How is Valentine celebrated in other parts of the world?

When we think of Valentine, apart from thinking about love, about our partner, if we have one, what to give and where we will go to dinner, almost everyone comes to his mind that this Valentine's Day has been an invention of a shopping mall. However nothing is further from the reality ...

In 1840, Esther A. Howland, decided to sell congratulations on February 14th with the message "Happy Valentines". Such was the success that the following year repeated the campaign and little by little the businesses were incorporating some elements at the moment like chocolates and roses.

This custom was expanding to other countries with the name of Valentine's Day and in South America it is also the day of friendship.

Curiosities of the celebration of Valentine in the world

If there is a city in Italy where to celebrate Valentines, that is Verona, the home of the famous lovers Romeo and Juliet. The whole city is turning this day with the theme of love, with different activities along its streets, the famous Juliet Club that helps lovers to write love letters, their traditional dinners with candles and wine ...

In Japan on Valentine's Day, women give chocolate to men they love or like, and a month later, on March 14, the "answer day" they have to give chocolates to those women who they liked.

In Croatia it is customary to give a tender heart, a heart-shaped cake painted with very cheerful colors and with a mirror in the center so that who receives the gift sees his image inside the heart.

In Denmark men anonymously give away a "joke letter" with a funny poem or a rhyme. If the woman finds out who the sender is, an egg is won for the next Easter parties.

In England the women place 5 laurel leaves under the pillow, two on each side and one in the center. It is said that those who practice this ritual dream that night with who will be their future husband.

In New York seven couples are chosen to marry that day, in the lookout of the eightieth floor of the Empire State Building, they become part of the Bridal Club of the famous building. From there, they have free admission on the day of their anniversary.

There are many curious customs on Valentine's Day in different parts of the world, but for a different Valentine's Day, you do not need to go to any of these countries!

And in Benidorm? How to enjoy Valentine in an original way?

The Benidorm Palace, you’ll love it!

If you are close to Benidorm and want to give your partner a different evening, the Benidorm Palace has prepared a special gala dinner on Saturday 11 and 18 February with dinner, plus a Valentine show.

An emblematic hall where the show with vedettes, dance, music, magic, humor and different shows will make of Saint Valentine a fun and unforgettable night.

A Route of Hearts for Benidorm

TAO Bike has put for San Valentin an interesting offer to tour the most romantic corners of Benidorm on electric bikes. Whether it is with this comfortable and ecological environment or just strolling around, it is essential to visit the Balcón del Mediterráneo, a fantastic view of the sea at the point where Levante Beach and Poniente Beach meet.

Benidorm also has excellent and romantic coves where you can take your partner to enjoy a fun picnic at sunset such as Cala del Tio Ximo or Cala Almadraba.

A wide range of hotels for Valentine's Day

Benidorm is the favorite tourist destination in the Spanish Mediterranean. A city with a tourist infrastructure that impresses. Its hotel offer is one of the most numerous in the country, since it is the 3rd tourist destination after Barcelona and Madrid.

Almost all of the hotels in Benidorm have special activities on Valentine's Day, but among them, this year, the offer prepared by the emblematic Hotel Don Pancho for its variety and the taste with which this hotel usually celebrates these occasions.

Valentine's Gala Dinner

On the nights of 11, 15 and 18 February, a Gala Dinner is held in the hotel's premises, open to the public in its new halls.

A special Valentine's menu, 1 table per couple, welcome cocktail, ambient music during dinner ... It is the best option in Benidorm to surprise your partner.

Valentine's Day Getaway and Love Short break

On the weekend before Valentine's Day the Hotel Don Pancho offers its guests a complete getaway that will delight many couples.

In this break you can enjoy, besides the Gala Dinner on Saturday, cava and chocolates in the room, late checkout until 2 pm, free parking and other surprises that the hotel does not want to reveal to surprise its customers.

A different Valentine enjoying Nature?

If what you really like is to wake up to the sounds of nature, breathe fresh air, relax in quiet corners, then the ideal way to surprise your partner is our Campsite.

