Spanish Lifestyle
Every day there is a vibrant open-air market at a different location on the Costa Blanca. Traditionally this is how the Spanish did all their shopping, now the open-air markets are a tourist attraction also. The Costa Blanca boasts dozens of ultra-modern shopping centres equalling any in Barcelona, Paris, London or Dublin. The leading brand names are so widely available and so competitively priced that shopping here really does save you money. The hundreds of large multinational supermarkets have made the home brands available all along the coast.

 
Few places in Europe can equal the Costa Blanca for the number and variety of restaurants offering international and local cuisine at very reasonable prices. In general the wine is excellent and two to three times less costly than the average restaurant at home. Costa Blanca restaurants cater for all pockets, tastes and moods. One can eat out with menus from budget to gourmet at half the cost. The atmosphere dining out is relaxed and friendly. Language is generally not a problem except in the most rural establishments. Tipping is welcome but not expected.
     
The Costa Blanca has 219km of coastline full of white beaches, calm waters and smooth sand. With dozens of marinas and over 2,800 hours of sunshine a year this is a paradise for boating, sun bathing and water sports of all kinds. Almost every community has it’s own community pool and in addition there are many well run municipal pools in urban areas. There are many water parks dotted along the beautiful long coastline, which are open all summer long. Summer afternoons produce the best sea breezes to cool you down and to encourage the wind surfers and para-sailors to show their skills.
 
 
Kerb-side cafés, late night bars, all night discos, burger, pizza and gourmet restaurants, bowling alleys, casinos, evening markets, cabaret shows, art exhibitions, music recitals, bingo halls, live music gigs, fireworks displays, street festivals, balmy evening walks in the square, marina or on the promenade, carnivals, open air amusements, fiestas and lots more are available for all up and down the entire Costa Blanca coastline. Nightlife takes on a new meaning here in this beautiful Mediterranean climate.
     
The Costa Blanca alone has 15 fully operational Golf Courses with the same number again in the planning stages, Next door neighbours, Murcia has more than a dozen courses including the world famous 54 hole La Manga Club. This region is set to be the foremost golf region in Europe within the next decade. Unlike other golf coasts the Costa Blanca offers a modern infrastructure and facilities, which cater for all the family and not just the golfers in the family. Green fees, buggies and club hire are not too difficult on the
 
pocket. Weather conditions from October to May are ideal for golf, however as the temperatures are generally 5 to 8º C lower in summer than on the Costa del Sol, golf is a 12-month activity on the Costa Blanca.
 
The Costa Blanca coastline boasts the best beaches in all of Spain. Hundreds of kilometres of fine white sand and beautiful clear blue water. European blue flags are in evidence everywhere you go. There is 23km of beach that runs from Santa Póla past Guardamar to La Mata and in Torrevieja there is another beach that is less than 50m long. Some beaches are very private and quiet even in the height of summer and there are other beaches that seem to be always bustling with activity. All the beaches are clean and most have lifeguards on duty for the entire length of the summer. Many people swim in November in the Mediterranean and the Mar Menor, which is just south of the Costa Blanca, has an average winter temperature of 18ºC (64ºF).