If you want the Spanish summer vacation by the beach, but do not want to be surrounded by your fellow countryman behaving badly I have a secret destination that the Northern Europeans have not heard of and that is the favorite seaside resort for the residents of landlocked Madrid.
Located on the Costa del Azahar just south of Spain’s third largest city Valencia and only 70 kilometres up the coast from Benidorm is Gandia, and Gandia Playa.
Gandia is a thriving town of over 80,000 residents while Gandia Playa is one of the most beautiful blue flag beaches to be found anywhere in the Mediterranean backed by a seven kilometer long promenade full of shops and bars.
Nightlife in Gandia is equal to or better than anywhere else in Spain and was the location for Spain’s own take on the hit reality television show “The Jersey Shore” with their very own Spanish version called “Gandia Shore” broadcast on MTV Spain.
Gandia Playa is four kilometres away from the main city allowing the beach area to be dedicated to summer fun, and a home away from home for the residents of Madrid looking to escape the summer heat of the city.
Where to stay in Gandia
You have a wealth of options when looking for a place to stay in Gandia Playa from self-catering apartments all the way up to all-inclusive resorts, and five-star hotels. With Gandia Playa catering to the domestic market prices are very reasonable also. Outlet4Spain.com is definitely a great place to start if you are looking for decent deals on self-catering apartments.
In the height of summer the town is packed with Spanish holidaymakers so be sure to book a place to stay well in advance and if arriving by car be sure to book somewhere that has parking or else you could end up having to park miles from where you are staying.
Where to eat in Gandia
All along the seafront you will find no end of bars and restaurants offering their daily specials all written out on blackboards in front of their premises. Seafood of course is popular but you will find plenty of both plenty of meat and vegetarian options but remember this resort caters mainly to Spanish tastes. Gandia also has the Spanish version of TGIF and Applebee’s that they call “Fosters Hollywood” that serves burgers and ribs if you have had your fill of calamari and sepia.
Day trips from Gandia
Valencia is just under an hour by train from Gandia and makes for a wonderful day out with the city centre and all the historical attracts within walking distance of Valencia-Nord railway station. Valencia is also home to the futuristic Arts & science museum, along with the largest aquarium in Europe.
Xativa
The town of fountains located deep within the Valencian orange groves is steeped in a rich history that can be seen in its imposing castle dating back to Roman times then occupied by the Moors until being defeated by James I and his Christian army in 1244. There is plenty to see and do in Xativa that make it a perfect day trip only 90 minutes from Gandia that will have you immersed in the rich history that is Spain.
This post was written by Barry Harris, who is an estate agent. Barry who orginally moved from the UK nine year ago. He often spends his free time in the Gandia region.
