Vista Alegre Apartments, Alcossebre

The Vista Alegre apartments in Alcossebre (also written Vistalegre) are in one of the most recognisable spots in Alcocéber: Plaza Vistalegre, facing El Cargador beach. It is hard to be any closer to the sea and the town's atmosphere. On this page we explain exactly where they are, what they are like and what people who have stayed in them think, including the differences between the agencies that offer them.

Check availability with Casa Azahar

Where are the Vista Alegre apartments?

The building is on Plaza Vistalegre, in the centre of Alcossebre, facing El Cargador beach: guests reckon a minute to the sand. In the same square is the Tourist Info Alcossebre office, and on the ground floor and around it there are restaurants and terraces, as the photos of the façade show.

The location is the building's great selling point: on Booking it gets the top score, a 10 out of 10, and on the listing of the other agency that markets it it reaches 9.4.

Advantages of the area:

• El Cargador beach opposite and the promenade at the door.
• Restaurants, terraces and shops all around.
• The tourist office in the same square.

Drawbacks:

• Being in a central square, the surroundings are lively until late in summer, although several guests point out that the bedrooms are quiet because of their orientation.
• Parking in the very centre can be hard in high season.

What is the Vista Alegre building like?

Vista Alegre is an apartment block facing the beach, without large communal areas: what you pay for here is the location. According to the photos and reviews, the apartments have a terrace or balcony and, in many cases, sea views from the living room. The Booking listing also mentions wifi.

There are three things worth knowing before you book, because they come up repeatedly in the reviews:

• There is no lift, and some apartments are on the second floor.
• There is no air conditioning.
• Towels are not included.

Several agencies offer apartments in this same building. Besides Casa Azahar, it is marketed by Lloguers Altamar (as "Apartamentos Vista Alegre Altamar") and other local agencies. Each manages its own units, so the condition and equipment may vary between apartments.

What do guests say about the Vista Alegre apartments?

The table shows the Booking listing for Casa Azahar's apartments, which is the only one with reviews of this management. To understand the building's reputation properly, a few more facts are needed:

• Booking.com, Casa Azahar (8.0/10, 25 reviews). Sub-scores: location 10, staff 8.9, cleanliness 8.5, comfort 8.5, value for money 8.4 and facilities 7.8.
• Booking.com, Lloguers Altamar (7.7/10, 38 reviews). This is another agency in the same building. Its location score is also very high (9.4), but facilities drop to 6.9. We have not included it in the table because it refers to other apartments.
• Google only has a holiday rental listing that gathers external reviews from an accommodation search engine, not Google's own reviews.
• The Altamar listings on TripAdvisor and Central de Reservas have no reviews.

What guests like most. The location, without question: central and a minute from the beach. Then the views, the good cleanliness and a value for money that guests consider fair. One detail that surprises some is that, despite being right on the square, the bedrooms are quiet at night thanks to their orientation.

What is criticised. The most repeated complaint is the spring mattresses, which several guests find uncomfortable. Next come the lack of a lift to reach the second floor, the absence of air conditioning, towels not being included and small maintenance details, such as a door or the bathroom light.

The guest profile is Spanish families and couples.

Our verdict

Vista Alegre is for anyone who wants to wake up looking at El Cargador beach and do the whole holiday on foot. In return, it gives up comforts such as a lift or air conditioning.

Strengths

• Facing El Cargador beach, right on Plaza Vistalegre.
• A location with the top score on Booking.
• Sea views from many apartments.
• Bedrooms that are quiet at night.
• Good cleanliness and value for money.

Weak points

• No lift.
• No air conditioning, something to bear in mind in July and August.
• Mattresses that could be better.
• No towels.

Who is it ideal for? For couples and families who put the beach and the atmosphere of the centre first, and for stays in spring, June or September, when the lack of air conditioning is less noticeable. If you are travelling with older people or anyone with reduced mobility, the lack of a lift may be a problem. No Casa Azahar building allows pets.

Check availability with Casa Azahar

Tips before booking at Vista Alegre

• Ask which floor the apartment is on if stairs are a problem for you.
• Bring towels, for the beach too.
• In midsummer, consider a fan: the building has no air conditioning.
• Check the agency. If you compare reviews online, make sure they are for the same management you are going to book with.

Around and about from Vista Alegre

Beaches. Opposite you is El Cargador beach, about 850 by 70 metres of fine sand, with a dune system where sea daffodils grow. It is fully accessible, has had a Blue Flag uninterrupted since 1987, and has a sailing club and paddle surf hire. Along the Senda Litoral, a wooden walkway, you reach La Romana beach; further south are El Moro and Manyetes, and to the north, Les Fonts beach and the marina.

In town. The promenade starts at the door. In season, the market is set up on Tuesday afternoons in the promenade area. At the Tourist Info office in the square you can find out about routes and activities, as it is also a collaborating information point for the Serra d'Irta Natural Park.

Sierra de Irta. In a few minutes by car you reach the Alcossebre lighthouse and Cala Blanca, from where route 2 (12.8 km, easy) and the red route (8.5 km) start. By bike, the Ruta del Cranc follows the coastal track to Peñíscola. In summer, entering the park's coast by car requires booking a space on the GVA Parcs Naturals app.

When to go to Vista Alegre

Because of its location and equipment, Vista Alegre shines especially in the months with mild temperatures. Alcossebre gets more than 2,700 hours of sunshine a year and, according to AEMET normals for the nearest station, the average highs are around 21 °C in spring, 29-30 °C in summer and 23 °C in autumn. As the building has no air conditioning, June and September are highly recommended months: the sea is still warm, El Cargador beach is less crowded and the heat is less oppressive. In July and August, the location makes up for it for many guests, but it is best to come prepared for the heat.

If you coincide with the fiestas, the centre is the best place to enjoy them. The main ones are the San Juan Bautista fiestas, between August and September, and in October the Fira de la Tomata de Penjar is held, dedicated to the star product of Alcalà de Xivert.

Vista Alegre compared with other buildings in the centre

How to get there

Via the AP-7, exit 44 (Alcossebre-Torreblanca), or via the N-340 and the CV-142. Approximate distances: Castellón, about 50 km; Valencia, about 120 km; Zaragoza, about 255 km; Madrid, about 465 km. Nearest airports: Castellón (about 22 km), Valencia (about 123 km), Reus (about 145 km) and Barcelona (about 230 km). Alcalà de Xivert railway station is about 10 km away. More information in the guide to getting to Alcocéber by car.

Alternatives near Vista Alegre

If you are looking for something similar in the centre, with other facilities, Casa Azahar manages these buildings near El Cargador:

• Apartamentos Ibiza: on El Cargador promenade, with sea views and 3-bedroom apartments.
• Apartamentos Las Terrazas: next to El Cargador, with a shared pool, gardens and parking.
• Apartamentos Bovalar: a few minutes from the beach, with a lift, a pool and a garden.

You can also read the pages for the Mare Nostrum apartments and Residencial Bovalar, or see all the complexes in the directory of Alcocéber apartments.