Casa Louisa

48 Castillo de San Fernando
Castellons Vida 184
TEULADA
Spain

1. The Apartment and Accommodation
2. The Area
3. Booking Details
4. Getting There
5. Car Hire
6. Shopping and Eating Out
7. Clothes
8. Photographs

Situated on the Spanish Costa Blanca, on a quiet hillside on the outskirts of the town of Teulada and close to the fishing port/holiday resort of Moraira, the apartment has magnificent views of the Mediterranean Sea to the east and the mountains of the Sierra del Ferrer to the west. This part of Spain is known as the area of perpetual spring, enjoying as it does a typically Mediterranean climate with plenty of sunny days and few rainy days.

The property has the use of a large private swimming pool, with a children’s pool, and tennis courts near by. The sea, with gently sloping sandy beaches, is an easy 7 kilometres drive away at Moraira where there are all kinds of water sports, fishing, etc. There are many fine restaurants in the area catering for all tastes, from small beach bars and bistros to those offering first class International cuisine.

The apartment sleeps 4 and has all the usual facilities, with a main terrace and a smaller, private terrace leading off the second bedroom.

1. The Apartment and Accommodation

The apartment is of typical Spanish design and furnished in traditional Spanish style with ornate metal bars on the windows and doors. All windows have blinds and curtains. It has one double and one twin bedroom, each with ample wardrobe and drawer storage space. The twin bedded room has its own private balcony.

The lounge area has satellite television with video player, ample seating for up to eight adults and a good supply of holiday reading. The dining area has a table seating 6, two complete dinner services and sufficient glasses for a good size party! The kitchen leads off the lounge, the two separated by a bar and bar stools. In the kitchen there is a microwave oven, a gas cooking stove and oven, a fridge, electric kettles, toaster, coffee maker and all the necessary cooking utensils, saucepans, etc.

The main bathroom, with shower, toilet, bidet and bath, is located between the two bedrooms. There is an additional bathroom with shower, wash basin and toilet to the rear, adjacent to a store-room housing an ironing board and iron, cleaning materials, tools, beach umbrellas and blow-up lilos, dinghies, etc.

The main terrace has two patio tables, chairs and sun loungers.

The swimming pool and tennis courts are about half a kilometre as the crow flies but a little longer by road; if you prefer to go by car, there is a car park next to the pool.

2. The Area

Castellóns Vida is a private residential development situated on the outskirts of the town of Teulada, on the road to the smaller town of Benitachell. Teulada is very Spanish, has shops and banks and a weekly market and there is a narrow road leading there from Castellóns Vida. There is also a narrow road to Benitachell, also very Spanish, one access to which is behind the swimming pool car park. Slightly further away, 7 kilometres, is the attractive resort of Moraira with its safe swimming beaches, sailing, scuba diving, jet skiing and sea fishing. Further south along the N332 is the town of Benissa where, amongst other things, is the large supermarket "Mercadona" with underground car park.

There are a number of golf courses in the area and many opportunities to enjoy walks and horse riding in the surrounding hills and mountains. Separating Moraira from the historic town of Jávea to the north is the most easterly point on the Spanish mainland, Cabo de la Nao. Jávea itself is a place of three parts – Jávea Arenal with its rather crowded beach, apartment blocks and hotels, the more attractive but smaller Jávea Port with its commercial fishing fleet and marina a short way along the built up coast, and the historical old town, Jávea Pueblo, 2 kilometres or so inland, dating back to the 13^th Century. Here there are arched doorways, Gothic-style windows and balconies and a labyrinth of tiny streets and plazas. There is an indoor produce market open daily and a lively weekly market.

Separating Jávea from the next, larger town of Denia further north, is the 750 metre Montgo mountain, the top of which is visible from the front entrance steps of Casa Louisa. The coastal drive to Denia is over the steep foothills of Montgo along a road with many hairpin bends. Denia is also a commercial fishing port and the car ferry to Ibiza has daily sailings. There is a large marina and many shops, restaurants and bars.

