U3A Denia

Back row l to r: Richard, Chris and Graham. Front row l to r: Cazzie, Ginny and Liz

Our aim is to provide our membership with a wide choice of value for money trips to suit all pockets, bearing in mind the rising cost of transport and food. As well as being friendly and fun, we endeavour to make our trips educational/cultural in line with the U3A ethos of continued learning and sharing experiences.

Phil, our Webmaster, is working hard to produce us a new Travel Booking System, where you will be able to book on trips without using a password, select your pick up point and make your lunch choices. We're expecting the system to be up and running by April.

These are the trips we're researching for you for this year.

11 April - day trip to the Lladró factory in Valencia with a visit to Port Saplaya and lunch in the afternoon.

19 - 22 May - three nights half-board in a four star hotel in Mar Menor with visits to Santa Pola, a guided visit to the Roman Theatre in Cartagena, La Zenia shopping outlet and the Cuanta y Tres factory (with tastings!).

June - day trip to Altea where you can shop, visit the old town, enjoy lunch on the seafront - or do all three!

July - Cirque du Soleil Alicante.

2 - 9 October - eight nights in Mallorca visiting some of the UNESCO world Heritage sites. We’ll take a dramatic wooden train journey through the hills to the village of Soller and see the caves of Drach and spend a day at the spectacular Cap de Formentor. We'll be staying in a 4* Adults Only hotel, half board, and travel by ferry direct from Denia.

November - day trip to Elche with a guided tour of the old town, a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site El Palmeral before having lunch in the beautiful four star Hotel Jardin Milenio.

13 December- sightseeing/Christmas shopping day trip to Valencia.

23 - 27 December - four nights full board in Hotel Kaktus, Albir, where we had such a good time last year.

DISCOVERING THE MAR MENOR
three nights, half board, four star hotel
Sunday 19 - Wednesday 22 May

Lying between Torrevieja and Cartagena, Mar Menor is a huge, coastal, saltwater lake, and is the largest in Europe. It’s separated from the Med by a strip of land called La Manga and fringed with beautiful beaches. As the depth of the lake is only seven metres, it heats up quickly and you can swim there all year round. We’ll be staying just a few minutes’ walk from the beach.

We’ll leave Denia in the morning, and stop on the way for a leg-stretch and lunch at the lovely coastal resort of Santa Pola. It will then be a short drive to our hotel - the four star Costa Narejos, arriving in the afternoon.

Liz first took this trip in 2018, and Chris and I did a recce last year to check it was still as we remembered, and it is - excellent buffet-style breakfast and dinner and the added bonus of happy hour from 5pm - 7pm each evening!

The hotel is in the purpose-built resort of Los Alcazares and is just 100m from a lovely prom and beach where you can stroll and stop for coffee. Just over the road is an area full of bars and restaurants.

Day two
After breakfast, we'll take a short drive to La Zenia Boulevard in Orihuela. All your favourite shops are here, ladies, and there is Decathlon and Leroy Merlin for the boys! There will be free time for shopping with plenty of options for lunch. We'll return to the hotel in the afternoon.

Day three
After breakfast, we'll board the coach for Cartagena. Founded in around 220 bc, the town boomed during the Roman period. Hidden for centuries under rubble in a run-down part of the town, the Roman Theatre was discovered in 1988 when excavations started for the building of a craft centre. With our English-speaking guide, we'll be visiting the Roman Theatre Museum, which houses a beautifully structured museum with the impressively restored 1st century Theatre.

We'll also see the old town, and those with a head for heights can take the panoramic lift for a fabulous view of Cartagena and the surrounding area. Afterwards, there’ll be time to wander around the historic buildings and have some lunch, before we return to the hotel late afternoon.

DAY 4
Cartagena is also famous for producing Licor 43, and we’ll visit the facility on our way back to Denia. But first we’ll have breakfast, pick up our packed lunches and check out.

Named for the 43 ingredients that go into making this delicious liqueur, we’ll have a guided tour of the museum and production plant, with tastings. There is also a cocktail presentation of Ginger 43 & Carajillo 43. What’s not to like?

We’ll stop on the way back to eat our packed lunch, arriving in Denia late afternoon.

€273 pp sharing a double room
€90 single supplement

Minimum of 40

We need a €100pp deposit by 15 April. I’ll send you a payment slip as soon as we reach the minimum number. You can, of course, pay the full amount if you wish.

You and anyone travelling with you, must be a fully paid up (2024) member of U3A Denia to travel on our trips.

The trip is now full. Please contact Ginny to be put onto the waiting list: travel@u3adenia.com

Pick up time from:
New Marina Denia - tba
McDonalds Denia - tba
Mas y Mas Ondara - tba

The fabulous Cirque du Soleil is performing in Alicante and we have managed to reserve 50 seats.

Allegria recounts the tale of a kingdom that has lost its king. It observes the conflict between the established order and a fresh movement yearning for hope and rejuvenation. The Aristocrats and their pretend king, a fool who claims the throne and wants to maintain the current system, are on one side. On the other side, a human movement is emerging from the streets to challenge the established authority.

