Costa Blanca

A 244km coastline that pairs the cheapest UK package holidays in mainland Spain with the dramatic Peñón de Ifach monolith, hilltop castle villages and Europe's best UK-flight access — broken down by category below.



🏞️ Nature & Outdoor Activities

• Hike the 332m Peñón de Ifach in Calpe (Natural Park since 1987)
• Walk the Montgó Natural Park (753m) above Jávea and Dénia
• Catamaran day trip from Benidorm to the protected Isla de Benidorm
• Cycle the Vía Verde de Alcoy greenway through Alicante's mountains
• Scuba dive at the Tabarca Marine Reserve (Spain's first protected marine reserve)

🏖️ Beaches

• Playa de Levante (Benidorm) — 2km Blue Flag central beach with high-rise backdrop
• Playa de la Fossa (Calpe) — 1km sandy crescent at the foot of the Peñón de Ifach
• Playa del Arenal (Jávea) — pine-fringed golden-sand beach with promenade
• Playa del Cura (Torrevieja) — 700m Blue Flag southern beach, family-aimed

🍽️ Food & Drink

• Order paella valenciana (the original chicken-and-rabbit version) at Restaurante La Pepica (Valencia, 90 minutes north)
• Try arroz a banda (fish-stock rice) at Casa Elías in Xixona, the Old Town's signature dish
• Sample Valor chocolate at the Valor Chocolate Museum in Villajoyosa
• Wine flight at Bodegas Enrique Mendoza (Marina Alta) with DOP Alicante reds
• Sip mistela (sweet fortified wine) at Bodega Vinícola del Marquesado in Jávea

🎉 Nightlife & Entertainment

• The Calle Gerona strip in Benidorm — UK-aimed bars and pubs
• Live tribute acts at Benidorm Palace cabaret theatre (since 1977)
• Live jazz at L'Aljub Centro de Espectáculos (Alicante)
• Late nights at Penelope and KU Disco (Benidorm)
• Casino Mediterráneo in Alicante's marina

📸 Instagram-Worthy Spots

• The 332m Peñón de Ifach rising from Calpe's bay
• Whitewashed Altea Old Town with the blue-domed church at golden hour
• The hilltop village of Guadalest from the Mirador del Castillo
• The pine-and-cliff coves of Cala Granadella (south of Jávea)
• The Castillo de Santa Bárbara above Alicante's harbour at dusk

Best Value Deals

🏨 All-Inclusive Holidays

The Costa Blanca runs Europe's deepest UK family AI market alongside the Costa del Sol and Mallorca. Hotel Magic Aqua Rock Gardens, Marconfort Benidorm Suites, Hotel Servigroup Diplomatic and Sol Pelícanos Ocas in Benidorm lead the family AI rankings, with Magic Robin Hood (a themed family resort) running the strongest themed family AI on the coast. Hotel Levante Club & Spa (adults-only) and Med Playa Hotel Riudor add the upper-tier options. Shoulder-season weeks with UK flights typically open from £249pp in May or October, climbing to £849pp at August half-term.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Holidays

This is one of Europe's strongest family-holiday regions. Benidorm alone holds 30+ family-aimed AI hotels, the 244km coastline gives families an unusual amount of beach choice, and Aqualandia waterpark, Terra Mítica theme park and Mundomar sea-life park sit within a 20-minute drive of any Benidorm hotel. Magic Robin Hood (themed family resort), Hotel Magic Aqua Rock Gardens and Hotel Servigroup Diplomatic lead the family hotel inventory. Pair with day trips to Guadalest, Calpe and the Tabarca marine reserve.

💎 Luxury Holidays

Genuine five-star inventory clusters in the Costa Blanca North rather than around Benidorm. SHA Wellness Clinic in Altea is one of Europe's leading medical-wellness retreats, with a Forbes 5-Star rating; Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa in Finestrat (a Royal Hideaway five-star with Thai-inspired gardens) is the regional family-luxury flagship. Within Benidorm itself, Villa del Mar Hotel and Levante Club & Spa run the polished adults-only options. For broader luxury, Marbella is 6 hours west by road or 1hr 15min by Iberia connection through Madrid.

