Costa Blanca lifestyle

There are two outdoor markets on a Wednesday and Sunday, an indoor market (6 days a week), La Marina shopping centre, Alicante shops (approx. 45 mins away) or Valencia shops (approx. 1hr 30 mins). Good buys are leather, lacework, Lladro and Nao porcelain, pottery, wickerware, nougat, chocolate and locally produced wine.

Why not try, Tortilla Espanola (a thick Spanish omelette); Ali Oli (a garlic and oil mayonnaise); Arroz a la banda and Caldero (fish dishes); Arroz a la Alicantina (chicken and rice with shellfish and dried red pepper); El Arroz con Costra (rice with baked egg on top); Arroz Negro (squid), and Arroz con Conejo (rice with rabbit); Turron (honey and almond nougat); seafood (sardines, Tuna, Shellfish consists of red prawns, cuttlefish, octopus and squid); Tapas, Paellas or Moscatel (a local drink). These are all typical Spanish dishes. Enjoy a Spanish-style lunch Menu del Dia displayed outside restaurants it's cheap and consists of three courses and a drink. Benidorm boasts a wide variety of inexpensive options to eat out ranging from local Spanish to a vast, wide variety of international cuisines in restaurants, bars and cafes. Altea, 8kms from Benidorm, also offers some good restaurants.

Benidorm boasts a wide variety of bars, clubs and show-bars. The Levante area also offers British holiday favourites from bingo to karaoke. The Old Town offers a more Spanish atmosphere in bars, beach bars and clubs with salsa dancing.