Benidorm, Spain by Siocaw

Change Up The Quids When You Get There

You will get a better rate in Spain than back home in the UK. However, be careful as there are many con artists who will rip you right off if you give them half a chance. A common trick many of the exchange shops pull is by advertising that they do not charge commission. On closer inspection, you will notice that written in tiny letters under the main attraction is a disclaimer which normally states that commission won’t be charged when exchanges of over 3000 euros are made’. Most people are not changing that much money in one go so you can imagine how many people get nipped this way. That is not to say all exchanges in Benidorm are like this. One of the most popular and reputable places to switch up your cash is ‘Sheila’s’. Run by a British woman, you can guarantee a fair transaction.

Stock Up On Suntan Spray

If you forget to bring this, two things are bound to happen. Firstly, you will get burnt to a crisp and look like you have holidayed under a cloud of acid rain. Secondly, the local vendors are extremely aware that holidaymakers will be hunting for sun protection lotions and will want them quickly so they can enjoy the rest of their day ‘tanning it up.’ Therefore, prices are sky high for run of the mill products. However, if you shop at home, your choices are basically unlimited. The way to go is organic. These types of creams contain no harmful ‘parabens’ and will comfort your skin whilst at the same time protecting it from harmful rays.

Benidorm, Spain by Ross Hawkes

Buy A Decent Book

Most of your time will be spent on the beach, lounging in a deck chair or chilling out in the air con room. During these relaxing moments, having a good book by your side can be a great companion. As I am sure you are aware there are plenty of bookstores and magazines outlets in the departure lounge of any international airport. Most will stock the newest and hottest releases around as well as some good old gossip magazines. ’Beni’ itself is great for second hand books. You will find many paperbacks for less than three euros in  the used book shops, so it might be worth holding on to see what you can find when you get there. One place to recommend is the ‘book swap shop’ located in the indoor market.

Don’t Forget The Adapters

How many times has it happened that you have gone to plug something in and found out that the socket is different from the connection you have at the end of your lead? As most of Europe is different to the UK power outlets, you will need some sort of convertor to change the voltage for your electrical goods. Again, buy one before you get there. The adapters you find in the pound shop are just as good as the ones in the local chemist , but they are a lot cheaper. If you wait and expect to grab one easily when you arrive in Benidorm, and then think again. These are one of the most popular ‘forgettables’ among visiting tourists. Because of this, they run out of stock very quickly and are priced astronomically.

Noel Gallagher’s favourites

I’m not sure if I should be encouraging this, but both cigarettes and alcohol wondrously cheap. Rather than buying duty free at your departure lounge, wait until you get there. Boxes and bottles of these two vices can found everywhere and are a great solution to beating the bar prices if you fancy a warm up before a night out. However, if you really want to save money on tobacco, my best advice is to kick it to the curb.

Summary

Benidorm is great fun. Whilst taking some of this on-board, remember you are going on holiday, so don’t stress yourself out too much. Due to the amount of people vising the resort, things normally run very smoothly and the list above is probably all you are going to have to worry about, except having a good time!

Enjoy!

This article was written by Ted Hunter on behalf of Travel Republic. Travel Republic offers some of the Holidays to Benidorm available. Ted is a seasoned traveller having visited many of the world’s travel destinations and enjoys submersing himself in the local culture to gain the true experience of the country he visits.

The post The Bargains of Benidorm: What to Purchase When You Get There and What to Buy At Home appeared first on Europe Explored.