Hotels in Jávea

Jávea, in the Marina Alta region of Alicante, offers more than a thousand accommodations to choose from, and the decision of where to sleep largely shapes the trip. The old town, around the church of San Bartolomé, is the option if you want to walk to bars, restaurants and shops, with narrow streets and a Mediterranean village atmosphere. The port, about three kilometres away, has its own charm: seafront promenade, terraces and boat trips, but parking is difficult in high season. The beaches, especially the Arenal, concentrate most of the apartments and hotels; it is the most touristy area, with beach bars and nightlife, although also the noisiest. If you are looking for peace and quiet, the urbanisations of the Montgó or the Granadella area offer villas with pools and views, but you definitely need a car to go down to shop or have dinner.

The main difference between one area and another is the distance to the sea and the type of accommodation. In the Arenal, block apartments predominate, with services and right on the beach; in the old town you will find renovated houses and rooms in guesthouses, with more character but fewer modern comforts. The villas, which make up almost half of the offer, are spread across the slopes of the Montgó and the residential areas; they usually have a garden and private pool, but they are designed for stays of a week or more. The hotels, only 19, are concentrated in the Arenal and the port, and are the simplest option if you don't want to worry about anything. Prices drop notably outside July and August: in May, June or September you can find rooms from 68 euros per night, while the annual average is around 296. If your dates are flexible, avoid Easter and bank holiday weekends, when villa prices soar.

To get there, the most practical option is to fly to Alicante or Valencia and rent a car; from Alicante it is about 90 kilometres along the AP-7, and from Valencia about 100. The bus from Alicante takes more than two hours and drops you in the centre, but getting around Jávea without a vehicle is complicated, especially if you are staying in an urbanisation. Within the town, a car is almost essential to go to coves such as the Granadella or the cape of San Antonio, although in summer parking in the Arenal is torture. Before booking, check whether the accommodation includes a parking space, air conditioning (old houses do not always have it) and whether final cleaning is included or paid separately. It is also worth looking at recent reviews about noise, because a villa with beautiful views can be next to a road with night traffic. And if you travel in low season, confirm that the pool is heated or open, because many close in October.