Spain

Benidorm was the destination for our very first foreign holiday.

Carol and I took two teenage sons in 1981 and had a fabulous time.

Benidorm had everything that we wanted in a holiday at the time, especially as we had decided to go  whilst we were sitting in our car on the promenade at Whitby sheltering from the rain the previous summer!

We had sun, sea, sand, entertainment, cheap drinks, and loads and loads of people. In fact just like a sunny version of Blackpool.

June was the time for our fortnight's holiday at the Hotel Regente, not the most expensive by a mile but still wonderful, and we were there during a heat-wave but didn't realise it - we thought it was always like that!

Off on trips, The Limon Express, Altea Market, Guadalest, to Alicante and Tobaco Island.

Oh, yes, and the lads thought the topless girls were just wonderful.

More recently Carol and I have visited during the months of February and March and found that we still love the place. It's a different Benidorm in the winter and we have enjoyed relaxing holidays there, and we still go to The Hotel Regente!

Calella was visited a few years later and we found it just as enjoyable but a little quieter and the railway line in front of the promenade was a little off putting.

At Calella one can walk for miles along the front, passing other small resorts on the way.

       

                                       Ron and Richard have a big one - Calella                         

Ibiza

Now you either love or hate Ibiza. In the 1980's with two teenagers we loved it. Brash - Yes, Crowded - Yes, Noisy - Yes, but we didn't care!

The food was not too good, but we still enjoyed it and even found quiet places to visit on the tours.

We stayed in noisy San Antonio and were able to travel into the town by water taxi, and we also used them for trips to quieter beaches such as Cala Llonga and Cala Conta.

Whether we would enjoy a return visit now that we are a little bit older, I don't know, but I don't think so - not to San Antonio at least!