Location: Los Alcazares to Alicante
Summary: Coach trip to Alicante, early cruise check‑in warning, a tiny hotel room, an excellent Indian meal, and a lumpy bed.
Los Alcázares to Alicante
Today I travelled from Los Alcázares to Alicante for an overnight stay. With the cost of a taxi to the port being ridiculous, I decided to come up the day before by coach and book a hotel instead. That bit of planning saved me €160, which is far better spent on something enjoyable once I’m on the ship.
Bob picked me up around 13:30 and dropped me at the bus stop by the town hall. The bus was due at 14:00, so I settled in to wait. Around 13:45, a Spanish man approached to ask if this was the stop for Alicante. I assured him it was, and the two of us waited together, both pretending not to be impatient. By 14:20, when the bus finally appeared, we were simply relieved it existed at all.
The journey itself was slow and uneventful, stopping at what felt like every town between here and Alicante. As we passed through Los Alcázares, I realised I could have boarded at the top of my own road, a detail the booking website had conveniently failed to mention.
Arrival in Alicante
Once in Alicante, my phone informed me the hotel was 1.3 km away, so off I went. The walk wasn’t difficult, but the endless construction and blocked pavements made it feel more like an obstacle course. By the time I reached the hotel, I was puffed out despite stopping at every available bench like a man on a sponsored sit‑down challenge.
Esplanade Hotel
The lobby of the Esplanade Hotel was lovely, and the reception staff were friendly. Getting to my room on the third floor was another matter: steps on every landing, a tiny lift that moved at the speed of a thoughtful snail, and dark hallways where I had to hunt for light switches. Room 306 was small enough that my suitcase had to live on the floor because the wardrobe certainly wasn’t taking it. Even the fridge was on the floor, as if it had given up on life.
Evening Meal
After a rest, I went for a wander. I was staying just off the street with the giant model mushrooms, which always makes Alicante feel slightly surreal. While I was out, MSC rang to say the ship would be leaving earlier than planned due to strong winds in the Mediterranean, and I’d need to check in ahead of schedule. I carried on exploring the area around the hotel before heading for dinner around 18:30.
I chose an Indian restaurant called New Delhi, and it proved an excellent decision. I ordered a mild Kashmiri lamb curry with mushroom rice and a Peshwari naan, washed down with a pint of San Miguel. The curry and rice were beautiful, possibly the best I’ve ever had, and the naan was superb. I finished with a coffee and rum before heading back to the hotel.
The bed, unfortunately, was small and lumpy, and getting comfortable was a losing battle. I ended up doing crosswords on my notepad until sleep finally won.
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