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A British expat has shared an insight into what Benidorm is like in the winter season and she offered a worrying reason why some tourists may be avoiding the streets

An expert on all things Benidorm has shared insight into what the popular Spanish resort is like in the winter months – declaring that it is “completely dead”.

Expat Lucy Young runs the Benidorm Stuff YouTube channel and she recently toured the usually bustling strip that looked more like a ghost town.

Starting her vlog, she said: “It’s very quiet… in fact it’s dead! Pretty much as dead as it gets. There are plenty of places open but there are just not many people around. So let’s go for a wander and see if we can find any life in December. The whole of Benidorm is just completely dead at this time of year.”

Lucy, who has lived there for over 20 years and is known as the Benidorm Enthusiast, began her stroll on a Tuesday night just after 10pm and she told her 75,900 subscribers it was as deserted as they would ever see.

However, being low season, she acknowledged that the empty bars and quiet streets were as expected, but she still sometimes forgets just how silent it gets.

She added that she highlights just how “absolutely wild” the resort is during high season, and therefore it was important to show it at its quietest period too.

During her walk past bars that are usually heaving with partygoers, Lucy shed some insight into the different reasons why the streets were almost empty.

She explained how Levante Beach remained a hive of activity during the day time in winter and that the Old Town has got a buzz about it in the afternoon – but where does everyone go when the sun drops?

She said: “Many tourists that come in December just stay in their hotels. It can get pretty nippy and I don’t think people realise just how nippy it can get.”

The content creator said temperatures drop rapidly by 10 degrees or so once night falls and there is no escaping the chill.

She added that hotel rooms were warm, cosy and provided entertainment, and therefore many tourists preferred to simply stay put.

Citing a more worrying reason, she hinted that the strip was not as safe as it could be, and some folk were unwilling to venture out too late.

She explained: “I think it is down to the age group as well. We do get a slightly more mature age group at this time of year and I think sadly some just don’t feel particularly safe around here late at night anymore.

“It is a real shame because this area used to be welcoming for all ages at all times of the year really. But I think in recent years most people will agree that this area has changed and not for the better.

“If you are not a hardcore partygoer you may well be put off by this area these days. Even I can feel a little bit intimidated walking around here and I know these streets like the back of my hand.”

She added that the liveliest parts of Bendiron were around the Hotel California bar and The Crown pub where a few people were gathered for drinks.

Lucy later joked that she expected to see tumble weeds rolling down the road by the time she reached the end of the strip because of how quiet it was.

The YouTuber acknowledged that some people will prefer Benidorm this way, usually because they can get a seat for entertainment shows that are performed all year without having people talk over them.

But as for anyone coming in winter, she advised them not to expect the strip to be “absolutely bouncing” before emphasising one final time: “The strip at night? It is pretty dead and deserted.”

After posting the video, which you can watch here in full, one person commented: “Omg don’t think I have ever saw it so empty Lucy.”

Another wrote: “Coming out for the new year, really looking forward to it and hope it’s worth it.”

A third said: “Still love Benidorm at New Year it will be so different then.”

One person added: “Why is it like this? I live 45 minutes away, never seen it like that since lockdown.”

“IF you go above 50mph, a monkey will jump out and give you a speeding ticket.”

I have been warned, but it certainly feels like I’m going that fast as I whizz through the jungle on a zipline.

Thankfully the monkeys keep to themselves, although you’ll often see them popping out from the trees while in St Kitts.

The Caribbean island is definitely one for the adventure-seekers. At least that’s what I’m told as I zoom down The Boss zipline, speeding through the tree canopies around me.

My grin is ear to ear as I throw my hands out, flying along like a bird. When I come back to earth with a massive spring cushioning my fast fall, I’m sad it’s over — but there’s so much more to come.

Next up is hiking the live volcano Mount Liamuiga. It’s not for the faint-hearted, as the six-hour trek is up 2,000ft, with the majority of it scrabbling up rocks and tree roots.

