Alicante

With its mild Mediterranean climate and seaside location, Alicante, located on the Costa Blanca coast of Spain, is a holiday makers dream. With an economy and infrastructure based around tourism, visitors to this fast growing historic port city can be assured of fantastic holidays.

Getting to the city is easy. Alicante Airport is one of the busiest in Spain. This airport is connected with Madrid and Barcelona through frequent Iberia and Spanair flights. Many cities in Western Europe are connected to this airport through a variety of carriers. Direct flights connect this airport to Russia and Algeria. A tram connects the city with other areas along the Costa Blanca coast and there is regular ferry service to Algeria and the Balearic Islands. The Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Españoles or RENFE provides long range train service to Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

While most people go to Costa Blanca for beach holidays, there are a number of interesting historic attractions in this area of Spain. Atop Benacantil mountain is Santa Barbara fortress which provides some of the best views of the city and coastline. Inside the old walled city is the 16th century Gothic Church of Santa Maria which is built on top of an old Arab Mosque. The Casa de la Asegurada Museum, built in the 17th century features an impressive collection of art, including works by Pablo Picasso and Eduardo Chillida. The Provincial Archaeological Museum is certainly worth a visit as it showcases the archaeological site of Tossal de Manises.

The major cultural event in the city is the Noche de San Juan or the Night of Saint John. This festival culminates on 24 June with a number of bonfires. Ninots (papier mâché effigies and rag dolls) that have been displayed on the streets during the previous days are burned at the stake at midnight.

Whether visitors are searching for luxury resorts, mid-range hotels, budget hostels, or holiday apartments, Alicante offers almost infinite hotel possibilities. From major chain hotels to quaint family owned establishments, Alicante features a full-range of accommodation possibilities. The Old Quarter, Postiguet Beach, San Juan beach are the most popular places to stay and offer the widest range of accomodation. The best deals will be found when booking far in advance. If visiting during the festivals, it is a recommended to make hotel reservations well in advance. Most hotels offer a continental breakfast consisting of coffee, tea, juice, and pastries. For those looking for more space, a wide variety of self-catering accommodation is available. Large beachside villas with swimming pools and a apartments are available for hire. These are located in rural areas, within the city and Old Quarter, and within the golf resorts.

With it’s seaside Mediterranean location, fertile surroundings, and ties to Muslim culture, this city is well known for it’s delectable dining. Seafood, fresh vegetables, olive oil, and rice are important parts of the diet in this city. Rice plays an important role in the cuisine of this area. Combinations of meat, seafood, vegetables and spices, blended with rice for the basis of many of most popular dishes such as paella. Paella comes in many different variations such as arroz a banda, arroz a la alicantina, and arroz caldosobrothy. Paella is available at most restaurants. Expect to wait for at least thirty minutes after ordering or call the restaurant and order before leaving. Another popular dish is tapas which are essentially appetizers. Ordering a combination of tapas is an excellent way to sample of variety of local fare. Meals are eaten late with most people having lunch after 2:00 pm and dinner, after 9:30. Service is included in the bill but tipping is acceptable, ranging from five percent to ten percent depending upon the quality of service.

The Costa Blanca coast of Spain is well-known for it’s exciting and varied nightlife. With hundreds of bars, cafes, and nightclubs, visitors will be spoilt for choice of things to do after sunset. The action starts after midnight at the pubs located around the Old Quarter. There are a huge variety of bars and pubs, many featuring live music. Don’t forget about the side streets, which are home to many additional bars and cafes. Around 3:00 am , people move to the nightclubs, most of which stay open until dawn or later. Some pubs and clubs are open during the day as well, for all day partying. For those fancying a night out in Benidorm, an all-night tram service, the trensnochader, operates during July and August.

With it’s ideal year round sunny weather and unlimited tourist infrastructure, Alicante is the perfect place to plan your holidays. With plenty of possibilities for both adults and children, this is the perfect family friendly destination. Whether visitors are interested in learning about the history of the area, enjoying the endless dining and nightlife possibilities, or simply lazing their days away on the beach, this city will deliver what they are looking for.