Dilip Kuner

FORGET what you think you know about the Costa Blanca. Sure, there are the skyscraper resorts and sprawling, sun-drenched sands, but tucked between the jagged peaks of the Sierra de Bernia and the dazzling turquoise sea lies a town that moves to a slower, more romantic rhythm: Altea. If you’re anything like me, you crave authenticity on holiday – and that’s exactly what Altea delivers.

THINK Michelin stars mean bankers, billionaires and blow-outs? Think again. Spain is quietly serving up Michelin magic for less than the cost of a UK pub dinner date. With tasting menus starting below €50, you can eat like a king without selling a kidney. From Galicia’s windswept coast to Madrid’s dusty outskirts, a handful of Michelin-starred chefs are proving that fine dining doesn’t have to mean fine spending. Stick to those with ‘just’ one star and you can find some bargains.

WHAT comes to mind when you think of Spain? For many an image of millions of people baking under the Spanish sun on a costa beach comes to mind. And when their attention turns elsewhere, it tends to be towards day trip honeypots like Gaudi’s surreal Sagrada Familia in Barcelona or the majestic Alhambra in Granada. But venture just a little off the beaten path and you’ll find a treasure trove of jaw-dropping sights that most tourists completely miss.