to allow bikinis in the 1950s, which, in turn, helped to boost the popularity of town. It now attracts over five million tourists a year!
Skyscrapers: It is impossible not to catch yourself gawping up at the enormous sky-scrapers here, which give the resort a famous and distinctive skyline. Only London and Milan have more skyscrapers in Europe and it is often compared to Manhattan and Du-bai due to the sheer number (over 300!). It is also home to the tallest hotel in Spain – The Gran Hotel Bali standing at an imposing 186 metres.
Unbeatable Views: So, why so many skyscrapers in a holiday town you may be won-dering? Instead of expanding out into the countryside, Mayor Pedro Zaragova intelligently decided to build hotels high above the streets so that more tourists could enjoy amazing views out to sea.
How to Get There
You will want to fly into Alicante Airport, which acts as the gateway to the Costa Blanca, and is just a 2.5-hour flight from the UK with all the major budget carriers regularly mak-ing the flight throughout the week.
The journey from Alicante airport to Benidorm is just a 45-minute drive along the coast. You will not want to stand around queuing for a cab or for the bus, so pre-book a Shuttle Direct shared transfer from Alicante airport to Benidorm and you can sit back and enjoy the views before getting dropped straight at the door of your hotel.
This fun town on the Costa Blanca is a fantastic holiday destination with plenty to see and do, but it is also an interesting resort town that has played a huge role in Spain’s tourism and economy dating back to the 1950s.
Lukas Johannes is a driver for Shuttle Direct, the number one provider of shared and private airport transfers all over Europe and northern Africa. If you’re looking for the most affordable ride from Alicante Airport to Benidorm, Lukas and his colleagues can make sure that you and your luggage get to and from the airport swiftly and safely.
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