About 5kms South of Benidorm just over the headland at the end of the Poniente promenade is the small tourist resort of La Cala de Finestrat. The resort is built around a blue flag sandy bay, here the sand  gently slopes into the sea, making it ideal for children.  Wade 20 yards out and the sea is still only three or four feet deep.  Looking out from the beach which is lined with cliffs along the right hand side, gives an uninterrupted view onto the med.  Around the bay there are Spanish and English restaurants and bars. La Cala is fairly small but there are a few hotels and plenty of apartments to rent.  Within the next couple of years, a new hotel which will be the largest seafront hotel in the world, should be finished.  The hotel which was started about six years ago was beset by problems from the start.  A bad accident killed three workers and the construction work was halted while an investigation was carried out. It transpired that the hotel was eleven floors higher than shown on the plans. A ruling was made that eleven floors should be demolished. This didn't happen and after three years of inactivity, a compromise seems to have been reached.  One floor has been removed and other alterations made. The work has restarted but is very sporadic and it seems that permission to carry on until completion, has not yet been granted.  Most residents just want it finished or completely demolished. In the past five years a new development has been built. On what was scrubland, there are now apartment blocks stretching back to the main road into Benidorm and an attractive boulevard lined with trees.  Along the boulevard bars and restaurants have started to open.  This will continue to develop when most of the apartment blocks have been completed.  At the time of writing (Feb 2008) the development is around 80% complete.  The final part of the new development is a large water park with a hotel shops and restaurants.  This is due to start very soon and will probably be finished within the next three years.  In June, La Cala is home to the festival of St Juan.  This is well worth visiting, families gather on the beach with picnics and barbeques.  The whole place is absolutely throbbing with people and the atmosphere is fantastic, check it out here.  Close to midnight everybody gathers at the water's edge ready to wade into the sea at the stroke of twelve.  This is supposed to bring good luck.  The night ends with an amazing firework display which lights up the bay. Below is one of the shots taken from our webcam on the night of the St Juan festival

THINGS TO DO IN AND AROUND LA CALA

MARINA CENTRE

Being so close to Benidorm, as you may expect, there isn't any shortage of things to do in and around La Cala.  La Cala de Finestrat is within walking distance of the La Marina shopping centre which contains some top name shops like Zara and Mango, plus a six screen cinema complex and  bowling alley, as well as bars restaurants and a small kiddies play area.  The centre is open until late at night when it comes alive.  If you don't fancy the walk, for 1.20 euros you can catch the number 12 bus which stops outside the opticians as it comes down the hill into La Cala.  Don't confuse it with the number 12 going out of La Cala which stops on the opposite side of the road near the small Chinese restaurant.

GOLF

Recently, a number of new golf courses have opened in the area, including two which are part of the Real de Faula hotel development near Terra Mitica.  There is an excellent 9 hole course (described as pitch and putt) on the new road into Benidorm.  This is open to anybody but you have to hire shoes, clubs etc so it will end up costing around 30 euros.  To get there by car, drive up to the main road and turn right at the lights. Turn right at the next lights past Mercadona and take the first road on the left which passes the Bali hotel.  Turn left at the junction and go straight ahead through the lights and follow the road until you come to the roundabout.  Go straight on at the roundabout (i.e. second exit) this is a new dual carriageway which goes into Benidorm.  The golf is situated down a road on the left, you'll see the signs saying pitch an putt. 

La Cala and Benidorm cater for most people and apart from the beaches, bars and restaurants, there is a vast amount of entertainment on offer, from Safari  excursions, boat trips, theme parks, water parks, golf etc etc. Excursions get sold out and wasting your valuable holiday time trying to book when you arrive is not a good idea. Apartrent have teamed up with Isango who we believe are the best online excursion agents available, to provide you with a comprehensive list of activities.

WHY BOOK ONLINE?