The inland route to Denia and beyond, eventually to Valencia, is along the N332 and passes through Gata de Gorgos, famous for its canework and well worth a visit.

The attractive coastal road to the south of Moraira leads to Calpe, a large tourist resort with its 2 large sandy beaches and 300 metre high rock reminiscent of Gibraltar, the Peñon de Ifac (the three point top of which is visible from the balcony of Casa Louisa), and further south still, to the even larger resort of Benidorm.

3. Booking Details

Month	Cost per Week	Expected Weather	Average noon temperature
December, January, February & March	£220	Like a fine English Spring day	15 – 18 deg C
April and November	£250	Like a fine English Summer day	18 – 22 deg C
May and October	£270	Quite warm but cool at night	22 – 24 deg C
June and September	£310	Warm	24 – 27 deg C
July and August	£360	Very warm	27 – 32 deg C

Electricity, gas, water, towels and linen are included in the price; laundry and general cleaning will be taken care of after your departure. A "welcome pack" containing various essentials can be arranged for you to await your arrival. All services will be connected and the fridge will be on. For visits in excess of two weeks the price is negotiable.

4. Getting There

The nearest and therefore most convenient airport is Alicante. Further afield there is Murcia, to the south of Alicante, and Valencia to the north.

It is possible, but expensive, to travel by taxi to Castellóns Vida but, because of its location, once there some form of private transport is essential. There are buses from Teulada to Alicante and a very picturesque but slow single track railway with a station in Teulada. However, both of the these methods will entail getting from the airport to Alicante, either by bus or taxi. Car hire is the most practical method, easy to arrange from either Alicante or Valencia airport, and relatively inexpensive (see paragraph 5 below).

Normally, the journey from Alicante airport to Castellóns Vida takes about an hour by car. Detailed instructions on how to get there will be given to you nearer the date of your visit.

Area map

Teulada is the red star and Moraira beneath the 'a' of Benitachell.

5. Car Hire

There are any number of car hire companies at Alicante airport but it is far more convenient to book a car in advance and have it waiting for you on arrival. We have found the most efficient and cheapest is Jávea Cars and bookings can be made on-line, (JaveaCars.com), by fax (00 96 579 60 52) or by telephone (00 96 579 33 12 or 00 96 579 33 00 or 00 579 33 09). The hire company camper-vans (mobile offices) are located on the right hand side of the first floor of the multi-story car park immediately opposite the airport arrivals exit. You will need to show your driving licence and payment can usually be made (at least with Jávea Cars) by credit card. You will also need 1.80 euros or so in cash to validate the ticket for the airport car park exit barrier. If you do not have the cash there is a kiosk at which payment can be made.

6. Shopping and Eating Out

Most shops and restaurants take UK credit cards but some do not and it is therefore worth checking if you are short of ready cash. Travellers cheques can, of course, be changed at all banks, in Moraira, Teulada, Benitachell and Benissa, but check their customer opening times. Cash is available from cash points ("holes in the wall") outside banks using UK debit or credit cards but check to make sure that the cash point provides the service for your particular card. If you are buying groceries and other provisions, as in the UK the supermarkets ("supermercados") are the cheapest and most convenient option. Wines and spirits "on draft" can also be purchased at "bodegas", which can be found in most towns, including Moraira, Teulada and Benissa. Tobacco products can only be purchased in "Tabacos", government run outlets which generally do not take credit cards, ie you cannot buy tobacco products in a supermarket.

In case you are not familiar with Spanish customs, most local people do not have their lunch before 2pm and their evening meal before 9pm or 10pm but in the more popular tourist areas, eating habits tend to follow those of the visitors.

7. Clothes

In summer you will need onlythe lightest of clothing and in all but the smartest restaurants, dress is casual. There are only about 20 days of the year when there is any more than a few drops of rain and a light waterproof or umbrella may be advisable if you happen to be caught in one of these. In the cooler months you will need a jumper in the evenings.

8. Photographs