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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
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.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
‘I ignored warnings and ordered €1 beer at Benidorm bar'
Journalist Adam Maidment felt like a "daylight robber" after ignoring warnings and ordering a €1 beer in Benidorm but the cut-price pint turned out to be far better than expected While researching his trip to Benidorm, journalist Adam Maidment came across cautionary advice urging tourists to steer clear of the famously cheap drinks. Many claimed these €1 offers at the popular Spanish resort were best avoided, describing them as subpar or suspiciously watered down. Benidorm, with its beachside bars, themed pubs and sprawling expat scene, is a well-oiled machine when it comes to luring in tourists. More than 830,000 British tourists visit Benidorm each year, with many attracted by the number of sports bars, Irish pubs, and other themed venues offering lucrative deals. However, many warn that the bargain booze may not be all it's cracked up to be. In one popular TikTok video, viewed more than 450,000 times, creator Frank the Stag Man bluntly told 227,000 followers: 'You get what you pay for', labelling the drinks 'absolute rubbish'. Still, not everyone heeded Frank's warning. Adam, though, a true professional, decided to fall at the first hurdle in the name of journalism. In an article penned for the Manchester Evening News, Adam wrote: 'I practically fell at the first hurdle and ignored all warnings after a very sunny afternoon stroll through Levante Beach, it's perhaps the very exact reason why these bars have beer at such a ridiculous price point in the first place.' Hoping to head into the Old Town, Adam spotted a venue advertising a too-tempting deal. 'I spotted the La Parada lounge bar, which offered both €1 beer and even €1 Pintxos dishes. Whilst not feeling brave enough to try my chances with the culinary options, I was prepared to give the very cheap beer a go - all in the name of journalism, of course.' The bar, located just up from the beachfront near Tiki Town Beach Club, was in a shaded spot and not too crowded. A scattering of locals were inside enjoying the calm. Adam said: 'The very lovely server was happy to take my order for a €1 beer and, not quite knowing what I had set myself in for, I contemplated what would be arriving at my table and whether it would be as watered down or ominous as social media had suggested it would be.' The beer arrived in minutes. 'The dinky little glass of beer was pretty much as expected: certainly not a pint, and perhaps not even a half (maybe more of a third). But it was a freshly-poured serving of Amstel, so it certainly wasn't the worst choice of beer.' Most importantly, it tasted fine. 'It was ice cold and it tasted normal - I didn't get the impression it was watered down.' And the price? Almost laughably low. Adam said: 'Most impressively, it was an absolute bargain of a drink for what was the equivalent of essentially just 84p - a price that nowhere in Manchester [or anywhere in the UK] would ever consider charging.' Curious how the economics worked, Adam asked the server why they bothered offering such a low price. Her response was basic marketing: 'It gets people in." Once through the door, people then order food and smoothies or become repeat customers. The bar's menu and signage promoted other items, like €3 hotdogs and €5 smoothies, far more than the beer, but perhaps what keeps the tills ringing. After sipping his drink in a relaxed atmosphere, Adam faced a very first world problem. He said: 'Then came the moral dilemma that has been playing in my mind ever since: how do you pay for an 84p beer without feeling like you've just committed daylight robbery?' He considered ghosting the bar with a euro left behind. He said: 'I considered leaving the euro on the table and just making a dash for it in order to avoid having to make any pleasantries, but that just felt rude.' He even thought about tipping. 'I also contemplated tipping an extra euro in order to lessen the guilt I felt, which I appreciate is the very epitome of a first-world problem.' In the end, instead of dashing, Adam used his cool logic to reason. He reflected: 'It was their offer, they chose to sell it, and they decided to promote it to get punters in - and it certainly worked, even if I didn't stay to branch out into €5 smoothie territory.' While he said he wouldn't recommend spending an entire day bouncing between €1 beer bars, he gave La Parada credit for being a calm and pleasant place to sit and sip. 'Whilst I definitely wouldn't want to spend a whole afternoon stocking up on €1 beers, my time at La Parada was good. It certainly wasn't one of the rowdier venues in the town; it was chilled and quiet, so I am sure there might be other popular options for people when it comes to going cheap on the beer.' But he added a word of caution. 'Of course, I cannot vouch for €1 beers at the other bars, and I'm sure there are some which warrant the level of caution.' Adam also rightly pointed out: 'It also goes without saying that it is always important to drink responsibly too, whether you are in Benidorm drinking €1 beer or not.'
