South of Spain Suggestions

What are you looking for? I would put neither Valencia nor Alicante is the south of Spain, by either culture or climate, but broadly speaking: Alicante used to be a commercial/industrial mess, but is trying to switch to tourism. It has the best antiquites of the three. Malaga is beaches and condos every where you look. Valencia is a clean city trying to get it's hands on tourism and has a fine aquarium.

We're looking to relax, enjoy the sun, food, wine, sangria, etc. We're not really beach people, but would be happy to find a pool or relax for a few drinks in a public square. We're not opposed to renting a car and touring just outside the city if there are some interesting things to see.

Valencia or Alicante, probably the former. Scratch Malaga. There's more to do with a car from Valencia, Alicante is more remote. I don't know about sangria.

My suggestion for resting by a pool and drinking sangria: Research on line for a hotel/hostal (not hostel) that charms you - that has a beautiful pool ... many in beautiful, old, grand estates or homes (some paradors are exquisite too). If you don't have a car, make sure you are close to town or in town. You can certainly get sangria makings at the store to bring to your hostal or ... you might find a great restaurant w/ a patio over-looking the sea for sipping sangria.

I too would avoid Malaga, (and Alicante is not much better). Cheap, tacky and touristy in my opinion, full of beer swilling Brits with sunburn and tattoos. Hard to find a pub that isn't 'themed', The Old London, The Irish, The Scotsman etc. Tapas bars hard to find amongst the outlets selling fish and chips or All Day English Breakfasts. Tv,s blaring the reruns of Only Fools and Horses and Eastenders. Its a bit like Blackpool but with better weather and not as posh. Not been to Valencia, it may be really nice. Personally I would go inland and rent a place with pool in a small Spanish town, and avoid the beaches like the plague. Despite being British, the Rock of Gibralta is really nice. Attracts a better class of Brit, ones who don't throw up all over the pavements and no broken bottles to negotiate in your sandals. Someone else may know of some nice beach resorts along this coast, and it depends what you're looking for of course. I don't want to sound negative, but I'd hate for you to be dissapointed. Check out where budget flights from Britain go and then avoid them.

Sounds like you are describing Benidorm! Never been ( nor would we go) but just reading about it on Tripadvisor is amusing. I agree your chances of finding a charming Spanish town for your relaxation and sangria maybe better a bit in from the coast.

Thanks all! We've since picked Seville + Barcelona for our time in Spain.

Well done! Now, be sure to scoot over to Cordova for a day -- or catch it on the way down - - and if you're driving, you might as well stop at Ciudad Real on the way down. You gotta love it, the unsolicited advice never stops.