Hi Rusty
I made that same trip three times back in the 1990s; twice leaving England via Plymouth-Santander, and the third time from Portsmouth-Bilbao. I always went --> Madrid --> Valencia – turn right down the coast.
Even back in those days the main road network was very fast, so after disembarking the ferry it can all be done in a day if you roll-on the throttle. However, I stopped over in/around Madrid on two occasions just to break-up the ride.
There’s a little friendly township called Albir sitting in-between Altea and Benidorm, where I tended to stay. Dunno what Albir is like nowadays though, nearly 20 years later? Maybe it’s as overly commercialised as its two neighbours.
I recommend spending a little time – perhaps just a day or two, depending on your schedule – exploring the north coast of Spain; for instance, the region between Santander and Bilbao. It’s quite beautiful there, to the point I often wondered why everyone always seems hell-bent on racing down to the Costas, in preference to simply hanging around the Spanish Atlantic coastline.
But of course, you have a nice incentive to go to Altea, eh?! ..
Have a great trip.
Keith
|