Anyone been to Benalmádena?

[ChuChuUa]

Looking for general recommendations for bars and restaurants but also have you stayed in Hotel Best Benalmádena?

Hi ChuChuUa Is it the Hotel Best Sirocco? We stayed there for 4 days the Easter before last. Love, love, love Benalmadena!

No, it's this one that's a wee bit out of the way, right next to the water. I see the Siroco is highly recommended though so we're considering that as well. Is the hill it's on steep? Have you any recommendations for bars and whatnot?

Forgot to add the link!
www.besthotels.es/en/best-benalmadena.html

We went around Easter. Not the most authentic Spanish place but short transfer, the promenade was fab with a pushchair and lots of nice restaurants. I'd happily go back.

ChuChuUa Do you have children? If so, try Los Patos Park - great water slides and pools, close to the beach and lovely food! We were there at Easter this year and it was lovely - except the pools were cold (it was April!).

The Best Sirocco can be accessed via a private gate (using your room card) from the main promenade - so it's not steep. For the beach, there are steps.

No bar recommendations sorry, but I can recommend a park! Parque de las Palomas is fab. There are turtles in the lake, parrots in the trees, cockerels, chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs etc roaming free. A great play area with equipment for the children and some gym equipment for adults (not that I used this!). Up a slight hill from the promenade.

Oh, the aquarium in the marina is good too. One of our 4 days at Easter was wet so we went then. The other 4 days were hot and sunny!

Other 3 days, sorry. I can count!

Yes Parque de la Paloma looks lovely, will definitely be going there. Thanks

Did you look at Los Patos Park? We loved the water slides! The pools would be warmer now - the second week of April they were very cold!

Yes, Los Patos Park looks good so that's on our shortlist now, thank you We plan to go in October though so I imagine pools will be cooler again then. Unfortunately October is the only time we can go, what with considering school holidays and DP's work schedule.

We went in October too, like others we though parque de palomas was fab when the weather was not so gooox. The one place we eat and loved so much we went back was da checco and Paulo. Didn’t look much but food was amazing, especially the steak. Also fancied lime and lemon but didn’t make it as you need a reservation. Kids loved the carte dor cafe on the promenade near the marina.

Thank you, will definitely visit to both. Our son will likely love the Carte Dor cafe as well.

Get the bus up to the Pueblo- it’s really lovely. You can take the lift up to the church, have a bit of a walk, see the fountain. It’s one of my favorite places.

We're looking at the Holiday Village there

@duckyfuzzz Have you seen Channel 4's Secret Life of the Holiday Resort? It focused on there.

Was the programme bad??

No, it was interesting to see the scale of the resort and it wasn't particularly full of British stereotypes like the people referred to in that big thread on (I think) AIBU.

@duckyfuzzz I suggested Avenida Suites on the other thread .

I've stayed at Hotel Polynesia which is one of the three hotels which share the 'beach club' the HV Costa del Sol. We really liked it, it was much better than Avenida Suites.

I can't comment re HV but just to let you know, it is between Fueingirola and Benalmadena. You would need to get a bus to Benalmadena but Fueingirola is walkable, approx 20-25 minutes. Benalmadena would be approx 1 hour walk.

Waterpark is great if you have younger kids. Older teenagers would probably find it a bit dull.