The above was on ITV1 on 24th June 2009, it was the first part of a program called "Spain: Paradise Lost".

Local Facilities/La Marina/Costa Blanca/Golf Courses

La Marina comprises of two separate areas with the village, around 600 metres from the sea and the urbanisation where the majority of the newer properties are built about a mile inland. La Marine village has retained its Spanish feel, whilst down on the beach there is plenty of free parking just behind the famous sand dunes and pine forests at La Marina beach and also at El Pinet. They are both blue flag beaches andhave all the amenities to hand along with a restaurant

by each car parkand a beach bar at the La Marina beach. Alternatively there is a restaurant just behind the La Marina beach called La Pinada that specialises in fish and grilled meats, but also serves snacks and drinks both inside and on its terrace.

There is an abundant supply of bars and restaurants to suit every taste and pocket on La Marina Urbanisation, as well as supermarkets to supply all your needs for a stay here. There are also a number of excellent Indian and Chinese restaurants with take away facilities, ideal for a lazy night in with a good movie or curry by moonlight on a roof top solarium.

There is an abundance of wildlife close at hand with the Salinas de Santa Pola having one of the largest flocks of flamingos in Spain and the famous El Hondo nature reserve close by.
With mountains inland and salt lakes to either side the area has its own microclimate with little rain. The World Health Organisation recognises it as the healthiest place to live and stay in Europe.

No doubt, this fact played a part in La Marina recently being listed in the top 10 best emigration destinations by "Homes Overseas" magazine (July 2006 edition).

The Costa Blanca coastline is world famous for its excellent beaches and golfing facilities. However, there is so much more to do than just bask in the sunshine. This part of Spain has been occupied by many different peoples over the centuries, each leaving their own historical influences on the area. As a result, the region is home to some stunning cultural landmarks: castles overlooking the sea; ancient villages; impressive cities, all built and added to by many conquering races. There is also some stunning countryside, including the largest palm grove in Europe at nearby Elche.
So why not explore some of these treasures during your stay ? There are many places you could tick on a "must-see" list. We would include among them Alicante itself (more than just an airport!), Torrevieja, Elche, Orihuela and - especially for the kids - Terra-Mitica. Around 2hrs drive north along the AP-7 is the city of Valencia, the 3rd largest in Spain, and well worth a visit. However, the real "must-see" of the area has to be, the tiny village of Guadalest, inland from Benidorm. Carved out of the mountain, access to the village is through one very small and narrow entrance, for easy defence in times of emergency; a fascinating and truly unique example of local Spanish heritage.

As expected, there is an abundance of water sports available to try in the Torrevieja area. There are also marinas in Torrevieja and Alicante. For children there is an Aqua Park found in nearby Quesada, which also has a number of shops restaurants, bars, banks and the like to meet all your holiday requirements. There are many markets held in the local towns and villages, or a drive into Torreveija takes you to more sophisticated shopping. For a completely different aspect, the hills which back onto the Costa Blanca offer some superb walking, especially further north towards Benidorm and Denia.

Due to the excellent Spanish motorway network, Valencia is only a couple of hours away, which is ideal as Formula 1 gears up for its second urban based circuit in Europe (Monaco being the first), to be held in Valencia in 2008. The new circuit is based around the City of Arts and Sciences and the Marina area at Port Americas Cup. Surpassing Monaco and taking the lead as the new European Grand Prix, the race will be held on the 24th August 2008 around the Mediterranean port where developments for the circuit are well under way.
Costa Blanca Golf
There are several golf courses in the area although closest to the villa is the La Marquesa Golf Course of Ciudad Quesada, which is around 10 minutes drive away. Its wide fairways with large channels, lakes and obstacles will be to the taste of most players. It is an extremely comfortable course to play on and you will need to use all the clubs in your bag.

A little further on is El Plantio Golf Course, which is an unspoilt area of Elche. It is both interesting and fun to play on, being a filled with trees and 3 large lakes with a great variation of greens. It is planned to be much larger in the near future.

La Marina is especially well located at the mid point of the golfing mecca that is the Costa Blanca North & South. Here, you will find easy access to the local courses, with an even greater choice being available via the nearby motorway network.