Stores

Currently the nearest store is Super Santa Ana which is on the coastal road opposite the estate agency (Dania). At the coastal road, turn right towards Denia and it is almost immediately on the left-hand side. Unfortunately, this shop has a limited range, is irregularly open and is often closed for longer periods. Supermercado Rio is somewhat larger and within walking distance. Turn left for the supermarket on the coastal road and at the end of the dead-end road you will find this supermarket on the right. Supermercado Rio is closed from November to March and is usually only open in the morning in the other months.

A good supermarket is reasonably close by in El Verger, 5 km from Palmera Park via the N332 (follow the signs to El Verger). Enter El Verger and you will automatically see the Supermercado Mas Y Mas on the left-hand side (at a sharp bend to the right). A little further on the left is Consum; another good supermarket. A large Consum supermarket is on the right-hand side of the coastal road (Carretera de las Marinas) in the direction of Denia. These supermarkets sell everything from fresh meat and fish to vegetables, fruit and bread. We advise you to go to these supermarkets, because they are more easily accessible than the larger supermarkets in Denia or Oliva, such as the Mercadona. The Mercadona is also a good supermarket with good quality for a good price. These supermarkets are open all year, but usually not on Sundays and public holidays.

Supermercado Saladar is located on the coast road when driving towards Denia on the right (after the exit towards Els Poblets and opposite restaurant Hero). This supermarket has a number of typical Dutch products (including coffee milk and Dutch bread). The Esso garage on the left side of the N332 on the road to El Verger also has a small shop with basic foodstuffs such as bread and milk. This ‘shop’ is open 24 hours a day and a good alternative for groceries on Sundays or late arrivals. Incidentally, other supermarkets are increasingly also open Sunday morning.

In El Verger there are other smaller shops, such as a pharmacy (to be found at the green cross), a magazine store, hairdressers, post office, etc. You can also get cash at a bank near Supermercado Mas Y Mas. If you like ‘hypermarkets’ (large supermarkets), you can go to the Carrefour in Gandia. Turn right on the N332 and drive through Oliva. When you arrive in Gandia there are signs showing the way to the Carrefour. Carrefour is big and crowded in the summer. Next to Carrefour a large shopping centre has been built called “La Vidal”. All kinds of shops are located in this shopping centre and it is a nice place to buy clothes and shoes for example.

In 2008 the Puertal de La Marina shopping centre was opened near Ondara. This shopping centre can be reached by turning left on the N332 and driving towards Alicante. You will see it after 10 kilometres. Follow the signs ‘parque commercial’ to get there. There are numerous shops in the shopping centre and there is also a Carrefour. There is also a C & A and countless other clothing and shoe stores.

The most fun place to shop and sit on terraces is of course the centre of Denia. Most stores are concentrated on the central road with beautiful trees on both sides, which provide shade especially in warm weather. This road is on the right, opposite the ferry terminal to Ibiza. It is best to park near the harbour along the road and from there walk to the centre. Parking the car in the centre itself is virtually impossible. It is also possible to take the bus to the city from the coastal road near the park. However, this bus does not run often and takes quite a long time.

In Denia there are traditional markets (non-food on Mondays) and fruit and vegetables on Fridays. The market in Denia is large and is held near the bus station. The smaller (but cozier) market in Oliva is on Friday and the market in Gandia is on Saturday. In the Costa Blanca News or in the Dutch “Hello” (for sale at supermarkets and magazine stores) you will find more information about markets in the area (also in the villages in the mountains).

Bars

There are plenty of bars, unless you come in the middle of winter.
Bar Chiringuito is right next to Palmera Park and is clean and friendly. They serve tapas, snacks and a daily menu (in the afternoon from 1 pm to 3 pm) It is also possible to make phone calls from there. The restaurant is open all year round throughout the day.This bar is especially popular by the locals. At noon the workers come here to eat and drink a beer before they go back to work.

Bar Tolli is on the road towards the beach just over the bridge. This bar is now only open in high season. They serve modest menus. There is also a cigarette shop here and you can buy stamps and postcards. During the spring, summer and autumn there are many more possibilities along the entire coastal road. For example, try the Heladeria Azahar ice cream parlour on the right towards the dead end of the coastal road.

Restaurants

Avoid Casa Clara located on the main road N332. Although the restaurant is open all year and is within walking distance, it is filthy and smoky.
Casa Ramon is open from Easter to mid-October and occasionally on public holidays and weekends outside the season. To get there, turn right from the park and turn left on the coastal road (towards the dead end of the road). The restaurant is located (within walking distance) on the left. It is a nice looking and clean restaurant run by a Spanish family. The menu is simple and Spanish. A must where you get value for money.

A particularly good Dutch restaurant is Hero. It lies on the coastal road towards Denia after the third intersection with traffic lights (at Els Poblet) on the left side of the road. It has a very good reputation but is more expensive than the other restaurants mentioned here. The owner speaks English as well as Dutch.
Another recommendation is Mario Bommel. This restaurant, run by Germans, is located at Centro Comercial Las Brisas, km 3 on the beach road towards Denia. The restaurant is located on the small road that runs from the beach road to restaurant Bona Platja. Our (multiple) experiences with restaurant Bona Platja are not good. The food is of poor quality and the service is unfriendly. If you still want to eat at the beach, go to restaurant Teneré opposite Bona Platja.

