I went to Benidorm, ignored all the warnings and found an absolute bargain
One of the first pieces of travel advice I read online when I was researching my visit to Benidorm was to avoid temptation at all costs and never trust the €1 drinks
When planning a trip to Benidorm, heed this crucial tip I stumbled upon online: steer clear of the €1 drink offers at all costs. The Spanish holiday hotspot is brimming with bars and eateries tempting tourists with seemingly irresistible deals - from buckets of beer to cheekily named cocktails and mysterious shots.
With over 830,000 Brits flocking to Benidorm annually, it's no shock that pub and bar owners are dishing out enticing promos to pull in the punters.
Strolling through the resort, you'll spot numerous spots touting €1 beers and pints, often as part of bucket bargains or happy hour treats, while some serve them up solo round the clock. However, locals warn that these too-good-to-be-true offers might not be all they're cracked up to be.
A viral TikTok clip, now viewed over 450,000 times, features Frank the Stag Man—a chap with a hefty 227k followers advising holidaymakers that with these drinks, you truly 'get what you pay for', labelling them 'absolute rubbish'.
"Do not waste your time going to places that advertise €1 a pint because you're getting the absolute... you're getting the bottom of the barrel, do you know what I mean?" he cautions viewers, reports the Manchester Evening News.
However, I must confess, I stumbled at the first step, throwing caution to the wind after a delightful sunny afternoon amble along Levante Beach. This is probably exactly why these establishments offer beer at such ludicrously low prices in the first place.
With plans to explore the Old Town, I happened upon La Parada lounge bar, which boasted €1 beers and even €1 Pintxos dishes. Although I wasn't quite ready to gamble on the food offerings, I was more than willing to sample the bargain beer - all in the name of journalism, naturally.
The bar, situated just a bit further from the beachfront near Tiki Town Beach Club, had a decent local crowd. Its location in a pleasantly shaded area away from the beach meant it wasn't overly crowded during my afternoon visit.
The friendly server was more than happy to take my order for a €1 beer. As I waited, I pondered what would soon be delivered to my table and whether it would be as diluted or dubious as social media had led me to believe.
Within minutes, a small glass of beer arrived at my table. It was pretty much as anticipated: definitely not a pint, possibly not even a half (perhaps closer to a third).
But it was a freshly poured serving of Amstel, so it certainly wasn't the worst beer choice.
The chilly beverage was perfection in a glass – an ice-cold delight that had the distinct upside of not tasting diluted in the slightest. But what truly took my breath away was the price: a mere 84p, a sum fanciful enough to make any Mancunian pub-goer's jaw drop.
I couldn't resist inquiring why such a steal existed when the server came by, and with a shrug and a light-hearted chuckle, she merely quipped: "It gets people in."
By this logic, the establishment hopes to win patrons over for future visits, expecting them to delve deeper into offerings like €3 hotdogs and €5 smoothies, which were conspicuously advertised venue-wide.
After settling comfortably into the vibe of the place and nursing my pint over an admittedly leisurely half-hour, I found myself grappling with a conundrum that has haunted me since: The guilt of paying just 84p for a quality beer felt akin to thievery in broad daylight. Despite being a publicly available deal, and far from unique in its generosity, parting with so paltry a sum gave me pause.
I toyed with leaving a euro on the table and escaping without further ado, avoiding the awkwardness of forced cordiality – yet the idea struck me as brusque.
I did consider leaving an extra euro as a tip to assuage my guilt, which I realise is the very definition of a first world problem. However, it was their promotion, they chose to sell it, and they decided to advertise it to attract customers - and it certainly worked, even if I didn't venture into the realm of €5 smoothies.
While I wouldn't fancy spending an entire afternoon guzzling €1 beers, my experience at La Parada was positive. It wasn't one of the rowdier spots in town, rather it was relaxed and quiet, so there might be other popular choices for those looking to save a few quid on their pints.
Naturally, I can't vouch for the quality of €1 beers at other pubs and I'm sure some warrant a degree of caution. It goes without saying that responsible drinking is always crucial, whether you're in Benidorm enjoying €1 beers or elsewhere.
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