This guide was written by myself as part of freelance work with Holiday Weather. The first three months are below in full. April - December links are at the bottom of this article, taking you to the HW website.
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| Beautiful beaches and wonderful weather are part of the Costa Blanca package |
The Costa Blanca
is still one of Europe’s most popular destinations for holidaymakers across the
world. There is a major influx of British tourists, from friendship groups and
romantic couples, to business acquaintances and happy families who will pick
their destination to be the Costa Blanca. It is hard not to see why.
Also called
‘The White Coast,’ the area is full of sun, sea, sand and sangria. There are some appetising restaurants
to try, the buzzing nightlife needs to be sampled, and plenty of multicultural
events that occur throughout the year. There are many aspects that will make
any visit to the Costa Blanca fun, but also relaxing and
stress-free.
The Costa Blanca
consists of 200 kilometres of coastline, and has some major hotspots for
travellers to choose where to stay from. Benidorm is the number one preferred
destination, especially for families who want to see plenty of sunshine, and for the youngsters who are only
interested in going to sample the party atmosphere when the sun sets.
There’s also
Alicante, where the best beaches and wider location choice seems to be. Alicante offers the blend of Spanish tradition, combined with 21st
century modernity. Other smaller towns include Elche, Murcia, Torrevieja,
Denia
and Calpe. The Costa Blanca
isn’t far away either from the city of Valencia – Spain’s biggest after the
heavyweights of Madrid and Barcelona.
The weather
throughout the year is very consistent, with a warm and humid subtropical
Mediterranean climate. Average temperatures reach an excess of 20 degrees
Celsius, with approximately 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. In the past, there have
been extreme weather conditions – ranging from flooding to tornadoes at sea, but these are rare occurrences. Generally, the climate
here is hot, warm and sunny.
January
Weather: The traditional weather for the Costa Blanca
in January is settled, but distinctively cold in comparison to the hot and humid summer months. With a temperature average of 11 degrees Celsius, and a
potential low of five degrees Celsius during the day, January is the coldest
month of the calendar year. Sunshine hours peak at an average of six hours per
day, with sea temperatures at 14 degrees Celsius.
Attractions: The weather is not ideal for beach
travellers, so January is a month for history enthusiasts to really come and
see new parts of information which will be revealing. A trip to Denia will take
you to the Archaeological Museum which is located in two rooms known
as ‘The Palace of the Governor.’ Built back in the 17th century, the
museum, established in 1957 offers not only great views of the port of Denia
and the town itself, but also presents a range of materials in the field of
archaeology. This trip will take you through Denia’s development from its early
origins right through to the 18th century.
If visitors
are not up for this trip, then head down to Elche for a journey into the small,
but well exhibited Paleontological Museum. The exhibits here are very
informative, and have been kept in almost pristine condition. Tourists can also
take home some natural fossils and stones as part of their visit around this
brilliant archaeological museum.
Events: Traditionally, festivals and events
are on the quiet side in January around the Costa Blanca. The main festival is
the Porrat de San Anton, which is an animal show and a local
market that is held in one of the local’s favourite locations – the bullring. This festival is named after the region’s Patron Saint of Alicante, San
Anton. It often takes place in mid-January.
Hotels: The choices of accommodation are
endless around the Costa Blanca. Tourists can take their choice from
sky scraping hotels and luxury villas to urban bungalows. Then, there is the
decision of whether to go to a busy area where the majority of the action is,
or somewhere more peaceful where noise won’t be an issue.
The Hotel Javea in Javea is a small hotel, but a cosy
place to stay and has a proper family atmosphere to it. Situated near the port
of Javea, the hotel gets fairly busy in the
height of summertime, but is much quieter in times like January. The location
of Hotel Javea is decent, with a marina facility nearby, although the nearest
sand beach is at least 20 minutes walking distance away. However, this is a
chilled place to stay on your holiday to start the calendar year.
Hotel Fetiche in Benidorm is located in the older part of the
town, and is a fine Bed and Breakfast location. There are only 17 rooms, so it
is a closely well-run place, with a continental breakfast as part of the
package. Rooms can be catered for with people who have disabilities, and the
attention to detail of the customer’s stay makes this accommodation well worth
to be considered by visitors.
