Church of the Immaculate Conception

The Costa del Sol is one of Spain’s most visited regions and attracts millions of visitors each year.  Literally translating as the sunshine coast you will find a large number of beaches in which you can enjoy a relaxing family holiday by under the sun.  However there is much to see and do along the Costa del Sol lying in wait for you to discover.

The Andalucian region in Spain is expansive, so one of the best ways to make the most of a stay here is by hiring a car or a 4×4 and visiting one of the many popular or hidden beaches around the coast.  The whole of the Costa del Sol is accessible by car, and there are some interesting, historical and stunning places to see which aren’t easily accessible without driving.

There are plenty of sandy coves, intimidating mountains and beautiful scenic views around the Costa del Sol – great if you want to drive out and relax, whilst taking in the stunning coastline.

Alternatively, if you prefer to stay away from the holiday parks and want a little faster pace then you can drive into the old town of Marbella – a modern and vibrant city where the rich and famous holiday.

There’s a famous golf course there too and the elegant and glamorous Puerto Banus, a port where yachts and spectacular boats can be seen floating on the glistening blue water.

For the family or the animal lover, there’s the Selwo Animal Park – a huge place where you can see elephants, bears, tigers and more. Once you have educated the family on natural habitats of almost 2,000 animals, you can drop in at Nerja caves for a cost effective way to spend a few hours.

Frigiliana is a wonderfully white washed little village about 10 minutes from the coast in Nerja. It’s impeccably kept and a great way to experience an unspoilt part of Spain. It has ancient buildings and quaint walkways through the houses and, situated next to the mountains, visiting the village is a fantastic way to slow your pace and stretch your legs for an hour or two.

Nerja Beach, looking north

If you want a more fast paced way to spend family time, Tivoli World in Benalmadena is a fairly inexpensive theme park compared to the ones we have in the UK, it’s one of the largest theme parks in the Costa Del Sol. It has lots of fairground rides that are perfect for youngsters along with themed attractions and restaurants. As the theme park is mainly aimed at youngsters, older children may perhaps enjoy some of the live shows, and being let loose for a few hours!

So whatever you aim to do in your hire car, there are lots of destinations to consider; the beautiful beaches, the active theme parks and the slower paced villages offer something for every holiday maker.

Over the last 20 years Alcudia has become synonymous with value for money family holidays in Spain. Unlike the south of Majorca which is home to mega resorts like Palma Nova and Magaluf, the north of Majorca has still managed to retain most of its charm and remains to a point largely unspoilt.

Getting To Alcudia

Alcudia is 54km from Palma, the easiest way to get there is to hire a car which you can pickup from Palma airport. However if you are booking a holiday to the resort through a tour operator your airport transfers will be included within the price of the holiday. Transfer times will vary depending on the number of stops the transfer bus needs to make, but you are generally looking at around one – two hours door to door.

Alcudia Old Town

The old town of Alcudia is an excellent example of a traditional Majorcan town with narrow cobbles streets and cafe lined squares where you can sit and watch the world go by.

Alcudia was once home to the Phoenician and Greek’s and then reached it’s crescendo in the 2nd century when the Romans made it their capital ‘Pollentia’. The town was destroyed in the 6th century and returned to its former glory by the Moors who build ‘the town on the hill’ aka al-kudia. Today one of the most striking things about the old town are the walls enclosing it which were built in the 14th century.

Alcudia Beach

The beach is one of the main reasons that Alcudia is so popular with families. Miles of flat sand and shallow water make this an ideal spot for sunbathing and swimming. For the more adventurous there is a wide range of water sports available too.

Alcudia Port

The port of Alcudia is a real gem of a spot in the resort. Focused around Passeig Maritim (the walkway running parallel to the port) there is a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants. And if you fancy a stroll after lunch walk across to the marina where you gawp at some of the luxury yachts moored there.

Things To Do

Alcudia is primarily a family destination with plenty to do for your children. The main waterpark is the hidropark which has a wide range of pools and flumes to keep you entertained for the day.

Albufera wetlands are very near Alcudia which are a protected nature reserve that is home to over 80% of the Balearics bird species and 400 plant species.

Virtually every aparthotel in the resort has a kids club, great swimming pools and evening entertainment for all the family, so you are guaranteed a good time whereever you stay in the town.

Places to Stay

Alcudia offers a range of accommodation to suit virtually every taste. Looking for something traditional and romantic? Then there are a range of small hotels in the old town.

If you are looking for an all inclusive holiday then the Hotel Bellevue and Club Mac complex offer great value holiday deals.

And for everything else there are an abundance of great value hotels and apartments the length of the beach area that can be booked independently or through a tour operator.