Caravan Camping Site & Bungalows LA MARINA (Alicante, Spain)

More than 30 years ago, we embarked on an exciting journey. With the help of an outstanding team and our loyal campers, the campsite has evolved into one of the most important camping resorts of Alicante and the Costa Blanca, and is now one of the benchmark campsites of Valencia on the Mediterranean coast. But, as we said earlier, it all began just over 30 years ago. This is the story...

It all began in the early 1970s

The land on which Camping Internacional La Marina stands today was purchased in 1972. The experience of the family headed by Mrs. Viviana Deckx, who already managed Camping Internacional Amberes in Catalonia, led them to immediately plant over 1,000 trees, forming pitches in order to use the land for the business of a first-rate campsite.

In the early days, the facilities were modest and electricity was obtained using a 35 kW generator, due to the slow paperwork involved in installing a high-voltage transformer capable of supplying enough power, while tankers supplied the campsite with drinking water, which was stored in a 300-m² store built in sprayed concrete, a novel construction at the time that marked the spirit of achievement and innovation that has driven the campsite over the past 30 years.

On 15 May 1979, the first campsite restaurant opened and building work began on the first sanitary block, a small supermarket, the reception office, the fencing and subdivision of the land, a sewage treatment plant and a whole host of new facilities and amenities for our clients. By the summer of 1980, the camping area was opened to the public. Installation of the electricity transformer was eventually completed and the generator that had thus far supplied the electricity then became used as a back-up for when the power went down, which was very common in those days in these parts. The family had to make major reinvestments to make sure that they were not weighed down by difficulties and to ensure the utmost satisfaction of its campers. The clients responded with their loyalty, not only in summer but in winter too, making our resort a campsite open all year round since its very first summer.

A campSITE OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND USHERS IN THE 1980s

 With the hot summer months came the need to build the first children’s swimming pools. Then, in 1983, building work began on the campsite’s semi-Olympic pool, accompanied by a services area with sanitary facilities, an emergency room and a hair salon, washing machines and ironing boards in the bathrooms for the convenience of our campers and the installation of solar panels to reduce fuel consumption for hot water and supply all of the showers with permanent hot water.

In 1985, we were granted a temporary permit for the supply of drinking water from the Guardamar del Segura network, allowing us to cut back on the unsustainable tanker service. We would have to wait a few more years before Elche City Council supplied us with water.

In 1986, the reception was extended to add offices. That same year, a 300-m² building was constructed to enlarge the supermarket, which had grown too small. We gave the shop all the services of a top supermarket: butcher’s, its own bakery, frozen food section, European products for our campers, international press, etc. Our commitment to our foreign clients at the time was rounded off with the installation of a large satellite dish broadcasting several foreign television channels across the site so that a normal antenna could be used to tune in.

In 1988, the campsite was extended following the purchase of adjoining land that was used for sites with electricity outlets, running water, drainage, deciduous trees (there was a high demand for very sunny spots in winter). A new wastewater treatment plant, estimated to supply a population of 2,000 people, was also built, together with a third sanitary block. We applied the new trends in campsite management and installed booths with individual sinks to give users more privacy, and a bathroom with disabled access, laundry room with two washing machines, a tumble dryer and an ironing board.

AFTER EXPANDING THE CAMPSITE, WE WELCOME IN THE 1990s

The next period was one of consolidation: the sewerage, water, and electricity networks of the pitches were expanded. In 1991, the main road was tarmacked, followed in 1993 by the other roads and part of the car park. The reception area was enlarged again and, in 1994, access barriers were installed and the control system using magnetic cards integrated into the campsite’s management programme was introduced.

In 1995, work began on the construction of the gym and indoor heated pool, with an aerobics room, sauna, hydromassage facilities and UV solarium, which opened its doors back in 1996. Their construction used the latest energy-saving technologies, combining a mixed system of solar panels backed up by a gas boiler to heat the pool and gym showers.

In 1998, a summer bar with a capacity for 500 people was set up, which began to offer entertainment shows. In the spring of 1999, the restaurant and bar were redecorated and updated, and the cafeteria area was extended.

All this constant transformation through action was rewarded by the campsite’s ISO 14001:1996 certification by AENOR in 2000, which was followed by its ISO 9001:2000 certification in 2001.

Camping La Marina ushers in the new century

With the recreational needs of campers still on our minds, in January 2002, we set to work on the construction of the new 3,000-m2 thematic lagoon and renovated the gym in February-March of the same year, extending it by around 200 m2, which now gives the campsite a total of 800 m2 of facilities. The gym changing rooms were fully refurbished and massage rooms, a solarium and an aerobics room were added.

