With effect from yesterday, Wednesday 22nd April 2026, British-resident pet owners can no longer travel with their animals under the EU Pet Passport scheme and must instead obtain a new Animal Health Certificate (AHC) each time they enter Spain or any other EU country.

Many regular visitors and holiday home owners in Orihuela Costa obtain a Pet Passport for their cat or dog locally in Spain to ensure economical, hassle-free travel for their animals and to avoid the expense of an AHC.

The UK left the EU Pet Passport scheme on January 1st 2021, following the end of the Brexit transition period, but the UK continues to accept EU-issued Pet Passports for inbound travel to Great Britain.

However, UK residents can no longer use any EU Pet Passport (including those issued by veterinary practices in Spain) to enter any EU country from Great Britain.

Mandatory Animal Health Certificates replace EU Pet Passports

Guidance on the GOV.UK website states “If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you should not use a Pet Passport (even if it was issued in the EU). If you use a Pet Passport, your pet may be refused entry into the EU.”

The new rules do not apply to residents in Northern Ireland, with residents maintaining their rights under the EU Pet Passport scheme. But the rules do apply to British residents planning to travel to Northern Ireland.

A statement on Your Europe, the official website of the European Union, reads “EU Pet Passports issued to a pet owner resident in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel with pets from Great Britain to an EU country or Northern Ireland.”

Instead, UK resident pet owners must travel with an Animal Health Certificate. An AHC costs around £100 to £150, is valid for 10 days once issued, and can only be used to enter an EU country once.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa, or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: Real Federación Española de Voleibol

Established in 2018, the super-popular group has rapidly grown to become the largest community group in the South Costa Blanca, welcoming almost 150 new members daily with a total membership exceeding 145,000 people.

The Facebook group comprises residents of Orihuela Costa and visitors from more than 42 countries globally, including almost every local social business in the locality including bars, restaurants, gyms, and clubs.

It has become the digital town square for Orihuela Costa, a place where people can communicate with each other, share information and knowledge, and ask questions about everything from banking to bedding, or virtually any other aspect of visiting, travelling to, or living in Spain.

As administrators, we were given no warning that the group would be suspended, and having spent the past seven years building the online community and welcoming tens of thousands of people each year, we are of course, devastated.

Why was the Facebook Group suspended?

The group was suspended by a Meta AI Bot for violating intellectual property rights. This is clearly a technical error, and we do not permit any publication that violates the intellectual property rights of others.

In fact, we uphold the group rules and Facebook's Community Standards rigorously, sometimes to the dismay of selected members.

But it's also one of the reasons the group is so popular, and we have always aimed to cultivate a safe space for civil discussion, the exchange of ideas and information, and to facilitate the connection of people and local businesses.

Enforcing rules or taking action against members who breach them isn't the most pleasurable part of our job. However, sometimes it's regrettably necessary, and we knew from the start that maintaining a healthy online environment wasn't always going to be easy in such a vast and diverse audience.

In this particular instance, we had already implemented technical measures to ensure that publications that breach intellectual property rights could not appear in the group, and the post that led to the suspension of the group was automatically declined and was not published.

What happens to the La Zenia Community Group now?

We've started the appeals process. This is the second time this year that the group has been taken down, and to Meta's credit, the last time this happened in February the group was restored in 4 days, so we're hopeful of a similar outcome.

However, the Facebook group is currently not visible to members and doesn't appear in search results on the platform. We can still see it, so we know the group is still there – albeit in its suspended, cryogenically frozen state.

We don't know how long the suspension will last – it could be a week, a month, or much longer. On the other hand, the group might reappear tomorrow.

We will continue to reach out to the Meta Support Team to resolve the issue. But as things stand right now, the future of the La Zenia Community Facebook Group remains in the fickle hands of the AI Meta Bots again.

Once we have some positive news we'll let everyone know through our Facebook and Instagram channels. Watch this space.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Now in its 12th year since opening, the Costa Blanca's favourite retail venue recorded an 8.6% increase in footfall compared with the previous year of 2022. The summer months of July and August saw the highest traffic, with 1.8 million visitors in July and 1.7 million in August 2023.

