4 weeks in Spain. Where to base?

[PositiveDiscipline]

I have a big birthday coming up and have decided on a month in Spain. We have travelled a fair bit around the place from city to city but never stayed in one place for a long time. This time we want to chill - beach - eat - shop and will be doing some day trips as I will have my car. It doesn't have to be massively touristy as we all speak Spanish a fair bit.

I am stumped for a resort though. A villa will be too much for a month. I am looking for an apartment, with a communal pool within driving distance of a town/village/ shops and the beach.

Any recommendations of resorts or places to make a base?

Mainland Spain, not islands.

Which month and how hot do you like it. I would choose Andalucia as there's so much to see and do, but it's very very hot in the summer, too hot in my experience.

The north coast with Bilbao, Santiago (museums, food as well as beach etc) would also be nice, as would the Costa Brava/Costa Dorado (watersports, castles, ruins, cities like Girona and Barcelona) and the north won't be as stupidly hot in the summer.

We have an apartment in Ayamonte, which is in the far south of Andalusia on the border with Portugal. Although it gets touristy (mainly Spanish though) in August it is a proper Spanish town with things going on all year, even though the beach areas a quieter out of season. The weather is great May- September and we quite often go in October. As it’s not very touristy and you speak Spanish you should be able to use the local shops and markets which are quite cheap
Seville is just over an hour away and Cadiz and Granada a bit further. Of course you can also spend time in Portugal
It IS far south so a bit of a trek to Madrid if you want to go there bit from what you say I think it would tick your boxes, we’ve spent 3 weeks there without getting bored so I’m sure you would be fine for a month

Hopping, funnily enough we spent some time in Isla Cristina last year and loved it. The beach is fab and I had the best paella of my life there.

I don't think I can go as far west as there this time. I think I need to be more on the East side so that relatives who live in the Costa Blanca can come and stay easily.

We don't mind heat. We lived in 35-45 degree heat all year round up until recently.

Right now I am looking at Nerja but not sure if it is Spanish enough.

How about Estepona? We’re having lovely weather at the moment. Plenty to see and do around about. Visit Mijas Pueblo, visit Ronda. Laze on the beach.