Benidorm

A new restaurant has opened its doors in Benidorm with stunning beachfront views and, whilst some tourists are excited, others have been left less than impressed

Benidorm has long been synonymous with its vibrant nightlife, all-inclusive resorts with so much food and drink, stunning coastline and reliable sunshine, but a new eatery has just landed in the Spanish hotspot, dividing opinion amongst holidaymakers. Harry, who regularly posts insider tips about life in Spain, couldn’t contain his enthusiasm about the latest arrival in town.

“Oh my god, this is unbelievable that they’ve done this to Benidorm,” he exclaimed. “Wait until you see this,” Harry teased, building anticipation for what he described as the “nicest beachfront takeaway in Benidorm,” admitting his surprise that the chain had chosen to set up shop there.

He then challenged his TikTok followers on his @harrytokky account to “guess” his location as he swung the camera around to reveal his new go-to spot. The big reveal? The freshly opened Benidorm branch of Taco Bell.

For the uninitiated, Taco Bell is an American fast-food giant known for its Mexican-style fare including tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and much more. The menu boasts an array of customisable dishes featuring seasoned meats, beans, cheese and fresh toppings.

“Here I am, guys, the brand new Taco Bell, and look at that view,” he raved, showcasing its prime beachfront location. Even though blustery conditions prevailed on the day, the setting still looked spectacular.

“Incredible, right? Apart from the extremely crazy wind,” Harry continued, though if you’re heading to Benidorm during the summer, the weather will probably be far nicer, and queues for the restaurant may well be longer too.

Harry collected his order and showed viewers what he’d purchased. He said: “A massive cheeky Coca Cola, some sauce, we’ve got the fries and the burrito in there. Not bad looking really”.

He then conducted the all-important taste test. Trying the fries first, he declared they were “amazing,” and as he dunked them into what appeared to be a cheesy sauce, he made satisfied sounds of approval.

Next up was the burrito, prompting more “mmm” noises as he said: “It’s definitely worth it, just because of the view,” having secured himself a prime window seat.

He initially rated it “10/10,” before backtracking on his assessment, clarifying: “It’s not actually 10/10, the view’s 10/10. It’s alright, it’s okay, it’s not the best one I’ve had in the world, but I do like a Taco Bell. It’s alright. I’ll take it”.

In the comments section, one person revealed there was a Taco Bell there a few years ago, saying it was “nothing special”. Other users bemoaned the difficulty in finding genuine Spanish eateries in Spain nowadays due to chains like this.

One viewer commented: “Marbella has just had a new McDonald’s and Burger King on the paseo and a Five Guys 100 metres away within the last month. Tough finding a decent Tapas bar now”.

Another person vented their frustration: “It’s Spain, I want Sangria, fish, Gazpacho, boquerones, vino verano, San Miguel, a Spanish waiter in a white shirt, not this c***”.

One woman revealed she and her travelling companion had discovered a favourite spot, writing: “We prefer the Terra Cactus place, been every day since we got here and will go until we leave,” alongside a snap of two mouth-watering pizzas.

The advantage of having familiar chain restaurants in destinations like Benidorm is that fussy eaters always have a reliable option if they’re not keen on sampling the local food.

That said, if you’re willing to be more adventurous with your palate, mealtimes become far more thrilling when you embrace authentic local cuisine in whichever destination you’ve chosen to explore.

Spain is filled with beautiful destinations, but are often packed with tourists — but now Brits can fly to one Spanish city without fighting through the hustle and bustle

A breathtaking Spanish city could be yours to discover — for just the cost of a £13 flight.

Spain has a slew of destinations that are filled with amazing history, phenomenal beaches and great natural trails. However, this often comes at the cost of being inundated by tourists trying to capture their own private moment.

But now, a new destination has opened up for Brits to explore the glorious Spanish sun, without the need for wrangling through swathes of holidaymakers trying to take the perfect picture. The hidden gem also sits right on the Mediterranean coast, making it an unspoilt beauty, but still close to other holiday hotspots.

READ MORE: Inside England’s ‘prettiest seaside town’ with sandy beaches and coastal pathsREAD MORE: British dual-citizens told to do 1 thing before travel or risk not getting back to UK

Castellón de la Plana is a small city sitting just inland of Spain’s Costa de Valencia. With a population of just over 174,000 people, the city is often dwarfed by its popular neighbours, including Benidorm, Valencia, and even Barcelona further along the coast.

However, the city is brimming with culture and history, being the fourth-largest city in the region. The town has been mentioned in history books as far back as 1233, when it was taken over by a Spanish king, and has since built up an impressive history, filled with castles and stunning panoramic views, all with 30 °C temperatures at the height of summer.

