Costa Blanca - Best place to stay

mrb123

We're contemplating a trip to the Costa Blanca later in the year for a long weekend of cycling. Wondering where people would recommend as the best place to stay.

There seem to be a few possible options - Altea, Calpe, Javea, Denia and possibly a few more.

We'd ideally want to avoid any of the overdeveloped/Brits abroad types of resort like Benidorm, so preferably somewhere a bit smaller and classier. We'll need access to decent road bike hire and hopefully somewhere that doesn't entail riding on any particularly busy/dangerous roads to get out onto the better cycling roads inland.

Any advice or recommendations gratefully received!

tourdriving

Here are a small place http://www.rentyourownresort.com/ on the site, you will find all things to do in the area also routes and bike hire

plymouthsteve

Recommend Calpe.. been there every year for the lsst 35 years including last week. Added bonus of the Penon dIfach which you must climb on foot.. 1000 ft and views to ibaza and Benidorm. Great roads and considerate motorists but look out for brits in rental cars if you're going in august.
Main hotels are Sol Mar.. BMC where there last week.. and Esmerelda.. who hosted Lotto Soudal last week.. get the gist?
Col de rates is about 20 miles away, and cumre sol 10 miles.
Solybike rent me a 105 Orbea for 25 euros per day and organise tours but I am happy to be a billy no mates as I seem to have a unique speed which is not compatible with anyone else, until I find a 49 yr old 17 stone riding buddy who does 250 Dartmoor miles per month!
Solybike also do a fantastic free route map.

mrb123

plymouthsteve wrote:

Recommend Calpe.. been there every year for the lsst 35 years including last week. Added bonus of the Penon dIfach which you must climb on foot.. 1000 ft and views to ibaza and Benidorm. Great roads and considerate motorists but look out for brits in rental cars if you're going in august.
Main hotels are Sol Mar.. BMC where there last week.. and Esmerelda.. who hosted Lotto Soudal last week.. get the gist?
Col de rates is about 20 miles away, and cumre sol 10 miles.
Solybike rent me a 105 Orbea for 25 euros per day and organise tours but I am happy to be a billy no mates as I seem to have a unique speed which is not compatible with anyone else, until I find a 49 yr old 17 stone riding buddy who does 250 Dartmoor miles per month!
Solybike also do a fantastic free route map.

Cheers Steve. I thought that Calpe seemed the obvious choice bearing in mind the number of pro teams who frequent the town.

I did see one website that suggested that the roads heading out the town can be a bit busy but they may just have been trying to flog accommodation inland!

priory

I cycled around javea summer hols for most of the 90's and sporadically since when i could get away from the family , so remember that area as full of great little back roads but also the port area , old town and arenal , very many acceptable bars and restaurants . nice beach with showers , some snorkelling . Recent tour of valencia went round the Montgo twice at the end of one stage. yes, it's that great a ride.
Actually the tour close the rather busy roads so they can enjoy the climb over montgo . I would stay on the back roads in the valley and head inland away from the tourist area. Or if you want a monster steep climb head up from the port towards the lighthouse . Some of those roads you have to climb on all fours , not kidding.