The shopping centre has been undergoing a thorough renovation since March last year, with 18 million Euros invested in improving the local retail mecca with a cutting-edge design and a radical new image.

The renovation of Zenia Boulevard includes improvement of the facades, pavement and tiling, rest areas, and upper dining areas, as well as improvements to the children's play areas and facilities.

A helicopter could be seen lifting heavy equipment onto the shopping centre's roof earlier this week to install additional equipment for the solar electricity installation.

The management team foresees a 40% increase in the use of sustainable energy in common areas and a 10% to 15% reduction in water consumption, thanks to the installation of a micro water treatment plant. Works are expected to be completed by the end of March 2024.

La Zenia Boulevard improvements due for completion in March 2024

Cristina Ros, the Director of Zenia Boulevard shopping centre, said, “We are very proud to have reached a new record number of visitors. This data highlights that we are a unique point of reference, a meeting point where our visitors can enjoy unforgettable moments together.”

“We are convinced that 2024 will be a positive year for Zenia Boulevard since we will have completed this ambitious renovation project that will transform us into an innovative, modern, and very welcoming shopping centre.”

“My thanks go to all the people who visit us and trust in our management, and to the entire Zenia Boulevard team for the hard work, dedication, and the effort that has made it possible for us to get to where we are today.”

Located strategically on the Orihuela Costa, Zenia Boulevard is managed by Nhood España and owned by French commercial property developer Ceetrus Properties and CBRE Investment Management. The popular shopping centre first opened its doors in 2012.

Is Zenia Boulevard open today? Find the complete opening hours calendar for 2024, with bank holiday and Sunday Trading closures during the 2024 year.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com / Luc Cassiman

Orihuela City council reached an agreement with the previous concessionaire to move the structure of the beach bars to a warehouse, partially dismantling the two remaining chiringuitos on Cala La Caleta in Cabo Roig and Cala Bosque in La Zenia this past Tuesday.

According to municipal sources quoted by news outlet “La Verdad” on Wednesday, Orihuela town hall agreed with the previous operator of the beach bars, Chiringuitos del Sol, to partially dismantle and remove these beach bars.

The town hall provided the heavy machinery, with representatives of Chiringuitos del Sol providing the labour to dismantle the structure, as no other company had the experience or knowledge required to complete the task. The structures of the two bars are expected to be removed to a local municipal storage facility.

Orihuela Costa Chiringuitos to return Easter 2024

According to La Verdad, the Coastal Department of Orihuela town hall is working to restructure the expired contracts inherited from the previous local government, following last year's decision not to grant an extension to the contract beyond the end of 2022.

The news outlet revealed that the Coastal Department intends to divide the future replacement contract for beach services across Orihuela Costa's eleven beaches into five parts (one contract for the provision of nautical sports) rather than award a single contract as they have done previously.

The distribution of the contracts will be geographical to minimise the need for travel. A clause will be included in the bidding process so that bidders can only secure a maximum of two contracts of the five on offer.

The town hall will adjust the fees payable under each contract so that those beach bars estimated to generate the most income, such as the chiringuitos in La Zenia and Cabo Roig, cost more. Bars on less popular beaches such as Punta Prima or Aguamarina are expected to benefit from cheaper contractual fees.

The bidding process and official awarding of contracts will take place in early 2024, with the much-loved chiringuitos expected to return to the beaches of Orihuela Costa at Easter next year.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: Michael Poetschke

As with any populated area worldwide, concerns about safety and crime rates naturally arise. But despite moderate rises in the rate of crime throughout the country, Spain remains a remarkably safe place to live.

Nationwide, reported crime over the last year increased by 5.7%, with technology-related cybercrime and computer fraud showing the most significant quantitive increase in the country.

Nonetheless, Spain maintains a low annual crime rate, and the latest official data from the Spanish Government notes that there were 48.8 reported crimes per 1,000 people throughout the country in 2022.

