TRAVELCosta Blanca GUIDE

www.oliverstravels.com is famous for the ‘Brits Abroad’ culture, and it’s understandable why it attracts such crowds throughout the summer months. Guaranteed weather, world-class beaches, tons of family facilities and the nightlife is a recipe in popularity. However, behind the crowds on the tourist beaches lie incredible mountains, hidden coves, vineyards and ancient villages that have yet to be discovered.

COSTA BLANCA 101

CURRENCY EUROS GMT ELECTRICAL TWO PIN HIGHEST TEMP. 29° C LANGUAGE SPANISH LOWEST TEMP. 11° C EMERGENCY 112 PEAK SEASON MAY - SEPTEMBER

www.oliverstravels.com TRANSPORT TALK

BY WHEELS BY BIKE BY TAXI

You can hire cars from There are many hiking There is nothing national and international and cycling routes in complicated about booking rental agencies either Costa Blanca, Costa Blanca taxis, you can from the airport or from the Costa is the find them at all the major all major resorts and most well-known. This cities and . cities in the region. paved coastal path can Alternatively taxis can be pre-booked online through be tackled in sections or all in one go. several taxi companies.

BY WATER BY AIR BY BUS OR TRAIN

It is possible to take boat International is the An excellent bus service trips from many of the closest airport to Costa links the airport with the resorts on the Costa Blanca. Budget airlines fly main towns, cities and Blanca. This way you can there frequently from all resorts. There is also a tram avoid the traffic during over the UK. railway, El Trenet, which the summer months or runs between most major use it as a chance to towns.. explore.

www.oliverstravels.com HIDDEN GEMS AND ACTIVITIES

Terra Mitica Feel your stomach in your throat at one of several excellent theme parks.

Denia Javea

Benidorm

Denia Castle. Climb up to the castle Alicante for panoramic views of the city.

Torrevieja Fine-tune your swing on El Cura, Blue Flag Beach world-class golf Lounge on the sand or try courses. your hand at water sports. Hidden Gems Picks for Kids Best Activities Foodie Delights HIDDEN GEMS AND ACTIVITIES

Terra Mitica Feel your stomach in your throat at one of several excellent theme parks.

Denia Javea

Benidorm

Denia Castle. Climb up to the castle Alicante for panoramic views of the city. Elche

Torrevieja Fine-tune your swing on El Cura, Blue Flag Beach world-class golf Lounge on the sand or try courses. your hand at water sports.

TOP PICKS FOR KIDS

Challenge yourself Satisfy dinomaniacs Treat your taste buds

Elche Palmeral Aventuras DinoPark, located just Museo del Chocolate is is a true fun-for-all-the- outside of Algar, is sure to tucked in the charming family adventure park. It be a crowd-pleaser. Take little of . offers a day of action, a picnic and sit among The fascinating museum adrenaline and the incredibly realistic- of the Valor Chocolate laughter. There are looking dinosaurs; it will company is housed in a activities for small be a little like your very beautiful 19th-century children and bigger kids. own Jurassic Park film. rural home.

Head underground Set sail Scream with joy

Delight your children with Set out to the tiny and Unbridled fun is the name this adventure deep tranquil island of Tabarca, of the game at underground. Coves del part of a small group of Benidorm’s Terra Mitica, Canelobre are an islands just off the coast an amusement park built impressive maze of of Alicante. Euro Tours around the themes of caves, housing eerie Guide offers lots of fun , Egypt shapes, echoing options to keep children and Rome. acoustics and dripping happy for a day. water. .

www.oliverstravels.com MAP IT OUT: WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FOR KIDS

Denia

Javea

Satisfy Dinomaniacs

Scream with Joy Benidorm Head Underground Treat Your Taste Buds

Alicante

Elche Challenge Yourself CROWD-PLEASERS: BEST ACTIVITIES

Pick an adventure Take a trek! Take a dip

When it comes to Head behind the swathes Fonts de l’Algar pours fabulous group activities, of sandy beaches and through an orchard-filled look no further than modern resorts that have valley and thunders Benidorm-based Marco made the Costa Blanca down the cliffs in a Polo Expediciones. There so famous with Spanish spectacular series of is a wide range of Highs. You will find a waterfalls. So bring your activities here for completely different side swimsuits and soak up everyone’s tastes. of the region! the beautiful landscape.

Travel back in time Try regional cuisine Glide around

L’Alcúdia Archaeological Get to know the city of These two-wheeled Park is famed as with gizmos have been a discovery site of the Discovering Valencia. Go godsend to tourists who stone bust known as ‘The on a guided tour through want to whizz around ’, a well- the historic streets and cities. Head known piece of Iberian discover eye-catching to Segway Trip Denia to art. It has a prehistory that architecture and the best explore Costa Blanca in a dates all the way back to tapas restaurants in unique way! the Stone Age. town.

www.oliverstravels.com MAP IT OUT: WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FOR GROUPS

Discovering Valencia

Glide Around

Denia Javea

Take a Dip

Benidorm Pick an Adventure

Alicante

Elche

Travel Back in Time

Take a Trek BEST FOODIE DELIGHTS

Alicante Smart Destination

Celler La Muntanya Ali-Oli Tours

Celler la Muntanya is best At Alicante Smart Get your taste buds known for their award- Destination you can tingling on a gastronomic winning Crianza red explore the old site of La tour with Ali-Oli Tours. amusingly named Paco el Illeta and the fish market Discover the vineyards of Chocolatero. You can or do a spot of wine- the region on a six-hour also tour the vineyards tasting before sitting guided trip or head into that blanket the down to a lavish and the mountains to learn landscape around the authentic seafood meal. how oil is made. restaurant.

Bodegas Faelo Monastrell

Dishes to try

Learn about the ancient Paella is the number one Monastrell, Alicante’s art of winemaking at this dish to try while you’re only Michelin-starred delightful family-run here and is a Spanish restaurant not only winery. Bodegas Faelo is classic. Pan Quemado is serves the very finest in the heart of the a sweet bread, whose cuisine but is in a truly countryside near Elche, dark crust and soft floury enviable location in the where they have been middle must be sampled! heart of the marina. A making wine for over 100 For dessert try Arnadi, a relaxed yet sophisticated years. sweet pumpkin and dining experience. almond tart – delicious!

www.oliverstravels.com MAP IT OUT: WHERE TO FIND THE BEST FOR FOODIES

Denia

Javea Celler la Muntanya

Benidorm

Ali-Oli Tours

Alicante Alicante Smart Destination Monastrell Elche

Bodegas Faelo We’d like to think we know travel pretty well. Since we first hatched Oliver’s Travels in 2003 it’s been essentially all we’ve talked about. You could call us obsessed.

Our extensive blog, Oliver’s Journal has got tons of information and inspiration on locations across and the Caribbean. It’s a one-stop shop for family-friendly holiday fun, the best group activities, foodie finds and a good dose of adventure. If you found this travel guide useful, (we hope you did!), you can find a whole host more on the blog, too!

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