Benidorm

It's the stereotype, but only half-true. The eastern end of Playa de Levante (Calle Gerona, Calle Mallorca) is the British/Irish party strip — karaoke bars, full-English breakfasts, Sky Sports everywhere. But the Casco Antiguo (old town) and Playa de Poniente are heavily Spanish — families on holiday from Madrid and Valencia, Catalan-speaking grandmothers playing dominoes in Plaça de la Constitució, and proper tapas bars where no menu is in English. Stay west of the Old Town and Benidorm reveals itself as a genuine Valencian beach town — package tourism just happens to live next door.

4-5 days hits the sweet spot: two beach days alternating Levante and Poniente, one Old Town + Sierra Helada hike day, one day trip to Altea (white-washed artist village, 25 min by TRAM) or Guadalest (Moorish castle in the mountains, 1 hr bus), and one float-down to Alicante by tram (€4.10, 1 hr) for the Santa Bárbara Castle and tapas at Mercado Central. A week works for adding Calpe (Peñón de Ifach climb) and Jávea (snorkeling at Cala Granadella) without rushing.

May-June and September-October are ideal: 25-28°C, sea warm enough to swim (22-24°C), and crowds drop dramatically after September 15. July-August is peak chaos — book months ahead, expect 31°C, and Levante Beach packs out by 10 AM. Winter (December-February) is Benidorm's secret: a unique micro-climate keeps it 18°C — Europe's only mainland winter sun city of any size — which is why thousands of Northern European retirees ('the swallows') overwinter there.