Alicante is the second largest town of the Valencia region in Spain, with a population of around 300, 000. Unlike its coastal neighbours, Alicante is a real town living for much more than tourism alone. With a wonderfully warm, Mediterranean climate and miles of white, soft, sandy beaches, Alicante is an ideal holiday destination.

One of the fastest-growing cities in Spain, Alicante is steeped in history and is a truly cosmopolitan, vibrant town with plenty to see and do. It has shops, bars and restaurants galore, and museums too, so you can be as cultural as you want to be.

Things to see and do around Alicante:

? Santa Barbara castle

? Golf

? Water sports

? Theme parks

? Safari Parks

You won't get a true feeling for Alicante by staying in a large chain hotel. By renting an apartment in Alicante you'll be able to live as a local inhabitant and do as they do. It's a good opportunity to visit the local shops and bustling markets to get your daily groceries.

Transport

Alicante is easily accessible and with its excellent road and rail links, it is easy to visit nearby places of interest. It has its own airport which is six miles outside the city. There are regular connections throughout the day all year round to almost every major European city and with many more cheap flights available from the UK, this makes Alicante a particularly attractive place to go on holiday.

A bus service shuttles passengers from the airport to the Plaza del Mar, southwest of the city centre, or you can catch a taxi. Departure tax is factored into ticket prices. You can get to and from Alicante on the bus, tram and train. Public transport is relatively cheap, which means you can afford to make journeys just to take in the spectacular views.