Seemingly for an eternity has the east coast of Spain been a very popular tourist trap, particularly for the Brits. So many of us have descended upon the area for a few short weeks, found it quite irresistible and so decided to stay, whether buying a holiday home, or making it their retirement retreat. They have done this for so many reasons, not least of which being the sandy beaches and of course the sun.

What draws all these crowds? Of course it's the sun combined with the quantity of excellent sandy beaches. Now let's take a look at some of the interesting towns you're sure to encounter when visiting the Costa Blanca, each one fascinating in its own right, but at the same time typically Spanish.

Alicante is the main town on the Costa Blanca. It used to be a bustling sea port and its remaining old buildings in a highly decorative style are witness to that. Alicante is very warm and sunny for a big proportion of the year, with temperatures often arriving at the 40C mark. Alicante is a fast growing metropolis which not only relies on the tourist trade to earn its keep, since it is also a thriving merchant centre, exporting olives and fruit as well as the ubiquitous wine.

To the north-east of Alicante lies the bustling tourist development of Benidorm. Benidorm is a thriving tourist centre known for its myriad of hotels and skyline almost reminiscent of New York. But up until the 1960's Benidorm was a lowly fishing village. Never would one have guessed how the tourist trade was to take over its white sandy beaches and claim it as its own.

And now we come to Calpe, arrived at via a series of rocky bays and cliffs. Calpe is a delightful town overlooked by an imposing rock known as Penon d'Ifach. The rock is over a kilometre in length and 300 metres high, being joined to the mainland by a thin strip of land. Of course you can climb it and stand right at the top for a spectacular view over Ibiza in the distance. But be prepared for an arduous day!

The most northern beach resort of the Costa Blanca is Denia, which is located about a hundred kilometres south of Valencia, and located right at the foot of the stunning Montgo mountain. Denia benefits from some incredible coastline, kilometre after kilometre of it, and has won awards for the quality of the water. The town has beaches both to the north and to the south, the northerly beaches are sandy, whilst those to the south offer attractive rocky inlets where bathers can hide away.

To the south of Denia is found the village of Xabia, a little old fishing village. Xabia is home to many tiny streets, which make it a walker's paradise. A pictureque little town, quite charming making it an ideal little get-away, whilst never been too far from the major centres.

No reference to the Costa Blanca would be complete without mentioning the wonderful sand dunes and palms of the beachfront town of Guardamar. This little town might be considered typically belonging to Spain. The sand dunes, palms, together with other trees such as eucalyptus, were actually installed in Guardamar to provide protection from the frequent sand storms. The town is worth a visit for that alone, but together with its almost ten kilometres of imposing beach, this is a visit not to be missed.

The river Segura separates the two main beaches of Guardamar. To the south there are three kilometres of iuninterrupted sand right up to Torrevieja beach. But in fact all the beaches around the town have great sand and high quality water. So this is a perfect place for lovers of watersports, and of course the ubiquitous sunbathers.

Property on the Costa Blanca has always been in high demand, in spite of its fluctuating fortunes. But one thing is certain - the region is packed full of idyllic locations with property prices within the reach of many. The only difficulty might be making the right choice, perfect for you, since choice there is, and lots of it! Best take your time, soak up the atmosphere, drink a little Sangria contemplating the waterfront, then do it all over again. In Spain, time is your friend!