By comparison, Germany recorded 60.7 criminal offences per 1,000 inhabitants during the same period, Belgium reported 74.8 crimes, and the United Kingdom noted 79.5 offences using the same international metric.

South Costa Blanca, one of the lowest crime rates in Europe

Spain's crime rate compares well with other countries in the Europe, but local crime rates are somewhat lower. The crime rate in the municipality of Orihuela is 24.8 offences per 1,000 people – almost half of the national average crime rate and comparable to the country or Ireland.

Our closest city, Torrevieja, also maintains a crime rate below the national average, recording 41.7 reported crimes per 1,000 residents. And the provincial capital city of Alicante reports a crime rate of 29.0 during the 2022 year.

Local and national crime rate data is collected and published by the Ministry of the Interior in Spain. The Government body produces a Crime Balance report at the end of each year, and publishes statistical indicators of crime used by the European Statistical Office (EUROSTAT).

In 2022 (the most recent complete year of data), most recorded crimes in the Orihuela municipality were minor offences. There were 59 reported incidences of robbery in 2022 and 611 reports of home burglary.

Residents were more likely to be victims of technology-related crimes than house thefts, with 378 incidences of cybercrime and 333 instances of computer fraud recorded during the year. 69 vehicle thefts were reported, and serious assaults accounted for 52 cases.

Low crime rates in Orihuela Costa and Torrevieja

In the neighbouring city of Torrevieja, minor offences also represent the majority of recorded crime. From January to December 2022, there were 160 reported incidences of robbery and 1,148 reports of home burglary. 108 vehicle thefts and 104 cases of serious assault were reported during the year.

Overall, Orihuela Costa and South Costa Blanca maintain a relatively low crime rate compared to many other regions. But like many popular destinations in Spain, the area can experience instances of theft and burglary, particularly during the busy summer holiday season.

Residents and visitors must remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to safeguard themselves and their belongings, just as they would at home or in any other part of the world.

The Costa Blanca boasts a relatively low crime rate, making it a desirable place to live and visit. While no location is entirely free from criminal activity, the area benefits from a proactive Police presence and a vibrant, safe community.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

The rules for the movement of goods changed when the UK left the European Union in January 2021 and changed again on 1st January 2022 post-Brexit.

Some post from the UK and Spain might be subject to import duty or other taxes. It's important to understand the rules so that your family and friends don't get a surprise bill along with their gifts.

This article provides a simplified guide for people wishing to send personal parcels and gifts to people in Spain or the UK. The rules differ depending on the value and nature of what is being sent.

There are different rules for products purchased online or ordered on the internet, posted either from the UK to Spain or vice-versa, and other rules apply to the commercial movement of goods between the EU and the UK.

Sending goods and gifts from the UK to Spain

As a general rule, if your parcel has a value of less than 45 € and is sent from a private individual (rather than a business), there should be no IVA, import duties or service charges.

To send a parcel or a gift from the UK to Spain, the sender must complete a CN22 or CN23 customs declaration as fully as possible. You can get this declaration from the Post Office.

Receiving gifts in Spain with a value of more than 45 € may incur import duty and other charges. Some specific items, including food, drink, and cosmetics, may also incur charges, tax, or IVA. There should be no customs charge or duty to pay in Spain to receive greetings cards from the UK.

Sending parcels and goods from Spain to the UK

As a general rule, gifts worth £39 or less sent from Spain by a private individual (rather than a business), should not attract VAT, import duty or service charges in the UK.

To send items and goods to the UK you should follow the instructions provided by Correos or your chosen courier company in Spain.

Gifts and other goods worth more than £39 may be charged VAT before delivery. Parcels worth more than £135 may attract import duty and other charges. Excise goods such as alcohol may incur additional taxes, and HM Revenue and Customs may prohibit the delivery of regulated goods such as cigarettes and tobacco products.

Sending gifts and packages from Northern Ireland to Spain

For the purposes of the free movement of goods, Northern Ireland remains a part of the European Union. This means that parcels, gifts, and all other items are not subject to customs controls and there are no limits on value.

