Hotel Kaktus Albir

We’ll be visiting the hilltop village of El Castell de Guadalest this morning and making the most of the valley views from its precariously placed medieval castle. This was once an important fortified stronghold for the Moors but has long since become a cultural hub for lace and crochet making. We’ll spend our time strolling around the winding cobbled streets and pausing at the craft workshops and small museums. It’s a very peaceful place with a baroque-style church and small tapas bars centring around the main square and town hall.

This tour of Spain’s third-largest city starts with a visit to the Fallas Museum, where you will find out more about the history behind this great fiesta – the fallas themselves are huge papier-maché sculptures. Next is a visit to one of the biggest indoor markets in Spain, followed by a guided walk past the cathedral and basilica. After some free time for lunch, a final stop is made at the City of Arts and Science, where there is an opportunity to take photographs of the superb modern buildings and bridges. This excursion involves a fair amount of walking with a local guide.

We’ll enjoy a night on the town as we head to one of the hottest venues on the Costa Blanca, Benidorm Palace. This is a must experience event with vibrant and colourful performances guaranteed to feature a flurry of feathers and sparkling sequins. Grab your glad rags and join the party as dancers, magicians, musicians and cabaret acts provide an iconic evening of international and Spanish-style entertainment.

Situated around an hour’s drive south of Valencia on the southern tip of the Costa Azahar, the affluent city of Gandía is where we’ll enjoy a cultural half-day tour. Although this region of Spain is famed for its abundant orange orchards, Gandía’s main boast is that it’s the birthplace of St Francis Borgia, the patron saint of earthquakes. Following a guide, you’ll be invited to find out more about the 16th century Spanish priest as well as experiencing some of the city’s historical monuments, including the Ducal Palace, and the tree-lined boulevards bordered by small boutique shops and narrow side streets.