Costa Blanca
Flight time from UK: 2hrs 45mins (approx)

Spain's white coast, the Costa Blanca is a long strip of stunning holiday resorts that run parallel to the sea. To the north, Javea, nestled at the foot of the Montego Mountains, occupies a far point of land looking eastward over the Mediterranean Sea. To the south is Alicante, a truly Spanish city, dominated by the ruins of its ancient castle. The Costa Blanca coast is renowned for its vast sandy beaches and pleasant, year-round warm climate, which make resorts like Altea and Benidorm highly popular through all seasons.

Altea is an intimate, picturesque village offering scintillating views over the sea. At the summit sits the Plaza de la Iglesia church square offering panoramic views over the Altea esplanade. In contrast, Benidorm is a vibrant resort, with over 5km of golden sandy beaches backed by high-rise hotels and a plethora of nightlife.

Must See
Altea, which in the early 60's was a magnet for musicians, artists and writers from all over Europe, retains a bohemian air. The peaceful, cobbled streets of the medieval town are perfect for an afternoon wander, or take in the stunning La Marina area. The dome of Altea's church, blue with a white geometrical design, is one of the symbolic images of the Costa Blanca. The magnificently jumbled and cluttered centre of the Old Town provides Altea with a unique charm.

11km on to Benidorm, its glitzy, high-rise, Vegas-esque neighbour. Benidorm is home to two very distinct areas, conveniently named the Old Town and the New Town. Levante (sunrise) beach runs in front of the up-tempo New Town area and leads onto Poniente (sunset) beach, which houses the cultural Old Town. Villajoyosa, a popular, charming fishing village, is known as the 'Jewel City' - in homage to the brightly coloured houses on the esplanade.

Shopping
You will find shopping galore in the local markets within Benidorm - look out for little alleys off the Passeig de la Carreterra which leads to a square packed with leather goods and trinkets. In the Rincon de Loix area you'll find a small shopping centre. Altea's peacefulness and tranquillity have made it a paradise for artists and craftsmen and their shops and stalls are scattered throughout the Old Town's centre. But serious shoppers should head for Alicante. Stylish, with cool cafés and nightlife centred upon the narrow streets of Barrio Santa Cruz and the Old Town, with Explanada De Espana the trendier locale across town.

After Dark
In Benidorm there are bars and cabaret venues galore, with the famous, utterly extravagant Benidorm Palace at the top of the bill. One of the densest concentrations of bars lies adjacent to the Old Town. Along this stretch, there are a number of lively venues which open well into the night. For a much more peaceful evening head for the picturesque Altea harbor, home to many delightful restaurants and bars. There are hundreds of fabulous restaurants across the Costa Blanca, the local specialty, Paella. You'll find a wide variety of restaurants in Benidorm from traditional Spanish eateries to McDonalds and KFC. Altea is home to a selection of delectable Tapas bars.