New Guides for our Guests

This week we've been to the tourist fair in Murcia, the second biggest such event outside of Madrid. It was fascinating and we've picked up lots of information for our guests which we will be building into the information pack which sits in our apartment.

We have also picked up an excellent guide to the 21 top quality golf courses here in Murcia. There is an overall description, details on each hole and of course contact details so that you can book in advance. This will remain in the apartment - it's a great resource for our golfing guests.

In addition there is also a guide which highlights the attractions in Murcia and Cartagena - it supplements our own information pack.

When you arrive at the property we do provide you with a map of Los Alcazares and answer any questions you have about local tourist attractions. I am also putting together a pre-holiday pack to send to you with your final booking confirmation - so that you can start planning your holidays in advance!

If there is any information you think you'd find useful to have before you arrive then please let me know, suggestions from our guests are always gratefully received.

Los Alcazares Beaches - Total Quality!

Los Alcazares is well known for its beautiful beaches therefore it comes as no surprise that they regularly win "Q" awards for quality. The Q status is awarded by the Institute of Quality Tourism in Spain and reviews areas such as water quality, safety, beach quality and all leisure facilities.

This year Los Alcazares not only won "Q" awards for its beaches - it received the accolade for every single one!! This means it is the only municipality in Spain to have Q awards for all of its beaches.

So if you are looking for the best beaches in Spain come and visit Los Alcazares.

Watch the video below to get a preview of the beaches in this wonderful location.

English Speaking TV & Radio Channels

We often get asked what English speaking TV & Radio Channels are available in the apartment. Below is the list of channels currently available. The standard BBC, ITV etc are all there.


TV
BBC 1,2,3,4
ITV1 1,2,3,4
Channel 4
More More
Channel 5
Eurosport 1&2
Teledeporte
Torresat Movies 1&2
Film 4
Movies 4 Men 1&2
Cinestar
Calle 13
Hollywood
MGM
XTRM
Showcase TV
Zone Thriller, Reality, Romantic, Horror
True Movies 1&2
Info. Channel
Biography Channel
National Geographical
Natura
History
Odisea
Sci-Fi
Viva TV
Sky & BBC News
BBC Parliament
BBC Alba
Fox
E4
Travel
Flava
Bliss
Scuzz
Flaunt
NME TV
Chartshow TV
The Vault
Disney Channel
Tiny Pop, +1
Kik!
Popgirl, +1
Pop!


Radio
BBC Radio 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
BBC Radio Scotland, Wales, Ulster, Asia WS, R.Cymtu, 1Xtra, N.Gael, London, Sweden
Exite FM
The Hits
RTE Radio
Torresat FM

(Please note: these channels can be changed by the supplier without notice)

Eating in Los Alcazares

As you will know from our website, our apartment in Los Alcazares is only a few hundred yards from a great selection of restaurants and bars. The area by the supermarket is becoming known locally as "Mercadona Square" and is in fact a square with a long boulevard where you will find a plethora of places to eat and drink. From pizza to Indian, American diner to roof-top restaurant the choice is excellent.

The closest restaurant to our apartment is one of the most established - a large Spanish restaurant called "El Patio". It is a favourite among our family and friends. In the summer months it has a lovely outside area - the patio - which has various soothing water features and atmospheric lighting. In winter you can sit inside and enjoy the heat from the huge roaring oven. Here you will see they heat up large flat stones which are then sent out to tables with plates piled hight with meat. This dish "meat on the stone" is popular, not just because the meat is so tasty, but also because everyone round the table can cook their meat as they like it - it's sociable, practical and fun!

We've tried many of the restaurants in Los Alcazares, both in Mercadona square and those in the old town but we always like to hear other people's experiences. Please add your own recommendations here - it's a great way to share foody hints and tips with other Los Alcazares aficionados.

Don't Miss the Tourist Attractions in Cartagena City

A couple of weeks ago I was talking to one of our guests at the end of their holiday in Los Alcazares. She said they had a great time and had caught the bus to both Cartagena and Murcia. However they were very disappointed with Cartagena as couldn't find anything to do - or any shops. I was really surprised to say the least, as it is my favourite destination to take friends and family - both for days out and shopping expeditions.

I'm now wondering whether it is perhaps not very obvious where you should go in the city when you leave the bus station - it is easy to end up in a back street suburb in any city. To avoid this I suggest that before you take a trip to Cartagena you pop into the tourist information centre in Los Alcazares and ask for a map of the city. If they don't have one, contact us - we always have a spare one lying around. Then you will see the main areas to visit - as I told our recent guest there are loads of Roman sites to visit, a tourist boat and a sightseeing bus. There are some great shops in the main street too and lots of lovely waterfront cafés and bars.

To give you a flavour of places to visit I've copied out a list of cultural sites that were published in our local newspaper, The Costa Calida Informer. I think it's helpful as it shows you just how much there is to see in the city. I've linked the streets to Google Maps so you can quickly get a sense of location. Please let me know what you think if you visit any of these attractions.

