Beer bellies, stag parties and ping pong balls firing out of Sticky Vicky are just some of the things that spring to mind when we think about Benidorm. The seaside resort is rammed full of Brits at this time of year with many in the blistering sun with beers as cheap as 84p. But while the raucous atmosphere of the strip is some people’s idea of hell, there is a contrasting side of the town, which one British mum who has lived in the area for most of her life calls the ‘Miami of Benidorm’.
The quieter but picturesque part is called La Cala and it is home to the tallest hotel in Europe, overlooking the sandy strip. The 4-star Gran Hotel Bali is made up of 52 floors and 700 rooms and one person wrote online: “I previously lived and worked in Benidorm and always prefer this quieter area.” Michelle Baker has been in Benidorm for 40 years after leaving Solihull and has raised five children there after marrying a Spaniard.
She runs an informative Facebook page called and she speaks passionately about the town she believes has an unfair rep. And giving a different perspective of the region, she told the Daily Star that there was “something for everyone” and that her young daughter loved the atmosphere of the strip. But she said on the other side of the area - in what she called the 'Miami of Benidorm' - there were spectacular buildings with apartments costing no less than €400,000.
The mum added: “I urge people to discover the other side of Benidorm, metaphorically .