First time to Spain - recommendations?

[WildThong]

We would love to try Spain (anywhere, mainland or island) this year but don't know where to look. Ideally in a not really touristy area,(no lager/all day English iykwim) nice hotel or apartment within walking distance to restaurants and shops. Seaside would be lovely but any advice or tips on other towns is much appreciated.

\link{http://www.nerjatoday.com/\Nerja is lovely} - popular with Brits but it's not lager lout territory. Quite a short drive from Malaga (lots of cheap flights & car hire)

Very hot in the summer though

We went to Coma Ruga in Costa Dorada and it was a lovely Spanish seaside place. There were hardly any English people there and a nice promenade to walk along in the evening. We took the DC to a fairground quite late each evening and enjoyed people watching, especially the Spanish children who were all dressed up. It's possible to take a day trip from the place to Barcelona. We went in August and it was sunbathing weather but not unbearably hot.

From Nerja you could have a day out in Granada

But that's even hotter in the summer

True that the NE coast of Spain is somewhat cooler than the S & the centre. We visited Barcelona in June once (drove from Perpignan, that was an interesting day out!) & it was OK even on an open-top bus, but it was quite hazy & got cloudy later. Depends how hot you like it...

Thank you all! Off to google.....

If you are planning on hiring a car, then I would suggest Santander, Gijon, Covadonga, Picos de Europa, Santillana del Mar, Comillas... Anywhere in the north coast really. But you do need a car.

I was going to say Nerja, it's lovely

We stayed in the Murcia area a couple of years ago-you can fly into either Murcia or Alicante.
Cartagena and Murcia were nice for walking around and los Alcazares for restaurants although the beaches there could be busy.
We hired a car and found some lovely little quiet bays and beaches , It was mainly Spanish people there and not many British tourists.

There are lots of golf complexes out in that area with fabulous , reasonable priced villas. You would need a car to get around though.

I was also going to suggest the Murcia region! Very Spanish, lots of good quality villas and apartments at reasonable prices (some with own pools) and the area is good for exploring.

Owners direct or Holiday lettings have lots of properties listed - if you go in july / august make sure you have a/c

Nerja is just lovely (off again there this year)

Calella de palfrugell or Llafranc.

Fly to Gerona.

You can visit Barcelona from there too.

Galicia is beautiful with the most amazing coastline. It is not at all British touristy but very popular with Spaniards in summer.