Mark and Karen Gregory admit the popular holiday location is quite ‘Marmite’ – but say they love it
Meet the Benidorm lovers who have holidayed there 25 times – and spend £6k a year on their trips. Mark and Karen Gregory, both 50, used to visit various Spanish islands on holiday until they visited Benidorm for the first time in 2018.
They adored the infamously touristy holiday destination and reckon they have spent £30k visiting. They “aren’t big drinkers” but enjoy the budget alcohol – such as “pints for 80 cents” and “€2 for a bottle of cava” if they do indulge.
They often return to the same haunts every time they visit – enjoying a pint at the Western Saloon, dinner at Country Ribs or Katmandu Curry House, cocktails at the Hotel California Bar. They even love seeing the same Meat Loaf tribute act, often referred to as “Meatloaf Benidorm”, at Jokers.
And they have no plans to look elsewhere for their holidays – and have even discussed moving there one day. Mark, from Swansea, south Wales, said: “We used to go to Majorca and The Canaries until we spotted a deal for a trip to Benidorm one day.
“We thought we’d try it for a week and we were so pleasantly surprised that my wife started looking for accommodation to go again as soon as we got home!
“The TV show is about typical Brits in the sun – what everyone thinks of – but that’s only about 10 per cent of it. You do get your typical beer-bellied Brits but there is a much nicer, quieter side too.
“We mainly go outside of summer as it’s much cheaper – but there’s entertainment there all year round. People do have their own opinions of Benidorm and it is a bit of a ‘Marmite’ resort – but lots fall in love with it and we can see why.”
The couple enjoy the year-round nightlife – particularly the live music, tribute acts and drag shows. They have been 25 times since late 2018 – excluding the travel-free pandemic period – having spent around £30k. Mark said: “We mainly stick to the winter but we’ve been in May a couple of times.
“In winter it’s 30-40 per cent cheaper – not just to get there, but at the bars and restaurants. And even in winter there is so much to do – you never get bored.”
The couple say they tend to avoid the spots frequented by large stag dos and hen parties. Mark said: “You know the spots to avoid but occasionally we do see the groups staggering home at 6am. You do see some incredible things – people passed out on benches!”
But they find lots of quieter locations to enjoy their evenings. Some of their favourite evenings out have been to see a Pink Floyd tribute act, a Tom Jones tribute, a Meatloaf tribute and a comedian called Tony Scott.
Mark said they largely stay in a self-catered apartment which they visit several times a year, discounted because of their loyalty, to keep costs low so they can afford more visits. But they do not mind – as they said all the local produce is better quality for their home-cooked meals.
He said: “We do sometimes go for meals but Karen is coeliac so it’s not that easy. But the supermarkets are better – there are so many gluten-free options for us.”
The couple say since discovering their love for Benidorm they have only holidayed elsewhere once – when they went to Tenerife. But they said it did not compare at all – and have been back to Benidorm again since.
Mark said: “There are times you think you might be ‘Benidormed out’ but you compare anywhere else to there and it’s always better.”
He said they have no plans to visit elsewhere and live a frugal life ordinarily to afford their £6k-per-year trips. Mark added: “Whenever we go back there are new places that have opened, but we like the familiarity of it.
“Whenever you go to a new place it takes a few days to find your feet – whereas going here, it’s like coming home. People do have their own opinions but I don’t like it when people share derogatory views about it when they’ve never been.
“If you’ve never tried it, and you’ve just watched the TV show or read about it, don’t just jump on the bandwagon. If people want to tar us with a certain brush because of where we holiday, that’s fine – but we love it.”
Mark and Karen’s favourite:
– Bar – Western Saloon
– Restaurant – Country Ribs
– Meal – Curry from Katmandu Curry House
– Drinks – Cocktails at the Hotel California Bar
– Entertainment – Meatloaf tribute act