The Costa Blanca (or White Coast) is a 200 kilometre stretch of coastline between Gandia and Pilar de la Horadada. Long hailed by tourists and expats as the idyll from which to escape the dreary climes of the UK, the Costa Blanca is no longer the inexpensive haven it once was. Although still lovely, the conversion from the Peseta to the Euro sent prices skyrocketing and in many parts the cost of living is too high to justify the lack of infrastructure and other support services. Costa Blanca is serviced by the airport in its capital city, Alicante, which is a large connecting airport that runs direct flights to most major European cities. Budget airlines also fly into Alicante, with the most popular being Ryanair, Easyjet and BMIBaby.