Murcia/Villamartin-tell me some lovely unspoilt little fishing towns/beaches/historical buildings to visit

[DarrellRivers]

Dear All,
We have occasion to use a family holiday home in Villamartin, Murcia, Spain.
Due to secrecy of family, I (of the intensely controlling personality) have been unable to find out the address or really much information about it!!!!
So we are gambling, have booked the flights and thought, 'how wrong can we be when the accommodation is free'
Am now having a panic as said holiday approaches rapidly. I am a busy resort hater, don't like crowds and lots of pink fleshed brits on the beach where you only have a few cms of sand to yourself.
Is Villamartin nice??? Is it like Majorca or Benidorm? Should we stay at home???
Can we just spend our days out on day trips to places such as above?

Anyone?

I've never been to Villamartin, think it's nearer Alicante than Murcia. However I have been to the Costa Blanca before and to Murcia a fair few times. My tips would be to avoid Torrevieja like the plague, it's probably not your cup of tea. Guardamar is nice though thats very Spanish and has a nice park. There's a tapas restaurant right along the seafront at the end of where all the summer cabin/beach hut type places are. It's called Venida or something like that. It doesn't look all that, but its always packed and the food is lush.

Cartagena is gorgeous - it's the home of the Spanish navy bit it's not like Plymouth. It's got a lovely Roman amphitheatre and the buildings are just gorgeous. There are ww2 battlements as well, that sound really boring but they aren't - the one at Cabo Tinoso is amazing. If it was in the UK there would be a theme park and a £20 entry fee but it's just abandoned now for you to explore.

The Sierra Espuna is gorgeous too.

Thank you Skirt, very helpful
I had found the DK Top Ten Guide to Costa Blanca and you have mentioned the things that I like the sound of.
And the battlements sound great, DD just studied WW2 so keen on her history
Am looking forwards to my holiday now
And a restaurant recommendation, fab

If you go to Cabo Tinoso, it goes further than you think - there's another part of it right at the end of the peninsular but you can't see it. 15 mins from there down through the tomato greenhouses to the coast is a place called Puerto de Mazarron. That's lovely too - it's a resort but not like Benidorm.

The little villages that hug the river in the Ricote Valley are gorgeous and Murcia itself is a beautiful city. It's bloody hot though!

You will have a fabulous time, we are going to Mazarron on 23 and I can't wait.

I really love Cartagena too, there is the nice stuff at the port and then the town centre for shops and lovely old buildings. I used to go to La Manga every year so know some places from Alicante/Murcia down to La Manga, we've always found it very nice there - and hot which lets face it at the moment is much needed!

We are off to Villa Martin on Friday! First time too though, and we have similar concerns. Fingers crossed and we hope you have a lovely holiday.