Apartamentos Esmeralda Suites

Discrimination against disabled visitors. Refusing to let disabled visitors use a mobility scooter. Disgusting treatment for 2023. Advising people on mobility scooters to walk instead. No warning of these rules so avoid if you are using a mobility scooter.

We stayed for the month of October in the Esmeralda Suites (#2), floor 6, in a one bedroom self-catering apartment which overlooked the Rock, and the Esmeralda Hotel. Holiday was booked with Jet2. It was very close to two supermarkets (Consumer and Mercado) and a five minute walk to Aldi (15 minutes to Lidl). The check-in was smooth, and the three times we contacted reception for maintenance assistance the team arrived within minutes… our 4-way UK extension cable didn’t like being plugged in using an EU adapter: suggest you take additional two-pin adapters just in case, although with three we managed happily for the month. The towel deposit was fine (€10 a towel), the safe key was €20 a week but worth it and the linen was delivered promptly each Friday for us to renew. The staff we met were very helpful, and Google Translate helped at times! The main thing to note is there is no soundproofing between the apartments, and it should also be noted that a percentage of them are privately owned and inhabited. Tiled floors magnify the slightest of sounds and unfortunately our last two nights were marred by the selfishness of two young French women who kept us awake till the early hours of the morning by FT’ing their partners back home and being quite loud, even when asked to keep the noise down. It’s the luck of the draw but the advice would be to get the Hotel staff to intervene quickly. Calpe is a wonderful place to visit: the promenade walks and then up into the Old Town area is so relaxing and informative. Everyone we met was friendly and welcoming. Didn’t climb the rock, many do, but we walked miles along the coast in both directions and up the mountain at the back of Calpe. There are no trains, but the #1 or #2 bus which stops opposite the Coral Cafe between the apartment and the Hotel takes 20 mins to get to the Tram Estacion (€1.50 one way), and then the Tram can take you north to Denia (change for a bus at Gata whilst the line is being upgraded) and south to Alicante (change tram at Benidorm): tickets are purchased on board, using an interactive screen that changes language for you and takes card payments. As an example, a return ticket from Calpe to Alicante (about 90 mins each way) was €5! All in all, a great location for a s/c apartment, great sea views and a great option for a base to explore this beautiful area of the Costa Blanca.