British couple visits Benidorm more than 100 times, calling it a second home
Leicester couple Roger and Sue Topp have made Benidorm a winter staple over 35 years, totaling about 130 trips with TUI and planning another visit this December.
Roger, 75, and Sue Topp, 74, from Leicester, have made Benidorm a recurring destination through holidays with the travel operator TUI for 35 years, totaling about 130 visits. This year they have already booked seven breaks in the Spanish resort and are set to fly from East Midlands Airport on December 23 for their eighth stay of 2025. They first visited Benidorm in 1987, and over the decades the city has become what they describe as a second home.
According to the couple, Benidorm’s appeal lies in its warmth, cleanliness and value. A glass of wine can cost one to two euros and a full meal is often cheaper than a takeaway back home, making long winter breaks more affordable.
They say Benidorm has a reputation that does not reflect the reality on the ground, and they encourage other travelers to give the destination a chance. With 130 visits under their belts, they say the resort is welcoming for people of all ages and budgets.
During Christmas each year they stay at the Rio Park Hotel, which they describe as a festive highlight. The hotel offers breakfast, a huge traditional Christmas lunch, daytime entertainment and unlimited wine and beer, which they say reduces stress and adds to the pleasure of a winter escape. The couple credits the arrangement with helping maintain the continuity of their trips with TUI over the years.
For dining, Puente De Oro near the Rio Park is their favorite Chinese buffet, where plates pile high and unlimited drinks are available for about €19. They say the quality is high and the price remains attractive even as the couple continues to return.
On tapas, Zodiac, located near the Rio Park Hotel, is a regular stop. Roger notes the bar serves several courses of tapas and, for a price around €9 for six plates plus a bottle of wine, it offers value that keeps guests coming back.
They travel in social circles as well; sometimes large groups of 20 Benidorm regulars join them. The food, they say, is fresh, delicious and a consistent value, which is part of the reason they keep returning for long winters in the sunshine.
Married for 55 years, Roger and Sue say they effectively raised their children in Benidorm and now spend extended winter breaks there. They say their choice to keep returning is driven by the chance to escape dreary UK weather and to enjoy a dependable routine of sun, sea and affordable meals.
Analysts note that Benidorm remains a magnet for travelers seeking budget-friendly warmth during the winter months, with a well-established ecosystem of hotels, bars and eateries that cater to long-stay visitors. The couple’s decades of visits illustrate how some travellers develop deep connections with a single destination, turning a holiday into a recurring home away from home.