Parking - Drive into the village, the houses are on your left where the road narrows, look for the numbers above the doors. You can park to unpack in front of the garage just beyond the houses, and 24 hour parking is just 50 metres further on.
Bins and Recycling - The best option is to put your rubbish in the large green bins at the far end of the village - there are also recycling bins for cardboard and glass, so please use these. We can also recycle tetra bricks (juice and milk cartons), tin cans and a aluminium cans. Please rinse these out and leave in a plastic bag for us.
Water - The village sits next to a fantastic spring, so water is plentiful. However try not to waste water. Hot water is heated by gas and is plentiful. Please help us by using plenty of hot water if you wash up. Olive oil, etc is great for blocking sinks!
Electrics and lights - Please avoid wasting energy and avoid leaving lights on. Very occaisionally the power can cut of. This can be caused by kettles, irons, microwaves, etc. If this happens turn of the appliances and reset the trip switches next to the front doors. The one in number 19 has a small master switch on the main panel. In number 21 there are also trip switches on the 1st and 2nd floor
Bedding - We have extra bedding should you require it. Please ask your contact for the week. When you leave just strip the beds leaving the mattress protector on the bed and leave the bedding next to the washing machine.
Fires - Both houses have wood pellet stoves. These need cleaning out every 2 days or so with the vacuum cleaners with the large black filter cans attached. remove the heavy metal "brazier" in which the pellets burn , and teh metal back plate. Hoover/vacuum out all dust from beneath the brazier and behind the plate and then replace these. In particular the brazier has to be seated down exactly or teh stove will not light. Sometime pellets jam and don#t feed through. If pellets are not feeding into the brazier or buring cup push your hand into the pellets to see if this loosens them. Whilst cleaning hold down the "off" button for 5 seconds, this will get the stove to draw air up the chimney reducing dust whilst you are cleaning.
If you get any kind of "error" message hold down the off button for 5 seconds after checking the brazier is seated properly.
Gas fires - These are useful for warming up bedrooms during the winter months, but they need to be in a well ventilated room. Howover please use the pellet fires as the gas does create condensation and wood pellets are far more friendly to the environment. PLEASE DO NOT RUN GAS FIRES ALL NIGHT IN BEDROOMS as this could be dangerous!
Gas Bottles -
Both houses use gas to heat water, and the bottles are under the water heater
(outside in number 21). The picture shows the
gas switch on the top of the bottle in the "on" position.
There are spare bottles in the houses and should you run out here is how to
do it.
1) Flip the switch on the top of to bottle to the off position.
2) Using both hands push down with the palm of your had on the top of the adaptor whilst pulling the black ring UP. The adaptor will easily lift off.
3) Push the adaptor down onto the new bottle whilst pulling up the black ring with your fingers. Once the adaptor is pushed down as far as it will go the connection is sealed by pushing the black ring back down. It will click into place.
Washing Machines - These are provided in both houses. For best results use an anti calc tablet (provided) with each wash. The water is very hard.
General - windows - be careful not to leave these open if it is windy, in number 21 the top front bedroom is likely to be taken over by swallows if you leave the windows wide open!
In Number 21 when you are not in the house please do NOT leave the back doors open as cats can get into the house.
Bread - Deliveries about 11 am every day. Go down to the square to buy your rations, about 75 centimos per "barra". You will also get other goodies from the bread van. We also recommend the Empanadas (pasties) from the bakery on the main road in Benimantel - either guisantes (peas) or atun y pimienton (tuna and pepper).
Restaurants - In the village there are two bar/restaurants. The top one, Patricios is generally open for afternoon meals most days (except mondays). You are advised to book at weekends though as it can get very busy. Bar Mari (Restaraunt Pico) at the bottom of the village has great views over the valley from the balcony and will provide meals on demand at most times, just ask at the bar, it is closed on wednesdays. Elsewhere there are good restaurants in Benimantell and also on the old road from Guadalest to Callosa. Or for cheaper options there is a great Chinese restaurant called China Garden in a new building just on one of the roundabouts between La Nucia and Benidorm (about 30 minutes drive). You can get very good quality food and wine for less than 10 euros per person.
Shopping - Most
shops are closed on Sunday except a local shop called Coar Val at
Benimantell - open mornings (Just down and on the right from the roundabout
on the East side of Benimantell). This is open on sundays for basics.
Also the large Carrefour at Cale Finestrat which is open limited hours,
10am until 4pm. Also on a sunday try the Repsol petrol station
near Lidl.
Please use the vans that arrive in the village as much as possible, they supply great vegetables, fruit, meat and fish. There is a chart on each notice board with approximate times.
Mercadona sell quite a few food items at a reasonable price. We find that the new Mercadonna supermarket on the road between La Nucia and Benidorm is very good and cheaper than Carrefour in Cala Finestrat. There is also a Lidl store which is great for basics at a good price.
Locally there is a small shop in Confrides that sells a few basics and a small general store called Coarval in Benimantel (village next to Guadalest). If you want to buy souvenirs, the shops in Guadalest are geared up for tourists and you can even get a bargain there. This will also save you from having to venture into Benidorm. Markets in the local villages are good entertainment. Market times are pinned on the notice boards.
Keys - If we posted your keys please post your key back to us when you return from your holiday. If you picked them up in Abdet please leave in teh letter box in the doorway of number 21.
Emergencies - There are emergency numbers pinned up on the notice boards. Also your contact for the week can also assist you. The nearest 24 hour public telephonme is a Confrides. The nearest hospital is at Villa Joyosa, on the main road just a few kms south of Benidorm heading towards Alicante. (VILLAJOYOSA , Pla d'Aljuv, Tel: 96 685 92 00 )
Red Cross Ambulances Emergencies
Alicante 96 296 58 76 Altea 96 545 25 36 Benidorm 96 578 13 58 Calpe 96 583 82 55 Denia 96 586 42 09 Elche 96 584 31 83 Gandia 96 525 41 41 Javea 96 525 25 25 Moraira 96 579 19 61 Teulada 96 574 09 50 Villajoyosa 96 574 09 50 96 589 14 00
Police - Fire - Ambulance. Telephone - just
dial the number 112 * . They have multilingual operators available,
just ask for the service you require and explain your problem.
Traffic Police Phone 963 695 899
Red Cross Ambulance Service. Available on 96 525 2525
If for any reason you need to use your own vehicle to get to a hospital in an emergency, hang a WHITE towel, shirt or other article out of the window of your vehicle. Switch on your head lights, flashing lights. The police recognise the white item as an emergency situation and will give you assistance. I do have personal experience of this.
Driving, theft - there have been a few instances of people being stopped when driving from the airport. ie another driver implying you have a puncture or even drving into you. With the aim of stealing all your luggage of course. Also be careful around the large supermarkets and shopping centres as this seems to be a popular place for thieves.
Internet - there is free internet access and wifi in the houses, wifi password is abdetcom. Number 21 has a computer to use, please log on as abdet or guest, password is abdet. Please email tom@pcoms.com during the week if you have any general questions.
Other Problems - For most of the year if you have a problem that you can't solve contact Gary or Susan, number 4 on the bottom street in the village. If they are away on holiday we will have informed you of another way of getting help.