In accordance with the Northern Ireland Protocol, there are no customs declaration requirements for goods and packages sent from Northern Ireland to Spain, or to any other country in the Europan Union.

Items and parcels sent from Spain (or any other member state of the EU) to Northern Ireland will not be subject to customs processes. You won't need to pay import tax, duties, or any other charge – regardless of the value of your parcel.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

The initiative began earlier this year, with Local Police officers deploying drones to record incidences of fly-tipping and dumping of domestic rubbish on the streets of Orihuela Costa.

The force announced that 10 offences were detected in the first four days of the offensive, with people reported for dumping garden waste and large items of furniture towards the end of May.

And on Friday morning, Orihuela's Local Police released a video on their official Twitter account reminding residents when and where they are permitted to dispose of their household refuse and garden waste.

The video footage, presumably filmed by a drone, shows a person with a van dumping garden waste from a large builder's aggregate bag directly onto the street in a parking zone adjacent to empty land.

The short 45-second clip shows the unsuspecting subject being approached by a patrol car and ends with a message “Professionals are reminded that they must manage their own waste (according to) Article 72 of the municipal ordinance. And we remind individuals of the locations, collection days and contact numbers.”

Orihuela Costa offers a free rubbish collection service

Dumping rubbish on the streets or in any other public space is a civil offence in the Orihuela Costa area and the financial penalties can be eye-watering. Minor offences of littering attract fines of up to €750 for a single offence, while more serious infractions of the civil ordinance attract fines of up to €3,000.

Some residents and holiday home owners seem unaware of the local regulations, and often people place items beside the collection bins mistakenly believing that they are “recycling” their unwanted items, and that they will have some value for others.

However, placing unwanted items of furniture, building rubble, garden waste, and household refuse in the streets contributes to the degradation of our neighbourhoods, causes access problems for residents, and constitutes a potential hazard to the health and wellbeing of the community as a whole.

However, Orihuela Town Hall offers a free collection service for domestic refuse, garden waste, and unwanted household appliances and furniture.

The free service operates 6-days a week throughout the year, serving different areas of the Orihuela Costa on differing days. Complete service information can be found on stickers attached to each bin, or find out what day the service operates in your area here.

Play your part to keep our streets clean, simply call +34 966 076 100 extension 4500 to request a free refuse collection. Alternatively, contact the Town Hall via email at costa@orihuela.es to ask for authorisation to dispose of your rubbish or unwanted household goods.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

The latest in a string of extensions expires at midnight tonight. If that deadline remains, British residents who failed to swap their UK driving licence for a Spanish one before the original deadline set by the Spanish government will have to take a Spanish driving test.

Currently, British residents living in Spain before 1st January 2021 can continue to drive in Spain with their valid UK driving licence until midnight tonight.

British nationals living in Spain who registered their intention to exchange their licences with the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) before 30th December 2020, but have not yet done so, have until today to request an appointment.

Last month the British Ambassador reported that negotiations were ongoing, and confirmed that he remained committed to reaching a long-term agreement with Spain to enable UK driving licence holders to exchange their licences without taking a test.

Earlier this month, the British Embassy in Madrid asked the Spanish government for another extension for UK drivers resident in Spain.

However, the most recent update on the UK government website last night reads “From 1st May 2022, if you have been resident for more than six months and have not exchanged your UK licence for a Spanish one, you will no longer be able to drive using your UK licence.”

An update on the UK Embassy Facebook page from HMA High Elliott at 20:11 yesterday states “The UK and Spanish Governments are still negotiating. UK and Spanish Ministers spoke today and agreed to rapidly accelerating talks next week in the hope of reaching an agreement soon.”

“But we're not there just yet, and we will not have reached an agreement in time for the end of the current grace period (30th April 2022).”

“What does this mean for you? If you have been resident in Spain for longer than six months, your UK driving licence will no longer be valid to drive in Spain from 1st May 2022.”

