Alicante Airport

Advantages: Good location, decent amenities
Disadvantages: Can't think of any

...I use Alicante airport for my annual break in Spain and find it is convenient and fairly easy to use. It is situated just outside Alicante on the Costa Blanca, around 46.5km from Benidorm. It is within driving distance of Valencia, around two hours and 179km. Arrivals You would probably fly to Alicante if you were staying in Benidorm, Torrevieja, Altea, Calpe, Moraira or Teulada. It is popular with budget airlines such as Easyjet and Bmibaby and there are flights from many regional airports in the UK such as East Midlands, Liverpool, Bristol, Newcastle and Stansted to name a few. There are around ten car hire companies who operate out of the airport including the big names like Avis, Europcar and Hertz, these desks are located in the arrivals hall and can get busy at peak times. There are also local car hire companies who...

tor0908 16.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Alicante Airport

Include the Peter Arnold winery in your Spanish travels

Advantages: Delicious wines
Disadvantages: Need a car

...or even buy just a couple to drink as the sun goes down. They are priced very reasonably between 3 and 7 euros (what a difference UK taxes and import duties make!). Helen offers a sumptuous range of tapas to complement a pre-arranged wine tasting. The Costa Blanca resorts of Alicante, Denia, Calpe, Javea, and Moraira are only a short 30 minute drive away from this rural idyll. Peter Arnold winery, La Bodega del Garroferal, Ptda. Garroferal 7, Murla, 03792, Alicante, Spain; Tel: +34 96 558 1829 Movil: +34 660 87 11 69 Email: info@peterarnoldwines.com...

tynegal 19.08.2009 (24.08.2009) · Read review
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Review of La Bodega del Garroferal, Murla

SUN SAND SEA SURF AND SARDINES

Advantages: peaceful, beautiful, unspoilt, cheap the list can go on
Disadvantages: can be far too hot

...Moraira on the Costa Blanca and is just under 2.5 hours flight away from Gatwick, the weather in June is as you would expect fantastic with temperatures up into the 90?s daily and with nearly 12 hours of sun shine what more could you ask. Moraira is situated north of Alicante away from all the hustle and bustle of Benidorm. Moraira lies in a bay on the south eastern coast of Spain, between the larger resorts of Javea and Calpe, 80km around 1 hours drive from Alicante airport. And 110km 1 hour 15 minuets from Valencia, with excellent motorways and costal roads from both directions. The Costa Blanca is known as Spain?s ?White Coast? which is because of its miles of white sandy beaches and warm water. Moraira is a pretty fishing village based around the cobbled square with a very pretty marina an fish market, stunning churches...

Zoe30 21.08.2002 · Read review
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Review of Costa Blanca (Spain)

The White Coast

Advantages: nice coast with lovely countryside
Disadvantages: Urbanizaciones taking over, month of August to avoid

...in the region to visit are Murcia with its cathedral, Elche with its impressive palm gardens, Cartagena and the Mar Menor (an inland sea), Alicante with its fortress high above the city and Alcoy and Jijona (almond capital) in the mountains. Farther north there is incredible Benidorm, little Manhattan with highrisers, where I wouldn´t want to stay for free. The newest attraction there is "Terra Mitica", a historic Disney-like funpark, where you can ride roller coasters, sail into the harbour of ancient Alexandria, watch a ship battle with pirates and get wet at gigantic slides.....lots prettier are the smaller towns of Calpe, Moraira, Javea and Denia, but even there massive construction work due to affordable property prices is taking over. These settlements are called "Urbanizaciones" and some 500.000 (!) Europeans mostly from...

herbb 29.04.2002 (12.03.2007) · Read review
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Review of Costa Blanca (Spain)

Benidorm

Advantages: plenty to do, sun, sea
Disadvantages: no disadvantages

...and dolphins. They have shows here as well. We went to see the sealion show and the dolphin show and both were really good. There are boat trips to different places like Altea, which is just out of benidorm and to peacock island and to the calpe as well. We went on the boat to Peacock Island where you can see Peacocks in a big cage. They do a tour of this island too but we just looked round ourselves and so did most people. There is also a cafe on this island where they sell food, alcoholic drinks and non alcoholic drinks. The boot we went on to Peacock Island was a big boat and when we got there we all went to the bottom of the boat to look at all the fishes. We went to Altea which is just out of Benidorm and went on the bus to get there as we did not get up in time to get the boat there. This is a small place compared to Benidorm and has...

tabyorky 16.08.2001 (04.02.2002) · Read review
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Review of Benidorm (Spain)

Orange Blossom Coast

Advantages: Great Weather, Scenery, Food, People, Culture, Beaches
Disadvantages: Benidorm is spoilt,Some parts over-run, Crime Rate,

.... People were even swimming in the sea Boxing Day. I must say the North Costa Blanca is my favourite by along way.I found the South dry and flat.The North has beautiful lush green mountains and valleys.After my first visit to the North,I fell in love with the area and have since been back 10 times.I even bought a house in Denia as my heart is now there.The North also has beautiful beaches and contrasting beaches.Denia for example has sandy beaches in the north and rugged rocky beaches to the south.There are many little coves up roads that are waiting to be discovered.Even in July I found small coves that I had all to myself. The north has so much to offer.It is not as built up as the south and has white washed villas set around mountains and the orange groves.There are beautiful Spanish villages a few miles inland and fantastic beaches.Altea,Calpe...

