Winter Sun in Benidorm

Description
nnTravel in deluxe style on this holiday aboard aJG Explorer coach!Imagine spending almost a month in Spain, enjoying temperate weather, clear skies, and the gentle waters of the Mediterranean, all without flying. Staying in the heart of Benidorm's Old Town at the Avenida Hotel, this break is the perfect way to relax and unwind whilst still having the opportunity to see more of Spain's beautiful Costa Blanca.Our included excursions take in the unspoilt beaches and charming towns of Spain's beautiful 'White Coast'; from the ancient, winding streets of Valencia, home of paella, to the thriving harbour town of Alicante. We also travel to the charming towns of Murcia, renowned for its stunning cathedral, as well as Denia and Javea. In addition, we venture inland to Guadalest for a half-day excursion high in the mountains and enjoy some time browsing the stalls at the famous local market in Altea.Itinerary
ItinerarynnDay 1 Join the coach at your chosen pickup point and travel to Dover for the ferry crossing to France. We head south towards central France and arrive at our overnight hotel in the evening.nnDay 2We spend the day travelling through France before heading over the border into Northern Spain. We continue south to the Costa Brava region for our second overnight stay.nnDay 3 The last section of our coach journey takes us further south to Costa Blanca, where we can check into our hotel.nnDays 4 - 26Relax at your chosen hotel or join the included excursions.nnDay 27We check out of our hotel, board the coach and head north to the Costa Brava region for our overnight stay.nnDay 28 We continue north towards central France and our overnight hotel.nnDay 29The final stretch of our journey brings us back to Calais, where we board the ferry for our crossing home.nnExcursionsnnValencia (full day) The charming city of Valencia is the third largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona. It has a picturesque Old Quarter with a labyrinth of cobbled streets, lined with medieval buildings and towers that were once part of the ancient wall that surrounded the old city. There are also city beaches with tree-lined promenades, scenic gardens and an attractive cathedral, all of which make Valencia one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.nnAlicante & Elche (full day) The major landmark of the thriving harbour town of Alicante is the medieval Castle of Santa Barbara, which stands on the top of Mount Benacantil, offering fabulous views of the city. Other attractions include the Esplanada de España, a palm-tree-lined promenade paved with wavy marble floor tiles, and the Gravina Palace, located in the Old Town. The marina is a popular hotspot full of restaurants, cafés and a shopping centre and is the perfect place to admire the luxury yachts moored here.Our next stop is Elche, well-known for its beautiful palm trees (the largest palm tree in Europe is cultivated here) and shoemaking tradition. Considered to be one of the most important cities in the Province, Elche is home to two UNESCO World Heritage sights. Explore at your leisure some of the many highlights, such as the Basilica de Santa Maria and the famous 'Huerto del Cura' - where you will find the great imperial palm and more than 2,000 species of flora and fauna.nnJavea & Denia (full day) Sheltered between two rocky headlands, the seaside town of Javea still has the charm of the ancient fishing village it once was. The fishing harbour is situated next to an attractive marina while its historic quarter is full of beautiful architecture and monuments such as the church of San Bartolomé. The town also boasts a wide sandy beach flanked by a promenade of shops, bars and restaurants.Next, we visit Denia, a coastal town, home to a castle located on a rocky crag overlooking the city, which offers spectacular views of the surrounding area. Denia also has a large port and marina with plenty of bars, cafés and restaurants lining its waterfront.nnMurcia (full day) Handsome Murcia is home to an impressive cathedral and several beautiful historic buildings with colourful plazas nestling in between its narrow streets. The city is divided by the Segura River, spanned with bridges of different styles; the oldest being Puente de los Peligros, an 18th-century stone bridge.nnGuadalest (half day) We venture inland for a half-day excursion to the picturesque village of Guadalest, perched on top of a rock high in the mountains. With fabulous views across the valley, the village also has numerous museums and craft shops where you can stock up on souvenirs while its castle can only be accessed through a tunnel carved through the rock.nnAltea Market (half day) We travel to the city of Altea for a half-day excursion to browse the many wares on display at the famous local market. This fixture of the city takes place every week and offers a wide range of great quality products at bargain prices, from leather goods, clothing and jewellery to fresh food, sweet treats and colourful flowers, all sold by local stallholders.nnVillajoyosa (half day)For this half-day excursion, we visit the colourful coastal town of Villajoyosa, known to the locals as La Vila. This pretty town is famous for the many brightly coloured homes on the palm-tree-lined promenade and for chocolate! Visit the Valor Chocolate Museum to learn the history of local chocolate-making and see how it is made. Don't forget to visit their in-house shop for some free samples or purchases.

