Spain Travel Answers

I would return to Alicante the day before your return flight tospend the ight in an hotel close to the airport. Have you looked at www.viamochelin.com for itinerary and driving times? It is a good fast road but there can be delays - we were once held up for nearly two hours - when a lorry ahead of us dropped a load of tons of potatoes across rhe cariageway. For fuel prices see - drive-alive.co.uk/fuel_price...

Have you checked the cost of transferring to another flight from Alicante to Malaga? It might be cheaper to actually transfer than to rebook . . . and probably cheaper than driving too. You could try calling the airline, accepting full blame for the error and throwing yourself on their mercy. That might work to get the flight changed . . . or get you a discount on a continuing flight to Malaga. Just a thought. Good luck. I do agree that if you decide on the driving option you should go back the day before to avoid a delay on the road and missing your flight.

Option 3 is of course to stay in Alicante???!!!

I also would have last day in Alicante to taste locally their paella for dinner, nice sleep and easy back to airport. Better spend £450 for a car and travel more a little bit.

I agree with Ranger49, and stay a night in Alicante. oh well you will see more of Spain this way. cheers

I really think you ought to swallow your pride and cost and stay in the same place as your flights. IE re-book flights to Malaga or rebook accomodation along the Alicante-Moraira coast.

And, how many days?

Well, it is not that much, it's only 480 km! As proposed above, you have several options, and perhaps it would be an opportunity to know Alicante area, there are many nice villages you could stay (unless you have booked also your accommodation). In case you finally fly to/from Alicante and drive to Malaga, do come back one day before your departure. Have in mind that A7 highway withstands heavy traffic (all the trucks carrying fresh fruit and vegetables from Huelva/Almeria/Murcia to other Spanish and European markets). The journey can be done in 5 hours plus stops, and 98% of times you would arrive within this time, BUT sometimes there are jams, as Barbara said. I take A-7 everyday and it takes me exactly the same time almost every day, but a few times I’ve been stuck on the highway for hours. A driver’s tip: between km 714 and 719 (16 km from Alicante airport) there are works and there is a lane reduction. It’s well signed, just pay attention to the yellow signs (many drivers do not). On the opposite sense, there is no reduction but the road surface is uneven, just a bit of precaution when coming back (it’s near the end of the journey, don’t relax before you reach the airport).

So what are you doing? Wife killed you?

Probably. He did not enter anymore.

OK all, thanks for the advice. Nope, the wife hasn't killed me. Yet.... We've settled on turning our short, cheap holiday into a longer, more expensive holiday. Flying into alicante and getting a hire car and spending a couple of days mooching down the coast and plan to get to benalmadena (staying at a relatives apartment who is away all summer, ie stayy as long as we want)a day or two later. Stay there a week, having plenty of trips out so we can get to see a lot of spain. Then we're getting return flights from malaga at an expense of about £400. Take a wild, crazy guess on who's paying for that... So all in all, this has turned out ok, with the kids having a bit of an adventure, me seeing more of spain, and the wife not doing 15-25 years for my murder. Bargain!

Enjoy!

Nice to have news from you. We were worried. Finally you got a solution and £400 isn't too high price for your life ;-) Enjoy your holidays!

indeed glad all work out and the car option is great, see more.Cheers Enjoy Spain