We also like to come to restaurant El Barril. This restaurant, also run by Germans, is located on the left side of the beach road in the direction of Denia, at km 3.5. When you like Italian food at reasonable prices, try Pizzeria Sorrento. Cheap and good service. In the summer it is crowded and after 21.00 you have only a small chance of a free table. It is not possible to reserve. This restaurant is located after the sixth intersection with traffic lights on the right side of the road at kilometre 4.5 opposite Hostal Mi Campaña. Open all year and closed on Mondays outside the high season. Another recommendation.

You can eat good Spanish tapas at Bar Gallego in Ondara, on the right side of the road on the old N332 (the road from El Verger to Ondarra). The bar is opposite the plaza de torros. Especially at lunch it is very busy. When you are in Denia you can eat tapas at Jamonal de Raconet bar, near the train station opposite the place where the market is held. A bar where you can sample the local atmosphere and eat tapas and other meals.

B & B’s is not far by car and is located on the left side of the old N332 in the direction of El Verger, not far from the Lidl. Highly recommended for chicken and steaks. Sometimes live (flamenco) music in the summer and weekends. Near the Lidl is also a Sushi restaurant, Yamasaki! For little money you can eat here unlimited! Beverages are also cheap. Romantic and stylish dining (especially the sunsets are special) at restaurant Republic Denia in the new port of Denia (Marina de Denia). There are many more good restaurants in the area. Do you have a recommendation; Let us know!

¡Buen provecho!

Doctors and hospitals

Health care in Spain is good, both private and from the state. A visit to the doctor costs about 30 € plus the costs for any treatment or medication. A good Dutch doctor is doctor H.E. Landa in Beniarbeig. Telephone 966490707 or 966427100 (http://www.drlanda.es/).

You can get treatment without paying directly at the state hospital in Denia (or Oliva). These hospitals are indicated with the direction signs ‘Hospital’. The new hospital of Denia is located on the right side of the road that connects the toll road (A7) with Denia.

A good private hospital (paid for by most Dutch health insurances) is Hospital San Carlos. This hospital is on the road from Denia to the highway (A7) between the roundabouts diagonally opposite the Mc Donalds. Doctor Landa (see above) is also affiliated with this hospital. You can use the A & E for all your complaints here!

Pharmacy

Pharmacies are fully available. You can recognize them by the green cross. In El Verger is a pharmacy, but also on the coastal road to Denia on the right. In the weekend there is always a pharmacy that is open

The address is in the Costa Blanca News or you can check with the police for example.

Dentist

You can also find a Dutch dentist in Denia:
Clínica Dental Mare Nostrum (Dentist Rutten)
Ctra. Dénia – Javea 38A 03700 DÉNIA (Alicante) telephone: 690 001 545
From the website: http://www.mare-nostrum-denia.eu/praktijk-denia/

“From complete dental reconstruction to cosmetic dentistry; dentist Rutten uses the most modern, painless methods. Without risk!
We find it important that you feel at ease in our practice. We answer all your questions, and we will discuss every treatment with you in advance. A colleague orthodontist is also connected to the clinic. We use Dutch rates and treatment codes as laid down by the Dutch Society for the Advancement of Dentistry (NMT). ”

Other facts

Opening hours

Many shops (with the exception of most of the larger supermarkets) and offices are closed between 1.30 and 16.30.

Newspapers

There is a Dutch newspaper, the Hello, this newspaper appears weekly. You can buy this newspaper at a number of supermarkets (for example at the Supermercado Mas Y Mas on the coastal road towards Denia) and at magazine stores. English newspapers also regularly appear. In these newspapers you will find all kinds of information about local news, restaurants, festivities, markets, important telephone numbers, etc. In many supermarkets or other public places there are also many free English-language newspapers.

Post office (Correos)

The nearest mailbox is at Bar Tolli (the bar on the way to the beach). The letter boxes in Spain are yellow.
You can buy stamps at tobacconists and at Bar Tolli. There are post offices in El Verger, Oliva and Denia. The one in El Verger is close by and you can also park there easily.

Bus

There is a bus all year round along the coastal road from the dead end (at Restaurant Ramon) to Denia (and back). The bus runs every half hour in the summer and every hour in the winter.

Phone

The nearest public telephone booth is 500 meters on the coastal road towards Denia (after Restaurant Fratellini). The reduced tariff rates are from 8 pm. You can also call from the restaurant next to the bungalow park, but they charge a surcharge for this.

Banks and ATMs

Banks and ATMs can be found in El Verger, Ondara, Oliva and Denia. The nearest is that in El Verger (just beyond the Mas Y Mas supermarket on the right side of the road). An alternative is the ATM of the Banco Valencia at the entrance to the golf club Oliva Nova Golf. You can find the golf course by turning left from the park and then taking the first road to the right.

Internet

Wireless internet is available in and around the house. If there is a fault, disconnect the router from the power supply for a minute. Never perform a reset because all settings will be cancelled.

Trains

From Denia a train drives through the mountains via Altea and Benidorm to Alicante. This train takes two hours, so you have been warned. Yet it is a fun (and cheap) day trip. You can of course also travel to Altea or Benidorm and then go back again!

A direct (and good) train to Valencia runs from Gandia. The station in Gandia is difficult to find and parking is difficult. A good alternative is to drive to Cullera by car (via the motorway, A7) and to park the car there and take the train to Valencia. A smart solution when you want to visit Valencia.