Malaga / Benalmadena

[LittleFriendSusan]

I'm trying to plan a very last minute trip (in a couple of weeks) to Malaga / Costa del Sol and I've got to the point where I can't see the woods for the trees...

We can do 7-8 nights. We're thinking early flight on the Saturday, central apartment in Malaga for 2 nights & then get the train to El Chorro Monday evening, stay locally, Tuesday AM do the Caminito del Rey walk. Train back to Malaga & then 3 days at more of a beach / pool type place to chill for a bit. Then 2 nights in Granada, back to Malaga for flight home. Or maybe 1 night and spend last night in Malaga. We might want to do a day trip or 2 in the middle, so location is key, don't want to hire a car on this occasion.

Malaga - ruled out the lovely hotels with rooftop bars due to budget but there are a few apartments which look like they will be ok. I was looking for a pool but think we'll compromise on this if we do the resort type place after.

So where to stay for 3 days? Benalmadena looks like it could be the best option for ease of getting about? Current options are Estival Torrequebrada, Sahara Sunset, Sunset Beach & Benalmadena beach. Anyone stayed here - or other recommendations?

We hate the whole brits abroad, beige food. irish pubs type thing & would want B&B or self catering, decent coffee in the morning & nice food and drink within walking distance. Ideally with a balcony / terrace.

Finally (!) - Granada... is it worth it if we can't get Alhambra tickets? Struggling at the moment but will keep trying. Don't really want to go to Seville as we're planning this as a separate holiday.

Thanks for any suggestions

I haven’t been to Benalmadena but my impression is that it is quite ‘Brits abroad’. So, I’ll throw in another idea. How about a couple of days in Cordoba? No beach but it is a great alternative to Granada if you want history, amazing food and architecture.

Oh, or another thought would be to stay in Benhavis. It’s small but well located for day trips by car. It also has a really nice walk up in the hills.

Thanks - yes Cordoba was also on the maybe list for a day trip.

Re Benalmadena - tbh that's what I thought but read quite a few threads saying it was lovely so thought I might have been wrong! I will check out Benhavis - not come across that yet.

Went to all of these places a couple of years ago. The only one a would never go back to is Benalmedina - definitely a brits abroad place. Cordoba, Granada or Seville are much nicer. We stayed in Cordoba and did day trips to the other 2.

I’ve been to Benalmadena twice. It’s a bit brits abroad but not super tacky, and if you go away from the strip there’s plenty of more authentic places.

stayed at the Estival hotel half board- food was good and we had a fab balcony facing the sea that I spent hours sat on reading.

Just be careful with booking anything that isn't a holiday resort for example private apartments. At the moment and for the foreseeable all pools are closed unless they are in designated holiday resorts due to the severe water shortage. Depending on where you are staying there are also limits on consumption and some places the water is turned off and rationed. There are no beach showers or toilets either. I'm not sure people in the U.K. are aware of this maybe I should make a post

Sounds like a lot of travelling for a week if you go back to Malaga in the middle. What about going from El churro on to Jerez or Cadiz - both not brits on holiday and probably cheaper than Malaga. Then come back to malaga for a night or two before your flight? Granada is one of my favourite places but if you are going it’s worth being able to do the Alhambra

Benalmadena is lovely. There are many nationalities there. You could try staying in Mijas instead, which is up the (enormous) hill in the mountains and is totally stunning.

I think all of the hotels you mention are pretty standard fare, nothing extraordinary.

We have an apartment in Benalmadena and I wouldn't describe it as brits abroad at all. Down the front by the beach there are lots of British places but we don't tend to go there. If you stay in the village then there are lots of Spanish places. We go all times of year - it is definitely not just a touristy place. I could recommend lots of restaurants but can't really help with hotels.

Málaga is a great city, I go there all the time. If you fancy a few nights not too far away but very Spanish, I'd really recommend Antequera. It's a super little town with cheapish hotels.
Córdoba is also super, I'd prioritise a lot of places over Benalmadena to be honest!
Also La Herradura is an 1.5 hours on the bus from Malaga. Beautiful coastal town, also more Spanish.
Word to the wise re. El Chorro. The bus that normally runs around the place does not run on Mondays. Fine if you're staying right by the train station, otherwise you'll be stranded. However it is stunning there and the lakes near the start of the Caminito are lovely for swimming.

(sorry no disrespect to Benalmadena, just wouldn't be my first pick of you're exploring for first time).
And to answer your Q re. Granada. It's a beautiful city in it's own right, and remains stubbornly the land of free tapas! There's a lovely restaurant with a terrace on the valley opposite the Alhambra, so you can gaze at its beauty even if you don't get to visit. I can dig out the name if you like the sound of it.

