A quick two day road-trip to the northern part of the Alicante province delivered some unexpected treats; from posh Denia, to buzzing Calpe where cliff-high mountains drop into the ocean and then on to quaint Altea with its Mykonos-style streets in the old town.
The drive from Valencia took around 90-minutes. Although October is somewhat off-season, you can snap up some great off-season accommodation rates – we found a lovely brand new apartment (2 bedroom, 2 bathroom) with a huge pool and 5 minutes from the beach at just 20 euros per person per night for accommodation in central Calpe.
The highlight on the foodie menu was a treasure restaurant on the Calpe promenade called ‘Blau Mar’ which served up amazing paella – I truly hope that the hype that is Josep and his team will be there when you visit: you’ll be in for a surprise. We sat at the kitchen away from the seaside/tourist tables (we didn’t have a reservation) which probably added to enjoying the hype of the hardworking team and receiving VIP treatment. We assumed that the lady in the kitchen was Josep’s mom, possibly helping him and his team whip up the awesome paella.
From Altea, where the old church is a focal point and tourists are swarming the narrow streets, you have views over Benidorm and more blue skies over the blue water. It seemed very busy for an off-season Sunday and I wondered what it would be like during the peak season. Perhaps too busy? Worth a visit nonetheless.
Another treat was a restaurant called Bistro Selene (reservations required) where 17 euros gets you a lovely three-course lunch and the service is top-notch.
This part of Spain again exceeded expectations – there is so much to see and do in this vast country. Next time I’ll come to explore some more beaches and perhaps a wine farm or two.
Alicante Amigos written by John Thackray – one of the international Thacks Awards panelists, living in Spain. When not traveling and wine-tasting, John is an iGaming specialist reporting into director level in the sports betting industry with a degree in Information Technology.
SEE THE FULL LIST OF ‘THACKS AWARDS’ 2021 WINNERS HERE.
MEET THE INTERNATIONAL PANELISTS HERE.
READ ALL THE BLOG POSTS HERE.
Thacks Awards 