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Even as someone relatively fit, it was a battle of my will to get all the way up.

Thankfully, the view was worth it as I overlooked the grassy crater while perched on the edge of a rock. Even the hazy clouds covering the top couldn’t stop me feeling proud of the achievement.

But those clouds soon turned into some of the heaviest rain our guide said he’d seen outside of hurricane season.

Those tropical storms that just last an hour? Not this one.

The already treacherous walk down was made all the harder when the steep route was turned into a waterfall.

Soaked in minutes, it’s no surprise I walked (slid) down to the bottom in half the time it took to go up. I was only too grateful for the very deep tissue massage waiting for me at the beautiful Belle Monte Hotel at the end.

But if you are desperate for that knockout island view, there is a much easier way to get it.

At the very south of the island is Cockleshell Beach, home to all of the island’s top watersports. And it’s how I found myself 60ft in the air during my first attempt at parasailing.

The view from up there let me see both St Kitts and its neighbouring island, Nevis, uninterrupted, as my pro captain sped along the waves.
Evening smores

And I spotted his cheeky grin as he dunked us in the water “accidentally” when bringing us back to the boat.

Evening smores

Most of our travel went through the middle of the island, where the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea meet.

On the Atlantic side is the St Kitts Marriott Resort, which overlooks a sandy beach. The rooms are simple, but large, so more than enough room to spread out.

And the rest of the hotel will keep you occupied, with a huge central pool complete with swim-up bar, volleyball nets and enough sun loungers for everyone.

There’s also tennis courts, ice-cream parlours, shops and the island’s only casino.

Make sure to check the board for activities too — we missed the live bands but managed some evening smores over the outdoor fire pit.

While you can eat at the hotel restaurants, most resorts in St Kitts aren’t all-inclusive.

It’s a good thing, though, with amazing diners dotted throughout the island.

There is Shipwreck, a pirate-like bar on Frigate Bay that serves the best jerk chicken and rice I’ve ever had.

Or head to Rock Lobster for a beautifully rich lobster thermidor.

Or for something fancier there is Carambola, with a huge fresh sushi bar as well as delicious surf and turf.

But I barely scratched the surface when it comes to island thrills.

There’s snorkelling and catamarans, beach horse-riding, jet skis and even retro train rides.

“It’s an island where you can do something different every day,” my boat captain tells me during an impromptu sailing lesson.

After a week of ziplining, hiking and paragliding, it might just be the first holiday I came home fitter from than when I left.

BRUSSELS — The European Union’s executive arm on Wednesday warned that it would take action against any “unjustified measures” after the U.S. State Department barred five Europeans it accuses of pressuring U.S. technology firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints.

The Europeans were characterized by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “radical” activists and “weaponized” nongovernmental organizations. They include the former EU commissioner responsible for supervising social media rules, Thierry Breton.

Breton, a businessman and former French finance minister, clashed last year on social media with tech billionaire Elon Musk over broadcasting an online interview with Donald Trump in the months leading up to the U.S. election.

The European Commission, the EU’s powerful executive branch and which supervises tech regulation in Europe, said that it “strongly condemns the U.S. decision to impose travel restrictions” and that it has requested clarification about the move. French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned it.

“If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures,” the commission said in a statement, without elaborating.

Rubio wrote in an X post on Tuesday that “for far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose.”

“The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship,” he posted.

The European Commission countered that “the EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments.”

“Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination,” it said.

Macron said that the visa restrictions “amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty,” he posted on X.

Macron said that the EU’s digital rules were adopted by “a democratic and sovereign process” involving all member countries and the European Parliament. He said that the rules “ensure fair competition among platforms, without targeting any third country.”

He underlined that “the rules governing the European Union’s digital space are not meant to be determined outside Europe.”

Breton and the group of Europeans fell afoul of a new visa policy announced in May to restrict the entry of foreigners deemed responsible for censorship of protected speech in the United States.