Base yourselves in Malaga city for the trips to El Chorro and Granada. Either bus or train from Maria Zambrano train/bus station. Find a mid range hotel either around Calle Larios or the seafront for ease of access to the station, the bus or metro takes a few minutes, or alternatively walk it, it's not far at all from the centre. Great nightlife, food, shopping, and culture. An all round fab little city. So that's probably three nights. If you have the time I would definitely recommend Cordoba and Antequera, but Cordoba is no.1.

Then when all your sightseeing and other trips are done, move on to Rincon de La Victoria. Great beach, yes it's a seaside area but is a step above the Southern Costa region, although both have their pluses. If you feel like going further, then Estepona is my no. 1 choice for fly and flop. It is gorgeous. Have a look.

Look at Comfy Studios in Benalmadena. Definitely not Brits abroad. They're within spitting distance to the beach and very arty farty. You will not be disappointed. Also 20 mins drive to Malaga airport.

Try down the road in Torreblanca. Less touristy, train runs to Benalmadena (market there is good) .

I've stayed there many times

We've just got back from a first visit to Benalmadena, can confirm it's quite brits abroad in parts, but equally there are some lovely spots, winding streets, stunning views, the marina is lovely, and we had some fantastic meals with a bit of research. We loved Malaga too, be aware you probably won't have water in any pools except hotel pools. If we'd been there longer we'd have done a night or 2 in malaga and then the same in Mijas. It's very easy to avoid the Irish bars and full English breakfasts if you want to.

Could you hire a car and drive to El Chorro? If so the lakes - I think it's the Ardales National Park - are nearby and gorgeous for swimming in. I'd also really recommend El Torcal Nat Park, a gorgeous hike around stunning rock formations. The Caminito is amazing of course!
The beach in Malaga is horrid IMO, I haven't been but Nerja is nearby and often recommended as having a nicer beach and has a really cool looking canyon walk up the Rio Chillar. I haven't been though so don't know how Brits abroad it is.

Thanks all - keep it coming, this is all very helpful.

@Sallysoup @welshcakes6 - thanks for the tip re pools, I had read something about a ban but didn't know if it was still active.

We don't want to hire a car, so I think that probably rules out a few of the suggestions.

Seville and Cadiz - yes both look amazing but saving them for another trip.

I have seen a lovely place in Mijas so that's definitely in the running for a few nights, glad to see it get a mention.

@quizzys - definitely having at least the first 2 nights in Malaga but accommodation is pretty expensive compared to elsewhere. I think a lot of the sights / museums are free or cheaper entry on a Sunday so that's why we were planning the weekend there first. I saw a few lovely places in Estepona but reviews all said you really needed a car so that's one for another time.

El Chorro - we were planning to stay overnight as a) sold out for direct tickets but can buy guided tour from hotel, and b) if we want to do the walk in the morning, I think the train from Malaga gets in too late.

@Southener - looking at hotel near the station but thanks for the bus tip! I would love your restaurant tips for Granada if you have the name :) And yes, the free tapas is one of the things attracting us there!!

Thanks @takemeawayagain - you must have posted while I was typing. Tbh that was my initial plan, as i'd seen the parks and thought we could maybe carry on to Ronda afterwards. But DP drives all day at work & wants a break from that, and I'm not overly confident on winding / mountainous roads so think we're going to stick to public transport this time.

I also liked the look of Nerja & the caves but wary of trying to cram in too much and not getting time to relax! (this is what we usually do - go away on holiday and then need another holiday to recover )

Nerja is lovely. Definitely not brits abroad.

@LittleFriendSusan this is the place in Granada. The Spanish tend to sit down for lunch around 2pm, so if you get there earlier you should be able to get a table with a view

El Huerto de Juan Ranas, La Terraza.
+34 958 28 69 25

g.co/kgs/xGHBBKx

@LittleFriendSusan It's great that you have some lovely suggestions here.

Just on Estepona, and since you don't want to hire a car, there is an express bus that goes from the airport to Estepona. Just stops at Marbella bus station and San Pedro. Costs about a tenner.

San Pedro (de Alcantara) is another gem. A full working Spanish town, with a super beach and a walk/cycle way along the sea all the way to Puerto Banus and Marbella. Another favourite spot of mine.

Benalmadena is lovely. The harbour is stunning. I stayed at Benal beach. It's big apartment building very central to the beach and shops and restaurants, we had a studio apartment with everything we needed in it we stayed off season so there was a lot not opened but it's got a shop and restaurants and its surrounded by restaurants and a lovely park opposite

Carihuela is really nice and a day trip up to Benalmadena is well worth it, I prefer it to Mijas personally especially early evening. You can easily get the bus up from the coast.

Sorry should have put Benalmadena Pueblo!

@Travelcrazy I agree! The pueblo is gorgeous and we always go up for a few meals when we are in Benalmadena. It is full of Spanish charm.