Most of our guests travel from the Netherlands, Germany or the United Kingdom. The journey to Villajoyosa is straightforward, but the right route depends on where you are starting from, how much luggage you bring (long stays often mean more), and how you feel about driving once you arrive. This article walks through the options honestly, with notes for older travellers.
The short version
For almost everyone, the simplest journey is a direct flight to Alicante–Elche airport (ALC), followed by a 30 to 40 minute drive to Villajoyosa. We organise this transfer for many guests using a local, English-speaking driver. The total door-to-door journey is usually four to seven hours from Northern Europe.
Flying from the Netherlands
Direct flights
Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) has multiple direct flights to Alicante daily, year-round. KLM, Transavia and Vueling all operate the route. Flight time is around two hours and forty minutes. Eindhoven (EIN) and Rotterdam (RTM) also have direct flights, mostly with Transavia and Ryanair, sometimes seasonal.
Practical notes
For long stays, KLM and Transavia tend to give you more luggage allowance and are usually less stressful for older travellers than the budget options, even at a slightly higher fare. Schiphol's transfer distances inside the airport can be long — allow extra time. Ask for assistance at the gate if you would prefer it; this can be booked in advance through the airline.
Flying from Germany
Direct flights
Several German airports have direct routes to Alicante: Frankfurt (FRA), Munich (MUC), Düsseldorf (DUS), Berlin (BER), Hamburg (HAM), Stuttgart (STR) and Cologne (CGN) are the most regular. Lufthansa, Eurowings and Ryanair operate most of these. Flight times range from around two hours forty (Munich) to three hours twenty (northern Germany).
Practical notes
Frequencies are higher in the cooler months because many older Germans winter on the Costa Blanca — flights are easier to find from October through April than in midsummer. If you are travelling for a longer stay, consider Lufthansa or Eurowings rather than the deepest budget option, again for the smoother experience and the better luggage allowance.
Flying from the UK
Direct flights
London Gatwick (LGW), London Stansted (STN), London Luton (LTN), Manchester (MAN), Birmingham (BHX), Bristol (BRS), Edinburgh (EDI) and a number of regional airports all serve Alicante directly. easyJet, Ryanair, Jet2 and British Airways operate most routes. Flight times are between two hours forty (south of England) and three hours fifteen (Scotland).
Practical notes
UK flights to Alicante can be very crowded in school holidays. For a calmer experience, look at midweek flights outside the school holiday windows. Jet2 has a reputation for good service for older travellers and is worth considering if it serves your local airport.
Getting from Alicante airport to Villajoyosa
The airport is around 50 km south of Villajoyosa. There are three sensible options.
Pre-booked transfer
This is the calmest option. A local driver meets you at arrivals and takes you directly to the apartment. Cost is typically €55 to €75 each way for up to four passengers with luggage. We can recommend drivers we have used for years, with prices we have negotiated for our guests.
Taxi from the rank
Reliable, but slightly more expensive than a pre-booked transfer and not always available at peak times. Roughly €75 to €90 to Villajoyosa.
Rental car
Useful if you intend to explore widely. Less useful if you mostly want to settle into Villajoyosa and use the tram for day trips. Rental cars at Alicante airport are competitive in price; book ahead, particularly for stays over a few weeks. Spanish motorways are well marked and the AP-7 is straightforward.
Slower options
Train
From the Netherlands, Germany or the UK, train travel to Alicante is possible but takes most of two days, with at least one change in Paris and another in Spain. Some guests enjoy the slower journey and the lack of luggage stress on long stays. The current best route from London is via Eurostar to Paris, TGV to Barcelona, and AVE to Alicante — Alicante then has a tram link onwards.
Driving
From the Netherlands or northern Germany, driving to Villajoyosa is around 1,800 km. Most guests who choose this option split the journey over two or three days. Driving makes sense if you would like to bring more belongings for a long stay, or if you prefer to have your own car for the whole trip. From the UK, you can use the Eurotunnel or a ferry to start.
Once you arrive in Villajoyosa
You may not need a car at all. The town is walkable, there is a tram into Alicante and Benidorm, and supermarkets are within easy distance of the apartment. Many of our long-stay guests rent a car only for a couple of days for a particular trip rather than the whole stay.
For more on the town itself, see our Villajoyosa & Costa Blanca page. If you would like to know more about the home before you book travel, the La vila WLMS page covers the rooms, layout and what is included.
One last note
If this is your first long stay in Spain, do not feel you need to plan every leg yourself. Send us a note before you book your flights and we are happy to share what other guests typically do, what we would suggest at your time of year, and the contact details of trusted local drivers.
Need help planning?
Tell us where you would be travelling from and roughly when. We can suggest the best routes and reliable transfer drivers we have used for years.
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