Gran Alacant Forum
Gran Alacant Forum => General Discussions => Topic started by: patj999 on August 24, 2016, 20:46.
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We are a couple thinking of spending 3 weeks of October in Gran Alacant.
We are 60 just retired.
Advice please on where to go and where to stay.
We want a quiet time, walking etc.
We do not want to need a car, so walking distance to shops, restaurants, pubs.
Is it a suitable destination for this
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Hello patj999
Welcome to the forum :)
We did not hire a car the first time we came to GA.
There is good bus service that does a round trip of GA, down to the beach and past all the different bars, shops, restaurants ect.
The bus into Alicante takes about 1/2 hour.
( I hope I can retire @ 60 :) )
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Hi there, October is one of my favourite months in Gran Alicant, the crowds have gone, it's still lovely and warm and the sea is just right for a dip.
If I were you I'd speak to Alicante Holiday Villas and get a place in lower GA, unless you like waking up hills, that means the Commercial Centre and Carabassi Bars are easily reached and only a short walk, the beach is also easily accessible.
It's a pleasant walk down the beach or on the promenade to Arenalas for a spot of lunch, or even further down the beach to Urbanova
As Phillip says Baile offers a first rate bus service in the area, the drivers are really helpful
If you fancy a trip further afield the tram from Alicante hugs the coast all the way up to Benidorm, lots of places to get off and explore.
Enjoy your retirement, I packed in at 53, best thing I ever did, life's for living
Regards all
John
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....and if you like a bit of sunshine rent a property that is south facing, it makes a big difference, we normally eat on our patio in October, perfecto!!
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Plenty of walking to do in the area, as John has said you can walk for a long way along the beach, you also have two ways to walk to Santa Pola, either along the coast road ( be careful, narrow road with no footpaths ) or you can go "over the top" across the sierra, quite a few pathways criss-cross it and there are signposts to help you not get lost! - also, there is a lighthouse and viewing point up there, worth a visit.
Michael.
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Our place is up the top as we love the beautiful views from there, you can walk up to the lighthouse and viewpoint, and the market is up top, so if you do rent at the bottom of the hill, do take the train up and explore, there are shops and bars there too and spectacular views and the sierra for walking if you like a good hike. The botton is handier for walking to arenales, the clot nature reserve, and the beach though as if you are up the top you may not want to do the walks down the hills, (i do, am a year younger than you but i love to walk) though you can always get the train or bus. You will love GA if you havent been before, we didnt know anyone who hasnt fallen in love with it, worth getting the bus to Santa Pola and Alicante to see them too. (At the top or bottom) oh and Daves coachtrips costa blanca worth looking up as they do a fabulous day trip to Algar Falls and Guadalest that i highly recommend. Picks up at the bottom hill at bus stop in front of lidl, but you must book.
Hazel
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Please not another my views better than your view discussion.
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Great place and great time of year to visit, it was 24-26 degrees still on many days when I was there in Oct last year. You won't be disappointed and there is plenty to do in the locality that will make the three weeks fly by. I've been coming for 4 years and have a place there now and still haven't been to Tarbarca or Alicante Castle!
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Santa Barbara castle (alicante) is a brilliant day out especially in the cooler months,park the cae in the underground or hop off the bus,quick drink and tapas in the old quarter.Walk up the mountain to top of the castle enjoy the views (free of charge), cafe con leche at the cafe then slow walk back into old town,bit of shopping then as dusk falls a table at La Spiga for amazing food with friends. Best day out.
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No victor if that was aimed at me, not another my view is better than yours, i was just trying to give the people making the enquiry a bit of info about the top as they sound like they have never been to GA and John, rightly pointed out the fabulous advantages of being at the bottom. The viewpoint with the skywalk and the lighthouse are great features of GA, as is the sierra with bike ride and walking pathways, nicely signposted for people who like riding or walking (which i do).
Simply trying to be helpful to the people who had asked for help. If you had nothing to contribute yourself then why bother.
