The SUN (Newspaper) slags us off again...

[johnmcf]

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...cle4461800.ece

IT’S just after 7pm and the streets are still clammy with heat as a few tourists stroll along in their shorts. It’s one of those moments that should make you feel happy to be overseas during the summer holidays. But as the sun sets on this once-booming Mediterranean resort, there is something else clogging the humid air. Benidorm — once a byword for sun-tanned Brits enjoying the year-round sunshine — is fast becoming a pit of depression and despair. With the Spanish economy in freefall, the dream of a life abroad has turned into a nightmare for many expats. When The Sun visited the resort last week, we found scores of British-owned businesses boarded up, deserted nightclubs and beaches full of empty sun loungers. Crowded ... Benidorm's beaches used to be packed full of Brit tourists Alamy Many expats who made Benidorm their home are fleeing the debt-ridden city. And many of those left behind are plotting their escape. One Geordie bar worker, who asked not to be named, told us: “We came here to live the dream. But this is not the Benidorm I moved to six years ago. “Now I call it Benidoom. It’s less a case of ‘Wish you were here’ and more ‘I wish I wasn’t here’.” Benidorm was once Europe’s most popular holiday resort. Known as the Manhattan of Spain because of the towering skyscraper hotels that line the beach, it was a lucrative jewel in the heart of the sun-drenched Costa Blanca. Today, the city is still packed with all-inclusive hotels, bars and restaurants, many serving typical British fare such as fish and chips.But tourism has fallen off a cliff in the past three years. A state-backed survey showed the number of Brit holidaymakers — who make up the bulk of Benidorm’s visitors — was down 12.9 per cent in April compared to the same time last year. And Ryanair’s decision to cancel many of their flights to Alicante, the nearest airport, in a row over fees is expected to result in 1.5million fewer tourists on the Costa Blanca this year. Shutting up shop ... bars and stores are going out of business Dan Jones Brian Deans, 49, who runs the beachside Ace Of Spades bar, described Benidorm as “jumping” when he arrived nine years ago. He said: “People still come here thinking they are going to be living the dream but it’s not like that any more. “I’ve stopped opening my bar in the evening because there are zero customers then. “But I’m not going home. I’m from Dundee and there’s nothing for me there. “I’m lucky, as I have some regular customers who come here during the day. A Scottish bar opened up around the corner nine months ago — and he quit after just five months. “Things are only going to get worse as the government just put up taxes on small businesses. “Crime is on the rise, too. My bar has been burgled three times this year already and more tourists are being mugged.” Deserted ... even the bar from ITV comedy Benidorm has been hit Dan Jones The British Foreign Office has warned gangs are also targeting British-registration cars, pretending to be in distress then robbing people who stop to help. On top of those problems, local landlords are raising rents. Liverpudlian barmaid Elsie Taylor, 38, said: “The average bar worker can barely get by now. My rent is relatively low, about 350 euros, but I can barely keep my head above water. My hours keep getting cut plus the tax has gone up, so food is getting more expensive.”

Not nice to see fellow bar owners slag off Beni and one in particular Deano (Brian Deans, my m8 from Ace of Spades)

[toria]

Yeah this was posted last week john x

[rondetto]

It's in the Benidorm chat John. Been discussing this for a week.

[johnmcf]

Ah sorry guys

[woodruffe]

pity they put wrong bar picture on.shows they don;t know much.as all year round resort it does for me when i go.but all spain is down on numbers.a/i does not help bars.

[suec]

Benidorm does not need A/I I,ll keep saying it never pay A/I it not worth it you get stuck in the hotel and never go out, think we have to blame the tour companys have brought a lot of this on and the euro,but what the crap Sun paper says is a load of rubbish

[Hoponbabes]

Have to agree that the All Inclusives are doing a lot of damage. Wake up you tourist operators and stop killing Benidorm. People are ringing me to see if the article is true and aren't booking because of it. I have reassured a number of people. Come on you Benidorm fans get booking and prove the Sun is telling a load of lies. Even the picture they took of the beach was on the Poniente side and in the height of summer nobody sits at the back cos it's too hot plus the fact it's an enormous beach. Look forward to seeing everybody, Fred and I start back at the Palladium 10th September, can't wait for another great season.

[wee toots]

A couple of guys at hubbys work were telling him they were going to Beni in october for a stag weekend but after reading the "Sun article they are thinking twice.

Hubby has been trying to convince them that the story is totally wrong and Beni is thriving and alive and kicking!

[rondetto]

Tootsy, I hope they go. what a load of twaddle that article is, and they've not had the courtesy to reply to my letter and Email.

[Trina66]

ron can u send me email address and ordinary address so i can write to them too

[rondetto]

The more people write the better, sooner or later they should have to retract that story. This is their contact.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...ontact-Us.html

[Trina66]

Thanks Ron . Will do.

[astra73033]

hi all, the article printed in the sun is a load of rubbish. yes the beach pictured is empty but because it is the quiet side of beni. we have walked many times back from the la cala side and it is always the same. if you want a quiet holiday and place on the beach then yes head down here where the sun took the picture but if you want a real beni holiday then head to levante beach side and see what beni is really like. all the entertainment you could hope for and the old town has loads to offer too. this will be our 5th year, we are back in november for the fiesta and we have booked for september 2013. if you believe the bull**** the sun has printed then it will be your loss, benidorm is better than ever and will be the only place for us,

[Trina66]

Hi astra, going to write letter on Monday to the sun. I am also going to beni for fiesta. Never been in November.

[astra73033]

hi trina, our first time in november, really looking forward to it. mind you we will be there in 30 days and really looking forward to that,

[Trina66]

we were there in june. like yourself cannot get enough of the place. where u staying in november? we staying the nereo

[redbjay]

Im surprised any of you read the sun as it has been proven in court they are liars (remember hillsborough )all i can say is go and see Benidorm for yourself !!! dont bother doing as rondetta says " contact the sun ask then to retract the story as that wont happen !!! The sun makes things up to sell apers, so if you buy it you are just encouraging them to print more crap. First post by me so sorry for the rant,,, redbjay xx

[johnmcf]

Originally Posted by Trina66 we were there in june. like yourself cannot get enough of the place. where u staying in november? we staying the nereo

My family and I stayed in the Nereo before moving to Beni and it was one of the best hotels we stayed in.


As for emailing the Sun don't waste you time as they do not give a crap. As previously mentioned "hillsborough" these poor souls have been fighting for justice for 2 decades now against the Sun.

JFT96

[astra73033]

Originally Posted by Trina66 we were there in june. like yourself cannot get enough of the place. where u staying in november? we staying the nereo

we always stay at levante beach appt, just love it there, can be a couple of quid dearer but location and accomadation is spot on,

[Trina66]

Maybe we can meet up then astra as we r just down the hill

[astra73033]

Originally Posted by Trina66 Maybe we can meet up then astra as we r just down the hill

will have to sort something out nearer the time,

[LTimetraveller]

This story and the other story in the sunday mirror relating to Benidorm written by the two journalists(Graeme Culliford and Nick Owens) suggests to me that the two freelance reporters who have interestingly enough had a holiday out in benidorm and have been able to sell a couple of stories to a couple of tabloid papers.

Rather ironic one story appeared 30th July and the other 11th August rather close to each other and intriguingly both have worked together before(
girlsaloud.forums.umusic.co.uk/t/27554.aspx?PageIndex=37)

Pardon my cynicism comes across as been rather hypocritical but ithink their may be some reasoning in my position.

Also having viewed the pictures isnt taffs bar which shown as been closed just off the beach front down near ricon end been closed for a few years now