Could this be Thailand or eastern exoticism... in Benidorm?
The girls' weekend away is legendary. I don't care who you are – it's good for the soul. The bonding, the chatter and the fun are all unique to our sex. But as our lives get forever more complicated these heady weekends become difficult to arrange. But thank goodness there's always someone in your circle who motivates, organises and, co...
me hell or high water, drags everyone off.
For me it's Sally Mean. I first met her when she was giving us 'windy in the West, snowing in the South' at GMTV and we've been in each other's lives ever since. At 5.50am, together with Jo Sheldon and Gaby Hennah, we found ourselves boarding an easyJet flight from Gatwick to Alicante. On board we joined our fellow travellers, some of whom sat in groups wearing the same tops with their names written on the back. It was something to consider for our next trip.
Sun and gossip: Anthea and friends loved their Benidorm break
We piled through Alicante airport at 9.20am, smug in the fact that our early start meant we wouldn't miss a precious hour of sunshine. No one now goes on holiday without doing their homework: we trawl the internet for information and comments, we even pre-book spa treatments, meals and entertainment at the click of a button, so we knew as we stepped out of the airport we were going to somewhere special.
The Barcelo Asian Gardens, just outside Benidorm, was our destination, with the Sierra de Cortina mountains behind us and the Costa Blanca in front. As the car doors opened, four girls from London stepped out into Thailand. But even our research didn't prepare us for their fastidious attention to Asian detail. We really did feel like we were on a different continent and far more than a few hours from home. The hotel ambience is pure Thai and the beautifully attired staff treat you like visiting royalty. It is nestled in a lush garden separated by seven swimming pools with secluded sunbathing areas luring you towards the cushioned rattan sun loungers.
The labyrinthine paths (you will get lost) are bordered by more than 300 different botanical species that thrive in the mild climate of the area. The 312 rooms are of a high standard and have everything a sophisticated traveller expects, from iPod docks to wi-fi, which incidentally is free. I take a huge dislike to hotels that extract a charge for this.
The Spanish resort makes a surprisingly good choice for a girls' getaway
The spa is a testimony to the traditional Thai philosophy of peace, calm and harmony. With beautiful facilities and excellent therapists, its tranquillity was intoxicating. We all treated ourselves to a Thai massage. My body was pulled, stretched, drained, and popped. I think we all grew an extra inch. Food in the hotel was excellent with the four restaurants oozing taste. The Koh Samui Asian Restaurant was a favourite.
The last time I had such delicious Thai food was in Thailand. Saturday night was looming, with two days of rest and relaxation and pages of Fifty Shades Of Grey behind us, we were ready to party. A 15-minute drive away is Benidorm, a place I know well and it does what it does very well, which is to give thousands of people of all ages a great value-for-money holiday. One of its greatest attractions is The Benidorm Palace – one of the most prestigious cabaret venues in Spain, it has recently won Best Nightclub in Europe 2012.
It opens six nights a week and treats its guests to a fast-moving show. The music, costumes and performers are spectacular. Outside of our Benidorm excitement, which also included shopping in the old town and a meal at a fabulous tapas bar, we spent the rest of our time back in 'Thailand'. I would highly recommend our trip for a short or long holiday destination and I will definitely return to this Spanish/Asian experience.
The girls' weekend away is legendary. I don't care who you are – it's good for the soul. The bonding, the chatter and the fun are all unique to our sex. But as our lives get forever more complicated these heady weekends become difficult to arrange. But thank goodness there's always someone in your circle who motivates, organises and, co...
me hell or high water, drags everyone off.
For me it's Sally Mean. I first met her when she was giving us 'windy in the West, snowing in the South' at GMTV and we've been in each other's lives ever since. At 5.50am, together with Jo Sheldon and Gaby Hennah, we found ourselves boarding an easyJet flight from Gatwick to Alicante. On board we joined our fellow travellers, some of whom sat in groups wearing the same tops with their names written on the back. It was something to consider for our next trip.
Sun and gossip: Anthea and friends loved their Benidorm break
We piled through Alicante airport at 9.20am, smug in the fact that our early start meant we wouldn't miss a precious hour of sunshine. No one now goes on holiday without doing their homework: we trawl the internet for information and comments, we even pre-book spa treatments, meals and entertainment at the click of a button, so we knew as we stepped out of the airport we were going to somewhere special.
The Barcelo Asian Gardens, just outside Benidorm, was our destination, with the Sierra de Cortina mountains behind us and the Costa Blanca in front. As the car doors opened, four girls from London stepped out into Thailand. But even our research didn't prepare us for their fastidious attention to Asian detail. We really did feel like we were on a different continent and far more than a few hours from home. The hotel ambience is pure Thai and the beautifully attired staff treat you like visiting royalty. It is nestled in a lush garden separated by seven swimming pools with secluded sunbathing areas luring you towards the cushioned rattan sun loungers.
The labyrinthine paths (you will get lost) are bordered by more than 300 different botanical species that thrive in the mild climate of the area. The 312 rooms are of a high standard and have everything a sophisticated traveller expects, from iPod docks to wi-fi, which incidentally is free. I take a huge dislike to hotels that extract a charge for this.
The Spanish resort makes a surprisingly good choice for a girls' getaway
The spa is a testimony to the traditional Thai philosophy of peace, calm and harmony. With beautiful facilities and excellent therapists, its tranquillity was intoxicating. We all treated ourselves to a Thai massage. My body was pulled, stretched, drained, and popped. I think we all grew an extra inch. Food in the hotel was excellent with the four restaurants oozing taste. The Koh Samui Asian Restaurant was a favourite.
The last time I had such delicious Thai food was in Thailand. Saturday night was looming, with two days of rest and relaxation and pages of Fifty Shades Of Grey behind us, we were ready to party. A 15-minute drive away is Benidorm, a place I know well and it does what it does very well, which is to give thousands of people of all ages a great value-for-money holiday. One of its greatest attractions is The Benidorm Palace – one of the most prestigious cabaret venues in Spain, it has recently won Best Nightclub in Europe 2012.
It opens six nights a week and treats its guests to a fast-moving show. The music, costumes and performers are spectacular. Outside of our Benidorm excitement, which also included shopping in the old town and a meal at a fabulous tapas bar, we spent the rest of our time back in 'Thailand'. I would highly recommend our trip for a short or long holiday destination and I will definitely return to this Spanish/Asian experience.
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