Municipal Archaeological Museum
Calle Rámon y Cajal
Tel: 968 539 027
Open: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 14:00h and from 17:00 to 20:00h.
Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 14:00h.
Closed: Mondays and Fiesta days.

Centre for the Interpretation of the Punic Wall
Calle San Diego, 25
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20:30h.

The House of Fortune
Plaza del Risueño, s/n
Open: From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20:30h.

Augusteum
Calle Caballero, No 2-4
Open: From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h

Decumanus (Roman Road)
Plaza de los Tres Reyes,s/n
Open: From Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h

Byzantine Rampart (Historical Centre)
Calle Doctor Tapia Martinez no 2
Tel: 968 50 79 66
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 13:30h and from 18:00 to 20:30h.
Closed: Mondays, Sundays and Fiesta days.

Roman Theatre Museum
Plaza de Ayuntamiento no 9
Tel: 968 52 51 49
Open: Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 to 20:00h. Sunday and Fiestas 10:00 to 14:00h.

Conception Castle. The Centre for the Interpretation of the History of Cartagena.
Parque Torres
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20.30h.

National Museum of Underwater Archaeology "ARQIVA"
Carretera Faro de Navidad
Open: From Tuesday to Thursday from 10:00 to 21:00h. Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00h. Sunday and Fiestas from 10:00 to 15:00h.

Arts and Crafts Centre
Calle Honda No 16
Tel: 968 52 46 31
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 14:00h and from 16:00 to 20:30h. Closed on Sunday, Monday and Fiestas.

Military Museum (Artillery Headquarters)
Plaza General López Pinto s/n.
Tel: 968 50 13 00
Open: Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00h. Saturdays, Sundays and Fiestas closed.

Christmas Fort
Algamenca Road
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:30 to 14:00h and 15:30 to 20:00h.

Aguirre House - Regional Museum of Modern Art
Plaza de la Merced 16.
Tel: 968 50 16 07
Open: Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 21:00h. Sunday 10:00 to 14:00h.

City Hall
Plaza de Ayuntamiento s/n.
Tel: 968 128 950
Open: Tuesday to Friday from 10:30 to 13:30h and from 17:00 to 19:00h.
Sunday from 10:30 to 13:30h.

Civil War Shelter Museum
Calle Gisbert, No.10
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20:30h

Panoramic Lift
Calle Gisbert, No.10
Open: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 14:30h and 16:00 to 20:30h

Naval Museum
Calle Menendez Y Pelayo, 8.
Tel: 968 12 71 38
Open: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 13:00h

Tourist Boat
Paseo de Alfonso XII
Departure from Monday to Sunday 10:30 then every hour.

Sightseeing Bus
Puertas De San Jose‎
Departure from Tuesday to Sunday every hour.

Please remember that times listed here may vary depending on season so check with tourist information if you want to be sure the attraction will be open.

An Evening in Cartagena

Cartagena Tourist Board and Council are organising night-time trips on the catamaran that is based in the Port of Cartagena. This is an ideal chance to find out about the history of Cartagena while enjoying a cocktail on board. These warmer summer evenings are just made for an evening like this.

The trips run on Thursday evenings throughout the months of July and August, from 9pm until 10pm and cost 18 euros. To reserve your place visit the Tourist Office in Cartagena (ask us for directions) or call 968 500 093. Spaces are limited to just 40 people per trip.

If you haven't visited Cartagena yet you are really missing out. Below is a video which gives you just a taster of all the things to see & do in Cartagena.

Roman Theatre Cartagena

When my sister and fifteen year old niece came to stay recently we decided to visit the new Roman Theatre Museum in Cartagena.

The entrance is located opposite the ornate and impressive Town Hall which houses the Tourist Information centre.

Entrance was 5 euros each and you begin by seeing many of the artifacts that have been found in and around the Theatre. Descriptions are in both Spanish and English and the objects on display give you a real insight into Roman life in Cartagena. There are also screens with CGI displays of what Cartagena and the theatre would have looked like during various ages.

As you follow the course of the Museum you find yourself entering the remains of the Church of St. Mariá la Vieja before you enter the theatre itself. It is quite something to be able to wander round the theatre - sections of it has been restored so you can get a real feel for what it must have been like when in use. You can stand on the reconstructed stage or look down from the highest 'seats' across the city.

Unlike many other museums when you leave you are not pushed through a shop full of souvenirs but let out a side gate where you can wander back to the town hall square through some of the lovely city streets.

If you are planning to go in July or August I would recommend getting there early morning before the heat builds. If you are visit with small children be aware that you'll need to supervise them closely in the actual theatre as there are plenty of potential climbing areas!

The theatre has a website www.teatroromanocartagena.org (available in English) although I think some of the detail needs updating.

The opening times on the leaflet we were given is as follows:

Winter:
From 1st October to April 30th (except Easter)
From Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00h.
Monday closed.

Summer:
From 1st May to September 30th (and Easter)
From Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00
Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00h.
Monday closed.