Now is the Best Time to Travel to Spain For a Bargain City Break

May 1 2012 , Written by thediversetraveller Published on #Alicante, #budget break, #cheap travel, #city break, #DiverseTraveller.com - Women Who Travel, Write, Snap & Share, #Ellie Austen, #Euro crisis, #female traveller, #low cost travel, #Recommendations & Rants (tips, links and reviews), #solo travel, #Spain, #travel, #Travel Beyond the UK, #travelling

Central Market, Alicante

In the last few years the dire economy of Europe has cast doom and despondency over the land. Spain is the latest country in the spotlight, but is the crisis spoiling Spain as a holiday destination. Curious to find out, I flew from London Stansted for four days in tourist reliant Alicante.

At first sight the town looked like many other Mediterranean towns, elegant high rise apartments, wide attractive shopping streets, a few out of town undeveloped brown field sites, but a harbour full of luxury boats. Despite the light rain, as a I stepped out off the airport bus, lots of people were out enjoying a late Sunday stroll along sparkling sea front. Spain seemed as inviting as ever.

On Monday I spent a happy day pottering round the old town getting to know and value the place. Alicante is famous as the gateway to some of the most touristy parts of Spain but this does not mean it is without attractions. I walked in the Parque Castillo de San Fernando with views over the town and the sea, sat in relaxing squares coffee in hand, eating simple but delicious tomato tostados for lunch. Shopped in the elegant food market, just around the corner from my hotel, Hostel La Lonja, chilled out on the beach while watching the locals enjoy the late afternoon sun, before heading back to the old town for a delicious fish meal at one of the sea front restaurants. True, more shops are empty than normal, but nowhere did the crisis cast a cloud. In fact, Alicante seemed buoyant.

"But I was curious what life was like inland and further down the coast, where businesses are even more dependent on tourists? So on my second full day I headed for Elche and Torrevieja."

Elche sparkled in the early morning April heat: a place grown rich on industry, no obvious or immediate signs of the downturn here. Outside the town irridescent pink blue salt pans playing host to flamingoes captivated me.

In Torrevieja, despite being a few weeks away from the start of the season the beach was full of locals, many from the rest of Europe who now live in the area, and holiday makers. It is new, a bit brash, like a lot of English seaside places, but everyone seemed to be having a good time.

I caught the sun then caught the bus back to Alicante in time to enjoy a tapas meal by the harbour. Then discovered the delightful town hall, and the near by Santa Maria church which is juxtaposed with the modern and free art gallery. The visit to both made for a thoughtful and artistic end to a busy day.

Iglesia de Santa María - Alicante. © http://www.spain.info

"So if you are looking for a good value short break there is no doubt, the crisis is not a crisis for the holiday maker."

If anything the ongoing Euro crisis appears to benefit travellers, who now get more for their money as prices have been driven down. For example none of my meals, in Alicante, cost more than 11 euros, and I only paid £62 for three nights bed and breakfast at the Hostel La Lonja.

And Alicante is only one of a range of small local airports, served by EasyJet and RyanAir, dotted along the Spanish coast, all connected by bus.

So if you are looking for a budget city break only a few hours away, take advantage of the Euro crisis and head to Alicante; I for one can't wait to go back.

Have you been to Spain since the 'Euro crisis'? Do you agree it makes a great bargain holiday? Where else in the Euro Zone can you recommend for a value for money city break?

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