OCTOBER 2013
5
Practical information
HERE IS some useful information to help make your holiday in Benidorm safe, worry free and a thoroughly enjoyable experience. AIRLINE NUMBERS
If you need to contact the airline for any reason these are numbers based in Spain. Monarch – 800 099 260 free phone number Jet2 - 902 881 269 – calls cost 6.7c per min plus 8.3c connection. EasyJet – 902 599 900 from Spain – calls cost 8 cents per min from landline Or 0843 104 5000 UK number – calls cost 5p per min
ALSA BUSES
This is the bus which runs to Alicante airport. You can catch it from either the Avda Europa, outside the Europa Clinica or from the bus station – but with baggage you would need to take a taxi as you are not allowed to take luggage onto local public buses. Departs hourly and on the hour from Avda Europa from 7am until 10pm – but there is NO bus at 9pm: costs 9.45€ one way.
BANKS
In Spain banks only open for half a day, so make sure you go in the morning. Normal opening hours are 8.15am till 2pm, no Saturday opening. All banks have an ATM with an option to change the language into English – press the ‘cambio idiomas’ option.
BRITISH CONSULATE This is located in Alicante – Edf Espacio, Rambla Mendez Nuñez, 6th Floor, Alicante 03002. Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am until 1.30pm. In an emergency contact 965 216 002: if you have lost or had your passport stolen you will need to go there to obtain an emergency travel document to get you back to the UK, which will take about
BUSES
The local bus service is run by Llorente. You pay the driver and the cost is 1.50€ regardless of distance. Generally the buses run until midnight. The following buses, which all stop on the main Avd Mediterraneo, are probably the ones which you will find most useful: No 2 - Goes to Carrefour hypermarket and
the La Marina Shopping centre No 10 - To Altea via Alfaz del Pi and Albir: a great way to see the local area
BUSINESS HOURS
Most large stores stay open all day but smaller independant shops, particularly in the Old Town will shut at 2pm for lunch then re-open at 5pm until 8pm. Shops are normally closed on Sundays except for small food stores which open until 2pm.
CHEMISTS
In Spain they are called a ‘Farmacia’. There is a 24hour farmacia on the main Avd Mediterraneo and the staff speaks English. Many local farmacias close over the lunch period from 1.30, re-opening at 5pm. If you need any sort of medication, including asprin or paracetamol, you can only buy them here: supermarkets are not allowed to sell any kind of medicine.
CIGARETTES
Supermarkets do not sell any tobacco products. You need to go to a shop licensed to sell tobacco products called ‘Tabacs’ – they have a brown and yellow sign and there are plenty around. The price is set by the government so will be the same at each outlet. They are closed on Sundays and Bank Holidays.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE
There are plenty of currency exchange bureau´s in Benidorm. You will need to show your passport the first time thenyou will receive a card to show for subsequent visits, so there is no need to carry your passport with you. Reputable establishments include Eurochange who have several branches, Sheila´s at the indoor market and Wine Barrel on the Avd Mediterraneo. Bank rates are not as good as the exchange bureau´s . Hotels offer the poorest rate so only use for emergencies.
DISABLED PARKING
If you are a blue badge holder then they are valid to use and display here in Benidorm., so if hiring a car bring it with you. This will entitle you to park in a blue disabled bay free of charge.
DOCTOR
If you have your EHIC – European Health Insurance Card you are entitled to see the social security doctor free of charge in an emergency, but you must also present your passport with the card. There are three ‘Centro de Salud’ (health centres) in Benidorm you can attend: Rincon de Loix - On Avd Derramador near to the Indoor market Foiettes in the Old Town - Calle Venuzuela La Cala - Avda de Benisa
EXCURSIONS
See pages 18, 19, 20 & 21
EMERGENCY NUMBERS 112 is the European equivalent of 999 in the UK Ambulance – 112 Local Police – 966 807 766 or 092 in an emergency National Police – 966 831 930 or 091 in an emergency Guardia Civil – 965 854 475 or 062 in an emergency
POST OFFICE
Again only open for half a day: Monday to Friday 8.30am till 2.30pm and on Saturday 9.30am till 1pm. The post office is located on Avda de L’Aiguera, near the Town Hall in the Old Town.
REPORTING A CRIME
SATE The Foreign Tourist Assistance Office. If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of crime this is ideally where you should go to report it. Located on the first floor of the Tourist Information Office, at the very end of the Poniente Beach in the Old Town. Open Monday to Friday from 9am until 9pm and from 10am until 2pm over the weekend. They have interpreters on hand and the use of a telephone to call relatives and your insurance company free of charge. The 24-hour helpline is 902 102 112.
TAXI
You cannot hail a taxi from the roadside in Spain but have to go to a taxi rank. All fares are metered and can take a maximum of four passengers.
TELEPHONE
The International dialling code for Spain is 0034. If you wish to call the UK you need to prefix with 0044.
FOOD AND DRINK
See pages 28, 29, 30 & 31
HOSPITALS
There is only one social security hospital covering Benidorm – the Hospital Marina Baixa, which is actually located in Villa Joyosa, a short distance from the centre of Benidorm (just past La Cala). However, there are two private hospitals in the centre of Benidorm – you will have to pay for any treatment or you can use your travel insurance if covered. IMED Levante: located in the Rincon de Loix on Calle Doctor Ramon y Cajal. Telephone number 96 687 8787 Hospital Clinica Benidorm: located in the Old Town on Avd Alfonso Puchades: Telephone number 96 585 3850
NIGHTLIFE
See pages 25, 26, 27 & 28
PARKING
Blue parking bays are ‘pay and display’ zones. They operate between 10am and 2pm and again from 4pm until 8pm: white parking bays are free.
TOURIST INFOS There are 3 operational offices run by the Town Hall and 2 run by Round Town Travel. They can offer help, advine and information on making the most of your time in anda round Benidorm. You can pick up maps and leaflets of attractions and places to visit at any of the following offices. Main Tourist Information Centre – located at the end of Levante Beach on the edge of the Old Town. Contact number: 965 851 311 / 965 853 224 Opening times: Mon – Fri 10.00 – 21.00 / Sat
WATER
Tap water is safe, unless stated otherwise and drunk by most locals. However, due to different mineral contents you may find that it upsets your stomach – this is not because there is something wrong with it. Bottled water is very cheap in the supermarkets, costing under 1 euro for a 5 litre bottle.