Benidorm's major holiday attractions are its spectacular beaches. The two huge sweeping crescents stretch for over three miles (5km) and are known as Levante and Poniente - Spanish for sunrise and sunset. They are kept meticulously clean and are consistently voted among the cleanest and most popular beaches in Europe. All sorts of watersports can be organised from the beaches from swimming and diving off the man-made rafts to jet skiing, banana boat rides, parasailing and scuba diving. On the outskirts of town tourists can visit the water parks or Terra Mitica, Spain's largest theme park with a terrifying roller coaster. There are also loads of options for those wishing to escape Benidorm for a day; beautiful mountainous countryside surrounds the holiday resort and jeep safaris and cycle trips around this rugged interior are becoming increasingly popular. Alicante, 25 miles (40km) south of Benidorm, is the Costa Blanca's main city and has a number of interesting sights. Other good days out include a coach trip to the ancient mountain fortress at Guadalest, built by the Moors in 715, and the town of Altea with its delightful medieval cobbled streets and beautiful Mediterranean views, eight miles (13km) north of Benidorm.

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely understood in areas frequented by tourists. Catalan, Galician and Basque are spoken in the relevant areas.

Spain's official currency is the Euro (EUR). One Euro is divided into 100 cents. Money can be exchanged at bureaux de change and major hotels, but banks give the best rates. All major credit cards and travellers cheques are widely accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. ATMs are widespread and are generally the cheapest and most convenient method of obtaining money.

Benidorm is not a good choice for those wanting an authentic Spanish holiday; it's a bit like Blackpool in the sun, but for those looking for entertainment and nightlife it can't be beaten. The resort abounds with hundreds of persistent touts trying to sell tourists everything from trinkets to timeshare apartments. There are also insistent promotions staff outside the bars and restaurants, but can be worth chatting up as they sometimes offer free drinks. However, as with any party destination there have been reports of drinks being spiked, visitors out on the town should be wary of leaving their drinks unattended or accepting drinks from strangers. Benidorm caters for all ages; older visitors may think there are too many youngsters while others think there are too many OAPs!

Benidorm is one of the biggest nightspots on the Med with something to suit all preferences. There are loads of bars hosting live shows, quizzes, bingo, karaoke and drag shows& and lots of live bands playing everything from Abba to ZZ Top. Those looking for a party in Benidorm should go to Wheeltappers, Sinatras, the Palladium or the Stardust Benidorm.

Top-rated restaurants in Benidorm include Paneil's, China Garden, India Gate, Mme Butterfly, The Vagabond and Witches Bistro. All the major fast food restaurants are also available and the old harbour is the best place to try out the local cuisine.

The streets of Benidorm are lined with gift shops catering for people on holiday and the supermarkets are fully stocked with well-known brands. Prices in the holiday resort are cheap, particularly alcohol and cigarettes. There is an open-air market every Wednesday and a rastro(car boot sale) every Sunday next to the railway station. The town of Altea is worth a visit on Tuesdays for its outdoor market or simply for a leisurely stroll along the promenade, while Alicante is a good destination for shoppers in search of some more sophisticated shops.

Local time is GMT +1 (GMT +2 between the last Sunday in March and the Saturday before the last Sunday in October). The Canary Islands: GMT (GMT +1 in summer).