There are many campsites in Benidorm, but only the Camping Villasol contemplates the perfect blend of high standing accommodation and spaces surrounded by nature in the heart of Benidorm.

Bungalows with deluxe decoration, very welcoming to enjoy a passionate getaway or The Suites, rooms with all luxury of detail with private terrace is the main bet of this campsite to celebrate Valentine during the weekends of the 11th and 18th February, Accompanied with cava and chocolates and late checkout for whom the night has been made a little long!

So there is no excuse, in Valentine, there is always perfect plan for any couple.

And you? What is the plan you have to surprise your partner this Valentine?

Camping Villasol

Camping en Benidorm

www.camping-villasol.com 

Villasol campsite offers a new product to its customers: The Suites

Villasol campsite adds to its wide range of accommodation in Benidorm a new product that is sure to delight the usual campers and not as usual ones. The Camping Villasol suites are designed to let you enjoy nature and the camping atmosphere, but having all the comfort of a hotel room.

The characteristics of the Villasol campsite Suites
The Villasol campsite Suites have room for two people with a large private bathroom with double shower toilet a cosy and modern design which invites to rest and relax. Moreover, each suite has its own private terrace to enjoy the sun and nature.

Every Villasol campsite Suite is fully equipped: bedding,towels, mini-fridge and TV. Furthermore, there is also the possibility to enjoy the WiFi network a surcharge. There are travelling cots available for couples with babies.

Each suite has a private parking where you can leave a car.There is a small but pleasant garden to sit to enjoy the scenery or read a book.

The room of a hotel that allows you to enjoy the advantages of the camping surroundings.

To complete the quality service, the Villasol campsite Suites can be booked as Bed and Breakfast, Half Board or Full Board; ideal for those who want to forget completely the daily routine of preparing meals.

Villasol campsite Suites offer tourist all the comfort of a quality hotel room and the best of a stay in a campsite: freedom of schedules, contact with nature and green zones, swimming pools and the cheerful atmosphere of a camping in Benidorm.

Ideal for couples
The Villasol camping Suites are ideal for couples wanting to enjoy the atmosphere of the city of
Benidorm.

Thanks to its exceptional location, very close to the Levante beach, tourists staying in them have all the attractions that Benidorm offers at a short walk away.The Levante beach, one of the best in Europe, has nearly two kilometers in which to spend a good day at the beach, sunbathe, walk or enjoy the Levantine cuisine at any of the bars and restaurants along the promenade.

For those dynamic couples, Benidorm has a very attractive offer;
various nautical sports can be practised at its beaches, such as kitesurf or kayak.
If you are kind of a hiking lover, the Sierra Helada route from 'La Cruz' viewpoint gives you the opportunity of enjoying the scenery and calm of an exceptional area.

The nightlife is another attractive feature for tourists visiting Benidorm. Dining, having a drink and dancing in one of its pubs is an appealling nightout for a couple visiting Benidorm regardless of the age, because Benidorm has a wide offer of nightlife for everyone.

Camping Villasol
Camping in Benidorm
http://camping-villasol.com

Tourism in Benidorm, over a hundred years of history

Since tourism leisure spread, the coast has always been a powerful attraction for tourists. The east coast and, by extension, Benidorm has a long history of over one hundred years of relationship with tourism, which is why today has a large infrastructure ready for the many visitors who continually receives. Campings in Benidorm, apartment complexes, hotel, the wide range of daytime and evening entertainment ... an entire infrastructure to serve the tourist.

The custom of "taking baths" perhaps copied from the wealthy and renowned families of Europe that used to travel to Baden Baden or Biarritz, is one of the first manifestations of tourism of which there is evidence in Benidorm.

The first known tourist brochure dating from 1893 in Benidorm is about the Baths of Virgin of Suffrage. At this time visitors came to the coast to take advantage of the medicinal and healing properties of sea water baths, which were so popular in Europe.

And that is how the tourist history of Benidorm begins...

