Shopping:
Food shopping is plentiful with a selection of Supermarkets within easy reach. The nearest is approximately 3 minutes walk and has a varied stock including an excellent fish and meat counter. Further afield there is a large (English speaking) Consum supermarket on the road up from La Zenia, about 5 minutes by car. In Torrevieja there is a large Carrefour hypermarket from where you can purchase almost anything. Dotted around there are a wide range of other shops including furniture shops, gift shops, beach shops etc. It is always worth visiting the larger towns and cities of Torrevieja, Alicante and Cartagena for the wider shopping experience. Street markets feature heavily in the Spanish calendar and there is a large market in Torrevieja every day and at nearby Playa Flamenca on a Saturday morning. These markets are worth a visit but note that the asking price for many goods is not always the price that the vendor will take. -'Happy bartering'
Further Afield:
Villamartin provides a good base to strike out for some of Spain's most famous cities-Alicante, Valencia, Murcia and Cartagena spring to mind but there are many other places of interest such as La Manga, Orihuela, Elche, Torrevieja and Denia.
The Costa Blanca has more 'Blue Flag' beaches than any other area of Europe and many are within easy striking distance of the apartment. Closest is La Zenia but there are too many others to mention here. The common theme is of groomed stretches of sand, excellent facilities and safe blue waters to bathe in.
Dining Out:
Los Dolses plaza is a 2 minute walk from the apartment and it is a great place to spend an evening with a good selection of restaurants and some bars. The Chinese restaurant is particularly good and there is a Norwegian Restaurant which offers superb cuisine based around fish. In Villamartin Plaza (15 minutes walk) there are over 25 restaurants and bars with something for everyone including Steak Houses, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Hungarian, Fish Restaurants etc. Our favourite here is 'The Clubhouse' which offers a superb menu for all. Most restaurants cater for children. We would recommend that you book, particularly if you wish to eat later in the evening.
Further afield (10 minutes by car) the choice expands. There are two superb Italian restaurants in Cabo Roig and Playa Flamenca and on the main road away from La Zenia there are numerous authentic Spanish tapas bars/restaurants
Golf:
Villamartin Golf course has previously played host to the Spanish Open and is a minute or two away by car. Water is in play on 3 holes and the greens are large with well positioned bunkers. Campoamor is a short 5 minute drive away with its magnificent club house overlooking the course. It has large wide open fairways and excellent greens with many long par 4s. Las Ramblas is also only 5 minutes drive away. The course is located between 2 ravines on the shore of the Mediterranean and is a test for any golfer with its narrow fairways and greens. The most spectacular hole is a par 5 named 'La Platforma' It requires precision from tee to green and has 2 water hazards before reaching the green. The hugely popular American style course, La Finca, is a short 25 minute drive, situated at the foot of mount Escotera, in the municipality of Algorfa. Designed to host top tournaments it is a must play for all serious golfers.
marks the location of the property in Orihuela Costa
