The east coast of Spain, the Costa Blanca draws millions of tourists each year to the sandy beaches and turquoise waters for which the region has become famous. The Costa Blanca can cater for all types of holiday, whether you`re looking for lively night spots such as Benidorm, some family fun on the beach or a rural escape to the mountains, you`re sure to find it here.

Benidorm, Altea, Alicante, Moraira and Javea are the main resorts in the region. Benidorm is the largest, dubbed the party capital of the area and boasting a lively night life and daytime carnival-like atmosphere on the beach. Benidorm`s historic past lies hidden amongst the numerous apartment blocks that dot the sky line, however the ruins of the 14th century castle provide an excellent vantage point from which to view spectacular sunsets. There are many restaurants and shops here catering for tourists, together with a market held every Wednesday. The main activities are water sports along the beach but there are opportunities to escape Benidorm on day excursions into the mountains.

Altea and Javea are somewhat more peaceful places for a relaxed beach holiday in a traditional Spanish environment. Daily life is less interrupted by tourists and there are none of the huge hotels found in other areas. Instead, you will find quaint cobblestone streets running off Altea`s central Plaza de la Iglesia, which provides stunning Mediterranean views. Javea has a historic town centre filled with wrought iron balconies and stone porticoes. Alicante has a more African influence, which still remains in many southern Spanish towns from the Moorish occupation of the area. The town is home to many attractions: the Castell de Santa Barbara dominates the city or there is Museu de Arte del Siglo XX Asegurada, Alicante`s oldest building with many noteworthy paintings on display. Nearby attractions include Isla Tabarca, a tiny island with a quaint fishing village and great seafood restaurants and Elche, home to Europe`s only palm forest. Moraira lies in a pretty bay on the south-east coast of Spain; the small resort town is an oasis of traditional charm on the busy Costa Blanca. There are several shopping malls in the immediate area around the town and in Old Moraira there are boutique shops lining the streets and a lively open air Market every Friday. If you`re seeking fine dining then head to the town`s restaurants, with several boasting a Michelin Star. The town has some lively night spots with many restaurants offering live music and there are two open air dance venues.

It is now easier then ever to get to Spain. The traditional tour operators still fly there but low cost air travel is opening up new routes. Although Spain can be enjoyed all through the year, the spring and autumn are the best times to go as the weather is slightly cooler and many places will be a lot less crowded. The language spoken is Spanish and there are still many areas where you will need to speak a few words although you will generally find that most people can speak fluent English. You`ll need to have Euros ready for spending money. With all this in mind it is not hard to see why the Costa Blanca has become so popular for both expats and for those looking for buy-to-let foreign investments. With new developments happening all the time it shouldn`t be too hard to find your perfect property in the Costa Blanca.