I hated Torremolinos...anyone else?

[PinataHeeHaw]

I've heard great reviews about Torremolinos, but it was concrete and more concrete. More foreign eateries than traditional Spanish restaurants and tavernas. I only ventured in the town centre and didn't see the beach front. The town centre could've been one in the north of England to be honest. People looked miserable. I prefer further down the coast, Estepona and Marbella and gorgeous Málaga. Luckily, it was only a one night stopover.

Where have you been that you've been disappointed with?

I was down the road in Benalmadena last August. Awful. The best but was the train station area so I could get out of there! Málaga is lovely. Had a tasty paella at a cafe near the castle in Málaga.

I thought I'd love anywhere in Andalucía, but boy, was I wrong! Even the bus drivers were surly.

I'm so glad you like Málaga too. When I got off the bus near the castle, I cried at how beautiful it all was!

Have you been to Estepona and Marbella? Both are really lovely. Marbella has a gorgeous seafront with lovely restaurants, cafes and little shops. Both are well worth spending time in.

No, didn't go to Marbella. 😩

I loved it when I went, but I was only six at the time and it was over 60 years ago 😆. It was really quiet and undeveloped back then and I can only remember there being one other hotel on the beachfront where we stayed. It has changed beyond all recognition over the years and looks like hell on earth now.

You think people look miserable in North East towns? 😂🤦‍♀️

Yes see also Feungirola and Benelmadena along that stretch.

Not Spain, but Porto is a city break that I prefer to forget.

The beach is gorgeous... the rest is best forgotten! Its derelict & tired with a few and far between tidied up areas.

Alicante is the third circle of hell

Yes, I went about 10 years ago on the recommendation from a travel agent. Hated it!

Never been but its been overdeveloped since the 60's and has a reputation for being full of expats, English bars, Irish pubs etc. I don't go abroad to watch football and have a fry up but many people do and they love the familiarity and the fact they will be able to speak English etc. I think if that's your bag then these resorts are clean, easy to access and cheap so that's why they are popular.

I love love Feungirola.

Really disappointed with Brussels. The bus station was bloody scary.

Sydney, too. Opera House quite small and grubby.

I didn't think you were supposed to like Torremolinos. The Monty Python sketch always comes to mind whenever I see the name.

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New York. Dark, dirty and smells of fried chicken.

Agree. Really rude locals, too.

I live in Spain, married to a Spaniard. My FIL used to love Torremolinos. I have never been but he went every year. Funny thing was he loved huevos fritos y papas fritas (fried egg and chips) but always claimed he could never find it in Torremolinos, which I always thought was bizarre. But maybe he was sticking to Spanish bars I guess (didn't speak a word of English).

Ha ha ha. The town centre looked like one in the north of England and the people looked miserable. Not like the people in north of England towns though. They looked more miserable in Torremolinos!

I’m just back from Porto and absolutely loved it there.

Benidorm. Alert! I've never been, but from what I saw on YT and other channels, god almighty, why??

Having said that, and with a polished halo to boot, I don't think there's anywhere I've gone that I hated. Some not loved much (like Naples) but made it work. It's all about attitude m'dears....

When on holiday, I always avoid anywhere full of Brits. I don't go abroad to be in a sunnier version of Blackpool.

I’m glad you said this as I’ve always wanted to visit New York but could never afford to go - seems like I’m not missing out on anything 😄

I have a gay friend who spends the winter near Torremolinos. He loves the town cos it's gay central lol.

We were once in Torremolinos off season - probably first week of May - as an overnight before catching a flight home from Malaga. The beach was gorgeous, absolutely spotlessly clean and our then toddler had a blast for a couple of hours building sandcastles and paddling. We had a decent "menu del dia" lunch too. Perhaps not somewhere I'd choose for a full week or fortnight, but it was great for what we needed. A little reading and googling would have prepared you for what to expect in Torremolinos, or anywhere else.

If people want to go on holiday and eat british food, watch british telly, socialise with british people and drink in british bars, let them. They're not forcing you to join in and choosing somewhere else doesn't make you better, just different.