The four others are: Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of HateAid, a German organization; and Clare Melford, who runs the Global Disinformation Index.

Rubio said the five had advanced foreign government censorship campaigns against Americans and U.S. companies, which he said created “potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences” for the United States.

The action to bar them from the U.S. is part of a Trump administration campaign against foreign influence over online speech, using immigration law rather than platform regulations or penalties.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Sarah Rogers, the U.S. under secretary of state for public diplomacy, called Breton the “mastermind” behind the EU’s Digital Services Act, which imposes a set of strict requirements designed to keep internet users safe online. This includes flagging harmful or illegal content like hate speech.

Breton responded on X by noting that all 27 EU member countries voted for the Digital Services Act in 2022. “To our American friends: ‘Censorship isn’t where you think it is,’” he wrote.

Cook writes for the Associated Press. AP journalist Angela Charlton contributed to this report from Paris.

Dec. 24 (UPI) — The United States imposed travel bans on former European Union technology commissioner Thierry Breton and four other campaigners against online hate and disinformation, alleging they had forced U.S. social media platforms to limit Americans’ first amendment rights.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement Tuesday that the five had “led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to censor, demonetize and suppress” the views of Americans with whom they disagreed.

“These radical activists and weaponized NGOs have advanced censorship crackdowns by foreign states — in each case targeting American speakers and American companies,” added Rubio who described the five as “agents of the global censorship-industrial complex.”

Beton was singled out by U.S. Under Secretary of State Sarah Rogers as the “mastermind” of European laws that require social media that operate in the 27-country bloc to adhere to content moderation and other standards to protect users, and children in particular, from harm.

That affects the big U.S. tech players, including Google and Meta, by requiring stricter monitoring of content or face fines up to 1% of global annual turnover.

Rogers named the others banned from entering the United States as Anna-Lena von Hodenberg and Josephine Ballon of Berlin-based non-profit HateAid, Clare Melford, co-founder of the London-headquartered Global Disinformation Index, and Briton, Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate.

Breton, who served as the commissioner for the EU’s internal market from 2019 to 2024, likened the move to McCarthyism in the late 1940s and early 1950s and pointed out that the Digital Services Act was voted into law by 90% of MEPs.

“To our American friends: ‘Censorship isn’t where you think it is,” he said.

Brussels condemned the visa bans, saying Wednesday that freedom of expression was a core value that Europe shared in common with United States, but that the EU had sovereignty in regulating economic activity and that its digital laws were fairly applied without prejudice.

The visa bans also came under strong criticism from French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who said that safeguards on Europe’s digital space, which had been adopted by democratic means in Europe, could not be dictated from the outside.

He insisted the legislation contained no extraterritorial provisions and therefore had no impact on the United States.

The dispute dates back to an August 2024 warning Breton issued to Elon Musk that an interview with then presidential candidate Donald Trump that he planned to stream on his X platform must not breach the Digital Services Act.

According to Rogers, Breton’s letter contained a sinister recap of X’s legal duties under the DSA and referenced ‘formal proceedings’ for alleged ‘illegal content’ and ‘disinformation.'”

The United States has imposed visa bans on five Europeans, including a former European Union commissioner, accusing them of pressuring tech firms to censor and suppress “American viewpoints they oppose”.

In a statement on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterised the individuals as “radical activists” who had “advanced censorship crackdowns” by foreign states against “American speakers and American companies”.

“For far too long, ideologues in Europe have led organized efforts to coerce American platforms to punish American viewpoints they oppose,” he said on X.

“The Trump Administration will no longer tolerate these egregious acts of extraterritorial censorship,” he added.

The most prominent target was Thierry Breton, who served as the European commissioner for the internal market from 2019-2024.

Sarah Rogers, the undersecretary for public diplomacy, described the French businessman as the “mastermind” of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark law intended to combat ​hateful speech, misinformation and disinformation on online platforms.

