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Tourist scams and rip-offs in Altea, Spain: how to avoid them
Photo made by Emilio Sánchez Hernández on Pexels.com
Altea is a calm, low-crime coastal town, but standard Spanish tourist watchfulness applies around the old town, beach promenade and transport hubs. Watch most for overcharging at tourist-facing restaurants with no visible prices and for pickpocketing in crowded summer spots. The main connection is Alicante airport about an hour away by tram or bus.
Updated September 2026
Common scams in Altea, Spain and how to avoid them
1. Hidden cover and bread charges
How it works: Restaurants around the old town and beach promenade add a cover, bread or service charge that was not shown on the menu, inflating the bill at the end of the meal.
How to avoid it: Ask for the written menu with prices up front and question bread or cover charges if they were never mentioned before ordering.
2. Pickpocketing in summer crowds
How it works: Pickpockets work crowded terraces, the beach promenade and festival crowds, often with a distraction such as a dropped item or a map question while an accomplice lifts a wallet or phone.
How to avoid it: Keep bags zipped and in front, leave valuables at the hotel, and stay alert during busy summer evenings and fiestas.
3. Unlicensed airport drivers
How it works: On arrival at Alicante airport, unofficial drivers approach travellers inside the terminal offering rides to the coast at inflated prices with no meter and no official licence.
How to avoid it: Walk to the official taxi rank outside arrivals and always use a metered or agreed fixed fare, or a trusted app such as Free Now or Cabify.
Official tickets for the top sights in Altea, Spain
Skip street sellers: book official tickets and tours with free cancellation.
From the airport to the city centre
Alicante-Elche Airport (ALC)
Fair taxi price (official, daytime): €70 - €85. Use the official taxi rank outside arrivals and agree the fare or insist the meter runs. Unlicensed drivers approaching inside the terminal should be refused. Fixed long-distance fares are common for this route.
Best alternative: Airport bus C-6 to Alicante station, then TRAM Line 9 to Altea (€10, about 110 min)
Public transport: tickets, validation and fines
- Single ticket
- €3 (Single TRAM ticket on Line 9; zoning makes longer coastal trips cost a few euros.)
- Validation rules
- Validate or tap your ticket at the platform validator or card reader before boarding the TRAM. Boat-style hand-held validators are used on board. Failure to validate is treated as travelling without a ticket.
- Fine without a valid ticket
- €100. Fine for travelling without a valid ticket on Alicante TRAM, applied by inspectors on the spot.
- Paying by card
- Contactless bank cards and mobile wallets can be used to tap in on Alicante TRAM; no need to buy a ticket for single rides in many cases.
Tipping and service charges
Tipping: Not expected but appreciated. Leaving small change or 5 to 10 percent for excellent service is customary, mostly in restaurants. Taxis and tours do not require a tip.
Cover and service charges: Some tourist-facing restaurants add a cover or bread charge not shown on the menu closer to the old town and beach. Check the menu for a written price list before ordering and ask about service or bread charges on the bill.
Cards, ATMs and currency exchange
Always choose to be charged in euros and decline dynamic currency conversion. Prefer ATMs attached to banks rather than standalone machines in tourist spots, which often carry higher fees. Pay by card where possible to avoid cash.
Areas where extra care is advised
- Old town (Casco Antiguo): Crowded on summer evenings; keep bags closed and valuables out of sight in the steep, packed lanes.
- Beach promenade: Busy during fiestas and peak season; watch your belongings on terraces and at towel level on the sand.
Emergency number
112
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Frequently Asked Questions about Altea, Spain
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Based on widely reported traveler experiences and official advice. Prices are approximate and change; check current fares on arrival. Updated September 2026.