Rachey 14.03.2003 (16.05.2006) · Read review
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Review of Costa Blanca (Spain)

Sticky Vicky's Paradise in the Sun.

Advantages: A good all round holiday destination. Lovely places nearby and excellent climate.
Disadvantages: Has a bad reputation with some people. I'm NOT there now and it isn't fair!

...and pubs. When we were there Elton John was doing a Concert to celebrate the official opening of the tallest building in Benidorm (and I think in Europe), a really big luxury hotel that can be seen from miles away! OUT AND ABOUT FURTHER AFIELD Terra Mitica~~~ We were looking forward to going to Terra Mitica, the new theme park that has opened nearby. I can?t tell you much about it because I have already written about it in another opinion ~ don?t want to stop you reading that one too! I will tell you that it is divided into themed regions; Egypt, Greece, Rome, Iberia and the Islands. The theme is based on mythology and it?s really interesting and well worth a visit. Calpe~~~ Calpe is a port along the coast from Benidorm. It can be reached by local transport, car or by boat. Trips go there from Benidorm harbour (they go...

tange 15.01.2003 · Read review
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Review of Benidorm (Spain)

I'm Going Places This Year, Are You

Advantages: Good value for money, excellent deals, very helpful staff.
Disadvantages: Have to buy own food. Might have go tit cheaper if booked at last minute.

..., and a free grocery pack is left for us on arrival. They are located in Costa Blanca, near Benidorm and Alicante, in either one of these resorts: Calpe, Benissa or Moraira (SE Spain). These resorts have a feel of ‘real’ Spain, with sandy beaches and small coves, a bustling harbour, weekly market and a large choice of restaurants. In Alicante, there is a large theme park called ‘Terra Mitca’, which I guess is their version of Alton Towers, by looking at the pictures. Our party will consist of myself, my boyfriend, my 18 year old son, his 17 year old girlfriend, and my 9 year old son. After showing everyone the brochure, they all agreed it looked great. Everybody was happy for me to book it. I rang our local Going Places agency to check for availability, and spoke to Jenny, a nice friendly, and very helpful young...

carolinesite 07.04.2001 · Read review
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Review of Going Places

A Great Place for a Sunshine Break in a Gorgeous Spanish Town

Advantages: 3 Swimming Pools, Lovely Spa, Family and Couple Friendly, Great Food
Disadvantages: Food is pricey, beach is stoney, a bit of a trek from Alicante Airport

...I?ve just returned from a 6 night break at the SH Villa Gadea. We were looking for a hotel in Altea/Calpe for a sunshine break at the beginning of September ?09. We couldn?t get into our first choice hotel further along the coast and we were a little nervous about this one as there aren?t many reviews on it. We flew from Manchester with BMI Baby ? flight is less that 3 hours. The hotel is 60km from Alicante airport and getting there is not easy via public transport so either hiring a car or getting a taxi is your best bet. We opted for a taxi and it cost around 80 euros. On arrival at the hotel (around 4pm ish), we were checked in by the staff at the front desk. Not the quickest and most efficient service I have ever experienced but non the less, they were all polite, spoke good English and a young lad took our bags up to our...

MJDS 14.09.2009 · Read review
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Review of SH Villa Gadea Beach Hotel, Altea

Escape to the sun - with chips on the side

Advantages: Cheap getaway, nice beach.
Disadvantages: Crowded, very English, disco-based culture.

...approaches as if it were a bus. Not for the faint-hearted. Alternatively, you can go to the main station and wait with everyone else. We went up to the castle to admire the view of the coast and enjoyed an aimless amble around the cobbled back streets, stopping only at a café for a pick-me-up and dodging into the art gallery to gape at some pieces by Kandinsky and Miro – definitely worth a look. We only stayed for a few hours, then headed back to Benidorm, miraculously managing to get off at Disco Benidorm – although you must request the stop. All in all, Benidorm is fine as a cheap, self-catering getaway when you just can’t bear another day of British weather. Spanish? - it barely is, but you can find some of the essence in the Old Town and if you visit Alicante or Calpe or another resort/town on the Costa Blanca...

Discobunny 05.06.2002 · Read review
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Review of Benidorm (Spain)