Alicante Warnings and Dangers

It was somewhat surprising to see on a recent visit how openly the second oldest profession was being 'advertised' in Alicante.

During the daytime there always a few very ropey old tarts hanging around an area about a couple of streets back from the front, just to the south of the Ramblas area. I don't wish to cast aspertions, but it made 'Grab a granny / fondle a fossil' night at a dodgy nightclub in Catford look classy in comparion. I hasten to add that our hotel was near this area, so it was unavoidable.

In the evening, the area of the old Flour facory on the Murcia road (the main dual carriageway out of the city to the south) had a good number of 'ladies of the night' patrolling. The outfits worn there left little to the imagination, even if one or two hid their ample wares being large overcoats that were flapped open to the gaze of any man who was travelling alone in a car. I suspect that some of the insurance claim forms for any accidents that result from this behaviour make for interesting reading.

Abductions of laptops, cellphones and other expensive objects like cameras are very likely to take place in the Airport of El Altet. If you are going to come or leave from Alicante, bring every valuable item with you, use a good padlock or roll the suitcases in plastic before arriving at Alicante. Beware the hi-tech snatchers!

Okay, Alicante is not the most dangerous spot in the Costa Blanca (at least it's not as crazy as Torrevieja or Benidorm) but you must always be careful... At night: 1) Try not to walk dark streets on your own; 2) Leave bags of jackets in some place you can see them (specially in nightclubs) 3) If you use a car, don't leave any object at sight if you don't thieves to break a glass and have it, 4) Never enter El Postiguet beach sandy side if you are drunk and 5) Never ever spend the night on the beach (even if you don't plan to fall sleep). If you do, be sure first that you don't have any valuable objects with you.

During the day, avoid El Postiguet beach. At the Plaza del Mar, on the end of the Explanada promenade you can take a tramway to San Juan for less than a euro and enjoy a calmer and safer bath there. If you have no option, if you must stay in stinky dirty El Postiguet and you are alone, bring your stuff to some Spanish family and ask them to please take care of it. Most of them will accept kindly.

If even after this advice your wallet disappears, try to find it in the rocks by the huge hotel by the coast. I found mine there :P

Careful at night in Alicante.I met three unpleasent thugs on my only night out in Alicante who proceeded to slap me,mug me and get 10 euros.Not much, however the experience was not pleasent, and i urge anyone not to walk into darkened streets, darkened allys and if in trouble get a taxi home.Do not attempt to fight back, i had no chance a three on one is not good odds.

I know that one of the high priorities on many peoples minds is to get in the Sun as fast as they can and for as long as they can to get a tan to be proud of when they return home. But.........

BEWARE OF THE SUN !

If you are fair skinned or even if not, USE Sun protection cream or lotion BEFORE hitting the beach. Even if just walking around town you can suffer from the Suns effects.

Buy and wear a Hat or Cap to protect the top of your head.

DO NOT sunbathe on the first day for more than TEN MINUTES ! I know that does not seem a lot of time but to avoid looking like a lobster and feeling itchy and uncomfortable, ten minutes only is recommended. Then gradually lengthen the time each day.

Remember that when in the Sea or Pool, the water acts like a mirror and reflects extra Ultraviolet back at you.

Seawater having a high salt concentration, has the same effect as putting salt on Pork Crackling ! So shower off as soon as you come out of the sea or saltwater swimming pool. By the way, beware of the little showers on the beach. They are intended for removing sand and are SALT water; so a shower in your apartment / hotel is better unless you are CERTAIN that the water is not salty!

Ladies if you don't need to carry a handbag then DON'T! Bag snatchers are rife all along the Costa Blanca, especially in the larger towns, Benidorm, Alicante and Torrevieja.
They have a variety of methods, the most dangerous of which is the drive-by snatch they drive past you in a car and lean out of the window snatching your bag then accellerating away. Last year a lady was killed in Torrevieja as she was dragged by the car. They also try this on motor bikes as well.
My bag was snatched by a youth who just crept up behind me, grabbed it and ran, we ran after him and just as we thought we were gaining, he leapt into a waiting car which sped off.
Since then I've always used a 'bum bag' ('fanny pack' if you're American), or just not used a bag at all.
Be aware of who's around you. Don't walk on the road side of the pavement with your bag road side. Don't go down dark roads or alleys even with a companion.
What I found was EXTREMELY USEFUL register all your credit cards with some sort of Card Protection Plan so that if you do lose them all, you only have to phone one number even from abroad and they will cancel them all for you immediately, and re-order new ones. These services will also arrange for emergency cash to be available for you if you need it.

water is a scarce resource in this dry area where rain is so rare. Nevertheless the eyeshorted authorities are obsessed with an unsustainable model of tourist development: more and more golf courses and theme parks and other water demanding activities are planned. There is certainly not much we can do as tourists on this regard but awareness should be arised that many of our leisure activities are incompatible with the respect of the environment.

Pickpockets & Beggars - the main bus staion seems to be a mecca for the beggars who all seem to have spent their money on booze! Keep an eye on your luggage as the self-appointed bellboys seem to walk in the opposite direction when they latch on to your bag!