Irish Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I had a €1 beer at a bar in Benidorm - despite bottom of the barrel warnings'
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. The Spanish resort has an abundance of bars and restaurants that lure tourists in with a temptation of special offers - varying from buckets of bottles of beer, cocktails with cheeky names and special shots that could contain pretty much anything. With more than 830,000 British tourists visiting Benidorm each year, and with the number of sports bars, Irish pubs, and other themed venues all trying to welcome in customers each day - there's no surprise that owners have turned to lucrative offers to draw in the numbers, reports The Manchester Evening News. Walking along the resort, there are a number of bars that will offer €1 bottles of beer and pints - sometimes as part of bucket deals or happy hour specials, with others available on their own all the time - but those living in Benidorm have suggested that they are not as good as they seem. In one popular TikTok video which has been seen more than 450,000 times now, Frank the Stag Man, who has 227,000 followers on the platform, warned that tourists 'get what you pay for' and described the drinks as 'absolute rubbish'. He said: "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?" However, that being said, I practically fell at the first hurdle and ignored all warnings after a very sunny afternoon stroll through Levante Beach. It's perhaps the very exact reason why these bars have beer at such a ridiculous price point in the first place. With the intention of heading into the Old Town, I spotted the La Parada lounge bar, which offered both €1 beer and even €1 Pintxos dishes. Whilst not feeling brave enough to try my chances with the culinary options, I was prepared to give the very cheap beer a go - all in the name of journalism, of course. The bar, which is just a little further up from the beach front by Tiki Town Beach Club, had a fair few locals in but being located in quite a nice shaded area away from the beach meant that it wasn't too packed out at my time of visit in the afternoon. The very lovely server was happy to take my order for a €1 beer and, not quite knowing what I had set myself in for, I contemplated what would be arriving at my table and whether it would be as watered down or ominous as social media had suggested it would be. Arriving at my table within minutes, the dinky little glass of beer was pretty much as expected: certainly not a pint, and perhaps not even a half (maybe more of a third). But it was a freshly-poured serving of Amstel, so it certainly wasn't the worst choice of beer. Sipping it, it was ice cold and it tasted normal - I didn't get the impression it was watered down. Most impressively, it was an absolute bargain of a drink for €1. When the server did the rounds, I stopped her to ask why the beer was so cheap. With a little laugh and a shrug, she just said to me: "It gets people in." With that principle, they're counting on repeat custom and customers wanting to explore the menu - like the €3 hotdogs and €5 smoothies (five times the price of a beer!) that were being promoted on the signs around the venue. Having quite relaxed into my surroundings and spent around half an hour sipping my beer (quite a long time, to be honest), then came the moral dilemma that has been playing in my mind ever since: how do you pay for a €1 beer without feeling like you've just committed daylight robbery? Sure, the bar advertised it, and they are not the only ones doing such an offer, but it just felt crazy that it was paying so little for the beer. I considered leaving the euro on the table and just making a dash for it in order to avoid having to make any pleasantries, but that just felt rude. I also contemplated tipping an extra euro in order to lessen the guilt I felt, which I appreciate is the very epitome of a first-world problem. But, ultimately, it was their offer, they chose to sell it, and they decided to promote it to get punters in - and it certainly worked, even if I didn't stay to branch out into €5 smoothie territory. Whilst I definitely wouldn't want to spend a whole afternoon stocking up on €1 beers, my time at La Parada was good. It certainly wasn't one of the rowdier venues in the town, it was chilled and quiet, so I am sure there might be other popular options for people when it comes to going cheap on the beer. Of course, I cannot vouch for €1 beers at the other bars and I'm sure there are some which warrant the level of caution. It also goes without saying that it is always important to drink responsibly too, whether you are in Benidorm drinking €1 beer or not.