There are  a number of advantages in pre booking online. Price is one good reason. Isango  are confident that they offer the cheapest prices you'll find, even at the destination.  To back this up, they offer a double the difference refund if you find the same product cheaper within three days of booking. Another good reason for pre booking online, is the peace of mind to be gained knowing that your ticket is already reserved and not having to worry booking when you arrive.  Tours do sell out so why take the chance? and anyway, do you really want to spend your valuable holiday time hunting around for excursions to book?  What better way to surprise somebody than with an excursion gift, easily achievable with online booking but very difficult trying to sneak off when on holiday to try and book something in secret.  There's also the convenience of browsing through the activities from your armchair.

TERRA MITICA

 26 EUROS PER PERSON

ALICANTE SIGHTSEEING TOUR PICURE BY Magic]=)'s 39 euros per person Set out on a sightseeing excursion in Alicante and explore the pretty Elche gardens and the castle of Santa Barbara. At the gardens of Elche, look out for some rare specimens of date palms, a variety of cacti placed around pools filled with aquatic plants and the imperial palm tree with seven branches.  Enjoy breathtaking views of the bay of Alicante from the imposing Santa Barbara Castle perched high on Mount Benacantil. Marvel at the modern Spanish sculptures housed in this 9th century fortress built by the Moors and look out for the oldest remains in the castle dating back to the 11th and 13th centuries.  With a trip to the Santa Barbara Castle offering splendid views of Alicante and the Elche gardens, your Spanish excursion will be truly memorable!  MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE "TOUCH OF SPAIN" EXCURSION   32.90 EUROS PER PERSON Set out on a sightseeing excursion from Benidorm and explore the erstwhile fishing port of Moraira, the wine region of Teulada and other attractions. At Moraira, enjoy stunning views of the famous rock of Calpe and its bustling coastline. Calpe sits close to the Rock of Ifach on a hill rising up from the last spurs of the Sierra Bernia. Stroll down its beautiful seafront promenade and see remains of an ancient fish salting factory from Roman times. You could try out some local shellfish specialties at one of the restaurant terraces.  Don’t miss out a trip to the quaint Spanish town of Gata de Gorgos, famous for its basket and cane ware made out of palm. Visit its guitar factory, to enter inside you will have to ring the bell on a nondescript wall and a staff member will answer your call. Browse the factory and see guitars being made manually.  MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE BENIDORM PALACE 27 EUROS PER PERSON One thing's for sure, you wont be stuck for entertainment when you visit Benidorm.  One of the best   venues, is the Benidorm Palace.  For only 40 euros each, the Benidorm Palace offers world class entertainers which can include magicians, singers, acrobats,  comedians etc.  To give you an indication of the scale of the show, when we went a while ago, a magician made a full size helicopter disappear.  Included in the entrance fee is an excellent three course meal with wine.  The Benidorm Palace is at the Rincon end of Benidorm on the road out to Albir.  MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE TERRA NATURA THEME PARK   23 EUROS PER PERSON Get an insight into the culture, tradition, landscape, flora and fauna of the different continents at the Terra Natura theme park. Explore the Mediterranean forest for its flora and fauna, see the Greek ruins or meet local villagers and learn about their customs and folklore in the Europe section of the park. Try out some exotic Indian delicacies at a restaurant in the Asia section. A chapter from a Jules Verne novel comes alive in the Pangea section. You will see rivers of lava, huge rock formations and insects like spiders, giant ants, dragonflies and other primitive creatures also. The America section gives you a glimpse into the fascinating world of the Mayas and their mythology. You also have a chance to see sharks and other marine species in the Terra Natura park. A trip to the Terra Natura theme park is a must-do for every visitor to Benidorm.  MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE MOUNTAIN BIKING   34 EUROS PER PERSON Try something different on this trip to Benidorm. It's downhill all the way at a nice steady pace as you ride a bicycle down a mountain slope while taking in the breathtaking scenery! Enjoy the lovely countryside and feel that wonderful sense of freedom as you breathe the sweet scent of the lemon and orange groves on your downhill biking adventure! MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE MEDIEVAL KNIGHTS SHOW BENIDORM   42.50 EUROS PER PERSON This is one of the most popular shows in Benidorm.  It features medieval knights fighting for the hand of the lady.  The crowd can join the fun by supporting one of the teams, green or red and after copious amounts of alcohol have been consumed, a riotous time is had by all.  Price includes menu of soup, chicken, roast pork and plenty drink. Fancy it?     MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE MUNDOMAR    22 EUROS  PER PERSON A great treat for the younger kids is  Mundomar, right next to Aqualandia.  Here they can see a range of animals including dolphins, sea lions, parrots and penguins.  The climax of the visit is the brilliant dolphin show.  Entrance is 22 euros.

 BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN LA CALA DE FINESTRAT

OLE SOLE MIO

Ole Sole Mio as the name implies is an Italian restaurant.  It has seating inside and out.  The food ranges from a large variety of pasta dishes to fillet steak and shoulder of lamb. There are also a few fish dishes including sea bass (Lubina) Swordfish (Emperador) and Sea Bream (Dorada)  The shoulder of lamb is slow cooked and tender.  The fillet steaks can vary from excellent to okay, probably 80% excellent.  The seafood spaghetti ( Spaghetti Marinara) is always good as are most of the pasta dishes. If you're going for one of the more expensive dishes, splash out on a decent bottle of wine (Rioja Campo Viejo is a good choice for red at about 11 euros and  for the white, try Frascatti which is about the same price) the house wine can be a bit acidic.  Try the bruschetta as a starter. The price of the meal will obviously be reflected in what you choose.  If you choose one of the higher priced dishes, with a decent bottle of wine expect to pay about 60 euros for two but a pasta dish with house wine more like 30 euros.

EL ARENAL

Recently given a makeover, El Arenal is a Spanish restaurant with a varied menu.  A lot of seafood dishes but also the usual chicken, steak etc.  Fairly basic but seems quite popular.

UPSTAIRS BAR (STEPS NEXT TO HOTEL LA CALA)

This bar caters mostly for younger people but before it gets too late in the evening, try it, if only for the amazing sea view from the huge balcony window.  This is La Cala's nearest equivalent of a club, it has quite an intimate atmosphere but isn't over the top. There are flat screen TV's, dimly lit nooks and crannies  and some decent background music.  Don't expect to pay the same prices as the other bars.

PETER'S

Nice family run restaurant.  The food is excellent value for money with meal of the day including wine costing only 9 euros. Always had decent food here, the staff are friendly and helpful.  Both Peter's and Cala Fin are in desperate need of a makeover.  Their current state does not give potential customers confidence that the food will be any good, which is a pity.

MARINA BAR

This is the expat bar, where everybody knows everyone and can always find somebody to chat to.  Opened about five years ago by two brothers Antonio and Pepe it has been incredibly successful.  It is one of the only bars which  succeeds in catering to every nationality and is  very  popular with the locals and foreign tourists.  Much of the Marina's success has been achieved by the friendliness of Pepe , Antonio and the waiters, plus the excellent speed of service.   The food is mostly snacks but all cooked fresh on a large griddle.  This is the most popular bar in the bay and on hot summer evenings, its difficult to find a place.  A word of warning, if you have a few drinks at the Marina, you will probably get a free one when you come to pay the bill, bear that in mind when you think you've had enough.

BARS AND RESTAURANTS IN LA CALA DE FINESTRAT

OLD SHIP 

The Old Ship was La Cala's only  pub a couple of years ago but it now has competition from Molly Malone's and the Bay View.  The Old Ship is always popular with British holidaymakers, they have regular entertainment including quizzes and bingo.  The full English breakfast is a favourite.  There are number of small screen TV's showing English premiere league via satellite

BAY VIEW

This, recently replaced "Changes" and to my knowledge has continued in much the same way.  Open for coffee in the mornings and a full menu at lunch time and in the evening.  The food is based on a standard "English" menu, steak and chips etc.  Large screen TV showing English premiere league football via satellite.

