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ALICANTE

11 Alicante life hacks that will make you feel like a local

Spain's Alicante province is home to 375,000 foreigners, but even in a sunny easy-going place where many choose to retire, life can have its challenges. Here are 11 hacks that will make life on the Costa Blanca run more smoothly for you.

11 Alicante life hacks that will make you feel like a local
An aerial view of Alicante, where one in every five people are foreigners. Photo: José Jordan/AFP

Alicante, a province that’s part of Spain’s Valencia region on the country’s east coast, is famous for its sandy beaches, year-round sun and international community. 

The city of Alicante, and the wider province that includes foreigner hotspots Torrevieja, Benidorm, and Villajoyosa, are a fantastic and affordable place to visit, but making the move permanent can be trickier.

Here’s a selection of tips, tricks and other hacks to make daily affairs and outings in Alicante easier and cheaper, based on the experiences of Conor Patrick Faulkner, a Spain-based journalist who’s lived in the province. 

Understand where you want to be

When many in the UK talk of Alicante, they are in fact referring to the wider Alicante province and its cluster of tourist hotspots. 

The city of Alicante itself is a medium-sized coastal city of around 330,000 and while international, is definitely a distinctly Spanish city. 

If you are thinking about moving to Alicante, consider if you want to be in the busier city, with a younger demographic, or in one of the many nearby towns that are popular among foreign retirees.

If you fancy the city and want a truly alicantino experience, hang out around the old neighbourhood of Santa Cruz, known as ‘el barrio’ by locals, for a taste of authentic Spanish nightlife.

The neighbourhood of Santa Cruz in Alicante. Photo: Olga Berrios
The neighbourhood of Santa Cruz in Alicante. Photo: Olga Berrios

Take advantage of Alicante’s location

Alicante-Elche airport is one of Spain’s most popular airports, with dozens of direct connections to British and European cities. 

It’s just 14km from the city itself, there are a number of bus services, and a taxi isn’t too expensive if you’re in a rush. There’s also a host of direct shuttle bus services to Benidorm and Torrevieja.

If you decide to live in the city itself, live as the locals do and explore the province. 

Beat the beach crowds

At the weekend, many alicantinos avoid Alicante’s more popular beaches and take day trips to beautiful coastal towns like Altea and Dénia, up the coast towards Valencia, or drive south to Murcia’s Costa Cálida.

San Juan and El Campello beaches are less touristy than Alicante’s main beach, El Postiguet, and many locals prefer to take the short drive or tram ride and get away from the crowds.

For Britons and Irish nationals who are really missing home, there’s always taking the 40-minute drive up to Benidorm and enjoying a full English breakfast or pint of beer. They can also make the journey on the province’s coastal tram service.

READ ALSO: The towns in Spain where Brits outnumber locals

One of the quieter beaches in El Campello. Photo: mandoft/Flickr
One of the quieter beaches in El Campello. Photo: mandoft/Flickr

Buy a tram pass

No true alicantino pays for single fares on the tram. Save yourself some money and pay for a BONO 10 or 30 pass and swipe on and off using your preloaded journeys. You can add extra journeys if you want to take a daytrip and explore the province. People under the age of 31 can get a free transport pass in Alicante until July 31st 2023.

Learn some Spanish

Although many foreigners in towns such as La Marina manage to get by only speaking English, take advantage of Alicante’s international population to pick up some Spanish. 

Many locals are keen to learn and practice their English, so head down to one of Alicante’s many intercambio de idiomas (language exchanges and learn some Spanish, or take classes at one of the city’s many language academies. 

Take advantage of the markets

Once you’ve picked up some Spanish, you’ll be ready to shop like a local and utilise Alicante’s fantastic markets. 

While locals of course use Mercadona and Consum, many buy their meat, fish, fruit and veg from either Alicante’s impressive Mercado Central, beneath the Castillo de Santa Bárbara, or the smaller twice-weekly Benalúa market.

This is a great way to save money and the produce is always fresher than the supermarket. Live as alicantinos do and buy, cook, and eat your fish the same day it was caught.

A butcher's at Mercado Central in Alicante. Photo: Lisa Risager/Flickr
A butcher’s at Mercado Central in Alicante. Photo: Lisa Risager/Flickr

Buy a water filter

While enjoying your fresh fish with a caña or glass of local wine is the true alicantino way to eat lunch, invest in a good quality water filter. Like in many coastal parts of Spain, the tap water isn’t great so many locals use filters not only for the taste, but for the economic and environmental advantages of not buying bottled water.

Slow down – get used to the pace of life

Many people move to Spain to relax on holiday or retire, but getting used to Alicante’s pace of life can take time.

Almost all shops, bars and cafes will close for two or three hours during the afternoon, when locals eat lunch and have a siesta, and very little is open on Sundays, even in the city. 

When making friends or attending language exchanges, let go of your British timekeeping. If you arrange to meet a local, don’t expect them to arrive until at least ten or fifteen minutes after you agreed, perhaps longer. 

Great views without the crowds

Head to San Fernando Castle (Castilla de San Fernando) if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle. 

Alicante’s most famous tourist attraction is el Castillo de Santa Bárbara, a huge 9th century fort castle with incredible coastal views that dates back to the Islamic Empire, but it is often overrun with tourists.

Many locals avoid Santa Bárbara and head instead to Sant Ferran, a short walk away, to enjoy the views. Live like a local and enjoy some food or drink in the surrounding hills. Younger locals often take food and drink and sit in the hills (known as a botellón) to save money.

Get some of the best views of the city while avoiding the crowds from the Castilla de San Fernando. Photo: Paco Cameo/Flickr
Get some of the best views of the city while avoiding the crowds from the Castilla de San Fernando. Photo: Paco Cameo/Flickr

Take advantage of Alicante’s freebies

 Alicante is a city with a host of free museums and attractions, including the Museo de la Ciudad de Alicante (MUSA) and Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Alicante (MACA).

