ONE couple is swapping the chilly UK for sunny Benidorm this Christmas – having been to the Spanish resort around 130 times.
Instead of a turkey dinner, they’ll be at the Chinese buffet and ditching the classic Christmas get-together for time on the beach at the Spanish seaside resort which they call their ‘second home’.
Roger, 75, and Sue Topp, 74, have been travelling with TUI to Benidorm for more than 35 years first starting in 1987 and have racked up over 100 trips there.
The pair say they practically raised their three children in Benidorm who are now ages 52, 50 and 45.
This Christmas the pair are flying from East Midlands Airport on December 23 which will mark their 8th visit of the year.
For the festive season, they’ll be staying at the popular Hotel Rio Park – which they visit around three times each year.
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The hotel has an outdoor pool, three bars, a restaurant and a playground with easy access to Benidorm’s main strip.
You might think the couple are missing out on cosy nights in front of the fire, and of course a classic Christmas lunch with all the trimmings.
But Sue and Roger are content on soaking up winter sun on the beach, wandering the Old Town, and eating at their favourite Chinese buffet; Puente De Oro.
Roger said: “We love the Chinese buffet out there, you can get plates piled high and unlimited drinks for €19 (£16.67).
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“The food is fresh, delicious and amazing value. We go there all the time, sometimes there are big groups of 20 of us who are Benidorm regulars.”
That’s not the only cheap food option at the seaside resort – there’s also a spot where the couple get tapas for less than £9.
Roger added: “There is a Tapas bar called Zodiac right near the Rio Park Hotel, and it does the most delicious 6 plates of tapas and a bottle of wine for £7.90.
“You really can’t beat that. We go back time and time again because the quality is amazing and it’s a great price”.
When it comes to Christmas, Sue and Roger reveal that the hotel makes them feel right at home.
On Christmas day, the Rio Park Hotel puts on a “feast” with a traditional Christmas lunch, all day entertainment and unlimited wine and beer.
Sue and Roger insist there’s still a big misconception about Benidorm and advised other Brits to “ignore the stereotypes.”
They went on to say that it’s one of the “friendliest, best-value places you can visit, something for every age and budget.”
You can still book to go to Hotel Rio Park this Christmas with a seven-night stay from December 21 to December 28 for £689.94pp – including flights from London Stansted to Alicante.
And while Benidorm is just two and a half hours away from the UK, you can still enjoy some winter sun there.
The average daytime temperature has highs of 16C with cooler nights dropping to around 7C.
Here’s where you can find the iconic Solana Hotel from ITV’s Benidorm…
The Solana resort from the show is actually the Sol Pelicanos Ocas in Benidorm.
Unlike most TV shows that are filmed away from their on-screen location, the Sol Pelicanos Ocas is actually in Benidorm.
It has has 783 rooms spread across two apartment buildings.
There are two pools, one of which is the lagoon-style swimming pool with a swim-up bar which featured heavily on Benidorm.
Alongside it are three hot tubs, a swim-up bar and plenty of loungers.
The complex has two buffet restaurants where you can grab breakfast, lunch and dinner, and for drinks, there are five bars so you won’t struggle to get a cocktail.
For the kids there’s a playground, watersports in the pool, archery, and table tennis. There’s also an entertainment programme for children and a kids’ club with a ball pit.
Sadly Neptune’s karaoke bar isn’t actually in the hotel – instead it’s over the road in Morgan’s Tavern.
The hotel is handily a two minute walk to Levante Beach where you can swim, bodyboard, and jet ski in the water.
For more on Benidorm, one influencer decided to move there after one visit – he calls it paradise with £1 beers and cheap bills.
Plus, one traveller found a ‘secret’ paradise 30 minutes from Benidorm – it’s nothing like the busy strip but still has double G&Ts for £5.