Popular resorts on the Costa Blanca

Costa Blanca's main resort is still Benidorm. A favourite with British holidaymakers for years, this seaside town has grown to become one of the biggest holiday resorts on the Spanish Costas. Upon first sight it's like a mini New York – all towering skyscrapers and neon lights.

   The superb beaches of Poniente and Levante - both broad and gently shelving - are clean and safe for swimming and are regarded as two of the best beaches in the Mediterranean.

   For eating out, the streets of Benidorm are packed with restaurants and cafes. The old town brims with more traditional Spanish restaurants and cafes where you can sample tapas dishes and fresh fish.

   For shopping it is definitely worth taking a stroll around the narrow streets of the old town which overflows with shops and small boutiques

   Benidorm's night life is legendary - there are numerous clubs, bars and cabarets.

   Moraira has grown from a small fishing village into a pleasant family resort where upmarket villas hide among the pines and there are few hotels making it one of the most unspoilt resorts on the coast. It has a delightful square where you can watch street entertainers in summer and smart boutiques. There are good watersports at the marina.

   Moraira offers a variety of bars and restaurants and an attractive pebbly beach while a second sandy beach is close by. Further afield, is the romantic sheltered cove of Fustera. Moraira remains traditionally Spanish, with a romantic, central cobbled square. Built in the 18th century, it's a reminder of when the area was targeted by marauding Barbary pirates.

   Javea is friendly family resort nestling in the bay between the pine-clad Cabo de la Nao and the Cabo de San Antonio.  This is a real working harbour - with fishing fleet and fish market. Javea is a lively resort  with palm-lined promenade, boutiques, bars and a long sandy beach and an historic town set back from the sea with narrow streets, quaint cafés and pretty old houses, hung with wrought-iron balconies. Lemon and orange trees add colour to the centre.

   In the old quarter peer around the 12th century church and the intriguing archaeological museum close by. Stroll to the tip of the dramatic Cabo de Nao cape and the views over Javea and towering Mount Montgo are amazing.

   Denia is a picturesque village filled with winding alleyways grouped around a pretty church and is famous for being the past home of poet Robert Graves. Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans and even 19th century English raisin dealers lived in this very traditional Spanish town which lies beneath the ruggedly beautiful Montgó Massif. A 12th Century castle overlooks the cobbled streets of the old town and the bustling port. Day trips to the Balearics go from her and a narrow gauge train trundles down to Alicante. There are plenty of beaches to tempt you. To the north, Blue Flag Las Marinas has pristine white sands, whilst elsewhere shingle coves make perfect snorkelling areas.

   Torrevieja is an extremely popular holiday spot boasting many magnificent white beaches, plazas, walks, parks and natural beauty spots. It also has its own harbour and small fishing fleet.

   The old fishing town has expanded to become a popular holiday resort while managing to avoid catering to the package tourist.

   Torrevieja is surrounded by two natural saltwater lagoons, which form the "Salterns of Torrevieja" considered the biggest in Europe. The mud baths around the salt lakes are a popular tourist spot. Not far from the lakes are the popular inland holiday rentals areas of Villamartin and Ciudad Quesada.

Cala Finestrat. Finestrat, nestling in the hills, just 40kms north of Alicante has stunning mountain views. The village, on the Puig Campana mountain, enjoys spectacular views over this modern, purpose built resort.