Two hundred kilometres of coast either side of Alicante, most of it nothing like the bit people picture. Rocky coves, whitewashed hill towns and some of the driest, sunniest weather in Europe.
Past the headland at Altea, the high-rise stops and the coves begin.
Benidorm is five kilometres of a two-hundred-kilometre coast. North of it, Altea is a whitewashed hill town under a blue-domed church, Calpe sits beneath a 330-metre rock rising straight out of the sea, and Javea and Moraira are low-rise resorts of pine-backed coves where the building height is capped. South of Alicante the coast flattens into long sandy beaches and quieter Spanish resorts. All of it flies into the same airport.
Coves, hill towns, and a rock you can climb.
A whitewashed old town on a hill under a blue-tiled dome, with a pebble seafront below. The prettiest place on this coast.
A 330m limestone rock rising from the sea, with a path to the top through a tunnel. Two hours, capped numbers, and the view is enormous.
Pine-backed coves and clear water. Cala Granadella is regularly voted Spain's best beach, and parking is capped in summer.
A village built into a rock with a castle above and a turquoise reservoir below. Twenty-five kilometres inland and the best half-day here.
A small car-free island off Santa Pola, and a marine reserve. Boats from Alicante and Santa Pola in season.
A working Spanish city with a castle on a rock, a good market and a palm-lined esplanade. Twenty minutes from the airport.
North of Benidorm, Benidorm itself, or south of Alicante. Three different coasts.
Building height capped, pine-backed calas, and a quiet, largely expat feel. Where couples do best.
A hill town and a rock. Pebble beaches, good restaurants, and the prettiest stretch.
Two big sandy beaches, everything on the doorstep, and the lowest prices. See our Benidorm page for which beach.
Long sandy beaches, salt lakes and a more Spanish feel. Flat, cheaper, and less scenic.
April to October for beaches, and it works through the winter for everything else.
Summer is hot at 30–32°C and busy, particularly in August with Spanish holidaymakers. May, June, September and October give warm sea and far more room. Winter sits at 17–19°C, dry and sunny — one of the mildest parts of mainland Europe, and busy with long-stay northern visitors rather than beach holidaymakers.
2h 30m to Alicante (ALC), from nearly every UK airport year-round.
20 minutes to Alicante, 50 to Benidorm, 80 to Javea. Worth checking before booking.
Euro. Cards everywhere.
The narrow-gauge tram runs Alicante to Denia along the coast, slowly and cheaply. A car is better for the north.
We'll match the resort to what you want — coves or sand, lively or quiet — and write the payment plan out in full.
No. Benidorm is five kilometres of a two-hundred-kilometre coast. Javea, Moraira and Altea are low-rise and completely different.
Benidorm for facilities and sandy beaches, Javea's Arenal for a quieter sandy option, or Torrevieja in the south.
In the north, yes — the coves and hill towns need one. In Benidorm or Alicante, no.
Very well. Mild, dry and sunny, with golf and walking. Not swimming weather, and very good value.
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
10 nights · May–Jun, Sep–Oct · from £1,449pp
11 nights · May–Jun, Sep · from £1,149pp
10 nights · Mar–May, Sep–Nov · from £849pp
11 nights · Apr, Oct · from £2,699pp
12 nights · Jun–Oct, Jan–Feb · from £3,399pp
12 nights · Jul–Oct · from £3,099pp
11 nights · Jun–Oct, Dec–Feb · from £1,799pp
11 nights · Nov–Apr · from £2,199pp
