Winter break in Spain: Where to?

[MangosteenSoda]

I like a week in a sunnier place over New Year to break up the UK winter. Looking for ideas/inspiration/advice.

I’ve previously been to Nerja and Altea in winter and enjoyed both. I was looking at either Mojacar or Mazarron near Cartagena for this winter, but can’t fly to Almeria or Murcia from near where I live outside of the summer season. It looks like I’ll have to fly to Alicante or Malaga so I’m thinking about driving down from Alicante to the top of the Mar Menor (Los Alcazares or Lo Pagan). Anyone have any experience of these areas or any suggestions I haven’t thought of?

I’d like a beach for my son to play on (he doesn’t need proper ‘beach weather’ for this) and access to a couple of nice places for exploring. I’d go to Murcia and Cartagena from northern Mar Menor for example. Drive to airport in less than 90 minutes. A handful of restaurants, cafes in walking distance is a must and I prefer to stay in a town/village location. I usually book an AirBnB.

DS has ASD so I think the flight time to Malaga is our limit so not considering Canaries, Madeira, Sicily etc. South of France possibly, but not sure about the weather. I know both Malaga and Alicante cities well (I’d suggest these to other people myself) but would like to try a different area. Any thoughts??

Costa tropical around Granada. Almuñécar is lovely although it's shingle beaches

Fly into Málaga and drive from the airport.

It's only about an hour

Know Mojacar area really well. We have nearly always had to fly into Alicante due to the lack of flights to Almeria from our local airport. The drive is a drag but we love the whole coast there from San Juan to the Cabo de Gata so we feel it's worth it. Let me know if you have any queries about particular resorts along that bit of the coast and I'll do my best to answer.
I know Almunecar too and it's also very nice.

We also love short breaks in Spain over winter. Have you considered seville? There are beaches nearby albeit not walking distance, late night Baths (like Malaga) for one of the parents, and the fast train to Granada is fun.

The nearest beaches to Seville are over an hour away by car.

Thanks all!

@fussychica do you feel it’s worth the long drive in winter? Part of my concern is that not much will be open.

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun Almuñecár is definitely on my radar. I think it looks lovely, but know the area really well so would be redoing day trips rather than exploring new places. It’s definitely still in the running though 😊

@FiddlefigOnTheRoof I lived in Seville for a short time (a very good while ago though) and would love to go back one day, but probably not mid-winter.

I live not far from Lo Pagan, it's lovely. The mud baths there are fab