Apartments in Altea

Altea is one of those places where it's worth thinking carefully about where you sleep, because the town and the beach area don't work the same way. If what you're looking for is atmosphere, narrow streets and terraces with views, the old town, around the church of the Virgen del Consuelo, is your spot. That said, be prepared to climb hills and park far away, because the centre is largely pedestrianised and you'll have to leave the car in a paid car park. The apartments in this area, such as the FH Altea Centro Histórico, are usually in renovated old buildings, full of charm, but with less light and less space than those on the coast. If you prefer peace and quiet and being close to the sea, the beach area, especially towards the promenade and the marina, gives you direct access to the sand and to beach bars, although in high season the night-time noise can be annoying. Examples such as FH ALTEA CENTRO PLAYA or the FH COCOLISO I and II are halfway between the centre and the beach, which is handy if you don't want to give anything up.

As for prices, the difference between seasons is noticeable. From June to mid-September apartments shoot up, and the average price of 148 euros per night that you see in the listing easily rises by thirty or forty percent in August. If you can, travel in May, June or September: the weather is still good for the beach and prices drop quite a bit, with options from 84 euros per night. The winter months are the cheapest, but many apartments close or only rent by the week, so there isn't always as much availability. The average category of the accommodation is 3.8 stars, which gives you an idea that you shouldn't expect luxuries, but rather decent, well-located places.

To get there, the easiest way is to fly to Alicante-Elche and hire a car: it's about forty-five minutes along the AP-7 or the N-332. Without a car, there are buses from Alicante roughly every hour, but getting around the region (if you want to go to Calpe, Benidorm or the coves in the area) becomes complicated. Within Altea, everything is done on foot if you stay in the centre or on the beach; the old town is small and distances don't exceed twenty minutes on foot. Before booking, check carefully whether the apartment includes a garage space, because in summer parking on the street is an odyssey. Also check whether the price includes final cleaning, sheets and towels, because many apartments charge for them separately. And pay attention to the type of accommodation: although this listing has 287 apartments, there are also holiday homes, villas and hotels, so make sure that what you're booking is really an apartment and not a single room.