Alicane is a busy place! The beaches are full of families. You didn't mention your budget, which makes a lot of difference on the environment around you, too. Hotel Bahia Gravina, 16, 03002 Alicante is a good,moderate priced hotel, ocean front. It runs around 530E for a triple in July. look at www.booking.com. This is a trusted site for hotel bookings. I use them many times. Crissy

Better than Alicante is the beach of Playa de San Juan, out of the city, very long, large and sandy beach (but also CROUDY, as all Spanish beaches, I should say). There are a lot of restaurants by the sea. You find shops, supermarkets, the maket, with frsh fish and fresh meat, fruits of course.From the airport to Playa de San Juan I think there is a public bus BUT I'm not sure. You find taxis. Pay attention: San Juan is another village in the inside, not on the beach: another place. From Playa de San Juan, the city of Alicante is reachable with a bus, if you don't want to get a taxi. If you chose Playa de San Juan you can try Hotel Castilla. Its position is very good to reach the beach with a little kid. For the price look in internet. I was there only in the cafeteria because for almost 20 years I went to Playa de san Juan on holidays, but I had my own appartment. Have a nice trip! A very nice village is Altea, farer from Alicante. But there is a little train from the city of Alicante to reach there Tren- Lim