Another good way to get discounts and enjoy freebies in Alicante are the BONO Shopping vouchers, offered by the Department of Commerce. BONO vouchers are worth up to €40 and can be spent in various clothing, footwear, accessories, stationery, computers, bookstores, fashion, opticians and hairdressers and are valid for ten days after you apply for them online.

Discounts for seniors

As part of the Valencia region, Alicante residents of a certain age are eligible to apply for the Valencia region’s ‘Tarjeta del Mayor’ which offers discounts on many services, museums and concerts. To be eligible you must be at least 65 years old and resident in one of Valencia’s municipalities.

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UNDERSTANDING SPANIARDS

Nine things you should never say to a Valencian person

Whether it be insulting their regional dishes, turning your nose up at their favourite celebrations, or insinuating they're all corrupt, there are a few things you should never say to a Valencian, writes Valencia resident Conor Faulkner.

Nine things you should never say to a Valencian person

Paella with chorizo (or anything non-traditional)

Valencians will proudly tell you that paella originated in the Valencia region, and they’d be right. The first written recipes date back to the 18th century, though historians believe this classic of Spanish gastronomy dates back much further than that, and existed for possibly centuries before as a rural dish that threw together ingredients to hand in the region, namely rabbit, chicken, rice, and green beans.

However, Valencians are pretty particular when it comes to paella recipes, as British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver found out a few years ago when he put chorizo in his recipe and caused an internet meltdown.

Adding anything non-traditional to a paella, especially chorizo, will undoubtedly lead locals to dismissively describe it as mere arroz con cosas (rice with stuff).

READ ALSO:

Calling the pan a ‘paellera’

That in mind, don’t call the huge pan used to make paella a paellera, as some people mistakenly do. This is another sure way to rub a Valencian up the wrong way, because a paella is actually both the dish and the pan. This is a bit of a linguistic sore point for Valencians, as places like Amazon and even El Corte Inglés advertise paelleras.

A real paellera, for those interested, actually refers to the woman or man who makes paellas (who would never, ever dream of adding chorizo!).

Saying Las Fallas are loud/annoying/overrated (or anything negative)

Closely following paella when it comes to Valencian pride is las fallas, the city’s famous fire celebrations. Las Fallas, for those who haven’t ever been, is essentially a three week street party with fireworks and the burning of huge papier-mâché figures known as ninots.

Las Fallas comes from a centuries-old tradition of fire, humour, satire (ninots of celebrities and famous figures are burned) and community spirit (often each neighbourhood will have its own falla or club). However, the main thing about fallas is the noise, specifically the fireworks.

Every day at 2pm there’s the mascletá, a huge, incredibly loud firework display outside the town hall, and the rest of the city is filled with the booms, bangs, whizzes and roars of fireworks for most of the month (and most of the night).

For some Valencians, fallas is a bigger deal than Christmas, so don’t criticise it, even if you really don’t enjoy it. To do so would be like questioning their sense of self and identity, their sense of ‘Valencianess’. It would be like telling a Sevillano that Semana Santa is a bit of a drag… good luck with that.

However, say it quietly, but some Valencians agree and actually leave town themselves during fallas.

READ ALSO:

Say Valenciano is a Catalan dialect

Accusing Valencians of being southern Catalans (Catalanes del sur) or speaking a dialect of Catalan is another surefire way to annoy them.

Though Valencian isn’t widely spoken in the city, in the towns and villages around the wider Valencian Community, it’s still very common and locals take great pride in speaking it (regardless of how linguistically similar it is to Catalan!).

READ ALSO: Do I need to learn Valencian if I live in Spain’s Valencia region?

Criticise the oranges

Valencian oranges are famous, right? Not only are they delicious, but orange trees line the streets around the city (not that you should actually eat those) and make it very picturesque.

Like with paella, criticising Valencian oranges would be a serious affront to Valencian identity and gastronomy — don’t do it!

READ ALSO: Why are there so many blooming oranges in Valencia?

Turn your nose up at horchata

Staying on that theme, saying that you don’t like horchata is another faux pas in Valencia.

Horchata, for those who haven’t tried, is a cold, refreshing drink made with sweetened tiger nuts, and usually dipped with long bits of pastry called fartons.

Ask if they are all corrupt

Valencia has, like many parts of Spain and the world, had its fair share of corrupt politicians and public figures over the years. In fact, in the 90s and early 2000s it became a bit of a stereotype and stain on the Valencian brand.

It’s true that there have been quite a few corrupt politicians, from former regional president Francisco Camps to ex-mayor Rita Barberá, but that does not reflect at all the average Valencian, who as a rule is very, very honest.

READ ALSO: Is Spain as corrupt as it was a decade ago?

Ask if they’ve been to La Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

Of course they have, it’s arguably the most famous attraction in Valencia!

However, the City or Arts and Sciences is not something that many Valencians would visit or even think about in their day-to-day lives. Asking them about it is probably something they’ve heard 1,000 times before from foreigners.

Asking if they know Calatrava personally or say that he is the only famous Valencian

That in mind, one thing that annoys some Valencians is the claim that world-famous architect Santiago Calatrava (the architect behind the Artes y Ciencias complex) is the only famous Valencian, or asking if they personally known him.

For those less up to speed on Valencian celebrities, locals will be quick to remind you of painter Sorolla, composer Joaquín Rodrigo, fashion designer Mariscal, singer Camilo Sexto, TV presenters Pablo Motos, Arturo Valls and Nuria Roca, footballers Andrés Palop and David Albelda as well as tennis stars Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Ferrer, just to name a few.

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