Playa Flamenca is a 'very Britsh' residentual urbanization about 40 minutes south of Alicante, on a part of the Costa Blanca known as the Orihuela Costa.

There are enough bars and restaurants about, and plenty more just a short drive away. The bigger nightclubs, Pacha and KKO, are situated in nearby Torrevieja.

I wouldn't want to be stuck there without a car (or with one, come to think of it!). But if you are just using the place as a base, then it shouldn't be too bad.

Information about the general area can be found HERE (Campoamor is about 5km from Playa Flamenca)

The weather should be warming up nicely by April. You may be able to spend a few days on the baeches, but there could be the chance of rain

Hi all. We going to Alicante 2nd April and worrying that it'll be "closed" or not much open. Is anyone going before then, or has been recently to let us know what to expect? We're not wanting much, just some bars/restaurants which aren't deserted!!! Thanks

Why would anyone think that Alicante shuts down except for UK holiday season?

It is the second largest city in the entire Valencia region. It is also an important working city with a resident population of some 400,000.

The only bars and restaurants that will be deserted are the ones that deserve to be.

(I can see now that your second post has been merged with your first enquiry about Alicante. As I explained before, you are staying in Playa Flamenca, which is about 50km from Alicante city. Playa Flamenca is residential, a housing estate in the sun, if you like. The residents are mainly retired. The bars and restaurants there are quite for this time of year. It will be busier in April, but tourist numbers have been down all over Spain.)

Hi Oly Daze- thanks again for your response but I didn't literally mean shut down - it was meant to be a light hearted comment, as we've been to places before, before the main holiday season starts and it felt like it was "shut". I hope your comment about places being shut that deserve to be, is also light hearted but I'm guessing you really mean it as in your previous post you said you wouldnt want to be stuck there!? Do you hate it that much?!
I realise where we're staying etc but was wondering if anyone has recently been on a break or holiday that might post something on more of a holidaymaker point of view, rather than an expert point of view!

I drove through Playa Flamenca at around 2pm on Thursday and again at 5pm yesterday.

The shops, bars and restaurants are very quite, even for this time of year. Many places are doing special offers on food and drinks (ie. Cheap menus de los dias and two for the price of one on drinks), but even that is not attracting much interest.

The main coast road is being widened between Pilar de la Horadada and Alicante, with a lot of work taking place on the Playa Flamenca stretch. To access the beaches you will have to negotiate the ongoing works.

Every Saturday there is a market in Playa Flamenca. If your rental property is anywhere near where the market is held you will have to park your hire car somewhere else from Friday evening.

As previously mentioned, the area is popular with retired British people, so it is unlikely that you will hear any Spanish spoken during your stay. The commercial centres in the area are there to cater for that trade. Almost exclusively the bars are English (or Irish) owned and the restaurants, although diverse, do not, in my opinion, offer very good value for money.

I would only advise using the place as a base to explore other areas. As somewhere to sleep, in fact.

For that reason, and to get as much enjoyment from your stay, I would suggest that a hire car is essential. If you are going to invest in a hire car, and you would like to give me some information about what you and your friends would like to experience (and eat!), then I can give you details and directions for places to visit.

If, for any reason, you decide not to get a hire car, then I am sure that you will be very disappointed with your choice of area.