MOLLY MALONES

This took over from the Spanish Zarzuella restaurant in 2007.  The owners run a successful bar in Benidorm and there is no reason why this shouldn't be as popular.  A large wooden decked patio area gets the sun most of the day, the food is good down to earth British with occasional Indian, Italian and Irish dishes.  If you fancy a cold Guinness, being an Irish pub, this should be the place.  Large screen TV showing most of the English premiere league games on satellite in high definition. 

PUIG CAMPAÑA

A Spanish restaurant spacialising  mostly in seafood.  Some really good dishes well presented and excellent wine. Very popular with the Spanish but the waiters speak decent English.  A bit pricey but if you enjoy seafood, worth splashing out for a special meal.  Excellent wine choice and the waiters seem to know which wine goes best with the food.  Expect to spend around 60 or 70 euros for a meal for two.

CALA FIN

Large outdoor eating area, Spanish but catering for the tourist.  Very reasonably priced. Varying reports, some people saying the food was great but others not very impressed.  I haven't tried this one so I can't give a personal opinion.  Expect to pay around 20 euros for two people with wine.

BA or SMALL BAR 

This little bar is always immaculate.  There are about 5 tables on a narrow pavement facing the beach.  To make as much of the space as possible the tables are very close together, so a great place to start up a conversation with the other customers.  Inside there are about six tables including one by the window which looks out onto the bay.  The beer is served in iced glasses by very friendly staff.   Not much in the way of food but the burgers are excellent.

KALA KALA

This bar stays open late and is frequented mostly by Spanish customers.  There is a large plasma screen  inside usually showing a Spanish music channel.  A lot of money has been spent  over the last few years and the decor is modern and to a high standard.  In the summer months most customers sit outside.  My only criticism of this bar is the service which is always very slow.

OUTSIDE THE BAY

Outside the bay area there are lots of new bars lining the boulevard catering mostly for Spanish visitors.  There are also bars owned by other nationalities.  At the top of the boulevard if you feel like a bit of a hike, there is a very chic bar/nightclub with a large fenced off garden area and an outside bar.  The best beer is the draught Galician served from huge copper vats at the Romanian owned bar just around the first corner as you walk up the boulevard.  Turn right and walk down to the next corner, you can't miss the huge copper barrels in the window. Every drink is accompanied by a tapas, great value.  Walking from the bay to the main road at the top you pass a small Chinese restaurant which never seem very busy and a bit further around  the corner on the opposite side of the road a large new English owned restaurant called Deja Vue 2, formerly Bizzie Izzy's the food here is supposed to be good but I haven't tried it yet.  There are a few more bars and snack bars before you arrive at another Irish pub called Shenanigans, again showing football on a large screen.  Keep walking up and you come to "Good Vibrations" on the right hand side. With a bit of imagination, this place could have huge potential as a restaurant.  It has a large courtyard which could be developed into something special using vine trellises  candles soft music and up market food but at the moment it belongs to the same category as many of the other bars.  

Summing up, the food served in the bars and restaurants in La Cala caters mostly for the tourist.  To go more up market, you need to go nearer to the Poniente promenade where there are some pretty exclusive restaurants with prices to match.

THE WEATHER

The weather in this part of the Costa Blanca is usually warm and sunny but it can rain and when it does, the water runs down the mountains to the sea following its natural path. This can lead to some quite spectacular scenes as you can see by clicking here.  Being the Mediterranean, the sea is usually calm and flat but there are exceptions and believe it or not we sometimes have surfers in the bay, check it out here BEST WITH HEADPHONES

MORE THINGS TO DO

CATARMARAN CRUISE

50 EUROS PER PERSON

A catamaran cruise in the Mediterranean is a great way to explore the beauty of the Costa Blanca coastline. Sail to the island of Tabarca, deemed a marine reserve and enjoy the quiet beauty of the landscape. Go snorkeling in the sparkling blue waters and watch schools of fish swim past you or take a refreshing swim.

Savour a freshly prepared seafood lunch onboard and sit back to enjoy the splendid view of the island and the surrounding scenery. With a catamaran cruise offering endless photographic opportunities and an opportunity to enjoy water activities, your excursion in Spain will be memorable.

MORE INFORMATION AND PRE BOOK ONLINE

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