Seven Days in Denia: Loving Spain’s Costa Blanca

Villas, Beaches and a Slice of Spanish Sunshine

Welcome to The Boarding Pass Travel Blog. We’ve just returned from seven days in heaven aka, Denia, at the foot of Spain’s Costa Blanca. Return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow were an easy win, especially when paired with an Amex companion voucher that dropped the cost to £180. Bargain. The only snag? We landed in Barcelona, leaving us with a cool five-hour drive down the AP-7. Thankfully, we broke the journey at the picturesque town of Peñíscola, north of Valencia, with its castle-topped headland that feels straight out of a movie set.

Arriving in late September was a treat. Temperatures hovered in the mid-30s at first, before settling into warm, lazy afternoons perfect for wandering or lounging poolside. Our villa, booked through Solmar, came with three bedrooms, a pool and private drive. Solmar made everything easy, sending a string of onboarding emails with instructions on keys, safes and facilities. Smooth check-in, no fuss.

I'd highly recommend on visiting the Costa Blanca in mid to late September, it has something for everyone, and you don't need to remortgage to enjoy the region's many fabulous restaurants.

For wheels, I went with my tried-and-tested hire car vendor, RecordGo. Hiring vehicles can be a minefield with add-ons and fuel return traps (I’ll cover those in a future Boarding Pass post), but this time it was straight sailing.

And Denia? Loved it. The low footfall meant endless stretches of sand with only a handful of people on them. The port area bustles with ferries heading to Ibiza and Mallorca, and the town itself is framed by the Montgó Massif, a mountain that looms protectively over the bay. Eating out averaged around $35 per person, and every bite was worth it, fresh seafood, tapas, and that unhurried Mediterranean vibe that makes you wonder why you ever rush at home.

We couldn’t resist a trip to Valencia, just over an hour’s drive south. From its futuristic City of Arts and Sciences to its charming old town and vibrant food markets, Valencia is a city that blends history with modern flair. I’ll be dedicating a future Boarding Pass post to it, because it deserves its own spotlight.

Closer to home, we fell in love with Xàbia (Javea), only 25 minutes from Denia. Its sweeping bay offers superb restaurants and a laid-back vibe. While many of the beaches are pebble, they’re perfect for a relaxed afternoon, especially in late September when the crowds have melted away. The town is overlooked by some jaw-dropping hillside properties, giving it that picture-postcard Mediterranean feel. For a short break, Xàbia ticks every box.

Fun Facts About the Costa Blanca

• The Costa Blanca runs for about 200 km, from Dénia in the north to Pilar de la Horadada in the south.
• It’s named the “White Coast” thanks to its dazzling sandy beaches and whitewashed villages.
• Dénia is an official UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, celebrated for its red prawns and rich culinary heritage.
• The area boasts more than 300 days of sunshine a year, with average temperatures around 18–21°C.

Denia felt like Spain at its best, relaxed, beautiful, and not overrun. Sometimes it’s the quieter corners that really win you over. With its UNESCO stamp for gastronomy and a backdrop of the Montgó Massif, is Costa Blanca at its best. I'd highly recommend on visiting the Costa Blanca in mid to late September, it has something for everyone, and you don't need to remortgage to enjoy the region's many fabulous restaurants.

Would your next holiday be a quiet Costa Blanca villa stay, or a city break in Valencia?

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