Times
13-05-2025
- Times
17 of the best things to do in Bilbao
As Spain's tenth biggest city, and much smaller than Madrid and Barcelona, Bilbao is an easy, manageable place to explore. It's best known for its bravura Guggenheim Museum: an edifice of silver scales and glinting shards that put its port on the tourist map when it opened in 1997 — the world-renowned contemporary art gallery was part of Bilbao's transformation from a dilapidated industrial area to a cosmopolitan metropolis. Today, the buoyant northern port traces a twisting Nervion River inland and its old town, quays and island are ever more cool, cultured and interesting. The city is a brilliant mix of grit and glamour, ideal for a weekend break or as a base for a longer holiday exploring Spain's northern coastal area. Start by getting stuck into the fabulous local cuisine: soak up the atmosphere in sunlit plazas with a crisp Basque white wine and a table piled high with pintxos (regional tapas dishes). Bilbao is also home to the extensive Mercado de la Ribera, one of Spain's largest food markets, and excellent Michelin-recognised restaurants. Spend days marvelling at the city's fine architecture — its unique Unesco-listed bridge, the old town — and myriad art galleries, before heading further out to explore beaches, salt flats, caves and film locations along the coast. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue This stunning arcaded plaza was the historic quarter's main square; today it's still one of Bilbao's best social hubs, retaining all its liveliness and popularity. Built in the mid-19th century, its 64 neoclassical arches and porticos are chock-full of iconic bars, cafés and restaurants. Here you'll find locals sipping vermouth on sunny evenings, catching up with friends and watching their kids kick a ball about with competitive glee. On Sundays, the plaza becomes a thriving street market hawking antiques, collectables and curios. You'll know when an Athletic Bilbao game is on in the city: buildings, plazas, streets and people are adorned in red and white stripes. The football club is one of the most successful in Spain, having won eight La Liga titles, 24 Copa del Rey titles, and is one of only three founding members of the Primera Division to have never been relegated since it began (alongside big-hitters Real Madrid and Barcelona). It's no surprise, then, that the team — known as Los Leones — has a very dedicated following. Join their superfans for a game at the Estadio San Mamés if your visit coincides, or partake in post-game revelries. Across Puente de Ribera bridge from the Casco Viejo (old town) is Marzana — a rejuvenated quayside district known as 'Bilbao's Soho'. Free-thinking counterculture holds sway here: deconsecrated churches host concerts or unusual exhibitions while once-drab walls display works by international street artists. It's well worth signing up for a guided walk to see the best of those. For additional indie kicks, head north to Zorrotzaurre, where a sustainable flea market is held in the old Artiach biscuit factory, and to the nearby quarter of Olabeaga for its enormous, iconic Soñar (or Dream) mural. A cable car makes it easy to attain Monte Artxanda's 250m (850ft) summit and to relish regal views over Bilbao. From up there you can get a sense, on clear days, of the snaking Nervion River and its estuary, as well as gaze at the Guggenheim, the cathedral-like San Mamés football stadium, Bilbao's various bridges and the vineyard-streaked Txorierri valley. Look out too for The Digital Footprint, a sculpture commemorating the Civil War bombardment of 1936. Those on guided tours soon head back down to explore the Casco Viejo; everyone else can contentedly clinks glasses of txakoli, a slightly sparkling Basque white wine, in a hilltop restaurant. The 700-year-old Siete Calles are seven sinewy lanes that form part of the Casco Viejo and have long been at Bilbao's commercial heart. The former premises of merchants and shipping magnates in Barrenkale Barrena, Barrenkale, Carniceria Vieja, Belostikale, Tenderia, Artekale and Somera are today upscale boutiques and lively pintxos bars, and you're sure to find yourself delving down these ancient streets again and again. They're also home to Bilbao's best historic monuments, like the Church of San Antón and the surprisingly easy to miss 14th-century Catedral de Santiago — at the top of Harategi Zahar Kalea and worth a look for its lovely cloisters alone. Bilbao was once seriously down-at-heel and you wouldn't have lingered beside the Nervion River, but its dilapidated warehouse-scape is now perhaps the main reason you're here. The jaw-dropping Guggenheim Museum rears up riverside, all undulating walls and titanium-tiled canopies, winking at you in the sunshine and bringing to mind flying fish or the bow of a ship (architect Frank Gehry was inspired by the city's shipbuilding and fishing heritage). Inside can be somewhat intimidating unless you really know your contemporary art, so it's worth booking a guided tour. Even better, you'll skip the queue, which is often intense, especially on rainy summer days. This is a foodie city, and you're here to eat. But don't get too comfortable: dinner in Bilbao is best enjoyed on foot, as you head from bar to bar ordering pintxos (snack-size dishes generally served on sticks) and glasses of wine. You'll miss the current hotspots if you don't enlist a local, so book a tour and expect to enjoy delicacies such as mussels fried with breadcrumbs, chistorra sausages and marinated anchovies. Basque cuisine also involves cod in numerous forms — atop toasted bread or with garlic mayonnaise, perhaps — and plenty of croquettes. Don't miss the chance for a glass of txakoli. You know a market is good when it attracts top local