• Pepe is looking into us being able to rent a house, that is totally the way to go!
• Hotels
  • Tripadvisor for Guardamar #1 is Eden Mar which looks like 1100 euros for 14 days. (FREE INTERNET!) There are celebration / holy days in those dates, so a little extra. Close to the beach, and right down town.

• Found this one online on Lonely Planet:
  • Guardamar is a seaside town which isn't very big but has a typically spanish vibe. There is not much else to do but lie on the beach there but it is near loads of attractions etc. Theres weekend markets near by in a lovely village called Almoradi and Waterparks. Torrevieja isn't far and theres so much going on there! Fun fairs, markets, shops, water parks, national park and a huge salt lake that is a beautiful pink shade.
  • I hope this helps and you manage to find something. By the way most places rent out villa fairly cheapely though if budget is an issue being close to the beach front is very expensive.

Flying directly to Alicante might be an option, but it means you'll have to fly somewhere else first (like Madrid, London, Frankfurt, Copenhagen or some other hub). Could do a direct flight to a hub, stay a day or two and then continue on or just plow through the two flights in one LONG day. Here are the airlines that service Alicante Spain: http://www.skyscanner.com/flights-to/alc/airlines-that-fly-to-alicante-airport.html

• Airfare (assuming the dates July 13th to July 28th (Tuesday to Tuesday))
  • Aer Lingus was $950 total round trip non stop from Dulles in November
  • December 2009
    • Dulles (DC): United Airlines is $1050 direct (Aer Lingus is now $1400) (I think it is the same airplane, times are the same)
    • Philadelphia: US Airways is $1055
    • Newark: Air Eurpoa $741*, Iberia $1019, Everyone else about $1055
      • Air Europa gives you a little off for the kids, so it is 3k total on Airbus Industries A330-200 direct from JFK (NY) to Madrid
  • January 2010
    • Dulles (DC - KIAD): United Airlines is $1065 (Aer Lingus is $1371) direct flight to Madrid
  • March 1st, 2010
    • IAD → MAD direct: United still $1065. Ibeia Air $996/each
    • IAD → ALC (via Madrid): American Airlines $1192
    • Air-Europa HAD good rates (see table below) but now are as much as everyone else. I was going to suggest mega-bus + Air-Europa for Buff / Brian but not now!

This table was generated in December 2009: (and now for historical purposes only! Price was $4500 for same trip today (03/01/2010))

• Airlines to check:
  • Ryan Air (London to Alicante round trip is 2x$29.99 GBP (30 British pounds = 45.59700 U.S. dollars)) or about $100.
  • Easy Jet

• Train links:
  • RENFE (SLOW!!) train site. I've yet to get the “English” version working.
  • Train Map of Spain
  • Suggestions for traveling by train in Spain

• Madrid public transportation passes for 5 euros (1/2 off for the kids): http://www.gomadrid.com/transport/travel-pass.html

• Pepe Car has quite a selection also, and you gotta love the name.
• EuropeCar had the:
  • 1.9 TDI Audi A3 (in the eco friendly section and a slightly different one in the Sport section) for about $772 for 2 weeks.
  • The A4 was $1200 for the 2 weeks.
  • The A6 2.7 liter was $1400.
  • VOLKSWAGEN TOURAN 1.9 is $715 so the kids would probably like that. Not quite a van, but tall and easy to see out of.
  • VW Passat Station Wagon for $987