Recommendations for mainland Spain

[elizabethcharlotte]

Can you suggest a nice area to go to in Mainland Spain. We don't really want a 'Brits abroad' sort of place. I've just seen a hotel that I quite like the look of (price!) in Roquetas de Mar. Does anyone know that area?

Javea

Jalon is a rural, lovely village. No hotels but you could hire a villa. It's on hour in between Valencia and Alicante and 20 minutes from the coast.

Santander or San Sebastián.

We flew to Malaga last year, then hired a car and drove up to the mountains (Sierra Nevada area). Used Granada as a base. Malaga and the coastal area was v much Brits abroad, but this area - only an hour or so away - was much more authentic.

Fly in to La Coruna and enjoy it's beautiful beaches then visit Santiago de Compostela and savour a mediaeval city. Galicia is an outstanding region in terms of history (a Celtic nation complete with bagpipes of its own, myths, arts and amazing history), food (great meats and lots of fresh seafood), scenery and people.

I went to Roquetas de Mar last year with the family. Its really nice, lovely beach and long promenade to walk along. It's not particularly popular for Brits abroad. We found it very Spanish with a small number of Brits. Not sure if that's why it's cheaper but we really enjoyed it and would recommend the area.

Begur or Tossa de Mar.

I second Begur or Tossa, or anywhere on the beautiful Costa Brava, from Tossa up to the French border. No Irish pubs, English breakfast, fast food joints, highrise blocks, just beautiful unspoilt lowrise resorts. Check out the first two, or Calella de Palafrugell, Lla Franc, Tamariu, Aiguablava, Cadaques, too many to mention. Fly into Gerona, handy little airport, no queues like in Barcelona. Just back from there, oh I miss it!

@Bitchfromhell mentioned Jalon.. two hotels there, both award winning, gorgeous and child friendly,
www.cuatrefinques.com
and
www.caseriodelmirador.com which is also mumsnet top european hotel.
www.mumsnet.com/reviews/travel/hotels-in-europe/10268-caserio-del-mirador

Oops, never spotted the hotels

If its June July or Aug the Puerto de Mazarron is the best place on earth. It's just brilliant. Out of season though, it's very quiet.

La Coruna is lovely. I like the Marbella area. An apt just outside Marbella on the beach. really reslaxed and chilled - fairly boring but lovely.

I don't know Roquetas de Mar, sorry (we live in Spain). For summer holidays if you want beach but not Brits abroad I recommend San Sebastián (fly to Biarritz or Bilbao), Santander or San Vicente de la Barquera.

Down south, Cádiz is also lovely for a relaxing summer holiday.

Javea, Denia, Altea all lovely.

Nerja is my favourite place in Spain (to date). It does have a lot of tourists but its definitely not a Brits on tour with football shirts type destination.
We fly into Malaga and take a bus up when we go.

Thank you so much for all the ideas! You have given me so many places to research!

Calpe.

Nerja is beautiful

I've just been recommended Javea today by a friend

The Costa de Luz. Cadiz, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Tarifa, white villages, Manzanilla Sherry, quiet beaches. Go.

Another vote for Begur...loved it and within striking distance of a day trip to Barcelona.

Begur or Moraira get my vote. Happy holidays

I've been looking at Roquetas this year too!
Also looked at and have decided to go to Torreblanca between feungirola and torrelominos/Benalmadena.

This area is quite Spanish and so you get the Spanish coffee shops and the beaches are lovely.

They have a frequent (every 20 minutes) train that runs between Malaga and feungirola. It's easy to get onto and go to torremelinos and the aqua park and the crocodile park or zoo in feungirola.

Transfer wise is great too as all these resorts are 10-20 miles from Malaga airport!

If you want to do days out you can join tickets online before you go and it's much cheaper.