With Ryanair now flying to Alicante year-round from Cornwall Airport Newquay, you can have your feet in the hot sand and be sipping on a sangria in just a few hours. And whilst you can stay in the immediate area and enjoy what Alicante has to offer, there are plenty of places that are within an hour’s drive of the Airport that can provide sun, sea and culture.
Javea
Javea boasts 320 days of sunshine a year – reason enough to visit! But if you are looking to get away from the high rises of Alicante and Benidorm, somewhere like Javea might be just the ticket. New developments are subject to height restrictions, and the ancient old town with its church dating back to the 15th century typifies why Javea is seen as one of the jewels of Costa Blanca.
The town has an authentic Spanish feel, with whitewashed houses, seafood restaurants and a bustling harbour. The sheltered sandy beach is popular with families and if you are looking for a holiday that doesn’t feel like a ‘package’, Javea might be the perfect solution with luxurious villas and apartments available to rent.
Torrevieja
Just 50 minutes from Alicante, Torrevieja is located between the sea and two salt lakes and has grown hugely in recent years due to the tourism industry and expat community. With beaches, breakwaters and parks, this part of Spain is great if you want outdoors living coupled with great shopping and plenty of family attractions to keep everyone entertained.
Water park Aquopolis offers multiple pools, slides and flumes and sits right in the centre of Torrevieja. If you are looking for a slightly more relaxing experience, visit the pink hued Laguna de Torrevieja, a vast salt lagoon where you can float in the lagoon and enjoy the setting.
Santa Pola
Santa Pola is a 15 minute drive from Alicante Airport, which makes it a perfect choice for those who don’t want to travel too much once on holiday. The close vicinity also means that the town doesn’t suffer from being dead in the winter, so you can enjoy the restaurants and entertainment year-round.
The town is largely geared towards Spanish tourists, so you won’t find yourself inundated with British cafes and Irish bars as you might in Benidorm or Torrevieja. Santa Pola has a rich history and you can even catch an hourly ferry to the island of Tabarca, which was once used by pirates.
The area is also popular with golfers, with several golf courses and country clubs in the area.
Benidorm
You can’t ignore Benidorm, the king of all resorts and granddaddy of the package holiday. While this might put you off, the popularity of the resort means that there is literally everything you could possibly want in one place and it therefore is a great option for young families.
Boasting some of the loveliest beaches in Spain, there is a reason why this resort is so popular. And if the bars, restaurants and water parks don’t appeal, there is still plenty to see and experience. Casco Antiguo is Benidorm’s Old Town and provides a real contrast to the rest of the area. Nestled on the headland that divides the beaches, you can while away hours exploring the town, eating tapas and soaking in the atmosphere.
If you are looking for a bit more excitement, Terra Mitica is one of Spain’s biggest theme parks. Whether it’s the 100km/hr roller coaster Titanide or the water rides such as The Fury of Triton, this is a day out that will be loved by kids and adults alike.
Ryanair flies to Alicante from Newquay, twice a week throughout the year.