August is usually the hottest month of the year in Torrevieja, the height of the tourism season, but it is also the end of summer. Shortly thereafter, temperatures begin to drop as autumn approaches.
The average temperature in August is 26C, with highs of 31C, and very pleasant and warm sea temperatures of 25C. In fact, it's likely to exceed 35C for several days of the month, and the highest temperature ever recorded in the area at this time is 40C. With long days, up to 12 hours of sunshine, it's perfect beach weather! Even overnight the temperature doesn't usually drop too significantly, with lows of just 20C. The Costa Blanca has fairly low humidity and enjoys freshening afternoon sea breezes, which does mediate the high temperatures somewhat.
It's a similar story across the country, though further north it's likely to be somewhat cooler day to day. In Barcelona, for example, the average temperature is a slightly lower 24C. In the cities, however, it will feel much hotter with higher levels of humidity (thanks to microclimates in built up areas) and inland, far from the sea breezes which refresh the Costa Blanca coastal resorts; the average high being 29C in Barcelona and 33C in Madrid.
Summer is the dry season in Spain, with average rainfall in Torrevieja of 8mm over 1 day in the month. It will be somewhat wetter further north thanks, in part, to more mountainous topography. Even just up the coast in Benidorm the rainfall averages are likely to be slightly higher, with around 49mm expected over 4 days. Further north and inland, Madrid has average rainfall in August of 10mm over 3 days, and Barcelona 64mm over 5 days; more than six times that expected in Torrevieja. Any rainfall is likely to take the form of short, violent thunderstorms or light showers and should cause little disruption.
35km from Alicante Airport, the lovely Villa Mi Sol offers a little more privacy and independence in comparison with the usual hotel experience. With modern, chic and comfortable décor, it has three bedrooms and sleeps six. It has all the amenities you would expect from a three star hotel, including a solarium and beautiful outdoor pool. It has a TV, air conditioning, full kitchen (with dishwasher), and pool or garden views from every window. The main Aparthotel compound nearby offers a children's playground and tour desk.
Slightly smaller, the Villa dar Unai is equally gorgeous, comfortable and chic. It has an outdoor pool, palm tree studded garden, built in barbeque and loungers, it's the perfect place to relax and soak up the sun. Inside, it boasts TV, air conditioning and a balcony, as well as full kitchenette with dishwasher and microwave. From the windows, you can enjoy pool and garden views.
The Playa del Acequión is really a continuation of the Playa de los Náufragos, on the north-eastern side of the salt quay, inside the port area. It enjoys similar facilities to Playa Naufragos, and has equally won a number of prestigious awards for its cleanliness, safety and amenities. The beach has several surveillance towers, three lifeguards on duty at peak times, a disability-adapted bathing chair and first aid station.
Cabo Roig, further south of Torrevieja, is a popular beach resort on the Orihuela Costa between La Zenia and Campoamor. The water is shallow, so safe for swimming for the whole family, and with golden sand, sun beds and beach front tapas bar, it's a lovely place for a relaxing day in the sun.
Stan & Ollie's on Calle Galeon is a family run establishment with great atmosphere and lively entertainment. Especially on the weekend, when the place can get quite crowded. The menu is a mixture of Spanish and international dishes, so there should be something for everyone!
The Royal Denis on the corner of Avenida Purisima and Virgin Paloma is a quieter little bar, but with great drink prices and a fabulous menu, it's definitely worth a try.
Restaurante Sunset Beach, on the corner of Calle Almudena and Avda Purisima, is a little more upmarket. The food is beautifully presented and prepared from fresh local ingredients by expert chefs. The lobster and oyster menus are spectacular, if you like that sort of thing, and offer a really unique take on some of Spain's classic fish dishes. There's an extensive wine menu, and the Sunday meals are particularly special; classic pub lunch, with a twist.
A day trip to Barcelona is a must on any trip to Spain. Especially if you've rented a car. Founded as a Roman city in the Middle Ages, it has been besieged several times during its history, is home to many notable artists and designers, has fabulous shopping opportunities, as well as world class restaurants, exciting nightlife destinations, and a rich cultural heritage. Particularly renowned are the architectural works of Antoni Gaudí and Lluís Domènech i Montaner, which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Take a city tour to get the most out of a day trip. The Barcelona City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Tour, for example, has two different tour routes to explore the city, the Blue Line and Red Line. See all the major sights from aboard an open-top double-decker bus. The tour passes all the key tourist sites and you can hop on and off at more than 44 stops.
Barcelona Zoo is in the centre of the city park and been ranked as one of the top animal attractions in Spain. The open enclosures allow you to get close to the animals, and there's a petting zoo for the little ones with rabbits, guinea pigs and goats. A train runs round the park, if your legs get tired, or you can hire an electric buggy. The zoo is home to a wide selection of animals and birds, and has an enormous reptile house for all the creepy crawlies, snakes, iguanas and chameleons. Founded in 1892, the zoo is one of the oldest in the world and prides itself on its humane facilities and habitats. The dolphin shows are not to be missed, and there are regular displays in the indoor aquarium, where members of the audience are invited to interact with the dolphins. Expect to get wet if you sit at the front!
