It sounds like the name of a prescription drug, and that might be ironic, because Benidorm as plenty about it that’s addicting.
For those readers geographically-challenged, Benidorm is one of Spain’s most famous, and lively, beach resort towns. About midway between Alicante and Valencia on the Mediterranean coast, it also has one of the country’s larger gay scenes, with much of it centered in a cornucopia of bars and clubs in the Old Town section. Even better, Benidorm is so popular with Brits and Irish, gay and straight, that a good chunk of the native population already speaks English.
For a smaller city, the gay pickings are surprisingly diverse, and I don’t just mean the two separate Pride events (the “general” one at the end of summer and the Mr. Leather Spain held in November). There are three gay beaches, Levante, Poniete, and Raco de Conill, two clubs, two cruising bars, 11 gay bars and at least one gay sauna — that’s just what I could find right off hand. Thank the stars these all close at one point, or else you might not see the rest of the town for the duration of your stay. That being said, keep in mind those closing times are breathtakingly late; this is Spain, the party doesn’t even start until 11 at night, and doesn’t hit its stride until the AM. This might be one of those times where jet lag works in your favor.
Unlike almost anywhere else in the country, Benidorm doesn’t come off as particularly “old.” Until the 1960s, the town was barely on the map. Consequently, when local officials began to promote the town as a beach getaway, there was open real estate galmore for hotels and other development to play around with. Today, Benidorm is Europe’s biggest holiday resort town, to say nothing of Spain’s, and has more high-rises per capita than anywhere else in the world. Take away Benidorm and a huge chunk of the Spanish tourism economy would go with it. Let’s hear it for high-rises!
That’s not to say you have a “McCity.” Because the entire Costa Blanca coast was regularly raided by Algerian pirates, almost every town on it has a fortress. In Benidorm, it is the Balcon del Mediterraneo, and it’s titanium-white promenade offers a Grade-A view of Benidorm Island, which is worth a visit for its population of wild peacocks. Also worth a few pics are the blue-tiled domes of San Jaime Church.
The high season is June to August, but this is a party town; it’s always going to busy and always going to be gay. But if you go now, at least it will be cheaper. Contact Steele Luxury Travel for all of your planning to Spain and beyond!