Rogers also accused Breton of using the DSA to threaten Elon Musk, the owner of X and a close ally of US President Donald Trump, ahead of an interview Musk conducted with Trump during last year’s presidential campaign.

‘Witch hunt’

Breton responded to the visa ban in a post on X, slamming it as a “witch hunt” and comparing the situation with the US’s McCarthy era, when officials were chased out of government for alleged ties to communism.

“To our American friends: Censorship isn’t where you think it is,” he added.

The others named by Rogers are: Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate; Josephine Ballon and Anna-Lena von Hodenberg, leaders of HateAid, a German organisation, and Clare Melford, who runs the Global Disinformation Index (GDI).

French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot “strongly” condemned the visa restrictions, stating that the EU “cannot let the rules governing their digital space be imposed by others upon them”. He stressed that the DSA was “democratically adopted in Europe” and that “it has absolutely no extraterritorial reach and in no way affects the United States”.

Ballon and von Holdenberg of HateAid described the visa bans as an attempt to obstruct the enforcement of European law on US corporations operating in Europe.

“We will not be ‌intimidated by a government that uses accusations of censorship to silence those who stand ⁠up for human rights and freedom of expression,” they said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the GDI also called the US action “immoral, unlawful, and un-American”, as well as “an authoritarian attack on free speech and an egregious act of government censorship”.

The punitive measures follow the Trump administration’s publishing of a National Security Strategy, which accused European leaders of censoring free speech and suppressing opposition to immigration policies that it said risk “civilisational erasure” for the continent.

The DSA in particular has emerged as a flashpoint in US-EU relations, with US conservatives decrying it as a weapon of censorship against right-wing thought in Europe and beyond, an accusation Brussels denies.

The legislation requires major platforms to explain content-moderation decisions, provide transparency for users and grant researchers access to study issues such as children’s exposure to dangerous content.

Tensions escalated further this month after the EU fined Musk’s X for violating DSA rules on transparency in advertising and its methods for ensuring users were verified and actual people.

Washington last week signalled that key European businesses – including Accenture, DHL, Mistral, Siemens and Spotify – could be targeted in response.

The US has also attacked the United Kingdom’s Online Safety Act, which imposes similar content moderation requirements on major social media platforms.

The White House last week suspended the implementation of a tech cooperation deal with the UK, saying it was in opposition to the UK’s tech rules.

FUELLED by a glass of Moet from the 24-hour champagne bar, I sleepily made my way to the resort’s palm-lined beach club, nibbling on a golden chocolate-covered strawberry as I plodded.  

So far, so Dubai . . .  except I am actually in Turkey at the Cullinan Belek hotel. 

Which means, after a short four-hour flight from the UK, I was swept into the kind of luxury you would expect from one of the 5H properties on The Palm Jumeirah — only without the seven-hour journey, or the jet lag.  

Plus, it meant I was feeling fresh enough to go from the plane to the party in minutes. 

Cullinan Belek’s Galapagos beach bar was pumping as masked dancers beckoned in revellers with their flaming torches and a live DJ played Balearic-style beats. 

Its troupe put on two original shows a night – one more family-friendly piece in the main auditorium and a more progressive, late-night number for the adults, like tonight’s, which took its inspiration from Moroccan belly dancers.  

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A waiter served me a freshly-shaken, personalised cocktail from his cart, and before long, I was dancing barefoot on the beach.  

Cullinan Belek won the Luxury All-Inclusive Resort gong at the World Travel Awards in 2024, but if I needed further proof of its prestige, I found it back at our Superior Duplex room. 

There’s a pillow menu, top-of-the-range tech to control lights, curtains and air, plus divine Bvlgari toiletries in the two bathrooms.  

But the real treat is the swim-up infinity pool which lapped my second-floor terrace, overlooking the main resort.  

A quick plunge shook off last night’s cocktails and a trip to the hotel’s C’Espace spa beckoned. 

Somehow the hotel’s gym even managed to make sweating feel refined as it is among the best I’ve ever used — yes, it even beats those in Dubai. 

