Beach Holidays in Spain

Summer has arrived in Europe but the spoils are unevenly split. Northern Europe and the UK are struggling through heavy rain, floods and cold cloudy days whilst life by the Mediterranean is lived by the beaches in over 30degrees with night time temperatures even creeping above 25.

But where to take your family for a perfect holiday on the beach? The options are many and the beaches are sandy!

Spanish Beaches are Perfect Holiday Destinations
In general the Spanish beaches are extremely pleasant, safe and featuring all the facilities your family might need. There are exceptions of course, but generally the bigger the resort around the beach, the more facilities and activities there will be. Obviously, a bigger resort comes with more crowded beaches, a bigger potential for petty theft types of crimes and a noisy night life as well, whereas some of the cosy smaller resorts might be more relaxing surroundings for a family break in Spain.

The first step before booking your dream holidays in Spain is to consider your preferences for a second.

Do you want to go out for wild fiestas and parties all night or do you prefer a calm and quiet holiday with orderly family meals in pleasant restaurants without disturbances from loud discos? Are you bringing young toddlers that need activities and particularly safe beaches to have a nice stay in Spain? Do you love or hate big crowded beaches with thousands of other people swimming and sunbathing?

The answers will determine the best beach in Spain to be heading for!

Benidorm – Glorious Beaches, Package Deals and Crazy Night Life
The biggest beach resort on the Costa Blanca is Benidorm. Famous for huge inviting sandy beaches but also for the influx of travelers on cheap package deals primarily interested in the crazy night life, cheap bars and all night discos.

Benidorm has everything the heart might desire and is in effect a huge multicultural party town built round the white sandy beaches. If you are a gang of mates wanting a fun week away from the rain, Benidorm is perfect!

Benidorm_beach

However, if your preference is a more relaxing holiday with your kids, Benidorm might not be the best option as the wild parties tend to spill out into the streets and onto the beaches, the sheer size of the place makes it less comfortable with small kids and the volume of tourists tend to attract unpleasant criminal elements too.

However, if you want some of the best beaches in Europe combined with fun nights out and endless entertainment, there is no better place than Benidorm!

Javea – Perfect Holidays in Spain
Javea is perhaps the ideal location for a holiday with kids in Spain. The shallow bay and safe Blue Flag beaches of Jávea are white and sandy with plenty of activities in the surrounding areas to keep the entire family amused and entertained. The town has that perfect combination of sandy beaches, facilities for tourists and traditional Spanish life that makes for a really pleasant vacation abroad. It isnt all just created in honor of the visiting tourists, but there is plenty of interesting social activities, pleasant spots to visit and lovely restaurants in Jávea to form the perfect surroundings for a summer in the sun.

javea beach bar

Javea is still a small enough resort that it doesnt attract the problems bigger resorts do such as crime, drunks or overcrowding but the village resort is equally big enough that the restaurants are plentiful and the Javea night life vibrant.  Further, Jávea has the authentic Spanish charm that is often lost in the beach resorts and the traditional village has its own life with cultural events, crazy Spanish style fiestas all summer long and the port sports a pleasant marina with promenades and sailing trips out to sea.

The main attraction of Jávea is still the glorious beach, the Arenal Beach of Javea, however there are plenty of activities for kids in Javea all summer long, trips available to the natural parks on Montgo and several hidden gems such as the Granadella beach and Portitxol Island to explore and admire.

If you want just one recommendation for a holiday in Spain, it would be Jávea.

javea beach

Torrevieja – Pearl Of The Southern Costa Blanca
Torrevieja has no less than 5 blue flag beaches, several marinas and plenty to see and do – read the indepth look at Torrevieja Beach Holidays here

Denia – The Classy Beach Resort To The North
The former Americas Cup host Denia has something very stylish and classy about it. Is it the gold plated rubbish bins or the amazingly well kept marina? Who can say?

But the beaches are nice, the prices are high and the quality is excellent at a Denia Beach Holiday

Denia_desde_el_Montgódenia

Moraira – Tranquil and Family Friendly
On the “You know you have lived too long in Spain”-meme Moraira is featured as the place everyone forgot existed. Truth be told, it isnt the most happening place in the world, but it does have some severely appealing features, that might just make it a perfect destination for you anyway.

Moraira is a calm and authentic Spanish village resort, the beach is family friendly, the tourists tend to be a bit more mature than the drinking gangs of Benidorm and crime is virtually non-existing. Read all about Holidays in Moraira

moraira spaincalpe and moraira

The beaches of Spain are perfect for summer holidays in the sun! Take your pick and enjoy a fantastic vacation with your family.

 

Guadalest, Spain: An Eagle’s Nest Perched on Top of a Mountain

Having a holiday break on the Costa Blanca or nearby areas ? A place not to be missed is the village Gaudalest in Spain. It doesnt matter if you are enjoying a city break in Valencia, a bohemian trip round the villages of Marina Alta or a week at the beach on your Javea Vacation. Guadalest is a must visit! The ancient village houses are literally perched on top of a mountain in a truly unique way that you wont find equalled anywhere else! Guadalest or locally known as El Castelle de Guadalest is a small town in Valencia. The village is precariously perched on top of a granite mountain in a mountainous part of the comarca of Marina Baixa in the province of Alicante, Spain.

And if you have the privilege of viewing it from the top, you can see that it’s like an eagle’s nest on top of a rock. The town is nestled deep in the mountain, nearly touching the clouds. And going up there is an amazing experience in itself. The breathtaking views that you will pass will take your mind off the fact that you are climbing twisting roads upwards.

Guadalest_-_Castillo_del_ReyPantano de Guadalest

Places to Visit

Because of the rich history of Guadalest, the town is littered with historical remnants and structures like castles, churches and towers.

1. The Walled Town

This is an ancient fortress built around the city to protect it from its conquerors and enemies. Entering the walled town is very interesting. You have to go through a tunnel which is carved through a rock.

Interesting Sites Inside the Walled Town:

a. Castles

  • San Jose Castle

This castle was one of the defensive structures of the old city, and it was where the       ancient king of the village resided. It was built around the 12th century. The castle is             situated on top of a cliff towering over the walled town. So going there will afford you            a picturesque and panoramic view of the walled town and the surrounding areas.

  • Alcozaiba Castle

This is another castle that was part of the ancient fortification. This is the only castle in   the town that was not stormed or impregnated. So, most of the structure is still intact.

  • Benimantell Castle
    This castle is one of the many casualties of the ancient war that ravaged the old town. But the ruins is still beautiful to visit.

Guadalest (Alicante)

 

b. Orduña House

This is the first building you will see upon entering the walled town. It is a museum that offers access to the castles. The structure of the house is interesting because one half of it is supported by rock formations while the other half is part of a chapel of an adjoining church.

c. Our Lady of the Assumption Church

This is the church attached to the Orduña House Museum. It is rendered beautifully in Baroque style.

guadalest town hallview from Guadalest

d. The Rock of Alcala

This is a towering rocky peak that shoots up from the surrounding land of the walled town. Access is difficult and only half of the cylindrical castle tower can be seen. This is one of the famous images of the town.

 2. The Reservoir

After checking all the places inside the walled town, you can visit the beautiful countryside surrounding the town. You can check out the dam that was built below one of the castles. The reservoir was built across the Guadalest River and it is a prefect place for fresh water fishing.