I've never been to mainland Spain - can anyone recommend a coastal resort that isn't too built up and with no English pubs please

[Zog]

TIA

Mijas/mijas Costa and Nerja are lovely, traditional resorts.

The Costa de la Luz is lovely and 'unspoilt' and is where the Spanish go for their hols. Various resorts to choose from.

Ooh thank you, I'll have a look at those.

smugmumofboys, can you recommend any resorts in particular?

Erm, I can't remember.

I know that Cadiz and Jerez (as in sherry) are the two main big towns so you could start from there. We rented a house in the middle of nowhere in a hamlet full of Spanish-owned holiday homes. It's north of Tarifa which is very surfy but may have English pubs. We went with a company called something like Independent Travellers and did villa and car hire together. They have a website. We got our own flights to Jerez. A word of warning. The company had our hire car in Murcia for some bizarre, hellodoyouknowwhwerespainiseventhoughyouworkinthetravelindustry reason!! I called at the last minute to check something and discovered the mistake and it was all put right quickly bt them . But really! Opposite sides of the blardy country!!

Anyway, Costa de la Luz is lovely. We could hear the Atlantic from our cottage. We went at Easter and it was stormy but I would imagine that it would be glorious in the summer.

Oops, That's a bit long.

Was also going to say Nerja. Although I can't vouch that there are absolutely no English pubs.

Isla Canela and Islantilla are two perfect family resorts on the Costa de la Luz

definitely are english pubs etc in Nerja but it is still a lovely resort

Puerto Banus on the Costa Del Sol is an upmarket resort with a lovely marina full of expensive yachts and no English pubs. I took DS there when he was 6 months old and it was lovely. Also Gibraltar is just down the coast if you fancy a day trip.

Mojacar in Costa Almeria, is just beautiful!! The actual town is just what you picture Spain to be, narrow whitewashed streets with beautiful flowers growing on the buildings. Its good because you actually stay in Mojacar Playa whcih has lots of restaurants etc and shops but ,Mojacar Pueblo, the town is a ten minute bus ride up the mountain!! Amazing views, cant tell you how beautiful, we are going back in May

avoid marbella

These are all great suggestions, thank you

Off to google

This thread is just the sort of info I need We're wanting to rent a villa for a weeks holiday in the summer and we've decided on spain because the flights are cheaper than other places.

I think we've seen a couple in Nerja that we like the look of.

Nerja is lovely! Burriana beach is a good beach with kids as easy access, there are good restaurants on the beach so the kids can play and eat and you can relax.

There is a donkey sanctuary in Nerja, it is quite small and there are other animals too but if you have any spare food then they will be grateful.

Nerja caves are AMAZING!

If you hire a car, you can go to the Alhambra at Granada, Malaga and the kids would love Tivoli (amusement park with traditional rides) and the telefonica cable car. All within an hour and half of Nerja (maybe a little more for the Alhambra).

Cambrils is pretty,with a ovely harbour & beaches.I'd avoid Salou,just up the road ythough.

Denia or Cuillera

Sorry LyraSilvertongue, not sure when you went to Puerto Banus but there plenty of English pubs now and it's a top destination for stag and hen parties. There's a Linnecars now - says it all.

Costa de la Luz is lovely and unspoilt - resorts include Tarifa, Vejer, Conil, Zarara de los Atunes, etc.

No English pubs in Tarifa, very surfy and consequently extremely windy. However, Hurricane Hotel, a couple of miles outside is gorgeous. Small hotel, family oriented, great restaurant, etc www.hotelhurricane.com/en/index.html. Gets booked up quickly (regrets providing link).

Conil, a bit further along the coast, is a typical traditional seaside town with very few Brits but quite a few Germans.

Cadiz is beautiful, lovely buildings, restaurants and beach but it's a town and you might want to be a bit more rural.

Another option on the Costa de la Luz is Vejer, a white hilltop village with great beaches at Canos de la Meca nearby - 15 minutes drive.

Just bear in mind the less touristy it is, the less English likely to be spoken.

Costa de la Luz gorgeous and we had dinner at the hurricane hotel!! (mmm very fond memories!) We hired a villa near Tarifa, and visited Jerez (hazy memories of the Gonzales Byas tour...). Went with Spain at Heart but I don't think they operate anymore.

Stayed in a nice villa in Nerja. Had a shared pool outside the front and a private garden at the back which was a perfect combination for our then 18 month old. Pool was effing freezing though in October!

You have to drive the Alhambra. It is the rules. Stunning place.

Sitges!!! Sitges is LOVELY!

Brilliant beaches, lovely bars, delicious fish and a short train ride on a fab double decker train to Barcelona.

Zahara de los Atunes -sorry spelling crisis

Tell me about Sitges. it appeared on the chavvy resorts thread t'other day though I quite fancied going myself LOL

Never been but I've heard Sitges is lovely. Anyone been? What's chavvy about it?

My brother used to live in Sitges - we went every year until three years ago. Unless it's changed hugely I don't see how it could possibly be called chavvy! It is a lovely little town where posh Spaniards go for their holidays. It's also has a large gay community so - (stereotype alert!) - there are lots of very stylish shops and bars and restaurants.

Lovely sand beach - very safe for children.

Sounds great, I like the idea that it's so close to Barcelona, which I love. The gay community is usually a plus - if it makes it as stylish and relaxed as Mykynos and puts chavs off, that's fine by me.

It's more sophosticated than Mykonos - but you et the idea. I do hope you like it - I miss going there very much!