chefs in the morning, and the Mercado de la Ribera is known for being where the best get their fresh produce. Come early (it opens at 8am) and follow your senses, being drawn in by the bright greens of the Basque peppers on the vegetable stalls or by the salty tang of the shellfish counters. Stock up for a picnic or head upstairs to the gastrobars for pintxos — La Bodeguilla does an excellent traditional gilda (olive, anchovy and pepper on a skewer). The Museo de Bellas Artes may not be the best-known of Bilbao's art museums but many locals not-so-secretly prefer it to the Guggenheim, as well as rating its exhibitions above those of its glitzy sibling. It's likely because the Museo de Bellas Artes, unlike the Guggenheim, houses Spanish fine arts including works by Francisco Goya, Diego Velazquez and El Greco. The crowds tend to congregate at Goya's Portrait of Martin Zapater and El Greco's colourful masterpiece The Annunciation, but head to the Basque Collection and you'll often get the local artist Eduardo Chillida's striking sculpture to yourself. • Europe's best cities for art lovers Heading out of town to visit a bridge might not sound worth your time, but even the least invested in engineering nerdery are sure to be impressed by the Vizcaya. Designed by the Basque architect Alberto de Palacio in 1893, this was the world's first bridge to use a hanging transporter to ferry people across the water and it's earned Unesco world heritage status for its unique history. It's also a fun visit, providing the chance to walk 50m (164ft) above the city — the views of the surrounding mountains are glorious — or board the gondola to be whisked across in just 90 seconds. Even if you don't know much about wine, you're sure to have heard of Rioja — Spain's most famous wine region, known for its full-bodied, blood-coloured reds. Top bodegas include Marques de Riscal — a producer of a cracking barrel-aged tempranillo and with a building reminiscent of the Guggenheim thanks to its rippling Frank Gehry design — and Ysios, which makes dense, tannin-rich reds and a lovely garnatxa rosé. Thanks to its location about 90 minutes' drive south of Bilbao, there are numerous tours from the city, so you can avoid squabbling over who has to drive. Game of Thrones fan? Then you'll already know that San Juan de Gaztelugatxe is the real-life Dragonstone, where Daenerys and Jon Snow meet for the first time. This tiny, hermitage-topped island connected to the Basque coast by a spindly causeway is just 40 minutes northeast of Bilbao and is surrounded by other Game of Thrones filming locations. These include wild and sandy La Muriola beach, seen in season seven, and fossil-strewn Itzurun beach, which was formed some 60 million years ago and is the backdrop to Daenerys setting foot on her true home for the first time. Thanks to Picasso you've almost certainly heard of Gernika (Guernica in Spanish), and of the horrific bombing attack that took place here during the Spanish Civil War. But you might not realise that this area is also home to the neolithic cave paintings of Cuevas de Santimamiñe, which rival the more famous ones of Altamira, and the bird-packed wetlands of Urdaibai, a Unesco biosphere reserve. Both are worth a detour, while back in town you can visit the Gernika Peace Museum, inspired by the 1937 bombing but now committed to pacifism, where you can see a ceramic-tile replica of Picasso's painting. One of the world's oldest salt-producing areas is the Salinas de Añana, close to the capital of the Basque Country, Vitoria-Gasteiz. These salt flats have been farmed for some 6,500 years and are a spectacular sight, the tumbling terraces as white as freshly fallen snow and as smooth as the top of a perfectly iced cake. Take a tour and not only will you learn how the salt is produced and taste the different types, you will also be able to dip your feet in the brine. A little more than an hour's drive along the coast from Bilbao (with regular bus transfers on hand) is its captivating neighbour Donostia-San Sebastian. It's a bike-friendly place, criss-crossed by some 18 miles of cycle lanes that will take you to all the highlights, from the crescent of buttery sands at La Concha beach to lofty Monte Igueldo for stonking sunset views and the chance to ride the funicular railway. Finish up in the old town, where you'll find the city's best pintxos bars — try the prawns at Bar Goiz-Argi and anchovies at Bar Txepetxa. • Discover our full guide to San Sebastian• Best hotels in San Sebastian A pintxos crawl can be tiring, so make lunch a sit-down affair, driving along the coast for an hour to Getaria for a seafood feast. This fishing town is known for its unique wall-mounted grills, seen around the city centre and fired up daily when the catch comes in. Take a table on the terrace at the harbourfront Txoko Getaria restaurant and order sea bream, monkfish or cod. It comes grilled, alongside potatoes and a green pepper and onion stew-style dish called piperade. Hit the beach afterwards, or walk up to the Cristobal Balenciaga museum (closed annually in January and February) to see dresses created by the world-famous Getaria-born designer. Bilbao's Teatro Arriaga is one of Spain's finest theatres and features a line-up of world-class performances, from musical comedy to jazz improvisation. Named after Basque composer Juan Crisostomo de Arriaga (known as the 'Spanish Mozart'), this neo-baroque opera house was built in 1890 and is an opulent icon, from its creamy stone façade to its gorgeous costume collection. The fascinating guided tour is a steal at just over £4 (free for under-18s) and runs in English as well as Basque and Spanish. Additional reporting by Richard Mellor and Jo Davey • Great hotels in Bilbao• Best walking holidays in Spain