The performance starts at 6.30pm and lasts until 8.35pm. You will not be allowed to bring any food and drink into the venue, but you can buy refreshments there (which will obviously be more expensive than bringing your own).

Cost is 89 euros per person.

To book, please contact Cazzie: travel@u3adenia giving the names of all the people travelling with you and where you would like the coach to pick you up: Denia New Marina, McDonald's or Ondara.

Please read our Terms and Conditions before booking.

Pick up time from:
New Marina Denia - tba
McDonalds Denia - tba
Mas y Mas Ondara - tba

MALLORCA - a journey through time
Eight nights half board

Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands, has a rich history dating back over 2,000 years. Our base will be the four star Hotel JS Palma Stay in C’an Pastilla.

It’s an adults only hotel with buffet meals (no ‘tourist menus’), pool, jacuzzi, spa and evening entertainment. There’s a bus stop right outside if you wish to sightsee by yourself, but you probably won’t need to when you see what we have in store for you. Of course, it’s entirely up to you how you spend the holiday. You can take the trips with us, or not, if you prefer to do something else.

Day 1 (Wednesday 2nd October)- arrival and overnight.

Day 2 (Thursday 3rd October) - breakfast, then a morning’s guided tour of old Palma to see the historic centre with its picturesque streets, emblematic monuments, important Gothic style buildings and Medieval Jewish Quarter. Afternoon free, dinner and overnight.

Day 3 (Friday 4th October) - after breakfast we’ll take the iconic wooden train up to Sollér in the Sierra de Tramuntana mountains. The mountains have been awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, and are considered one of the most impressive natural landscapes in the Mediterranean. You can stroll around the little streets and maybe take the 15 minute tram to the port of Sollér, which runs hourly. Stay as long as you like. Dinner and overnight

Day 4 (Saturday 5th October) - At your leisure. You may like to visit the fabulous Cathedral/Basilica. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, it was built over a period of 400 years and is considered to be one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Spain. In the afternoon, you could visit the Royal Palace of Almudaina. Dating back to the 14th century and originally an Arab fort, this grand palace is the official residence of the Royal Family for special events and their annual summer holiday. The 11th century Arab baths are an outstanding example of Islamic architecture in Spain. The lovely gardens are worth a visit, too. Entry is free to pensioners between 3pm and 6pm on Saturdays. Dinner and overnight.

Day 5 (Sunday 6th October)
After breakfast, we have a morning visit to the beautiful village of Valldemossa. This charming hilltop village, set in the Tramuntana Mountains, is famed for its quirky, cobbled streets and the 13th century Cartuja de Valldemosa, a monastery which was originally a palace.
We have a guided tour of the Cartuja, which was once home to Chopin, who lived there with the love of his life, Aurore Dupin, also known under her pen name of George Sands. He composed some of his most acclaimed pieces here. Afternoon is free time. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6 (Monday 7th October)
We’ll visit the Caves of Drach in the morning. Formed between 11 and 5.3 million years ago, the four caves stretch for 4km. Our half day guided visit includes a live classical music concert from floating musicians and a boat trip around Lake Martel. You can then enjoy some free time in lovely Porto Cristo and have lunch before we return to the hotel in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

Day 7 (Tuesday 8 October)
We’ll spend a full day in Formentor, the northernmost point of the island, known as Mallorcan Finistere. A must-see for any visitor is the dramatic and stunning Cap de Formantor - where the Tramuntana Mountains meet the Mediterranean - and a windswept lighthouse which stands on the promontory.

We’ll also visit the pretty town of Puerto Pollensa, playground of the rich and famous, who moor their super yachts in the turquoise waters of the harbour. 15 minutes inland is the ancient town of Pollensa, with its famous 365 Calvari Steps and views to die for if you can make it to the top! A retreat of artists, writers and musicians, its narrow winding streets and artisan shops are worth exploring. Dinner & overnight.

Day 8 (Wednesday 9th October)
Free day today to do as you please - revisit the places you enjoyed most, see those you’ve missed or just relax in our lovely hotel by the pool. Dinner and overnight.

Day 9 ( Thursday 10th October)
Early breakfast before we board the coach for the ferry at 8am, arriving back in Denia at 1.15pm.

We are restricted to 40 places on this trip

Cost for 40 passengers:
Double room €988 per person
Single supplement €285

There are a small number of sea view rooms (€190 extra per room) and partial sea view rooms (€140 extra per room) available on a first come, first served basis, subject to availability at the time of booking. Please ask when you book. The hotel is not on the beach.

For members with mobility issues, contact Ginny about mobility information for some of the sites.

You, and anyone travelling with you, must be a fully paid up member of U3A Denia.

Please read our Terms & Conditions before booking.

To book, contact Ginny: travel@u3adenia.com

Pick up time from:
New Marina Denia - to be advised
McDonalds Denia - to be advised
Mas y Mas Ondara - to be advised