⏰ Last-Minute Deals

The Costa Blanca carries the strongest UK late-availability stock in mainland Spain alongside the Costa del Sol. The strongest discounts surface in mid-May to early June and from late September into late October — discounts of 25–30% inside three weeks of departure are realistic on Magic Aqua, Servigroup, Sol Hotels and Med Playa properties. Unlike most Spanish coastal regions, year-round resorts in Benidorm and Alicante stay open through winter — November to February UK winter-sun deals are achievable, with low-cost flight inventory holding up well.

Why book with us:

💷 Low deposits from £49pp

🔄 Flexible payment plans with balance due 6 weeks before travel

🛡️ ATOL Protected — your money and flights are safeguarded

✅ Free amendment window on selected packages

📞 UK-based customer support, 8am–11pm every day

📅 Best Time to Visit Costa Blanca

The Costa Blanca runs as a year-round destination with three distinct seasons. Peak season is late June to early September, with daytime highs of 28–32°C, sea temperatures of 22–25°C, and the beach, waterparks and Benidorm nightlife at full capacity. May, June and September are the value-strong shoulder months at 23–28°C, with cheaper hotel rates and the Peñón de Ifach hike at its best playing condition. April and October still deliver 19–24°C, with the sea at 17–19°C — pleasant for walking but cool for swimming. Winter (November to March) holds at 17–20°C with 5+ hours of daily sunshine — Benidorm and Alicante stay open year-round and run as Europe's most reliable mainland-Spain winter-sun destinations.

🏨 Where to Stay

• Families: Magic Robin Hood (themed family resort), Hotel Magic Aqua Rock Gardens (Benidorm), Hotel Servigroup Diplomatic (Benidorm)
• Couples: Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa (Finestrat), Hotel Levante Club & Spa (Benidorm, adults-only)
• Luxury travellers: SHA Wellness Clinic (Altea), Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa (Finestrat), Villa del Mar Hotel (Benidorm)
• First-timers & nightlife: Sol Pelícanos Ocas (Benidorm), Marconfort Benidorm Suites, Hotel Bali (Europe's tallest hotel at 186m)
• Walkers, cyclists & culture lovers: Parador de Jávea, Hotel Boutique Calatrava (Alicante), El Rodat Hotel & Spa (Jávea)

🚗 Getting Around

The 50km transfer from Alicante Airport (ALC) to Benidorm takes 45 minutes by taxi (around €60). The TRAM Metropolitano de Alicante L1 line connects Alicante to Benidorm and Calpe in 60–90 minutes, with stops every few kilometres along the coast — €5–7 single, the most useful public-transport option on the Costa Blanca. Bus C-6 connects ALC directly to Benidorm in 60 minutes for €13.50. Within resorts, seafront promenades are fully walkable. Cicar, OK Mobility and Record Go rent cars from around €25 a day at ALC. Baleària runs ferries from Dénia to Ibiza (2 hours) and Mallorca (8 hours) for inter-island connections. Inland day trips to Guadalest and the Sierra de Aitana need a hire car — public transport doesn't reach the smaller villages.



💡 Travel Tips

• Mainland Spain runs Central European Time — one hour ahead of the UK year-round.
• Spanish IVA at 21% applies — alcohol and electronics aren't notably cheaper than the UK.
• The Valencian Community does not currently charge a tourist tax — unlike the Balearics or Catalonia.
• Plug type is European C/F at 230V — bring a UK adapter.
• Tap water is technically safe but heavily mineralised; locals drink bottled almost exclusively.
• The TRAM Metropolitano L1 line is the cheapest way to coast-hop — useful for day trips between Alicante, Villajoyosa, Benidorm, Altea and Calpe.
• Peñón de Ifach hike permits limit 300 hikers a day in summer — book online at the Generalitat Valenciana website 1–2 weeks ahead.
• Restaurants in Spain typically don't fill until 9pm — Benidorm's British-aimed strip runs UK hours of 6–9pm.
• The Tabarca marine reserve boat ferry from Santa Pola or Alicante runs daily in summer for €15 — the only way to reach Spain's only inhabited island in the Mediterranean.
• The Las Fallas festival in Valencia (March) and the Hogueras de San Juan in Alicante (June) are the region's headline annual events — book hotels months ahead if travelling on those dates.
• The Valor Chocolate Museum in Villajoyosa runs free guided tours twice daily — ideal as a rainy-day fixture.