COSTA BLANCA, ALICANTE PROVINCE: NEWS

Disney's Tangled is bringing over €40 million to Alicante and the Valencian CommunityWith up to 700 people working daily at Ciudad de la Luz, the live-action Rapunzel film is proving a major economic win for the region If you've driven past the Ciudad de la Luz studios in Alicante recently and noticed rather more activity than usual.. 19/08/2026

Spain's Mediterranean coast is quietly becoming a major destination for swinger tourismFrom Murcia and Alicante to the Costa del Sol and beyond, liberal leisure is growing fast along southern Spain's coastline this summer Spain has long been known for its sunshine, beaches and relaxed attitude to life, but there's another kind of.. 19/08/2026

German teenager strangled, beaten and robbed after leaving Cabo Roig StripThe 16-year-old says he was grabbed from behind and strangled before losing consciousness in the Campoamor area A 16-year-old German tourist has reported being attacked and robbed after leaving the Cabo Roig Strip in the early hours of Saturday morning.. 19/08/2026

Mediterranean nears 30°C as Spain braces for temperatures of up to 44°CThe latest heatwave is adding to already unusually warm Mediterranean waters, with temperatures above 30°C recorded in some areas Spain is facing another day of intense summer heat, with temperatures expected to climb as high as 44°C in parts.. 19/08/2026

Red alert issued for northern Alicante as temperatures set to hit 44°CTemperatures will reach the mid-40s in several parts of Alicante province on Wednesday August 19 Alicante is bracing for one of the most extreme days of the summer, as Aemet has issued a red alert for the northern coast of the province on Wednesday.. 18/08/2026

Benidorm's most permanent souvenir isn't a fridge magnetBritish tourists are leaving the Costa Blanca resort with something rather more lasting than a suntan, and the tattoo industry is booming as a result Most people come home from Benidorm with a tan, a hangover and perhaps a novelty hat. An increasing number.. 18/08/2026

Three British nationals arrested after allegedly isolating and defrauding a 91-year-old expat in CalpeThe suspects changed the locks, withheld her passport and tricked her into rewriting her will, before police stepped in under Operation Confide A 91-year-old British woman living alone in the Costa Blanca resort of Calpe was subjected to months of calculated.. 18/08/2026

Rail works disrupt Murcia to Alicante line with buses replacing trains for over a weekMore than 56,000 seats have been arranged on replacement buses as engineers upgrade the Torrellano to Crevillente stretch Anyone travelling by train between Murcia and Alicante over the coming days will need to swap the railway for the road as engineers.. 18/08/2026

Torrevieja demands action on N-332 widening after years of delaysMore than 60,000 vehicles use the notorious bottleneck outside Torrevieja every day Anyone who regularly drives between Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa will know the N-332 bottleneck all too well. Now, after years of promises and waiting, Torrevieja.. 17/08/2026

Bars and restaurant terraces in Spain could be forced to close during heatwavesOutdoor services will be suspended across Spain when temperatures hit 42°C unless businesses meet strict requirements to protect staff If you’re planning to enjoy a drink or meal outside during one of Spain’s increasingly intense heatwaves.. 17/08/2026

Retirement age in Spain rises to 67 in 2027Spain’s retirement age reaches 67 next year, but you could still retire at 65 depending on how long you’ve paid into the system Are you already dreaming of the day you can relegate the suit to the back of the wardrobe in favour of flip.. 17/08/2026

Heat, highs of 42C and storms on the way: Alicante weather forecast August 17-20Temperatures will rise again across the Alicante Province this week, with the hottest day expected to be Wednesday before storms arrive There has been a bit of a shift in the weather recently, with storms in inland areas helping to break the humidity.. 17/08/2026

Plastic bags, mini shampoos and wrapped fruit all set to vanish from Spanish shopsThe new EU packaging law lands in Spain this week, reshaping how shops sell everything from fruit to toiletries A sweeping new EU packaging law comes into force across Spain this Wednesday August 12 and it's set to change everything from the labels.. 14/08/2026

Buying a home in Spain with cash is becoming increasingly rare as prices push more buyers towards mortgagesThe proportion of cash purchases has fallen to a five-year low, with rising property prices eroding the savings advantage that once allowed many buyers to avoid borrowing altogether Something is shifting in Spain's property market. Cash purchases.. 14/08/2026

Benidorm's shops are struggling despite a busy tourist season, and traders say something needs to changeThe independent retailers' association has identified various reasons why spending is down this summer  Benidorm's hotels may be doing well this summer, but the same cannot be said for its shops. The Independent Commerce Association of Benidorm.. 14/08/2026

Valencian Community records 20 medical emergencies during solar eclipseMore than 500 people were treated across 14 autonomous communities in Spain The huge crowds that gathered across Spain to watch Wednesday's total solar eclipse led to more than 500 people receiving medical attention, although there were no major.. 14/08/2026

Diesel discount in Spain set to rise to 20 cents in SeptemberThe government is increasing the planned diesel discount after diesel prices across Spain jumped 15.7% in July There’s finally some good news for motorists as the government has just announced that drivers in Spain will get a bigger discount.. 14/08/2026

WATCH! Spain's total eclipse turns into a cloudy disappointment for thousands Thousands watched the skies only to see clouds roll in at the worst possible moment, but southern Spain gets another chance in August 2027   🌘 Murcia ha vivido un momento mágico con el eclipse solar. 🏰Desde las Fortalezas.. 13/08/2026

August 15 is a bank holiday across Spain: Check which supermarkets are openFind out which establishments will be closing this Saturday, the feast day of Our Lady of the Assumption and a national holiday in Spain If you need to do a supermarket run this weekend, you’d do well to check the opening hours before heading.. 13/08/2026

Spain is making it much easier to spot spam calls, starting this OctoberFrom Friday October 17, all commercial calls must use a new 400 prefix, making telephone scams instantly identifiable and easier to block If you're fed up with unsolicited calls from companies trying to sell you something, or worse, scammers pretending.. 12/08/2026