Bargain destination named as one of Spain's best seaside towns which boasts return flights for under £50 and 22 degree weather

A beautiful Spanish seaside town is one of this year's best destinations for bargain-hunting Britons.

Although it's just 15km from Benidorm, Altea is a quiet and charming town that was recently named as one of Spain's best seaside towns by Which? Travel.

Which? Travel surveyed more than 1,000 holidaymakers to find Spain's best coastal destinations.

Tourists awarded Altea four out of five stars for attractiveness, four out of five for safety and four out of five for friendliness.

Which? claims that 'snobs who deride' the Costa Blanca don't know about pretty Altea.

The travel guide describes Altea as a 'historic, villagey' destination 'where blue-tiled church domes glitter above a hill of sugar-cube houses'.

It adds: 'The one whose romantic setting - a wall of mountains on one side, the Mediterranean on the other - attracted artists, kickstarting tourism along this coast in the late 50s.

'They're still here, too. Ateliers and galleries are scattered throughout the old town, a cats-cradle of cobbled streets beneath the church, perfumed by bougainvillea, knotting into tiny squares.

'When daytrippers leave by late afternoon, a lucky few get to revel in a pipsqueak beach resort.'

Altea has a 6km/3.7 mile long coastline defined by pretty pebble beaches and uncrowded coves.

Tourists looking for something a little different can also head inland to explore the Sierra de Bernia mountain range.

Britons can get return flights to Alicante, the closest airport to Altea, for under £50 from Bristol, Birmingham, London Luton, Newquay, Nowich, Exeter and Leeds in May.

Prices correct at the time of writing.