The Casa La Differencia in Calpe does cater for all types of
individual. In the winter season, it welcomes everyone to its speciality inn,
but between May and October, it becomes a place for gay people to come and stay
at whilst on holiday. No pets and children are allowed to stay here, and the
price for staying in this residence includes free Wi-Fi, a daily newspaper and
free drinks 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Altea might
be a tiny village in the Costa Blanca,
but the Melia Villa Gadea Beach Hotel is another luxurious choice. It has
to be when there are tennis courts available on site, along with five
restaurants and three swimming pools. This is one of the best stays at anytime
of the year in the Costa Blanca.
Lastly, a
quieter resort is the three-star Albir Garden Resort property in Albir. This accommodation
might be close to the nearest Albir beach, shops and bars, but it is a calmer
town when pitted up against the likes of Benidorm, Alicante and Torrevieja. That doesn’t mean to say nothing happens here. Facilities including a top class
gym, a volleyball court, entertainment all day and a heated indoor swimming
pool throughout the winter season.
Beaches: January is not the traditional time of
year to come and get a decent tan, despite the warmish temperatures in the Costa Blanca. As a consequence, the beaches will be less busy than they would be in summer,
but Javea’s La Grava beach is a good shingle beach to come
and take a scenic walk at this time of year. There is a superb restaurant to
stop for food, and La Grava is close to the port of Javea.
Restaurants: The various restaurants do very well
throughout the entire year in the Costa Blanca. Two fine selections have a real local and European feel to them.
The La Sort restaurant in Alicante is a classy
professional restaurant. If the choice is to come here, the staff will make the
experience of eating first-class very important. They take customers seriously,
but they would if toothbrushes are offered in the bathrooms. The prices are
expensive though, so only come if there is something to celebrate because then
it can be done in style.
At a more
modest price range is the Taberna Restaurante Carbon, based in La Nucia. The views are
glorious and the food isn’t bad either. The restaurant is based on two floors,
and the menu offers a fine choice of modern international food. The speciality
is Italian cuisine though, so giving a try to their pristine pasta or the
popular pizzas wouldn’t go amiss. This restaurant only opened two years ago,
but has already become a favourite with many locals and travellers.
Nightlife: It might be smaller than many of the
heavyweight places around the Costa Blanca,
but the northern part of the region is not dull at all. Altea is part of the
northern part of Costa Blanca and one of its top nightspots is the La Plaza. La
Plaza is a cocktail bar that will serve up all of the traditional favourites
and the music buzz is a flavour between jazz and soul music.
Elsewhere,
Lennon’s in Benidorm is often crowded at weekends and is a
regular on the tour of exploring the Benidorm nightlife for regulars and newcomers. Dance
music is frequently played and this place is a huge favourite for the under-25s
in the area.
February
Weather: As the year develops, the weather gets
warmer in the Costa Blanca, but February’s averages are still
only marginally better than January. Those who want to see the sun will be more likely to see it for just an extra hour per
day on standard terms. At least rainfall levels remain low, with only four
days of rain forecasted per month. Sea temperatures stay at the same level as they did in
January, with temperatures in the air reaching an annual high of
17 degrees Celsius.
Attractions: Another of the main museums to visit
in the Costa Blanca is the MARQ Provincial Archaeological Museum in Alicante. This museum provides a great mix of
archaeological artefacts and historical creation. Having won international
stardom as the European Museum of the Year nine years ago for the originality
of the exhibits on display, the MARQ is in great company alongside other
classical worldwide museums such as the Salzburg Museum in Austria and the
National Railway Museum in the UK in York.
This is an
intriguing trip, but so too is an excursion to the hugely popular fish market and auction over in Denia. The locals enjoy their
food in the Costa Blanca, and freshly prepared fish is amongst
their favourite dishes. Head to the port of Denia around mid-afternoon, and you
will see the fisherman determined to complete their catches for the day. When
their business is complete, the fish captured are taken to La Lonja, so
interested customers can see what is available before the start of the auction. Ultimately, part of the fish captured will go to the lowest bidder in the
auction (different to traditional English auctions), and the rest makes general
sale for the public. Even if fish is not a natural part of an everyday diet,
this is something to indulge in as a spectator watching on.
Events: In mid-February, there are major carnival festivities throughout the Alicante
area of the Costa Blanca. There are a number of parties which
include colourful processions of decorated floats and the traditional burying
of a sardine on Ash Wednesday.
