Drugs, nudity and drunkenness: the “dirty” city in Europe

A popular holiday destination in Europe has been labeled the “worst place on earth”. This is the coastal town of Benidorm (Benidorm) in Spain, which receives over 2 million tourists a year, most of them young people who come to celebrate – perhaps too many. Many of those tourists are young Brits, who spend most of their time in Benidorm’s “Strip”, a notorious street lined with bars and clubs where drunkenness, drugs and nudity are commonplace.British YouTuber Ben Morris traveled to Benidorm to see if the Spanish town really is as awful as its shocking reputation, and says many people believe the Mediterranean resort’s problem comes down to one factor: “British tourists abroad.” He says you’re more likely to hear English on the streets of the old town Confirms Spanish: “A lot of people refer to Benidorm as a ‘mini Britain’, with the number of Brits far outnumbering the locals,” he explains. “I knew it was a popular holiday destination, but I was really shocked at how busy it was.”

 

 

But while the streets of Benidorm are relatively civilized during the day, after dark – chaos. People selling illegal drugs, and condom sellers show up as soon as the sun goes down and start trying to get tourists to spend as much money as possible. “I just couldn’t get over how different the energy was at night,” says Ben. “It was like feeding time at the zoo with Brits drinking and partying all over the streets.”

The center of nightlife, Calle Gerona, is specially adapted to the needs of a certain type of vacationer: “It’s just crazy to walk the ‘Strip’; it’s pub after pub after sports bar after pub,” says Ben. There is a major effort to get drugs off the streets of Benidorm, and in the process, Ben is randomly searched by the Spanish police within minutes of walking the Strip at night. But the area is still teeming with merchants offering a variety of materials.

A drink at the famous pub Red Lion, has become almost a rite of passage for young Brits on holiday. But when Ben visited Benidorm, the pub was closed due to a recent police raid: “It was open and closed because of drug problems inside the place. This is a problem in all of Benidorm with drug use problems skyrocketing in recent years.”

Another infamous attraction in Benidorm is Sticky Vicky’s. The club, which is lit by bright neon lights, offers bizarre sex shows. The place is still operating despite the death of its founder late last year. The “star” of the club is Maria Gada Aragos, daughter of Vicky after whom the club is named, who started learning her mother’s unique art when she was only 13. Ben stayed for about 10 minutes before leaving the place feeling disgusted.

But there is some respite from the flashy nature of the strip. About 20 minutes away is the quiet village of Altea. “It’s a completely different atmosphere from Benidorm,” says Ben. This charming town offers a captivating blend of history, culture and breathtaking Mediterranean beauty, making it an ideal destination for travelers seeking an authentic Spanish experience.