ALICANTE

[staustellclaret]

Hi

I am looking to go to Alicante for a week in spain and want to try and find somewhere rural / village area away from the usual tourist spots upto an hour and a half away from Alicante any suggestions .

Cheers

[Tribesmen]

Hummmm Drug Mule ?

[Bosscat]

Hummmm Drug Mule ?

Why would anyone want to Drug a Mule... there is enough cruelty to Donkeys around the world without turning them into addicts as well

[redwasp]

I know a great place about an hourand a half from Alicante. BENIDORM!!

[Hopey1786]

I know a great place about an hourand a half from Alicante. BENIDORM!!

God
Help
Us

[ŽižkovClaret]

God
Help
Us

tbf i hear Benidorm old town is quite nice

[Burnley1989]

tbf i hear Benidorm old town is quite nice

I have been on 3 stag do's there and had a great laugh but wouldn't take my family.

Having said that we had 5-6 hours in Benidorm recently when 10 of us we were stopping in Calpe and we had a great day out.

[ŽižkovClaret]

I have been on 3 stag do's there and had a great laugh but wouldn't take my family.

Having said that we had 5-6 hours in Benidorm recently when 10 of us we were stopping in Calpe and we had a great day out.

Yeah very much meant old town not "smacks-on-sea"

[durhamclaret]

Went for a day trip out last time, to get away from Benidorm, went to a place called El Campello which is equidistant from Alicante and Benidorm, its a lovely quiet beach resort which is quite the opposite of Benidorm (nowt wrong with Beni if that's what you are after) would take 20 mins from Alicante and also has the advantage of being on the train line for the coast.
Would defo recommend it, but only for a couple of days maybe.

[get stuck in tracy]

Have a look round the Guadalest Valley.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Quite liked Sotogrande when i was there (the more organic residential area rather than the identikit flats around the marinas) but that might be a smidge too far

[arise_sir_charge]

Why Alicante in particular?

I stayed in a lovely place called Competa, up in the hills. Enough to do and also quite enough at the same time.

Each August they have a wine festival and that was on whilst I was there.

You'd have to fly to Malaga for there though.

Also, some friends of mine have a place in a quiet little seaside town called MIl Palmeras, I have been for the half term week in the last two October's, I am booked in again for this October. You can get there from Alicante in 40 mins, we hire a car and drive up.

[Vegas Claret]

my dad lived near Ontinyent, about as rural and out of the way as you are going to find !!! Nice area of the world too

[Bazer1882]

Have a look at the valle de pop. Xalo/Jalon, lleber. About 1 hr north, biggest town called Benissa. Beautiful valley with vineyards, almond trees, Orange groves. You wont be disappointed.

[rincon]

Polop is a quietish town, up near the Puig Campana mountain, nearby La Nucia ia a larger town, both can be reached via Benidorm by the Alsa bus service. There are some lovely coastal towns onwards from Benidorm, Albir, Altea and Calpe are all nice places.

[gsyclaret]

Polop is a quietish town, up near the Puig Campana mountain, nearby La Nucia ia a larger town, both can be reached via Benidorm by the Alsa bus service. There are some lovely coastal towns onwards from Benidorm, Albir, Altea and Calpe are all nice places.

Agree with Calpe, very nice.

[Cornwallclaret]

Torrevieja/ guardermar further down...very Spanish resorts and non of the usual Irish bars etc like Benidorm...we go every year,love it

[Top Claret]

Alicante is a great city. Try the Jalon and Orba Valley sample the lovely villages of lliber, alcallie, Parcent and many more. Pick wild fruit from the trees and buy wine at less than a quid a bottle from the local vineyard in Jalon. Last time I was there I brought 90ltrs of vino blanco back via a courier. Charged me 75 euros from Jalon to East Lancashire

Really cheap drinking and eating once you get away from the tourist spots.
On the coast Denia, Javier, Moriara, Bennisa Costa and Calpe of the northern Costa Blanca or great holiday destinations.

[evensteadiereddie]

Denia does it for me.

[Local cricketer]

A lot more culture in beni than alicante

[Dodobdobodobo]

Calpe is a great place (45 mins) Two beautiful beaches, old town, new town, great restaurants, only a couple of English bars. A properSpanish town!!!

[Longside4evr]

I lived in Spain for 7 years and regularly drove from Malaga to Alicante then Benidorm at Christmas
Best advice is hire a car
Gold car service from the airport
Before you travel they are the best in Spain new cars and no hidden extras.
Its a two hour drive from Alicante
The City of Valencia absolute blows you away best paella in the all Country its where it originates from
The new football stadia will be finished by now when i was there the plan was just coming out the ground
And the Valencia's was very exited about it all the taxi drivers excellent
When you go into City's in Spain park the car and use the transport infrastructure driving in Spanish City is lottery
Must visit i promise it blows you away

[ralph8]

You could look at Gandia- Has a town and beach district - Also has a direct train to Valencia

[arise_sir_charge]

For a hire car I use a website called “Do You Spain” it’s. A price comparison style site. Very good.

[Dodobdobodobo]

Hired a fiat 500 from do you Spain (OK Rental) last year for €1.41 for 10 days. Full full petrol and used my European excess cover - £38 for year from Bettersafe

[Top Claret]

Used wheels of Spain once from Alicante Airport, an English owned company, they were excellent. I can also recommend Victoria cars of Calpe. Both operate from Alicante Airport.
Avoid Gold cars, although cheap they have a terrible reputation.
Driving in Spain is far easier than the UK, contrary to what someone has written above. Spanish cities are far easier to drive through than any of our UK cities, they are nowhere near as busy. Spanish roads are excellent with toll road from Alicante to Barcelona, free since the new year

[Elizabeth]

Algorfa is about an hour away from the airport, not touristy , enough bars and two or three good restaurants. A golf course with a beautiful setting where non golfers welcome and good food and drink.
There is a sizeable British population , I don't know whether that's a good or bad thing for you
Within easy access to lovely mountains with winding roads and large salt lakes populated by flamingos and other creatures.