Hazel
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As micheal winner used to say "calm down dear" .
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Yes would defo like to visit the castle in the cooler months.
We went in the midday sun in aug. #maddogsandenglishmen
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Never been to the castle yet, there are some lovely tapas bars in Alicante too, everything is so easily to hand around Gran Alacant and from it, I'm sure you would have a lovely relaxing time if you decided to visit and the little train is useful for a round trip to get your bearings, good luck with your info gathering and if you come, have a lovely time.
Hazel
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Santa Barbara castle (alicante) is a brilliant day out especially in the cooler months,park the cae in the underground or hop off the bus,quick drink and tapas in the old quarter.Walk up the mountain to top of the castle enjoy the views (free of charge), cafe con leche at the cafe then slow walk back into old town,bit of shopping then as dusk falls a table at La Spiga for amazing food with friends. Best day out.
Sounds perfect, Alicante is such a beautiful historic city. Luckily I am also over in October so am going to make the effort. Want to have a day trip to Murcia also.
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Alicante is absolutely gorgeous!
Have a look at our pages
http://www.alicanteholidayvillas.com/alicante-city
http://www.alicanteholidayvillas.com/alicante-old-town
http://www.alicanteholidayvillas.com/alicante-castle
http://www.alicanteholidayvillas.com/alicante-turibus
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We have booked the flights. Arrive 5th and leave 26th October. We now need accommodation. Does anyone place called Alamar 2 . Is it good. Can anyone recommend somewhere.
Some places we looked at have no wi fi. Is it possible to get wifi locally for a 3 week period
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Check out Alicante Holiday Villas
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I find Owners Direct very useful and some good deals around.
Cal
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We have booked the flights. Arrive 5th and leave 26th October. We now need accommodation. Does anyone place called Alamar 2 . Is it good. Can anyone recommend somewhere.
Some places we looked at have no wi fi. Is it possible to get wifi locally for a 3 week period
I'm sure I've read somewhere that it is a requirement to have WiFi in a rental property. If that is the case then maybe those advertising rental availability without WiFi are not correctly registered. I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.
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We have 2 two bedroomed properties available for your dates both with free WiFi, neither are on Altomar 2 though, they are down the bottom of the hill. You can view them here :
http://goo.gl/2SiQo0
http://goo.gl/vq7u11
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Seeing some of the rentals available in GA before having wee fee they need the basics sorting and a decent clean.
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Seeing some of the rentals available in GA before having wee fee they need the basics sorting and a decent clean.
Agree completely! Some places need a spruce up, whilst the furniture package was great in its day, some of the bedding has seen better days and needs replacing. In addition, some properties don't even have bulbs replaced when blown but I don't think the owners are truly aware of the state of their property (when they leave in the hands of key holders/cleaners).
BW
Maricia
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Patj999
If you stick with Alicante Holiday Villas you won't go wrong.
Chrisy
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Patj999
If you stick with Alicante Holiday Villas you won't go wrong.
Chrisy
Whilst Alicante Holiday Villas control the booking process, they have no influence on the choice (level of cleaning) of the cleaner that the home owner uses - personal experience. Also same company left keys in a key safe once for us a few years ago and another time in a plant pot, hence no meet or greet.
BW
Maricia
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Whilst we do not employ the cleaners, the owners do, we have a close working relationship with all of them and, if we received a complaint about the standard of cleaning in a property, we would act accordingly. Yes, some owners use key safes, as they are very useful for late arrivals – not aware of the plant pot though!
We also work hard with our owners to replace/modernise furniture etc on an ongoing basis as you can see from the properties on our site.
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We fed back on the poor level of cleaning of one of Alicante Holiday Villas properties and got a standard reply about you will inform the owners. In relation to meet or greet we didn't see anyone for the whole time of the rentals and in terms of the plant pot it was in one of your properties on Altomar 1 (obviously I won't disclose the actual property) and the plant pot was one fixed to the wall near the front door!