Infrastructures, key in the history of tourism in Benidorm
As in many other attractive areas for visitors, tourism development in Benidorm is accompanied by the construction of infrastructure, especially roads. During the early years of the twentieth century the Silla-Alicante road opens, which improves communication with Benidorm, and, above all, the arrival of the railroad to Alicante occurs.

In 1914 the narrow gauge railroad, the Trenet of the Marina, links Alicante with Altea, Benidorm, and Villajoyosa and, shortly after, Denia. The arrival of the train makes the first collective movements of tourists appear; the so-called "train jug", which transports tourists from Alcoy, Alicante or even from Madrid. The curious name "train of the botijo" starts by the custom of these first tourists of carrying earthenware pitchers with fresh water to bear better the long journey in those slow and uncomfortable trains.

Another infrastructure that contributes to the arrival of mass tourism to Benidorm is the city itself. In 1956 the City Council approved urban planning that directed the city in a definitive way towards tourism. Wide avenues, respect the natural orientation of the beaches, accessibility and vertical growth of the city (hotels, apartments) foster tourism growth that occurs in Benidorm from this decade.

Today Benidorm is "the Manhattan of the Mediterranean", the town with more skyscrapers per capita in the world, behind only the US city in number of skyscrapers per square meter.

Foreign tourism, the key to growth in Benidorm
With the arrival of foreign tourists...bikinis came too. But, for Franco's Spain this bath wear was far too provocative. A fine of 40,000 pesetas made the visionary mayor, Pedro Zaragoza, who saw the future of tourism in Benidorm, climb on his Vespa and drive the 400 kilometres to Franco’s residence to ask him to legalize bikinis. The "mayor of the Vespa" got his prize and Benidorm was the first city in Spain in which people could wear bikinis while in the rest of Spain was banned.

The 60's were the years of the boom of tourism, especially foreign tourism, in Benidorm.

A fully vertical city, specially prepared to welcome visitors, sun, beach and great weather make Benidorm an international tourist centre. During that time the population living in Benidorm multiplied itself, from around 3.000 at the late 50s to over 12.000 in 1970. This increase in the population consists mainly of the large number of tourists coming to the city not only in summer; Benidorm has become a resort town throughout the year.

The Festival of Benidorm, a tourist attraction in itself
Perhaps the most widespread song from the Benidorm Festival is the one of Julio Iglesias in 1968 when he won the competition with the song "La vida sigue igual", since Iglesias becomes the image of the Festival for the following years. The Spanish Song Festival started in 1959 based on the Festival of San Remo in Italy, its main target was to present Spanish artists. Its stage has hosted stars like Julio Iglesias, the Duo Dinámico or Raphael in those 60s when the Festival had a deserved international reputation.

Nowadays Benidorm is the tourist town par excellence of the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Its mild climate throughout the year, its infrastructure and good communication both by air and land makes it a desired destination by both domestic and foreign tourists looking to enjoy their holidays in Benidorm.

But surely there are some moments in the history of Benidorm that are not popularly known, which one would you highlight in the history of Benidorm?

Camping Villasol
Camping in Benidorm
http://www.camping-villasol.com

Benidorm the favourite destination in the Madrid underground

More than 1700 TV screens of the Madrid underground network are showing during this week the wide holiday offers that you can find in Benidorm for the Easter days.


The Tourism Foundation has started a campaign to get some Spanish clients for the Easter holidays in Benidorm. The final target is to spread the wide selection of apartments, camping in Benidorm and hotels to enjoy a perfect holiday in Benidorm.

This campaign has been launched mainly in Madrid, although it is present in 10 Spanish cities more from Castilla León, Castilla La Mancha, Asturias, La Rioja, Euskadi, Cantabria and even in the Comunidad Valenciana. The main target is to get the holiday makers that are still on doubt on where to spend their Easter days; it is mainly focus on the possible clients of hotels and camping sites in Benidorm.

Benidorm main subject in the Madrid underground
People say that the sun comes out everyday in the Madrid underground. A video of the Benidorm weather, gastronomy and leisure complexes is being shown on the 1700 TV screens located in some platforms and underground cars.

The target for this advertising effort is an upper middle class urban young tourist not older than 39 years old, who is a potential client for camping sites and apartments.