“Driving a vehicle without a valid licence is illegal in Spain. If you are affected by this change and need to drive, you should not wait for the outcome of the negotiations and should take immediate steps to apply for a Spanish licence – as we have been advising for some time now.”

The passing of the deadline does not affect UK licence holders who have recently moved to Spain, who have six months from the date of residency to take a Spanish driving test.

UK driving licences for visitors and tourists visiting Spain remain valid, and UK nationals on holiday, visiting friends and family, or hiring a car can still drive during their visit using a full UK driving licence, without the need for an International Driving Permit.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what´s going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

The Council oversees the regular emptying of nearly 1,000 waste containers throughout the municipality, including 376 side and top-loading recycling bins on the Orihuela Costa. It's a mammoth task, requiring the daily management of more than a million litres of refuse capacity along the coast alone (1,066,700 litres to be accurate).

The Town Hall increased the scale of its garden waste collection service in July 2020, adding an additional commercial vehicle to its fleet to collect prunings and cuttings from residents on the Orihuela Costa exclusively.

The additional truck and driver work during the busy season with morning and afternoon shifts at an annual cost of €49,984.

Just one month later in August, the City Council splashed out nearly a quarter of a million Euros on an additional refuse collection vehicle. The next-generation fleet addition cost €232,575 and incorporates a suite of technological features including geolocation mapping and a low-emissions drivetrain.

Free refuse collection service for Orihuela Costa

The Town Hall offer a free refuse collection service for garden waste and household items that operates six days a week throughout the year, serving different areas every day except Saturday.

The vehicles can take loads up to one cubic metre in size. For comparison, that´s the volume occupied by three standard household washing machines or a one-tonne commercial builders bag.

Orihuela Costa residents needing to dispose of household items, large amounts of refuse or garden clippings, need to get in-touch with the Council before placing items on the street.

This prevents possible obstruction or personal injury, mitigates health hazards, and helps to preserve the aesthetic of our Mediterranean urban environment.

It's important to remember that disposing of household or garden waste in the street without prior permission is prohibited by municipal regulations, and people that choose to do so can face fines of up to €1,500.

Simply call +34 966 076 100 extension 4500 to request a refuse collection. Alternatively, contact the Town Hall via email at costa@orihuela.es to ask for authorisation to dispose of your rubbish or unwanted household goods.

You'll need to provide the address where you plan to leave your rubbish, and the Council will schedule your collection and tell you what day and time to deposit your items in the street.

Weekly schedule of household and garden refuse collection service

Monday
Campoamor, Mil Palmeras, La Regia, and Lomas de Campoamor.

Tuesday
La Zenia, Punta Prima, La Ciñuelica, Los Balcones, Aguamarina, Los Pinos, Los Altos-Villarosa, Horizonte-Citrus, and Alameda del Mar.

Wednesday
La Chismosa-Lago Sol, La Florida, Las Piscinas, Las Ramblas, and Lomas de Campoamor.

Thursday
Villamarin, Las Filipinas, PAU-8, El Galán, Villacosta, and Blue Lagoon.

Friday
Los Dolses, La Solana, Lomas de Don Juan, Montezenia, Lomas de Cabo Roig, La Cuerda, and Playa Flamenca.

Sunday
Villapiedra, Cabo Roig, Zenia II, PAU-3, and Playa Flamenca (beach side of N-332).

Play your part to maintain the quality of our environment

Please remember that conscientious management of household and garden waste and careful disposal of rubbish is a responsibility shared by all residents on the Orihuela Costa.

Recycle your waste wherever this is possible, and help to take care of our beautiful local environment.

For more information about the public services provided by Orihuela City Council please visit the official website, or find the Concejalía de Residentes Internacionales” on Facebook here.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com.

The lapsing legislation will deprive authorities of two legal tools they have relied upon to enforce public safety measures over the last half-year, but what's expected to happen when the state of alarm comes to an end?

The President of the Valencian Community, Ximo Puig, has already clarified that the perimeter confinement will come to an end this Sunday.