In 2003, we built the pet toilet area and a new 150-m² laundry to wash linens from the restaurant and the bungalow service. The restaurant was also fully refurbished in line with HACCP criteria, with the creation of four independent refrigerators, cold room, kitchen with two extraction hood areas, a washing area with two tunnel washers, etc. This same year saw the reform and extension of the reception area, with the creation of a complete business centre for use by our clients, with two Internet-ready PCs, printer, scanner, fax machine, flash card reader and CD writer. The sanitary areas were also separated from the other washing facilities in 2003, at the suggestion of clients and inspectors.

New technologies were not forgotten: a new rack computer server was installed in 2004 for the whole company with a RAID 5 backup system. Certification of the campsite's entire computer network also began. A Wi-Fi service was installed a year later to provide wireless Internet access throughout the campsite. Subsequently, several base station antennas were installed to increase signal quality.

However, the big news would come in 2004 with the construction of a sports centre with 2 five-a-side football pitches, 1 basketball court, 1 seven-a-side football pitch, 1 volleyball court, 1 badminton court, 1 paddle tennis court, 10 pétanque playing areas and an athletics track. The efforts made to provide sport and leisure alternatives for our clients were rewarded with the renewal of our ISO 9001:2000 certification, this time by TÜV Sud.

In September 2005, the campsite's bar-restaurant was demolished and rebuilt. This ambitious project required 10 months to complete and resulted in a restaurant with seating for 350 guests and a kitchen that was fully refurbished following HACCP guidelines. Marina Park was also installed on the lower floor, containing a ball park, cybercafé with Internet-ready computers and PlayStation consoles for younger guests. A multi-purpose room was also built on the lower floor, with seating for 100 guests and a library with books in 5 languages. The upper floor has a terrace with stunning views over the bay of Santa Pola and the lagoon pool.

In 2006, we installed 14 new bungalows made by the Eurobungalows company: eight two-storey models and six with a single floor. They each accommodate five people and come fully equipped. Our campsite now has 36 bungalows for up to five people each.

In spring 2007, new barriers were installed with cameras to read license plates. This did away with the need for card readers and made access easier for vehicles whose steering wheel is on the right-hand side.

A campsite with unique entertainment

Between January and May 2008, construction was completed of the ANIMA2 nightclub, located on the first floor of the restaurant. This 250-m² multi-purpose hall complete with stage puts on entertainment shows, live music and dancing all year round in an enclosed space equipped with a high quality sound system and spectacular lighting, allowing our visitors to fully experience the excitement of our amazing shows.

In May 2009, 22-inch LCD televisions with DTTV were installed in all of the campsite's bungalows, while in June 2009, the children's play areas were completely overhauled in a riot of imagination and colour which, in addition to its wide variety of activities (climbing nets, single, double and triple slides, 360º spirals, bongos, tunnels, platforms, bouncers, and a long etc.), has sought to integrate four distinct areas: the Zoo, the mediaeval castle, the pirate ship and the Kid Center. All use continuous rubber safety surfacing in which imagination and forms add even more to visual play.

Spring 2009 saw the first test to pave the streets of the campsite. The experience was so good that the project was subsequently extended to the rest of the campsite over the next year. The paving of the roads means that vehicles can move around with less noise and there is no dust. All roads have also been reduced by around 5 cm from the pitch, so rainwater runs off quickly into the grids on the roads.

The new website was launched in October 2009 and includes a 2.0 community where our clients can interact with each other and with us through forums, blogs, etc.

And we celebrate our 30th birthday in the best possible way

In early 2010, the British wholesaler Alan Rogers awarded us the 4 Seasons Award at the fair in Utrecht (Netherlands), which we had the honour of collecting in the company of the Minister for Tourism of Valencia, Ms Belén Juste. That same year, we inaugurated our new Miniclub, with two floors and a capacity for over 60 children. The space includes a new backstage store for entertainment scenery, specific furniture, a mini toilet for children, and a media room.

In June 2010, we celebrated the campsite's 30th anniversary with a huge party and a visit by the Regional Minister for Tourism. We also buried a time capsule in the pool, to be unearthed in 2030 when the campsite celebrates its 50th anniversary.

After celebrating our 30^th anniversary, we felt the need to look back and take stock of our progress. The events and landmarks we have achieved give us hope for a bright future filled with satisfaction, in which we have no intention of abandoning our spirit of excellence and continuous improvement.

We hope to see you soon at Camping La Marina and that your loyalty and trust will accompany us for another 30 years.