Hi Nige,

welcome to the forum!  Well, to answer your first question...
My parents live in the Costa Blanca near Torrevieja, and have done so for the last 12 years.  We have visited them regularly during that time (we were there 2 weeks ago).  We find it very hot and humid there - most unpleasant!  I think the temperature is maybe 1-3 degrees hotter but the humidity is much higher and that's what makes it miserable.

I can't comment too much on the winters as we have only been here since April, but we were here on and off last winter (September, December, February and March) and it was pleasant enough ranging from shorts and T shirt to Jeans and T shirt.

They did have snow here though for the first time since 1964, then it settled and it hasn't done that for over 70 years!

This summer it has reached 40 degrees a few times but generally it seems to be between 25 at night and 36 in the day.

The landscape is much greener than the Costa Blanca as there is rain here from time to time during the summer (we have had a few big thunder storms but only in the late afternoon/evenings).

Hope this helps,

Nigel