DD17 off to Malaga - top tips!

[hobbcat]

DD17 plus three friends including her bf are staying in Malaga in an Airbnb for five nights at the end of July. They are staying close to the harbour. Any words of wisdom for them? (Places to avoid etc)

Take condoms, be wary of drug pushers and be very careful with their drinks. Don’t accept free shots either.

They'll figure it out

I think @Blurrywateryeye might be getting Malaga confused with Magaluf…

Firstly Malaga isn’t a resort, although it does have long sandy beaches. It’s a city the size of Nottingham with a lovely historic centre which is compact & walkable. My highlight was the Mercado de Atranzas food market. It’s a spectacular place showcasing everything that’s wonderful about Spanish food. The local olives are superb. If they are feeling brave they can buy some of the fantastic seafood & take it back to the apartment to cook. Casa Aranda, near the market is a very popular cafe serving chocolate con churros to the locals.

There are lots of nice bars & restaurants around Plaza Uncibay, Plaza Carbon & Calle Mendez Nunez. This area is absolutely rammed at night with locals and tourists, but the atmosphere is laid back & civilised. Magaluf it ain’t, although there are a couple of small nightclubs which I didn’t visit.

Churches aren’t really my thing, but there is a cathedral with an interesting history. Picasso was born in Malaga, of course, and the Picasso museum is worth a visit. His famous masterpieces are elsewhere, but he was a one-man industry so there is still good stuff to see.

The main shopping area is around Calle Marques de Larios. Lots of choice there, although the massive El Corte Ingles is down on Avenida de Andalucia.

No I’m not. We went last year, quite a few students there. Some dodgy bars but overall fine holiday.

El Pimpi is Malaga’s most famous tapas bar and sells delicious food. Antonio Banderas used to own it and I think is still involved somehow. The central market is amazing for food too (eat in).

The best beaches are at La Malagueta and Pedregalejo. Try some fried seafood at a chiringuito on the beach.

Shopping is all around Calle Larios and of course the famous department store El Corte Ingles. The market at the harbour is good too. You’ll have to google which days it’s on.

Malaga is €€€€, lovely but if eating out prepare to spend

This place is great. It’s a great museum of fashion, art and quirky classic and vintage vehicles https://museoautomovilmoda.com/

Both my daughters are separately going to malaga with friends this summer, one daughter is just back and had an amazing time. It is one of the places for young people to go this summer, lots of clubs and bars and young people.

You should tell them how important it is to be sun safe - wear sunscreen, a hat, drink lots of water etc. A bad burn or sunstroke for one of them can ruin the holiday.

My DS is just back from Italy and it was very hot - he was sensible for once and paced himself, hanging out with his friends in the apartment when it got too hot. He even bought a hat when I revouleted him some money.

His top tip is to bring a microfiber towel - folds up small so handy for the beach, but they also dampened theirs in cold water and slept under them to cool down at night.

Travel insurance.

-Make sure she has an up to date European Health card (as well as insurance)
-make sure you have a word/phrase only you know to include in a genuine ‘mum I’ve had my phone nicked’ message so you don’t inadvertently reply to a scam text ( my Dd is away inter-railing atm, and I’ve had 3 scam texts since she’s been away…)
-make sure she tells you what cards/banking apps she has on her phone so you know which ones to stop if her phone gets lost/stolen
-make sure you have her mates phone numbers
-Pack antihistamines and Imodium

She’ll have a great time I’m sure!

If they're too hot, there's a big city park with lots of shade that's nice to wander around and has cafes and bars where they can get food and drink.

They might also like to get the train a little way down the coast to more traditional beach resorts like Benalmadena or Fuengirola. There's also a massive outdoor shopping mall on the same train line (Plaza Major). The train runs until around midnight so would be OK for an evening out.

If they're feeling adventurous, there's El Caminito del Rey, which can be done as an organised tour, or on public transport, but needs careful planning.

https://www.caminitodelrey.info/

There's a Joe Lycett Travel Man episode on Malaga. The next time I go there, I want to go to the crisp shop

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g187438-d16948756-Reviews-Paco_Jose_Patatos-Malaga_Costa_del_Sol_Province_of_Malaga_Andalucia.html

I don’t rate Malaga that highly. I would take the train to other little coastal towns and better beaches. Visit Cordoba if it isn’t too hot.

I love Málaga! It's quite small and easy to walk around. I'm not sure about the party scene but there's plenty to do and the harbour is beautiful. The Mercadonas (grocery store) is well priced. Eating out is quite expensive particularly by the harbour but if they don't go to the touristy places they'll save money.

The buses were cheap. There is an entertainment place further out but I didn't go there.

I'm sure they'll have a great time!

Take a detailed video inventory of the AirB&B as soon as they arrive. Invaluable protection if the owner claims any damage

Shes 17! I highly doubt the plan is to scour the morning fish markets for some seafood to cook in her air b&b and she won’t have a fucking clue who Antonio Banderas is 🤣 honestly.

@Blurrywateryeyehas it right. Sunscreen, condoms, the confidence to say no and stick together. Some of the clubs get a little wild, heat and hormones! Have they booked a beach club? Some of them do get full at this post-exam time of year.

^^
This

I think a lot of people forget about the dangers of the sun. My DD19 has just come back from a week in Malaga and this is one of the things I warned her about most while she was there. I have had heat stroke before and was so very poorly with it so it was one of the things I made sure I drummed into her more than anything else.

She already knows and is aware of the obvious drink spiking/sticking together/looking after valuables etc that young girls need to be aware of so.

Other things were just making sure she had her EHIC card, travel insurance, phone numbers also written down incase her phone was stolen and other things like that.

I also checked that she had thought to pack things such as bite cream and paracetamol (which she had) but as a mum we sometimes think of obvious things for them to have that they may not have thought of.

😂😂

I thought this too. My DD has just come back and they spent most days topping up their tans and sleeping off hangovers and then out in the evenings doing what youngsters do. She had a blast and came back with the most beautiful tan.

Exactly. Suggestion what you like at middle aged is pointless to a 17 year old 🤣

Massive thanks to you all! Some fab advice. It’s actually really nice to know some of the lovely “middle aged” stuff - I will give her the edited highlights!! She’s a keen cook and they’re all really into their fitness so I’m guessing they’ll look out for an open air gym..

Just gotten back from Malaga and it’s lovely. I’ve spent a lot of time in Spain (not resorts) and Malaga is one of my favourite cities.

I can’t tell you anything about nightlife because I am not out past 8pm even in Spain. 😂 But I did lots of early morning walks down the beach and lots of swims. There are lovely beach restaurants down the beach (to the right looking on a map!) from the harbour area. Well away from the crowds. I had nice healthy breakfasts and lunches there and you can get a sun lounger for the day.

It’s very hot there at the moment, so I’d plan their days like the Spanish do - stay in the shade and nap in the afternoon.