Being located close to the sea, the city boasts access to the stunning Islas Columbretes Natural Park, where tourists can take in the amazing natural landscapes. With huge sea stacks and rock formations coming out of the sea, the panoramic views are like no other in Spain itself.

Back on dry land, travellers looking to get stuck into the hustle and bustle of daily life can get lost strolling through the Mercado Central, filled with locals selling their best produce. Seafood is in plenty of supply, with customers often queuing around the markets to get fresh quality goods, including food and drinks.

But if the market chaos is too much, the city also boasts a number of quiet, peaceful plazas that show how locals live their lives. Places such as the Plaça Major offer spots for people-watching, whilst taking in the breathtaking architecture of the local cathedral and other prominent buildings.

Beaches are also dotted around the city, with the songs such as the Playa del Pinar and Playa El Gurugu being the perfect spots to catch the sunrise over the horizon of the Med.

Food and drink are also staples of the city’s thriving life, as there are a host of bars and restaurants offering traditional meals for a reasonable price. Modern history is also covered, with the Refugio Antiaereo air-raid shelter now serving as a museum, adding an extra quirk to the Spanish diamond.

British tourists are now able to catch a flight to Castellón de la Plana, after Ryanair officially connected London Stanstead Airport to Castellón Airport, based some 30 kilometres away from the city itself. The cost of the flights themselves are also incredibly cheap, with the cheapest one-way flight to the Spanish getaway coming in at £13 this month.

The airport can also serve as a great gateway to the rest of the Valencia region, with holiday hotspots such as Valencia City, Alicante, and Benidorm easily accessible. The price of flights also do not fluctuate that much, meaning a cheap flight to Spain is always guaranteed.

A Brit in Benidorm has given important advice to anyone who may be crossing the road when they’re in Spain, sharing things to look out for and why you should always be vigilant

A British expat in Benidorm has given some travel advice to people crossing roads in Spain, saying that he sees “so many people getting this wrong”. Wherever you are in the world, it’s important that you’re aware of your surroundings at all times and cross the road safely – even if you’re on holiday. We all had it drilled into us from being young that you’re supposed to stop, look both ways, and listen before stepping off the curb.

However, Frank, who lives in Benidorm, has expressed his concern that people who have come from the UK are not crossing properly, and it’s putting them at serious risk.

He said that he’d noticed people who are from the UK looking in the wrong direction, reminding people that they need to “look left” rather than right in order not to get run over.

TikToker @frankthestagman said: “A lot of people look the wrong way, and that can cause problems. And then of course, when you’re crossing the other way, you’re looking the other way”.

Frank said that “if you’re not sure,” you need to “look both ways” and then “nothing’s going to happen” when you’re crossing the road.

“The other thing as well is it’s really sad because sometimes you’ll see people crossing the road, they don’t quite understand that when they’re crossing over, you know, sometimes there’s people in the middle of the road, and you get Spanish drivers, or drivers here in Spain, and what they’ll end up doing is honking at them and all that. A bit unfair, but it is what it is,” Frank continued.

He urged Brits not to “wave your arms round arguing” and just focus on crossing the road safely to “get where you’re going”.

Frank warned that sometimes “the traffic will speed up” when someone is crossing, labelling it as “a bit unfair,” but people need to just ensure that they’re being as careful as possible.

He also said that if you’re a driver in Spain, don’t necessarily expect a thank you if you let people cross. While people from the UK are overtly polite, Frank said, sometimes Spanish people cross the road without ‘letting on’.

Frank reckons that you can always spot a Brit or someone from Ireland because they’ll give a thumbs up and a “cheers” when you’ve been let across the road.

In the comments, someone said: “I actually love the Spanish pedestrian crossings cos they actually have the countdown to when the lights are changing”.

How do you cross the road as a Brit in Benidorm?

Your first look should be to your left, not your right, because that’s where traffic will be coming from. It’s easy to forget this, especially on quieter streets or when you’re distracted, so make a conscious effort to pause and look left first.

Pedestrian crossings in Spain are usually marked by white zebra stripes, much like in the UK, but the rules and driver behaviour can be quite different. In the UK, drivers are generally required to stop for pedestrians waiting at zebra crossings, and most do so reliably. In Spain, while the law also requires drivers to yield to pedestrians at marked crossings, in practice, drivers may not always stop unless you are clearly about to step onto the crossing, or already on it.

You might notice that Spanish pedestrians often assertively step onto the crossing to signal their intention to cross, rather than waiting for cars to stop first. As a Brit, you might be used to waiting until every car has stopped, but in Spain, you sometimes need to show your intention more clearly. However, always make eye contact with approaching drivers to ensure they’ve seen you, and never assume they will stop automatically.