Castillo de Arena

In an elevated position right by the water’s edge, Castillo de Arena provides the perfect introduction to the Costa Blanca town of Villajoyosa. Featuring impressive outdoor spaces and welcoming interiors, this three-bedroom villa has its magnificent pool overlooking the ocean and offers direct access to the beach.

You can relax on the terrace with the Mediterranean in full view at Castillo de Arena, where a charming dining area and a large stone barbecue oven can be found. There’s plenty of seating and sun loungers around the pool area, including covered areas when you want a little shade.

There’s a warm, homely feel to the inside of the house, with wooden beams and chunky furnishings adding an element of rusticity to the dining and living spaces. There is a natural feel throughout, with a lot of wood and stone used, while some exciting antiques and artworks add character to the areas.

You have high-quality appliances including a large oven in the spacious kitchen, along with more places to dine, including a breakfast bar. The house contains three air-conditioned bedrooms and two bathrooms over two floors, offering accommodation for up to six guests. There’s also a gym for those early morning workouts. The villa is well equipped with Wi-Fi, satellite TV and a safe and offers parking for two cars.

The town of Villajoyosa is large enough to provide everything you could need, and lies between the sea and the mountains – at some points, you have a great view of both at the same time. A long white sand beach is there to tempt you, along with a pretty Old Town and a range of great restaurants, many of them down on the beachfront.

From there, you can head north to Benidorm, Altea or Calpe, or south towards Alicante – made very easy by the coastal tram service which passes through Villajoyosa. With a host of water and wildlife parks and natural wonders like the Canelobre Caves to visit, there are always adventures to be had in this beautiful region.

Villajoyosa is a traditional Spanish town on the Costa Blanca, a short distance from Benidorm but lesser-known as a visitor destination. It is recognisable by the many coloured houses which face its long and wide beach, providing a contrast to the 3km clean, white sands in front of them.

The original purpose of this vibrant decoration was to help guide fishers home, as what is now a relatively large town was once a small fishing village – and it is still a big part of life in Villajoyosa today.

The reliably mild climate makes Villajoyosa an attractive place to stay all year-round, and its position between the sea and the mountains give it some scenic spots.