We have 3 houses in the area of Punta Prima, Costa Blanca South, plenty of shops / bars / and close to the beach, about 15 mins walk, 3/4's of an hour from Alicante airport traffic being kind and easy drive, never done the AP7 which is supposed to be a lot quicker.
Spent plenty of Christmas's their, and summers, weather all good, one Boxing day laid on the roof sunbathing for 4 hours, yes it can rain, one year it did on and of, and can get a bit windy, light coats if weather kind, better coat if not, 3.30 am one year coming out of a restaurant it was actually very mild, yes quite a few do stay open long hours, not like the UK...Can you leave it's nearly 5 pm.
Hospital and doctors close by, chemist open longer hours then the UK.
Winter days are what I call mild, eve's okay, cooler in the house eve's, but thats how the house's are built, days no heating on except if it was really cold, summer hot, and it gets hotter. Even had patio doors open most days in what you could say is winter, but winter months can be a little all over the place, one year allmost every day was great, depends on your out look of weather. A bit darker mornings but lighter eve's then the UK.
Shopping centres are close by and very good, food of every description you can think of, bars everywhere. Plenty of Brits and other nationalitys.
Plenty will say the area they live in is the best, we have not been to other areas, we love this area, probably I am a bit biased.
Hope this can give you an insight to perhaps another / this area.
Good luck.