Benidorm from the M-40 to the Cantabrian Sea
Benidorm image will be a constant up to the summer months through big hoardings in some important roads like the M-40, the A-3 in Madrid or the Valencia accesses in Madrid. You will be able to find publicity from the Costa Blanca in some other cities like Pamplona or Logroño and even in the train stations of Gijón, Santander or Bilbao.

Fashion and Benidorm together
This campaign is also considering the advertising action in some Spanish well known press media like Elle magazine. In the March edition you will be able to find a fashion photographic report with some Benidorm spots and establishments.

And, of course, Benidorm also in Internet
You can find this campaign on the internet in the travel website Muchoviaje.com. There you can find specific offers for the night leisure, sports, culture, etc. for any kind of preferences.


Camping Villasol
Camping in Benidorm
http://www.camping-villasol.com

Enjoy traditional food in Benidorm

Benidorm is known for its multiculturalism. Different nationalities share its streets, but it still keeps its traditional gastronomy.


Benidorm is a modern and cosmopolitan town. Considering that it is the tourism capital in the eastern coast of Spain, it is not strange that you can find a wide variety of cultures and nationalities that you can enjoy in your holidays in Benidorm.

Thanks to this city's open-minded relationship with other cultures, we can find nearly all national or international kind of food in any of Benidorm hotel or restaurant. Considering this you can either enjoy an excellent Asturian stew, a nice Japanese sushi or the typical English breakfast with bacon and eggs.

But, what could you eat in Benidorm before it became a touristic town?

Benidorm traditional gastronomy
Benidorm is placed in a privilege area considering both its geographic and its 'geogastronomic' location. The Mediterranean littoral is the cradle for the well known Mediterranean gastronomy.

As you can find in many of the towns and cities bathed by the Mediterranean waters, the traditional gastronomy is a healthy mixture of vegetables and meat or fish from the area. As many other different localities, Benidorm has its 'typical dishes' that were its gastronomic base when this town was only a small fishermen village; and what did they eat at the time?

Benidorm typical dishes
You can find different places to enjoy this town's typical old dishes. In between the most well known dishes we can point out these ones:
Rice with red mullets and pumpkin
Made with rice, fish and vegetables, this is one Benidorm typical dish.
This tasteful stew is made with the fish called red mullet, pumpkin and green beans. As we can find in many different rice dishes from this area, it is prepared with lightly fried garlic and some spices that will give this dish a special touch.

Rice with beans and turnips
Known as well as 'Arròs amb fesols i naps'. This succulent rice is made with soggy rice, meat broth and vegetables and it is perfect for a cold winter day. In this case the rice is prepared with pork pieces (ossobuco, feet and backbone) and 'blanquets', a typical sausage from the area. We mix everything up with white beans, turnips and cardoons.

Rice with white anchovies and spinaches
It is a typical kind of rice, not only from Benidorm; you can find it in nearly all of La Marina regions. The rice with white anchovies and spinaches is dry rice, as the one in paella. Its main ingredients are spinaches, white anchovies and delicious lightly fried ñora peppers, garlic and parsley.

Filled 'coca' and 'coca a la calda'
They are typical Roman recipes. Salty 'cocas' are one of the delicious traditional dishes you can taste in Benidorm. Their dough is similar to the one you prepare for bread, with round shape if they are for one person or with square shape if it is a family one. You can fill this salty dough with different food and that will create the different types of cocas, for example: tomatoes, roasted pepper, tuna and eggs filling or sausages and black puddings filling are the more typical ones in Benidorm.

Saint Blas bun
They are perfect for the sweet-tooth. This Saint Blas bun is one of the typical sweets form the Benidorm gastronomy. These buns have Arabic origin and they are prepared with almonds and cinnamon. They are traditionally made during the winter months, mainly in Saint Blas festivity.

There are loads of restaurants in hotels or campings in Benidorm where you can try these typical dishes. Once you know their names, you just have to look for them and enjoy!

What about you? Have you tried any of these delicious dishes during your holidays in Benidorm?