In the past, parents have worried about taking their families to Benidorm for fear of the tackiness of the resort and its reputation as being one of the best nights out in Europe. In reality though, Benidorm is not just a resort for young people looking for a good time somewhere cheap, it has plenty of things to keep kids and parents entertained all holiday long.
One of the best things about Benidorm and the Costa Blanca, particularly from a kid’s point of view, is the amount of parks. There are enough to compete with Disney! The biggest and best is Terra Mitica, a Mediterranean style themed park with all kinds of adrenaline rides and shows. It is separated into different areas: Egypt, Rome, Greece, Iberia and the Islands, each of which has its own interactive exhibitions, rides, shops and restaurants. If you need somewhere to take the kids to cool down in the hot sun, the best park would be Aqualandia or the next door Mundomar. The first is filled with exciting water thrill rides, whereas the latter has a Dolphinarium as well as sea lion shows, penguins and meerkats. If they want to see more of the animals, Terra Natura is the place for your family, where you can see thousands of animals wandering in their natural habitats.
Theme parks might feel a bit too much for a holiday where you were planning to relax, so instead, take the kids down to one of Benidorm’s beaches. There’s no need to worry about how safe they’ll be as Levante and Poniente, Benidorm’s two main beaches, are both blue flag, meaning they’re clean and are manned by lifeguards as well as being within easy walking distance from most cheap Benidorm hotels. The kids won’t get bored while you relax though; both beaches have a variety of activities on offer from volleyball on land to jet skiing out on the water. Levante beach even has what they call a ‘wet playground’ out to sea with slides and rafts.
A trip that all the family will enjoy is an outing on a boat around the coast line of the Costa Blanca. Boats leave several times daily and you have several options from a glass bottomed vessel to one that explores the coves and shores. One of the best for kids is the boat that takes you on a trip to Benidorm Island, also known as Peacock Island for its peacock population. The island is a nature reserve and has an amazing view back over the skyline of Benidorm. Spend a day wandering the island, grab some souvenirs in its gift shop and have a bite to eat in the restaurant before heading back to the crowds of Benidorm.
If you want to get the kids to appreciate the culture and history of the area you’ve taken them to a bit more, hire a car or book yourself on a trip up into the mountains that overshadow the town. Here you’ll find tiny traditional Moorish villages dotting the rugged landscape filled with white washed houses, the occasional blue domed church and some spectacular views.
