Flight + Hotel in Alicante

The port city of Alicante, with a population of approximately 330,000, is the capital of the province of the same name in southeastern Spain. The ancient fortress known as Castillio Santa Barbara – the earliest foundations of which date from the days of Punic Wars – rises to a height of 1,000 feet upon a rocky outcrop known as Monte Benacantil and provides spectacular views over the city and Alicante Bay beyond. Flight and hotel packages to Alicante are popular with tourists because of its mild climate and proximity to the Mediterranean beaches of the Costa Blanca. Alicante is a fascinating destination all year round, though, so why not book one of our vacation getaways today?

• Alicante Airport, also known as Alicante-Elche Airport, is the principal gateway to the Valencia Community, which comprises the provinces of Castellon, Valencia and Alicante. The airport, which - by passenger numbers - is the fifth largest on the Iberian Penisula, lies less than 6 miles southwest of the city of Alicante. A flight from London to Alicante takes around 2 hours 30 minutes, while a flight from Manchester to Alicante takes around 3 hours.
• British citizens don’t need a visa to enter Spain.
• The Spanish currency is the Euro (€), which officially replaced the peseta in 2002.
• Local time in Alicante is 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT+1 for short.
• In Spain, as in Germany, when entering or exiting an establishment, such as a small shop or restaurant, it’s polite to say "hello" or "goodbye". Practise saying "hola" and "adios" and you’ll feel more at home on your vacation to Alicante.
• Officially, Alicante has two languages, Spanish and Valencian, but most people who work in the tourism industry speak English, so take your pick of our vacation package deals today.

Alicante enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot, sunny summers and mild, relatively wet winters. Relatively is an appropriate qualifier, though, because Alicante receives low annual rainfall, at 12.2 in or 311mm, on average, per year. August is the hottest month of the year in Alicante, with an average temperature of 26°C or 79°F, but even in the coldest month of the year, January, the average temperature is still 12°C or 54°F, so the city really is an all year round destination for flight and hotel deals. Escape the vagaries of the British weather by reserving your flight and hotel in Alicante now.

Alicante enjoys a prestigious location, with miles of beaches, quite literally, on its doorstep. Playa del Postiguet, for example, stretches for over half a mile along the base of Monte Benacantil, while the smaller, quieter beaches of Playa del Coco and Playa de la Almadraba are only a little further afield and provide opportunities for water sports, including snorkelling and SCUBA diving.

If you want to discover the wonderful city of Alicante itself, you might like to take a tour, on foot, by bicycle or by segway or take a leisurely stroll around the varied and attractive shops the city has to offer. You’ll find every from bustling local markets to large shopping centres dotted around the city and opening hours are such that you could combine your shopping trip with a night out. Nightlife, known locally as "la marcha alicantina", is most abundant in El Barrio, around San Nicolas de Barri Cathedral and is another major attraction of travel packages to Alicante. Choose one of our last minute vacation packages and book your flight to Alicante right away.

By day, El Barrio, or the Old Quarter of Alicante, is home to many of the historic landmarks and attractions in the city. The Cathedral of San Nicolas de Bari, the patron saint of Alicante, was built, in Renaissance style, on the site of a former mosque in the 17th century and is famous for its surprisingly impressive Baroque interior. Other notable landmarks that are essential viewing as part of flight and hotel packages to Alicante include the Basilica of Santa built, in Gothic style, in the 13th century and the oldest church in the city, and Alicante Town Hall, a fine example of 18th century Baroque architecture. For these, and other impressive sights, reserve one of our travel deals without delay.

What to eat in Alicante?

Paella is the specialty of the Valencia Community, so do try it at least once on your vacation to Alicante. The traditional version in this part of the world includes rabbit and snails, rather than mussels and prawns, but there are dozens, if not hundreds, of variations. Other regional specialities include Denia prawns, salted fish dishes know locally as Salzones, and Olla Churra, a hearty, slow cooked stew with meat, sausages and vegetables. If we’ve whetted your appetite, schedule one of our vacations to Alicante right now.