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?

When PP said tavernas were Greek, I did think, 'hmmmph, I'm sure I've been in many Andalusian tabernas!' Very nice they were too.

I didn't have time to go down there. It was a late afternoon arrival at the hotel, which was absolutely gorgeous, and an early night for a 4am start. It was just the bit of the town centre I saw. The torrential rain probably didn't help. I've been spoiled with the authenticity of Estepona, the mountain villages, Ronda and Marbella, I think.

Omg! It was one of the scariest places I have ever been. Specifically the bus station!

New York is marvellous. Definitely busy and crowded but so much to see.

You said that extremely confidently. You might want to check it.

Yes, the Greeks refer to tavernas, but I've heard it in Mediterranean Spain too. Tabernas, as has already been said. It means much the same thing.

For macrowave, so that she can educate herself

https://www.malagahoy.es/malaga/malaga-tabernas-anos_0_1595240960.html#goog_rewarded

OP, go ahead and use the word taverna.

Or ‘they can educate themselves’

I took DD to Torremolinos in the Feb half term for 3 nights and we had a wonderful time. Hotel right on the beautiful beach front, quiet, warm, an onsite indoor pool. We went to Crocodile Prk which she loved, spent hours in the adventure golf/arcade place, ate loads of good food.

@InfoSecInTheCity sounds great. I like all sorts of holidays depending who I’m with ( hence why I posted I’ve enjoyed many a holiday in Benidorm) and what’s needed at that time. If you go to anywhere like this with the idea you will hate it, itsall hi rise and not authentic and too full of ‘chavs’ - you will indeed have a shit time. I love a California road trip, I’ve enjoyed Antiguaand very up market bits of Majorca and Italy as well as cities from Istanbul to Copenhagen to Seville, Berlin and Amsterdam etc - and yep I’ve enjoyed Benidorm and Benalmedena Porto .

We went in May last year with a group of friends and all of our children, I hated the area. Wouldn’t ever go back.

My over-riding memory of Torremolinos is middle aged men trying to give my 15 year old DD and her friend shots in the beach bars .... lechy British guys, horrible.

Loved Porto, also loved Valetta in Malta, not fussed about the rest of it.
New York was disappointing, not a patch on London.

Berlin was the worst place I’ve ever been by far.

I went to Berlin and hated it. A friend then moved to live there. I visited many times and grew to really like it.

I didn't much like where we were in Cyprus, near Coral Bay/Paphos but Latchi was lovely.
Went to Cala Bona in Majorca last year instead of our usual lovely Porto Cristo as so many people seemed to love it, but I didn't like that much either.

Really! DH had a conference, so I pottered around the museums all day and really liked it! What didnt you like about it?

I loved NYC, would go back tomorrow if I was willing to spend that amount of cash again!

It Costa Del Sol !! Catering for the tourist masses ! Egg and chips available at every restaurant 🙈

I also think a lot of it is to do with attitude, you can probably find interesting to do / see in most of these places, even if you have to take day trips out from them and especially if there is a beach

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.

I might dispute that actually. 🤣

Oh. I went to that area one Easter. Found Malaga really lovely but I don’t understand the hate for Torremolinos and Benalmadena. I quite liked both! There weren’t that many Brits around but a fair few Spanish people on holiday.
Maybe it’s different in high season but maybe I have lower expectations!

Santa Semana in Benalmadena Pueblo is so atmospheric, full of family tradition.

We have been to the CdS many times and have never had egg and chips, or a full English. We have enjoyed tapas and some good quality meals in lovely restaurants with great views. We have also enjoyed grilled sardines with a glass of wine in the chinguiritos. We have been in the occasional bar with live music or to watch the sport, but that adds to our holiday, is not the main part of it. It is not the prettiest area, but you fly into Malaga and get the train along the coast making it a very accessible area. We prefer the other side of Malaga, but it is not as easy to access. We did have a week in a hotel in the front in Fuengirola, which we thought was very English, but we sarmt watching the staff and they were brilliant with older people with mobility issues, and it made me realise it might not be fir me at my time of life, but in a few years, when age takes its toll, I might be grateful for the facilities.

I think , like everywhere , choose your places wisely - whole of Malta ? A bit harsh 🙈

I actually really like Torremolinos OP, I think it’s got a lot of character. But I can understand your first impression and particularly if you only stayed there the one night in the city centre. I think it’s a bit unreasonable to judge a holiday resort by a one night stay in the city centre, which is pretty much where the locals live, and not even going to the beach though!

La Carihuela (beach area to the west) is lovely, the town part has a more traditional Spanish feel and there are all kinds of restaurants along the front, including Spanish chiringuitos (plus a few British, German and Dutch restaurants and bars!)

As a comparison with Marbella and Estepona, Torremolinos is a lot bigger than Estepona, and Marbella is a bit more upmarket so you’re not really comparing like with like. And Malaga has a nice proper old city centre - but also some quite ugly areas on the outskirts which people don’t tend to visit on their City breaks.

I agree with @suburberphobethat Torremolinos does seem to have quite a ‘gay scene’. I’ve noticed this more than the Brit’s abroad vibe which people tend to mention, but maybe that’s because we’ve visited in the winter when most of the British holidaymakers have been older people making the most of the sunshine now they no longer have to stick with school holidays.