Costa Blanca Hotels Promise Something Special for Everyone

While many guests staying in Costa Blanca have come to the lovely region of Alicante to lounge on the beaches and revel in the luxury of simply doing nothing at all for a week, more adventurous types will find that this part of Spain offers a huge variety of activities and days out. And with a little local knowledge you can avoid the tourist clichés and experience Costa Blanca to the fullest.

In Costa Blanca, the days of sunburnt Brits, toga parties and overdoing the sangria, are long gone. Families, couples and culture lovers staying in Costa Blanca hotels, will all find something to fill their days, especially if they seek out some of the little-known gems that make the area unique.

With its outdoor lifestyle, the Costa Blanca is has always a great place to bring your energetic off-spring so when the sun heats up, take them for a plunge and a slide at the Aqualand Waterpark (€27). Boasting some of the best slides in Europe, including vertical drops and enough bends and twists to keep any daredevil happy, the park is fun for thrill seekers and safe for kids. And here's a tip - for a discount on a family ticket, the local bus companies offer great deals.

But if you lack grace in the water, combine your ticket with one from the adjacent Mundomar Marine and Animal Park where you can enjoy the acrobatics of the bottlenose dolphins as they leap and play. The kids can learn all about marine life and conservation on the Costa Blanca.

Families looking for a fun meal shouldn't miss Tapas Alley in the old town of Benidorm. This is where everyone comes to find their favourite local snacks and you'll find that children love choosing from the range of tasty little dishes. Do try the famous chorizo and baby squid. But to avoid looking like a tourist, order some refreshing glasses of tinto de verano to wash your dinner down; the locals' tipple of choice.

Of course, you may be in Alicante to enjoy special time with a certain someone, in which case, follow generations of local Romeos and Juliets to the Fuentes del Algar waterfalls. Here you can walk arm- in-arm enjoying the lyrical sounds of the plunging water and inviting pools or simply whisper sweet nothings to your lover. These waterfalls are a local secret, and with good reason, if there was ever a place to pop the question, this is it. Wind your romantic day up at Costa Blanca hotels by visiting the lovely coastal town of Altea to enjoy some alfresco dining in the square where musicians will serenade you with traditional tunes.

You'll want to pick up a few souvenirs and gifts for friends back home, so avoid the kitsch; bullfight posters and castanets, and find something unique. The best place for this is the weekend market at Cisne on the outskirts of Benidorm. The atmospheric little stalls are filled with charming trinkets, antiques and local art and even if you are not there to buy, you can wander round and take some wonderful snaps that show off the local colour, the perfect mementos of your trip