The United States is an immense source market for travelers and in the city of Alicante, where until recently it hardly counted for statistical purposes, it is already the seventh international one, with more than 6,500 visitors staying until the May long weekend in hotels or apartments in the city. city, according to data provided by the municipal tourism department.
Furthermore, 16% of arriving cruise passengers come from the United States, and in the last two years several North American companies have been interested in Alicante as a conference destination. And that interest has already been reflected in the meeting of 400 people belonging to an insurance consortium last March.
But what does the American tourist find in Alicante that has sparked this interest? This same week, the specialized website TravelOffPath offers an answer in a report titled “5 reasons why you should visit this lesser-known destination in Spain.”
According to the North American publication, “believe it or not, despite its immense popularity – it is the second most visited country in Europe after France -, much of the southern coast of Spain remains undiscovered by American visitors, who “They are often limited to two or three tourist spots.”
“This leaves beautiful Alicante out of the picture,” the article continues, “a tourist city on the shores of the Mediterranean, where a pint of beer costs $4 and beach hotels can cost $54; Now, if you’re British or German, you’re probably rolling your eyes.” Because, he explains, “for them, Alicante has been one of their favorite getaways to the sun for decades.” But Americans are starting to figure it out, and there are “five reasons why they should.”
The first, “it is a beach destination all year round, thanks to a warmer climate than the rest of Europe, given its proximity to Africa, but quite temperate.” The city is “a typical seaside getaway, with skyscrapers and rows of perfectly arranged palm trees lining a long municipal beach, where you’ll find locals lounging on the golden sand and sunbathers plying the bright blue waters of the Mediterranean as early as April.” .
The second reason is one of the great arguments of Alicante: its excellent air connection with the main European capitals at very competitive prices. North Americans who travel to Europe usually visit the best-known cities, such as Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, Barcelona or London, but there are many who reserve a few days to enjoy a beach destination, and Alicante has frequent cheap flights with All of them.
“No, it doesn’t have non-stop transatlantic flights from America,” the article explains, “but once you land in Europe, it’s incredibly easy to fly to Alicante from virtually anywhere,” even for a “paltry $26 from London.”
Thirdly, “unlike Marbella or Benidorm,” says the American prescriber, “it is a young city” and does not have an aging population nor has it been “taken over by expatriates from northern Europe (mostly British).” It is, above all, he adds, “a university city, so its demographics are constantly “renewed,” contributing to an incredibly diverse social scene, as Alicante welcomes young students from all over Spain, as well as from other parts of the world.” .
Nightlife is mainly centered in “El Barrio”, a “bohemian” district located a few steps from the emblematic cathedral, full of casual tapas restaurants and popular bars, and the general atmosphere is quite cozy.
The fourth factor to take into account is a historical heritage highly valued by the new world traveler: “Alicante is not only a coastal tourist center dominated by modern buildings and the usual beach clubs, it has a great history, since it was an important seaport in the Middle Ages and, even before that, it housed one of the most powerful caliphates during the eight centuries of Muslim occupation of Spain.”
It highlights “the eclectic architecture of the old town, combining Islamic elements with the classic Mediterranean labyrinth of low whitewashed houses, and is even crowned by an ancient castle (Santa Barbara), perched on a hill overlooking the city beach.”
Finally, the price: “You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy a satisfying Mediterranean holiday, and Alicante is proof of this: forget the overpriced hostels in Sitges or the exorbitantly expensive restaurants in Ibiza; in Alicante he can get by with 913 dollars per week,” the report states.
