Altea

Altea

In prime position on Spain's Mediterranean-fringed Costa Blanca - The White Coast - lies the perfectly picturesque town of Altea.

Altea is located in the Spanish province of Alicante - known for its majestic mountains and breathtaking beaches - and, like the baby bear's bowl in the famous fairy tale, is neither too big nor too small but is just the right size to be the setting for fabulous family holidays. It is, in this fascinating town, eminently easy to forget that you are still in the modern world, and hours-long rambles through the town's quaint winding streets, which thread their way through clusters of closely packed whitewashed buildings that comfortably rub shoulders with each other, will cause even the most world-weary of tourists to forget that "back home" even exists.

Visitors shouldn't be fooled by the laidback atmosphere that pervades the town during the day, however, as the city sports a thriving and thrilling nightlife. If days are for soaking up sun on one of the town's twin beaches - Playa de Cap Blanch and Playa de la Roda - then nights are for pubbing, clubbing and spending a Euro or two to dine at what can easily be called the most eclectic eateries on the Costa Blanca coast. The city's nighttime entertainment is extremely varied and can range from a quiet bite to eat at a traditionally Iberian street cafe to a night spent crawling from pub to club and back again and even to a themed cultural dinner-and-show evening at one of the local attractions, and an excellent example of the latter would be Medieval Night at the nearby Castello Conde de Alfaz. The scintillating city nightlife also gets far more interesting during festival season: June through August would be the ideal time to take advantage of this as these months see not only the Feast of San Antonio, the San Juan Fiesta and the Feast of Santa Anna but also Castell de l'Olla's Feast of San Lorenzo.

Those thinking of finding accommodations in Altea can choose between self-catering villas and apartments and hotels that run the gamut from "nice but not five-star" to overwhelmingly opulent and luxurious. As such, whether the holiday break is on a budget or the sky's the limit, there are hotels or apartments in the immediate area to suit everyone, and some of these have so much to offer that the option of spending every day at the hotel is truly tempting. Typical hotels and apartment complexes in this neck of the White Coast offer guests facilities such as indoor and outdoor pools, fully equipped gyms and beautifully structured formal gardens, and this doesn't even take into account the fabulous fare available at most hotels' restaurants, cafes and pubs.

Apart from the lounging on the beautifully pebbled beaches and the thinking about trying to learn how to windsurf, fish or dive, everyone's holidays should also include the sailing and boating trips that take tourists on tours of the local bay and that serve, mainly, to introduce visitors to the region's friendly octopus and anemone populations. Those interested in learning about the history of the town should spend some time in the old quarter and should also put exploring the area's stunning churches - like "Our Lady of Solace" or "La Mare de Déu del Consol" - on the must-do list. The traveling culture-vulture, on the other hand, will enjoy touring the city's Ramon Navarro Museum and, perhaps, attending a concert or taking in an art exhibition at the Palau de las Artes. The region's food is also to die for, and visitors to this popular portion of Spain's White Coast should brace themselves, take the leap and experience diverse dishes like sea urchins and snails garnished with onion.

Making travel arrangements in Alicante is not difficult, and those who would like to explore the area and its rich heritage can make use of either the local bus service or the fairly cheap fleets of taxis that patrol this particular stretch of the coast. Rental cars are also available and will tend to suit those with larger families as well as those who wish to investigate attractions that are a bit off the beaten track. Those spending their holidays on the Costa Blanca usual travel to and from Spain by air - flying into or out of the nearby Alicante Airport - and there are cheap and / or discounted flights beyond number just waiting to be discovered online.

Although it's worth it to travel to Altea just to experience - and make the most of - the city's fun-filled nightlife, visitors to this incredibly popular region of Spain should also take time to explore the nearby cities, including the bustling Benidorm, but should also always return to their home-base in beautiful Altea.