The community land border has been permanently closed for all but essential travel since last October, both inbound and outbound, in a bid to reduce unnecessary mobility.

With Spain's national land border with France open, the Alicante Province will be an open part of the Schengen Area for the first time in more than six months.

From Sunday, Spanish nationals will be able to travel from other parts of Spain to visit locations within the Valencian Community, and international travellers and tourists arriving from the EU will be permitted to enter the Costa Blanca locality unhindered.

State of alarm, the end of the curfew on the Costa Blanca?

The state of alarm provides regional authorities with the legislative powers they need to enforce the curfew, and questions have been raised over its legitimacy once the state of alarm expires.

Ximo Puig has indicated that he intends to maintain the nighttime mobility restrictions as part of a progressive de-escalation process, with the assistance of the judiciary if that proves necessary.

The superior courts of the Valencian Community could be called upon to determine whether measures that affect fundamental rights are proportionate and can be applied. If these restrictions are rejected, it will be the Supreme Court that dictates and unifies the measures that the autonomous authority can impose.

However, local news outlet Las Provincias reports that the President will reduce the active hours of the curfew, meaning that residents and visitors can enjoy longer evenings out.

The curfew currently starts at 22:00 and this remains in force until Saturday 8th May, but the existing legislation allows the curfew to be extended until midnight.

That's precisely what the hospitality industry is demanding, calling for an increase in both interior capacity and longer opening hours for bars and restaurants in consideration of the community's low infection rate.

Costa Blanca, the lowest incidence of COVID-19 infection in Spain

The Valencian Community has the lowest COVID-19 accumulated infection rate nationwide, and the latest official data published by the Ministry of Health indicates a 14-day CCI rate of just 42.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

That infection rate has remained stable over the last few weeks, and with only minor fluctuations (44.1 a week ago and 40.0 the week before), the Costa Blanca retains its accolade as the safest place to be in Spain.

By comparison, the Spanish national average 14-day CCI rate stands at 205.5 cases per 100,000 and the Balearic Islands of Mallorca, Menorca, and Ibiza come a close second to the Valencian Community, with a 14-day CCI rate of 61.3.

Locally, the recorded 14-day incidence in the Torrevieja health district (the area within which Orihuela Costa's healthcare is administered) is 41.3, and some neighbouring municipalities, such as Pilar de la Horadada and San Miguel de Salinas have recorded zero active infections within the last 14-days.

Spain's vaccination campaign has gathered pace over recent weeks and medical teams have administered 17.9 million vaccinations, with 26.7% of the population receiving at least one dose and 5.3 million people vaccinated with both required doses.

The majority of inoculations have taken place using the Pfizer-BioNTech Comirnaty mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine, with additional vaccines supplied by AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Janssen´s new one-shot recombinant vaccine.

Masks will remain even after the state of alarm has ended

For the time being, the wearing of a face mask in both indoor and outdoor public spaces is mandatory and will remain so even after the state of alarm has ended. However, contrary to what may have been portrayed in some mainstream news channels, masks are not required in every circumstance.

Spanish legislation already permits the removal of a face mask in any situation where its use is simply not compatible, or if wearing a face mask makes certain essential tasks impossible.

A face mask may be removed to exercise, whilst swimming or cycling, whilst seated at a restaurant table to eat, enjoying a beverage in a cafe or bar, or sunbathing by a community pool or on a beach. Children aged 5-years or younger are not legally obliged to wear a face mask in any location or situation at any time.

People may also remove their face masks if they are experiencing difficulty breathing, and people with long-term acute or chronic breathing conditions are exempted from wearing a mask.

Families on holiday sharing a car do not need to wear face masks whilst inside the vehicle (either in motion or stationary, with or without open windows), and masks are not legally mandated in private spaces such as homes, gardens, hotel rooms, or cabins aboard passenger ships.

With the pandemic in decline and a substantial increase in passenger air traffic between both domestic and international destinations at Alicante-Elche airport over recent weeks, all eyes are on the summer, with hopes that the Costa Blanca will be open to all visitors from June.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com