We're going to be visiting the Costa Blancas in the next few months for a long weekend and also to do a little "scouting" around for potential locations for a holiday villa and longer term somewhere to live full time. One area that keeps coming back to the top of my list for the quality of properties that I see online and the look of the location (I know you cant get a proper feel for a location just on websites but got to start the research somewhere). We dont want to be in a huge drunk brit tourist trap such as areas of Benidorm and the CDS but we do want an ex-pat presence etc.

When we first went to Calpe we went to the beach front. It was closed. There was nothing. We ignored it, and moved North and eventuallly settled in Oliva.

A few years later when we moved here we went down there to buy a car and took a wrong turn. It was at that point we discovered Calpe and realised that where we had gone the first time was just a beach front area to the North of the rock.

Since then I've been going back regularly and discovered more and more. The Old town at the top of the hill with narrow streets and bars, the main shopping area on the hill (you've got to be fit to shop there), the beach front walk with more bars and cafes, and the port area where there are a load of really nice seafood restaurants and you can buy fresh fish off the boats.

I do notice there are a lot of Brits there when we visit. Theres a big urb on the hillside overlooking Calpe and there are some magnificent views from up there.

Thanks for the reply, Calpe still at the top of my list then Obviously we would like to be on the coast but as always you pay a premium so what area inland of Calpe/Altea are worth a look? (just trying to note down locations all within short driving distances of Calpe to check out on this visit) Thanks.

Calpe is very nice, the beach area is good, the shops and cafe/restaurants are plenty and as Mitzy has said, the streets are steep. It is a nice place to visit, not sure about living there but it did have terrible floods when the weather was bad, there were some pictures posted on this site at the time.

Altea is nice, on one side of the road is the old town, very steep narrow cobbled streets but well worth a visit and there is a church at the top you can view, magnificent inside, also cafes at the top and an art gallery. The other side of the road is the beach/cafe/restaurant area. You should definitely try to visit Altea

We go to Calpe every other week or so and quite like it, I have heard it called a mini-Benidorm but have yet to see evidence of union jack shorts and troublesome brits, I'll let you know after the summer.
Benissa is worth investigating as its boundaries extend from the coast road between Calpe to Moraira, up to the old town which overlooks the Penon de Ifach.

It really is horses for courses though, come out and have a look around. From what I've seen there are good and bad properties in every area just take your time and look at as many as possible from 100,000 below to 100,000 above your budget. You'll get a better feel for the market then as the prices here tend to vary wildly.

I have only been here for just under 5 months but from what I've seen of the Costa Blanca North you won't go far wrong wherever you choose. You'll just get a feel for a certain place and then bang, that's where you'll be!

Good luck,

Ste.

I used to Calpe as a kid about 20 years ago when it was quite nice and not built up.I went on holiday to Javea which is about 30 min away last year and during that time i wanted to go back and have a look at Calpe.What a mistake to make.It really is a dump and was quite upsetting to see it in such a state.Javea is really a great place to stay.Great beach, restaurants very good and just a really nice place to stay.try it.!

In my opinion it depends what you are looking for and what you require for your lifestyle. We chose Denia (slightly further up the coast) because it is a working city and, as we are still working, we didn't want to settle in an environment where we would have different neighbours every two weeks. We have not got anything against the people who wish to enjoy our lovely surroundings during their annual resting time but we have chosen to live and work here and Denia fitted that criteria perfectly. This could be an option for you too and it is not very far from Calpe, so maybe worth a look .

Oh yeah and I also popped into Denia which was vey nice indeed!Thought it was very good.If I remember it hasnt got a great beach though???

Must be a different calpe to what I've seen. Cant describe it as a dump any more than I should Javea

It does have a beach yes

Wow, plenty of suggestions (thanks all), I think we're going to have a bit of a tour going on! We definetely arent looking for place near the union jack shorts brigade but we definetely do want some sort of expat presence just for a bit of reassurance.

At least 25 years since I was there. Enjoyed the holiday. Was getting built up then and lots of Brits around.

The beaches in Denia span 20km and vary from very average to superb.

Mitzyboy, you should take your sunglasses off then maybe you will see more clearly.Javea and Calpe are not even in the same sport.To say they are the same is utter nonsense!!!

Nonsense .... thanks! ........ Your opinion maybe. Just because its changed over what you saw many years ago doesn't mean its a dump. Its changed. Thats what happens. I went back to Benissa on the greek islands a few years back. It had grown out of all recognision after my last vists 20 years ago. It wasn't "a dump" though .... it was just different.

I live in this area .... I see the places regularly at all times of the year and all times of the day, and I feel its unfair to apportion a dump title to a town which clearly isn't. Not just my opinion, the opinion of many others too!

As someone who didnt know of the beaches at Denia, maybe you dont know the area as well as you think you do :-))

Hi
Calpe is ok but if you want something better try Moraira I am sure you will love it