 Jonathan Bash and his family love the Costa Blanca in summertime, but they’re not sure if they should go in November. Can we keep them occupied off-season?
Dear Travel Clinic,
My wife and I have managed to squeeze in a week’s break in November with our two kids, Tara, who’s six, and her brother Marcus who’s ten. We’d like to take them to the Costa Blanca, as it’s one of our favourite summer destinations, but is there much to do off-season? I’ve had a look online and it seems like our usual hotel is closed for the winter. Where is the best place to stay at this time of year? We’d ideally like somewhere with things to keep the children busy on-site, such as a pool and kids’ club.
Jonathan Bash, London
Dear Jonathan,
Temperatures on the Costa Blanca are still considerably more pleasant in November than they are in the UK, and although it might not be sunbathing weather all the time, there is still plenty to attract a family with children. Accommodation is generally cheaper off-season, while hotels still have many of the same facilities available as in the busy peak times.
Benidorm often gets a bad name for rowdy Brits and drunken antics, but it has always been a good choice for families. There are three nearby blue flag beaches for paddling, as well as several theme parks and other attractions. Off-season, you can expect the streets to be quieter and more of a genuine Spanish flavour to return to the town, as the locals relax after a hectic summer season. Many of the larger hotels stay open all year, catering to mainly older Spanish holidaymakers, so you have more choice here than in some of the smaller resorts along the coast.
A good option for the kids might be the Flamingo Oasis, which is set some distance from the sea in a newer area of the town. The hotel was built in 2001, long enough ago to iron out most teething problems but recent enough for it to still have a smart and modern feel. One of the major benefits of the Oasis is the size of the rooms, which were designed with children in mind and give you plenty of space. There is a decent children’s pool area, as well as another larger pool for adults.
There are plenty of local bars and shops nearby, and the hotel won the 2006 Traveller’s Choice award for Best for Families - Europe. Prices for a family of four from lastminute.com start from £1,186, including seven nights’ all-inclusive accommodation, flights and taxes.
A little further north along the Costa Blanca sits Calpe, dominated by the rough outline of Peñon de Ifach, an incongruously dark, square rock that forms one end of the bay and watches over the sandy beach beneath. Ifach has been declared a natural park, and if you’re feeling very fit you could attempt the 332 m climb to the summit.
Thomas Cook has a tailor-made package to the Roca Esmeralda and Spa, which sits right beside the sea at the northern end of the Playa Levante. Built in 1991 and renovated in 2003, the spa hotel has a 24-hour reception, a currency exchange desk, a hairdresser's salon, shops, a coffee snack bar and a nightclub. There is also a TV room, an air-conditioned à la carte restaurant with a separate non-smoking area and highchairs for children, kids club and a playground. In addition, it offers Internet access and parking facilities. There are outdoor and even an indoor pool, perfect for cooler days. Eight nights’ half-board accommodation for family of four in two rooms, including flights and taxes, starts from £1,380.
Aside from long walks through the natural parks and along the beaches, there are still various activities available on the Costa Blanca in November. If you arrive early in the month Terra Mitica will still be open. This ever-popular theme park takes its inspiration from the Ancient world, with sections devoted to Rome, Greece, Egypt and Iberia. There are rollercoasters and rides to suit all ages, and the park is clean and well-maintained. A day ticket costs €34 for an adult, €25.50 for a child.
Nearby Terra Natura is open all-year-round and is more of a zoo with a theme park atmosphere. They have all the big favourites, including lions, elephants, tigers and monkeys, and all within enclosures that let you get really close to the animals. Again, everything is clean and well-maintained. Entry costs €22 for an adult, €17 for a child.
If genuine history is more your thing, a day trip north to Denia might be a good choice. You can roam around the 16th Century castle and its museum of archeology for a small entry fee, or visit the Museum of Toys in town: sure to be a big hit with the children. The port here is very much still in use by fishermen, so expect plenty of fresh seafood on the menu, and it’s very pleasant just to wander around the charming, white-washed streets of the fishermen’s quarters and the docks.
www.lastminute.com
www.thomascook.com
www.terramitica.com
www.terranatura.com
www.denia.net
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