Hotels: Situated in Elche, the Hotel Areca opened in 2006 and offers its guests
with a serene and carefree environment. Facilities include a free spa, private
parking and a well-maintained terrace garden. This is a modern place that is
another choice that should be carefully thought about by business travellers.
From the modernisms
of Areca to Hotel Buena Vista in Denia, this is of the classic brand. This
19th century mansion might have had a makeover since those days, but
the majority of the rooms do offer a tremendous sea view and facilities for
swimming, sauna and gym equipment. It might look slightly outdated from the
outside, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with the inside aspects of this
stay.
Campsites are
few and far between in Costa Blanca,
but the main one is the Campsite Internacional La Marina. Open all year to families, it will
have regular deals that will offer mega savings for travellers. The campground
has 36 bungalows, all in different categories to cater for the types of
individual and prices. Entertainment includes a dedicated animation team who
always is there to put a smile on the faces of holidaymakers, bicycle rental
and an outdoor themed swimming lake.
One of the
leading hostels in the Costa Blanca is Mont Royal,
situated on the San Juan beach in Alicante. The main amenities at this
accommodation include a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi, with optional deals for
those preferring a breakfast and lunch package.
The Coral Beach Apartments in Calpe are the place to be if the plan is to
go on a family holiday on a self-catering basis. This apartment is close to the
shops, the beach and the restaurants, so there is plenty for everyone to remain
content and occupied.
Beaches: Playa del Cura is the beach resort of Torrevieja,
and while it is perhaps best to avoid it in summertime, due to the high
population, it is great to go before June. The beach is nice to sit down on,
and offers the chance to reflect on a fantastic Costa Blanca stay, but water
users should be warned – the sea here does have some stones on the seabed.
So, if it is
exploring the sea that would win the holidaymaker over at this time of year,
the Les Bassetes beach in Calpe is great company. Conditions are
almost faultless to learn how to sail to Olympic standard, and an underwater
sea bed makes it perfect to practice some diving skills of your own.
Restaurants: The Aitona restaurant in Benidorm does some of
the best paella around in the Costa Blanca. Paella is the most common dish in Spain, and is enjoyed regularly by both
foreign tourists and Spanish locals. Grilled meat is served as an alternative.
Or head to
the El Toro Steak House over in Benijofar. This restaurant
adopts a modern European style eating and drinking venue and takes a different
feel to the regular steak house approach expected back at home. Dutch steaks lead
the way, and they have been especially imported from Holland to reach their new
destination, and diners can even cook their own meat by deciding to choose the
house speciality.
Nightlife: Benidorm
Palace is a very
professional show, even if the venue is looking like it could do with an extra
coat of paint. There are options to dine here, as well as enjoy an entertaining
show full of cabaret acts and dancers. The night is quite costly in terms of
money, but goers shouldn’t be disappointed by the quality on offer.
Another
relaxed setting is Clan Cabaret in Alicante. Regular live music
performances and live drama plays take place during the course of the year, and
in the summer, it turns into disco fever, so the youngsters will still be
attracted to this venue.
March
Weather: March is traditionally the first sign
that springtime is on its way across Europe. It is no exception in the Costa Blanca,
with a temperature high peaking at 19 degrees Celsius. This
is only the warm-up though to the summer months, which is when the majority of
British tourists and holidaymakers will be more likely to visit, due to the
weather. Sunset is past 7pm every evening, so it is surprising to see an
average of seven sunshine hours per day, despite it being far lighter
than darker at this time of year. The average temperature this month is 15 degrees Celsius,
that’s 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
Attractions: Costa Blanca
might have a host of attractions to tempt visitors, but if a day break is
required, then the city of Valencia is not far away to visit. Situated right at
the heart of the Spanish Mediterranean coastline, Valencia offers a lot to do in just a day. Those
looking to sightsee could visit the many famous art galleries and museums on
show, or take a long stroll along the beach. Spain’s most common dish is of
course paella, and this was first cooked up by chefs in Valencia. It would be
unwise to not try some paella in the tons of restaurants. Sport fans might want
to head near the atmospheric Mestalla Stadium, home to La Liga giants Valencia,
or to the port of Valencia which was the home of sailing’s prestigious Americas
Cup event and more recently, the European Formula One Grand Prix from 2008 to
2012.
