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Sitting at the entrance to old Cartagena, this classic hotel is excellent value. The comfortable rooms are rather bland, but the restaurant is renowned throughout town.

This pretty, medium-sized hotel has villa-style rooms, a swimming pool, and a decent restaurant. The attentive staff can arrange excursions to nearby attractions. It’s a 10-minute walk to the beach and the centre of Moraira.

This rural hotel has nine rooms and suites, plus a self-catering apartment and bungalow. You can use the hotel’s facilities, which include a pool, tennis courts, and a play area for children. Staff can organize horse riding, and help plan walking routes in the surrounding sierras.

This handsome farmhouse set in the remote valley of Penáguila is surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery. Rooms are on the small side; the five bungalows are a better bet. There’s a bar and restaurant (both popular with locals), a pool, and a fitness area.

This striking modern complex set on the edge of the pretty village of Altea, has five-star amenities – notably, enormous bathrooms and spectacular sea views. The hotel is surrounded by tropical gardens and boasts an outdoor pool, sports centre and spa.

Converted from a 17th-century rice mill, this spectacular hotel (with pool) mixes traditional and ultra-modern styles. Some of the rooms are wheelchair-accessible. The restaurant serves good regional dishes.

A sleek chain hotel with a striking glass façade and lobby, in the heart of Alicante yet still handy for the beaches. It’s geared toward business travellers, so look out for good deals at weekends and out of season.

Easily the most stylish city hotel in Murcia, it exudes an air of old-fashioned formality. The celebrated cocktail and tapas bar “La Muralla” is built around the original Arabic wall. Its restaurant (see Rincón de Paco, Caravaca de la Cruz) is one of the best in the region.

A handsome seafront complex, the Oliva Nova is set around an 18-hole golf course designed by Seve Ballesteros. Most rooms and suites have sea views. Some even have private pools.

This web-based company offers villas and apartments throughout the Costa Blanca, booked directly through the owners. Some places can be booked for as little as one night. The website also advertises B&B accommodation and guesthouses.