BW
Maricia
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We rent our property through AHV and chose our property managers through their recommendation. I cannot fault either and have never had any complaints. A recent example of their services being that a renter recently reported my toaster not working and straight away AHV informed me and the prop.managers who replaced in on my behalf straight away. I think you have been very unlucky.
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We rent our property through AHV and chose our property managers through their recommendation. I cannot fault either and have never had any complaints. A recent example of their services being that a renter recently reported my toaster not working and straight away AHV informed me and the prop.managers who replaced in on my behalf straight away. I think you have been very unlucky.
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Unlucky? It wasn't a lottery, it was a requirement to see someone and expect the place to be clean.
Home Oners always experience a difference from holiday renters and I see this opposite us whenever the home owner is due - the cleaner does a thorough job and I always say to my husband that the owner must be coming out - hey presto the owner arrives!
BW
Maricia
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We do ask guests that if they encounter any problem with any of our villas and apartments, that they contact either us or the owner's property manager straightaway so that we can rectify the problem immediately for both them and future guests. It is very difficult to rectify something when a guest has returned home.
Also the property managers are always at the end of a phone/email if you need assistance of any kind, they are not package tour reps.
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I've met plenty of people over the years who have booked properties in GA from AHV and have heard nothing but positive remarks, hence when people ask I always recommend them.
Is there a difference in owner occupied property and rental property, yes!!
That's why we bought our own place that no one stays in other than us and friends family when we are there.
We've rented some fantastic places over the years, many of which I would return to, although non of them are as clean, crisp and fresh as our own home in the sun.
As for keys in key boxes, it's the norm, even in villas we paid £1000 a week for 20 years ago.
Regards all
John
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Im not a fan of keys in a box. We have them for absolute emergencies only. Also I like my property managers to actually see who is staying.
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I have to agree with previous posts, friends have also rented properties on GA whilst holidaying with us, one was up on altomar the other behind the Shirley bassey both involved ringing key holder on arrival who met us at the door, a speedy here's the fridge etc, never saw person again. Standard of cleanliness left something to be desired, we were quite embarrassed as we could see the disappointment. Needless to say property was left spotless much better than arrival, speedy wouldn't have to lift a finger to earn the 50 euro cleaning charge. We now do private rentals from trusted friends.
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I'm with John on this one, it's our house, it's not for rent. I've had friends who have used AHV and have expressed there satisfaction as to the service received. However, before our house was complete we stayed in a house on 3.2F for a week, it was a **** hole, dirty, damp, scruffy and in need of a good makeover. I'd have been embarrassed to have been the owner. But, they made a few bob off me. Walk past it now every now and again and it looks like it's still awaiting the makeover it needed back in 2006.
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Hi Stuart159
What do you mean by house on3.2F
Is this Alamar 2
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Hi Stuart159
What do you mean by house on3.2F
Is this Alamar 2
No 3.2F is an Urb known as Monte Y Mar (up the hill) close to the steep beach road/old market street and is mainly town house with a number of 3 bedroom apartments. Altomar 2 is an Urb at the top of Gran Alacant that consists mainly of 2 bedroom apartments (some 3 bed) that is near to the new market and a good walk to the beach. It might be useful for you to look at an area map in GA Magazine (link on the main page of this website).
BW
Maricia
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It might be an idea if you google you tube gran alacant train, theres a good little journey been put on this July, which starts its journey around Altomar 2, and then you might get a visual idea of what we all mean when we say up the hill and down the hill when we all talk about where things are. It might help you decide if you want to be up the hill and up for a bit of hill walking to get down and/or getting the train or bus to down the hill or the reverse, at least it might give you a "look", there are quite a few tourist videos that give you a good look at the area and indeed as Maricia says a map view can give you a good outline with names of the different urbs. I think theres a map in the g a advertisers. Either way when you get here do yourselves a full round trip on the train and that will give you a good look at it all. Good luck.
Hazel