The race in
Valencia was won by Spanish F1 driver Fernando Alonso last season, and
youngsters or the family can attempt to follow in the footsteps of one of
Spain’s prodigal sons by competing at the Karting Alacant venue. On offer are different types
of go-karts for the kids and the adults, and there is often plenty of action on
the circuit. This would be a fun one-off opportunity to put all that computer
games practice to practical use.
Events: Craft culture is the theme of the Alicante Cool Craft Market in early March. These markets are
located near the Alicante bullring in the Cultural Garden Las
Cigarreras. This event is regularly held over one weekend and allows locals to
sell and exhibit their homemade goods. This can include scrapbooks, stationery
resources, illustrations and jewellery, made from a whole variety of different
fabrics and materials.
In late
March, the second Sea World exhibition will take place, and a massive range
of activities is planned on the Esplanada of Lo Pagan. This includes mud
therapy demonstrations, permanent exhibitions by the Spanish Red Cross amongst
others, guided tours of the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, and several
competitive fish auctions.
Easter
weekend falls at the end of March in 2013, so this is when Semana Santa takes
place. This is Holy Week across the whole of the Costa Blanca,
in an event that will begin a week before Easter Sunday every year. All towns
and villages have processions throughout the week to mark Easter, with events
in Murcia, Alicante and Orihuela leading the way when it comes to creating
unforgettable scenes.
Hotels: The Oasis Albir Playa hotel in Albir is located in an area
of tranquillity, despite the numerous shops that can be found in the vicinity. All rooms have double beds, and some are lucky enough to have king-size beds. A
family friendly environment, this hotel caters for half-board, bed and
breakfast and all inclusive visitors.
Meanwhile,
with a beach close by, modern gym for guests to enjoy and a conference room,
the Albahia Tennis and Business Hotel in Alicante is perfect for couples and business
travellers to spend holiday time in the Costa Blanca. With nine tennis courts to practice championship skills on, it isn’t bad for
the recreational active types either.
The Huerto del Cura in Elche is a large hotel which is
almost hidden away by some of the famous palm groves that attracts hundreds of
visitors every year. The gardens are luxurious, and the rooms set in neat and
polished looking bungalows.
A poolside
apartment up for rental use is based in El Pinet, close to the La Marina village. El
Pinet is a recent new development and this self-catering apartment is situated
in a peaceful area, with all the standard equipment expected. Available for the
whole of spring and summer, and fantastic low prices for staying, El Pinet is
an example of cheap and classy rental property.
Located three
kilometres away from the centre of El Campello, Hostal San Juan
in Alicante is located opposite the popular San Juan beach. With good transport
links into the Alicante town, and a superb backdrop of a view, this is another
fine choice of accommodation that differs from a standard hotel.
Beaches: The Moraira beach in Moraira has everything a traveller would
need, and there is even a choice of relaxing on fine sand, or strolling slowly
along the rocky, pebbly length of beach. Not as overpopulated as many beaches,
this is actually a hidden gem when it comes to thinking about staying in
Moraira.
The Punta Prima Beach in Torrevieja
is another golden beach that is often ignored by the regulars. It might not be
massive in size, but the local beach bar provides a high-quality selection of
drinks, and offers great views of the area in general.
Restaurants: With an inviting atmosphere, the Cap Blanca restaurant in Moraira is a welcoming
British restaurant in the Costa Blanca. Every Sunday, there is a traditional roast dinner, with a choice of lamb, pork,
beef or gammon for diners, and all food is homemade and freshly cooked. This
venue is perfect for a romantic meal or for somewhere to relax with family or
friends. Booking in advance is highly recommended to guarantee a table at Cap
Blanca.
Over in Santa
Pola, the tiny eating establishment of Casa Joaquin is dedicated to seafood and serves
fresh food every single day. For those with a real craving for fish, you will
be in heaven by coming to Casa Joaquin.
Nightlife: Churchill’s pub in Benidorm is a true British favourite to visit. A fun night out is a sure-fire definite by a wide raft of programme in terms of
entertainment. Sometimes, theme nights will be put on by the owners, and others
will involve karaoke nights that won’t be judged properly on this occasion. It
is almost like a place home from home.
For a more
international feel, the Pacha nightclub
is the best for a great night out in Torrevieja. The place is always buzzing
with youngsters and the music is provided by an excellent line-up regularly of
international and Spanish DJs.
April - December
For those who want to read on about the top accommodation, nightlife, beaches and attractions throughout the year in the Costa Blanca, click on the following links for the highlights from April - December.
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