Usually most people don't see Alicante other than from the window of the aircraft as they arrive at the international airport or from the window of their hire car, which they picked up from Alicante airport car hire terminal. However, spend a little more time and you will notice that Alicante has much more to offer than just a place of arrival and departure.
The capital of the Costa Blanca, Alicante, can date its history back to the Romans and there is evidence of pre-historic history dating back to a settlement here even further. Initial impressions are poor as you make your way from the airport to the town, however once past the urban sprawl, you'll find a palm lined promenade along the front of the town by the harbour with its nightlife and associated restaurants and a tree lined shopping avenue. To the south of the town, the coastline stretches away for miles of golden sandy beach.
Torrevieja
Torrevieja is one of the most popular destinations on the southern Costa Blanca. Only 40 minutes drive from the airport of Alicante to the north, or 20 minutes from the smaller airport at Murcia, which is also served from the UK, Torrevieja is a bustling tourist community. There has been a settlement here for thousands of years, the reason becomes clear after a visit as Torrevieja is situated by 2 large saltwater lagoons where they still harvest the salt just as they have done for centuries. The lagoons are also the home to flamingos as well as many other types of birds.
Torrevieja town is classically Spanish in design, with most inhabitants living in apartment blocks in ordered streets. A walk through the town highlights that it is a busy commercial centre servicing both the large number of tourists and the local Spanish and expat communities. The town, has a busy fishing port and marina and trips can be taken from here along the coast during the summer months.
The main beach promenade was recently refurbished and provides a pleasant stroll, or the ideal place to sit and take in the views while sipping a coffee at one of the many beachfront cafes. Most days there is a small market selling souvenirs near to the beach and harbour and on Fridays each week, a large open air market selling all sorts of goods. The market can get very busy and parking near impossible, so an early start is the order of the day.
There are many beaches to choose from, and a water park for the more adventurous.
Golfers are probably best equipped along this stretch of coastline with lots to choose from, through the golf courses of Villamartin, Las Ramblas, Campoamor and Quesada which are the more well known. Torrevieja holiday accommodation is both plentiful and varied, from luxury villas on the golf courses or beachfront, to townhouses and apartments on urbanisations. There is something for every budget.
Villamartin
Villamartin is probably the best known golf course on the Costa Blanca. The resort has expanded and now includes the golf courses of Las Ramblas and Campoamor, so there is more than enough for the most avid golfer. A Villamartin golf holiday visitor, can divide their time between the golf course and the beach, of which there are many within a 5 minute drive and most are Blue Flag approved. A favourite has to be the beach at Cabo Roig overlooked by its watch tower, now a speciality fish restaurant.
The resort comprises of a commercial centre with bars, restaurants, outdoor eating and a selection of shops. Around the centre there are plenty of Villamartin golf apartments, for rental from private owners. If your budget stretches a little more, there are many holiday urbanisations within a few minutes drive of the golf course, with either apartments or townhouses and most have communal pools and other facilities. Top of the range gives you luxury villas built overlooking the golf fairways, with their private pools and excellent location, these are the premier places to stay while you enjoy your vacation here.
La Manga
La Manga del Mar Menor is a resort town near Murcia. The area has several golf courses and over 40km of beaches.
The Mar Menor (Little Sea) is an enclosed salt water lake and the area is part of the Costa Calida. It is an ideal resort for water sports enthusiasts or for those wishing to learn because of the calm waters of the Mar Menor.
There is a coastal strip of hotels and houses which runs along the side of the Mar Menor as well as many restaurants, bars and holiday apartments. Two nearby coastal towns are San Pedro del Pinatar and San Javier and Murcia and Cartagena are also worth including on your holiday itinerary as well as the old fishing village of Los Alcazares. The famous La Manga Club is also to be found close by and is well known for hosting many football clubs during the winter months.
For anyone that wants to enjoy some fun and sun in Spain, the Costa Blanca region that is close to the Mediterranean Sea would be the best place to visit. Costa Blanca is a part of the Alicante Province that begins with the little town known as Denia and ends up at Torrevieja, which is another popular tourist destination. Costa Blanca or ?white coast' has some very splendid beaches that both residents as also the many tourists come to enjoy.
On a visit to Costa Blanca you might want to check out a few important and well liked holiday spots where you can unwind on the beaches including Altea, Javea, Moraira as well as Benidorm, Torrevieja and Guardamar. And, there are many wonderful villas that serve as ideal accommodation and are a favorite among tourists with something of special interest in each one. To reach Javea that lies about ninety kilometers from Alicante on the east coast of Iberia and a hundred kilometers from Valencia, you can take a plane and land at one of the international airports in either of these two cities. Or, if you are planning to drive down, then you can travel the A-7 from any part of Europe.
Javea is particularly exciting and well worth visiting having some of the best mountains including the peak of Montgo along with many wondrous landscapes and of course the excellent beaches. Such is the attraction that Costa Blanca holds for tourists that millions of them converge here to enjoy the beautiful beaches every year, especially the towns of Denia and Javea. You would also find Elche another attractive hot spot and this place is known as the palm capital of the world.
Traveling the entire Costa Blanca is possible using the Carretera National Highway that follows the coast and provide you with the opportunity to also stop and take a break at the many small villages along the way. Among the more tourist oriented places, you would like the entertainment park known as Terra Mitica that is situated at Benidorm and there are also the bays of Altea as well as a place called Calpe. There are also the smaller towns that are very attractive and among them you should check out Villajoyosa that is close to Benidorm and to its south having an old town and plenty of yummy chocolates as well.
Anyone that wants to enjoy a good round of golf in these parts would love the Costa Blanca golf resorts of which there are many and you can locate individual ones by studying the maps that are available at the Airport or in downtown Alicante. Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of the Costa Blanca would no doubt emanate from the sea villages. Costa Blanca is also a place where tourists are tempted by the more than two hundred kilometers of coastline and rather unsurprisingly the tourist industry here is well developed and Costa Blanca is a hot favorite for many British and also German tourists and many other nationalities including the sun-starved Scandinavians that flock here for the ample warmth and plenty of sunshine that is available here.
Both Robert Palmer & Lee Smith are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Robert Palmer has sinced written about articles on various topics from Destinations, Home Improvement and Health Insurance. Warren Ward runs the vacation owner rental website of which advertises hundreds of holiday villas and apartments throughout Spain.. Robert Palmer's top article generates over 14800 views. to your Favourites.
Lee Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Online Dating, Internet Marketing and Travel and Leisure. Lee Smith writes about Costa Blanca, A Paradise in Spain. Lee Smith's top article generates over 110000 views. to your Favourites.