The next morning we left Girona on a train to Valencia, with a stop to change the trains in Barcelona. Valencia was a big city with lots of noise and cars, but I liked the way it came to life in the evening, when all the bars and restaurants opened up, the smell of food and people sitting outside by the tables out on the streets. This was the Spanish nightlife.
Right in the morning, my husband rented a car and picked us up from our hotel. We drove about 2 hours south and arrived in a small town called Ondara. The 1 star Ramis Hotel, had really impressed us. It must have been the best 1 star hotel we stayed in, not that we ever did in fact. If you want to save on your accommodation, I can wholeheartedly recommend it. Accessible by car only, it was not just good value, but clean, comfortable, with lovely staff.
Before we came to Costa Blanca, we did a little research on the small towns, and decided to visit Denia, Moraira and Javea (or Xàbia). We watched an interesting short series of films, showing Expats living and setting up businesses in this part of Spain, which gave us a nice perspective of the area.
Costa Blanca, is a coastline of over 200 km (120 mi) long, in the Alicante province, in the southeastern coast of Spain. This part of Spain is a very popular tourist destination, especially for the north European visitors. It is also a very attractive climbing destination with very favourable weather conditions. We had only booked 4 nights on the Costa Blanca, during which we saw the following locations.
Denia
Denia has a population of just over 41 thousands, which doubles in the summer. It is a historical city, with a large Moorish castle, high above the city. Denia's Mediterranean climate is characterised by mild, short winters, long, hot summers and 3,000 sun hours per annum. One of the biggest attractions is the direct, daily ferry from Denia to the Balearic Islands, such as Ibiza and Mallorca.
Jávea
Jávea, or Xàbia in valencian, is located approximately 20 minutes drive from Denia. It is home to many northern Europeans, who form approximately 50% of the town's population. Jávea is loved especially by families with children, who like to come here year after year, making this their popular seaside resort. There is a wide, family friendly beach and marina, that stretches far, ideal for both day and evening walks with lots of restaurants along the way.
The climate here, is one of the best in the world, with a Montgó mountain (over 750m high) sheltering Jávea from wind. The flat fertile, land stretches for miles inland and is used mainly for growing citrus and olive trees.
We really enjoyed being in Javea as a family. We spent the whole day at the Arenal beach, life slowed down and we got fully relaxed in the shade under our umbrella. In the late afternoon, we went to Katmandu, a Nepalese and Indian restaurant located just steps away from the beach. The food was delicious and we had one of the best meals on the Costa Blanca.
Moraira
The best kept secret, and the charming little town of Moraira is located another 20 mins drive from Jávea. Moraira is an upmarket Spanish town, which developed in the 70s and 80s when lots of holiday homes were built. The council protects this area limiting the height of the buildings and overdevelopments, making this an attractive destination.
The population of Moraira is 10,000, which triples in the summer. Moraira enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate and approximately 300 sunny days per year. It has three sandy beaches, ideal for families and the local yacht club offers sailing courses and regattas in the summer. Moraira has a beautiful little port, with an amazing view of the white houses and the El Portet area.
- The best way to get to Denia, Javea and Moraira is by car from either Valencia or Alicante. This is also the best way to get around. There is currently no train link, but narrow-gauge railway may be operating in the future, linking Denia and Alicante.
- There are restaurants in all of the towns, but if you are a picky eater and would prefer to plan your own meals, I can recommend the organic supermarket located in Ondara, called Ecorganic Ecomarket (Av. Costa Blanca 4). The supermarket is very well stocked with everything you may need.
- Always travel with your own food, as many restaurants are closed during the day until early evening.
- It is very, and I mean very hot in the summer. Plan any activities in the shade, remember your sunscreen, lots of water and mosquito repellent. If you are travelling with children, you may want to avoid the high summer months.
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