Concorde Julia

The rooms are basic but clean and have what you need. There’s a separate sofa bed, but no linen for it, though I’m sure it would be available if requested. We had AC and sea views, and could leave our bags at reception before check-in. Easy to get to from the tram.

The receptionist was an absolute sweetheart. She helped us work out where to shop and which bus to take, offered us beach chairs, and even lent us a wheeled trolley for groceries. I’ve never had service that friendly and helpful. We arrived well before check-in and could leave our bags and get changed. The apartment was spotless, smelled fresh, and felt comfortable straight away. It was spacious and had everything we needed, including a microwave, kettle, hob, pans, kitchen items, washing machine, and plenty of plates. The shower was hot and powerful, and the welcome pack included cooking oil, bin bags, washing machine tabs, loo rolls, and other basics. There’s a garden and pool, and it’s just a few minutes’ walk to the beautiful beach, restaurants, bars, grocery stores, buses, and trams. We took the tram to the Sunday market at El Campeldo, which is well worth visiting for fresh fruit and vegetables. Alicante and benidorm are also a short tram ride away. We came to get a feel for the area because relatives are moving to Spain next year, and I’m considering retiring there. We found this area very touristy; El Campeldo felt much less so and had more shops. Spain is such a beautiful country, and we had amazing late October weather, 24 degrees, more than twice the temperature in England.

The pool was very nice, and the hotel’s location is excellent, just a few steps from the beach, tram stop, and grocery stores. The handyman who showed us our rooms didn’t speak English, but we managed to understand each other. The flat had a fairly new gas stove and oven. The toaster was broken, and there was no electric coffee maker, though we did have two espresso makers. Street noise at night and a few cockroaches in the flat were big drawbacks.

It’s only a few minutes to the beach and the shops. The rooms are comfortable, even though the furniture is old, but the place needs a renovation and a more thorough clean.