As well as the usual equipment there is a Pilates reformer stand, yoga room, decent set-up for weight-lifters, plus even an indoor and outdoor Hyrox zone for those seeking an on-trend workout.  

And if you’re after something more relaxed, I’m told the Cullinan’s golf course is the best in Belek, which has become known as the heartland for the sport with the hotel offering special packages for enthusiasts.

There are 14 sections to browse for breakfast, ranging from your standard pastries and fry-ups to Indian cuisine, Mexican breakfast burritos and a juice bar.  

Instead, I signed up to play sport-of-the-moment padel — as made popular by the Princess of Wales — and was immediately hooked, as it had all the fun of tennis without as much running.  

That felt like more than enough activity for one day, but it turns out another challenge lay ahead.  

The Mare main restaurant is an epic buffet set-up, larger than any I’ve seen before — yes, even larger than those in Dubai.  

There are 14 sections to browse for breakfast, ranging from your standard pastries and fry-ups to Indian cuisine, Mexican breakfast burritos and a juice bar.  

Variety might be the spice of life, but at that hour of the day, the choice was sometimes overwhelming and the crowds and queues tricky to navigate.  

Away from the throng of the buffet, though, is where the Cullinan Belek really excelled. 

The resort has two Italian restaurants as well Greek, Asian, teppanyaki and a steakhouse plus a number of snack bistros, a patisserie and an in-house chocolatier. So I got to work.  

In the evening, some of these carry an additional charge on top of the all-inclusive package but each time it felt worth it. 

Great value 

I particularly enjoyed the beef in hot sauce from Nori Asian, which, for an extra €25 per person, allows you to dine to the sounds of live music as you sit among the petal design of the Azure pool.  

Meanwhile The Beef Grill puts its succulent steaks at the centre of the action, with the cuts displayed in a huge chiller spanning the length of the restaurant, and an open kitchen grill.  

The real jewel in the hotel’s crown, however, is the huge water park which offers an oasis for families, alongside a football pitch, splash pool and tons of beach games…

The €55-per-person surcharge felt great value when the signature starters of Meat Sushi and Onion Blossom were prepared at our table by an intrepid server with a blow torch.  

The real jewel in the hotel’s crown, however, is the huge water park which offers an oasis for families, alongside a football pitch, splash pool and tons of beach games as well as indoor bowling alley and games consoles. 

The offering for children is impressive — but all the more so because these facilities somehow nestle unobtrusively alongside the chic, laidback aspects, just like at the super hotels in Dubai. 

Which was ideal for me, lazing by the adults-only pool as I awaited my next cocktail from the roller-skating waitress. 

If Cullinan Belek is a Dubai dupe, then honestly, who needs the real thing? 

THERE’S a special kind of contentment that washes over you as you sink into a cushy lounge chair at Celebrity Xcel’s Sunset bar. 

A very dry martini in hand, I exhale and drink in the endless blue of the ocean, glittering as the sun slips slowly down beneath the horizon.

The warm Caribbean breeze envelops me as the sky turns vivid pink, orange and red — I’m as relaxed as I have ever been. 

There’s a chic beach club vibe to this al-fresco bar right at the back of the ship, and after just a few days onboard, it’s my favourite spot for a sundowner. 

Mind you, it’s got plenty of competition. 

Around every corner of this sparkling new £764million, 15-deck beauty — the latest in Celebrity’s Edge series — there is something to delight or amaze. 

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And sometimes they come in the most surprising of places. 

I loved the new Country & Western show in The Club — brilliant vocalists and musicians bringing some barnstorming classics to life.

However, hiding in a dark corner of the hip venue, I spy a little photo booth.  

We sit down for our selfie and smile but just as the photos are delivered, a secret door slides open. 

Following the corridor of sparkling lights, we discover a fabulous 1920s-inspired speakeasy.

