Orihuela Costa, end to end.

From long, gentle family sand to small marina coves, the coastline is one of the Orihuela Costa's biggest draws, and most of it is only a short drive from the door.

Beach chiringuitos, seafront strips and a large shopping boulevard mean you are never far from a long lunch or an easy dinner.

Several of the Costa Blanca's best-known courses sit within a short drive, so a round rarely means an early start. Tee times are booked directly with each course.

The practical bits: how to arrive, and how to get about once you are here.

The Orihuela Costa is an easy base for a day out. The marinas run boat trips along the coast, there are animal and water parks within a short drive toward Murcia, and the historic city of Orihuela sits just inland with its cathedral and old streets.

A hire car opens all of it up, and most of these make a comfortable half or full day without a long drive.

Right beside the resorts, the Lagunas de La Mata y Torrevieja natural park protects two salt lagoons, one of them famously pink, and draws flamingos through much of the year. Inland, the Sierra Escalona hills offer quieter walking and wildlife.

Along the coast, promenades and paths link the beaches, and the clear water at the rocky coves is good for snorkelling.