Coach Bullets
- Return coach travel on a JG Explorer Coach (see Helpful Information below) & ferry crossings- First & last night on a bed & breakfast basis in France (last night with a light evening meal)- Additional overnight stay on outward and return journey on a half-board basis on the Costa Brava- 24 nights at the 4-star Avenida Hotel, Benidorm with full board- Entertainment some evenings- Excursions to Valencia, Alicante, Elche, Javea, Denia, Murcia, Guadalest, Altea Market & Villajoyosa- Services of a resort representative on selected days

Search Bullets
- Additional overnight stay on outward and return journey on a half-board basis on the Costa Brava- 24 nights at the 4-star Avenida Hotel, Benidorm with full board- Excursions to Valencia, Alicante, Elche, Javea, Denia, Murcia, Guadalest, Altea Market & Villajoyosa

JG4
Accommodation in our JG4 category is of an even higher standard, typically offering a wide range of facilities and services. Bedrooms are designed to make your stay the most comfortable possible and the staff provide a service that reflects the detail and quality. You can also expect higher standards of food and beverages.

JG Explorer
JG Explorer CoachesnWe are pleased to introduce JG Explorer - a brand-new deluxe coach, thoughtfully designed to provide an elevated coach experience and ensure your journey is special and memorable.
Exclusive to the JG Travel Group, the design of these coaches has been meticulously thought through with your comfort in mind - with only 44 seats meaning more room on board and padded seats. There's improved legroom and a footrest, making certain that wherever you sit, you'll be able to relax and enjoy your journey. We know it's the small things that make a big difference in terms of ease and added convenience, so our JG Explorer coaches feature a floor-level, rear-mounted toilet, accessible to all customers.
On-board entertainment throughout your journey is easy to find on the JG Explorer, with access to Azimut, our wireless media system, providing films and quizzes. Simply bring along your smartphone or iPad and enjoy this entertainment interruption-free, with the use of our extra reliable Wi-Fi, free to all passengers and a handy USB port at each seat.nnThe layout of the JG Explorer includes a floor-level, rear-mounted kitchen with a sink, an espresso machine to purchase delicious Nespresso coffee, dispensed by your driver during comfort breaks, and a fridge stocked with cold drinks and milk. Customers are welcome to help themselves to complimentary JG bottles, that can be used for refill at the built-in cold-water filter, cutting down on the need for disposable plastic bottles and doing our part for the environment.nnAvenida Hotel, Benidorm (JG4 rating)
The Avenida Hotel is situated on a central pedestrian street, just 100 yards from Levante Beach. Close to local shops, bars and restaurants, the comfortable and friendly hotel is the ideal choice for those wanting to be in the heart of Benidorm.The Avenida Hotel offers 156 well-appointed, en-suite, air-conditioned rooms with a telephone, safe, hairdryer and satellite TV. Facilities include a buffet-style restaurant, room service, bar, coffee shop, rooftop outdoor pool (open all year), sun terrace, hot tub/jacuzzi, sauna and mini gym.The hotel also offers evening entertainment and has a golf course (within 3km away)Balcony rooms are available for a supplement.Please note: The transfer drop off/pick up can be up to approximately 350m away due to the pedestrianised streets around the hotel.