Flapper girls and gangsters welcome you into the low-lit, smoky joint where the bartenders mix up killer cocktails and live jazz fills the air. 

You’ll get just an hour to enjoy the illicit fun before you’re asked to depart — before the police raid the joint! 

It’s just one of the seven new spaces you’ll only find on Celebrity Xcel and the premium cruise line knew just who to turn to when designing the new ship — their loyal customers.

More than 650,000 votes were cast by regular cruisers to decide on everything from the entertainment (that Country & Western show got the thumbs-up) to the food and cocktails. 

There are two new speciality restaurants onboard. Bora sits alongside the Rooftop Garden on deck 15 and features upscale Mediterranean seafood.  

By day, there’s a decadent brunch in the beautifully decorated al-fresco space featuring shakshuka, steak and eggs, fried chicken with waffles and more. 

Don’t miss the Bloody Mary Bar where you can personalise your cocktail with over- the-top garnishes, premium spirits and spicy mixes. 

As night falls, the space transforms with live music and some stand-out dishes including plump carabinero prawns, razor clams and lamb tagine. Brunch costs £27pp and dinner £49pp. 

When it sails the Mediterranean next summer, all will be transformed to reflect the European ports of call.

Mosaic, the second new speciality restaurant, sits in the transformed Eden area at the back of the ship.

Now dubbed the Bazaar, this spectacular space aims to blur the line between ship and shore — highlighting the destinations Xcel cruises to. 

With an inaugural winter season in the Caribbean, this means interactive cooking classes, craft workshops, entertainment and live music direct from the tropical islands. 

The entrance to the new area — complete with a mind-bending LED tunnel — is a treat for shopaholics, with jewellery, clothes and food from local artists and producers.

When it sails the Mediterranean next summer, all will be transformed to reflect the European ports of call. 

There’s also local flavours to enjoy at casual dining venue Spice — included in the price.

But for a real treat, Mosaic offers even more upscale dining alongside triple-height glass windows looking out over the ocean. 

At £70pp, it’s one for a special occasion but you can expect the best — from a delicious lobster casserole to filet mignon steak and Celebrity cruise fan favourite, spiced lamb loin. 

Towers of seafood 

What did surprise me, though, was the standard of food throughout the included restaurants onboard.

Towers of seafood, superb French cheeses and spectacular roasts were on offer in the Oceanview Cafe buffet restaurant. 

The main dining is not one big restaurant but four beautifully decorated separate spaces, each with their own theme, from French fine dining to Italian classics. 

Even the slices of pizza and burgers on the top deck were a step above your normal poolside snacks. 

The Spa has also had some upgrades, including a first-ever outdoor ‘Vitamin D’ deck for sunbathing spa fun, a new hydrotherapy pool and a ‘Bubbles Bar’, where you can enjoy a glass of sparkling wine while having your nails done. 

Celebrity’s Edge-class ships have become known for their quirky poolside animal sculptures but Xcel takes it to another level. 

Entertainment onboard again is taken to another level in The Theatre with Broadway-style shows in a high-tech venue featuring an eye-popping 110ft curved LED backdrop.

Presiding over the new pool deck is a sparkling 14ft-tall silver sculpture of a monkey and its baby — and this latest Edge ship has upped the ante poolside, too.  

The pool concierge proffers everything from sunscreen and cold towels to board games.

When not in port, this beach club turns into ‘The Poolest Day Ever’, with live music, DJ sets, pop-up shows and after dark, the Shine The Night pool party.

And the entertainment onboard again is taken to another level in The Theatre with Broadway-style shows in a high-tech venue featuring an eye-popping 110ft curved LED backdrop. 

I loved The Attic at The Club — a mezzanine level where morning, noon and night you can challenge your partner and pals to everything from pool and golf to retro arcade games. 

For me, this felt like the ultimate adult cruise liner. Fabulous food, thoughtfully- designed sophisticated spaces, energetic entertainment and just the right amount of laid-back fun. 

Just get me back to that Sunset bar . . .