Spain - probably Costa del Sol - at Easter: where to go?

[lilolilmanchester]

We try to have a cheap week away at Easter, usually either Costa del Sol or the Algarve. We want to go to Spain again this Easter. Have been to Nerja a couple of times and don't want to go back there. Also been to Estepona. Don't want to go to Marbella. Any ideas for where we could look? We want a nice (but not brash) resort where there are plenty of restaurants to walk to. We'll probably get accommodation via Owners Direct or similar, but you have stayed anywhere you'd recommend, please let me know. We're looking for 2-bed apartment, preferably part of a complex with a shared pool.
Thanks!

Can't recommend accomodation as we were inland, but we liked the look of Salobrena and Almunecar. If you're interested in going towards Portuguese border, you could try Chipiona and Sanlucar de la Barrameda (seaside resort/sherry town). Have seen some nice Owners Direct properties for all of these.

www.holiday-rentals.co.uk/p92097
try this

Why not Marbella? It's very nice & not at all brash. (Not cheap though )

Thanks Puffling - have visited both Salobrena and Almunecar on day trips - lovely - will have a look at accommodation round there.

Thanks Ilovecurry, will take a good look at that one - the pool looks great, DH likes a decent sized pool. Have you been there? If so, can you tell me about the area - how far from restaurants etc??

Ponders, I know Marbella isn't brash, we just haven't liked it when we've been there for the day and 2 different sets of friends spent a fortnight there and didn't like it (sorry if it's your favourite place in the whole world but no way I'll get DH there even if you convice me!)

Our very first Easter break was in Calahonda - had the most fab appartment but it was a residential area with not many restaurants at that time, tho Capobino looked nice. HOwever that was about 8 years ago - anyone know anything about that area?

Oh not my favourite place in the world, & I've never been there in high season either, but in April & May it's been lovely (esp the old town)

We stayed in an apartment in Calahonda 2 years ago - waterfront complex with a huge long winding pool, lovely. I just checked it though & it's booked from 7th-15th April, & £625 a week after that (it's a 3-bed) so not cheap.

It's still not much for restaurants & things though - there were a few on the complex, some nicer than others, but it is still a rambling residential area with no centre.

We got it off the holiday-rentals site that Ilovecurry linked to - there are billions on there in Costa del Sol (West & East), have a look round the site as you do know the area & roughly where you want to be.

this one looks OK? - available the first week of the Easter hols - £350.

Salobrena, with hot tub - looks like a steep walk up from the sea though

It does look lovely Ponders, thanks for doing that for me. Have spent all night looking at Owners Direct, will take a good look at the holiday rentals site tomorrow, am shattered now! Am also thinking about Costa Blanca - perhaps Denia or Calpe (another thread going on that but still considering Costa del Sol). Last time we went to Costa Blanca at Easter in poured down most of the time, but suspect that was a bit out of character.

Marbella is lovely but pricey. We stayed in Puerto Banus when DS1 was a baby and it was lovely. pretty marina to walk round with the buggy at night and lots of restaurants.

Salobrena with a hot tub - heaven! We visited Salbrena for a day when we were in Nerja a few years ago. It is lovely but really steep town up to a castle at the top. Gotta go to bed now, appreciate all your suggestions.

You're welcome (Holiday property porn is a hobby of mine)

I didn't like Calpe, a bit down at heel. denia was a pleasant town, but miles of tourist development around it.
You can;t guarantee sun and warmth even in Andalusia. I'd go to one of the nicer bits of Tenerife.

Thanks Puffling, will cross off Calpe and Denia then! Canaries not under consideration. We went to Lanzarote one Easter when it fell early and it rained every single day. Since then, I know several people who've had bad weather in the Canaries. I don't think it's as predictable as it used to be. So back to thinking about places we haven't been to on the Costa del Sol then. (has to be Spanish speaking this hol as DS has Spanish GCSE after Easter - otherwise we'd be also looking at the Algarve)

I like the infinity pool:
here

What about Malaga? Close to the castle/Picasso museum/shops etc. Close to Benelmedena for Tivoli/cable car/zoo/aquarium.

Possibly saggyhairyarse (fab name!) We had a bag nicked last time we were in Malaga, but that could happen anywhere. Beautiful place otherwise! Had pretty well decided not Costa del Sol and fancied Calpe or Denia on the Costa Blanca(see my other thread) but no-one seemed to be recommending it

I've not been to Denia area as my Mum lives near to Nerja so we have holidayed there a fair bit and spend half our time driving to the Malaga area because there is more to do there. It is a good spot for families I think. If not Spain, have you thought about Corfu or Lanzarote?

there isn't really much around the calpe/denia region and we were surprised how many brits were there.

We usually go around torrevieja, which is rather touristy but that makes it cheap for apartments and we like it because it is central. It is easy to get to la manga, carthagena, or drive up the coast to calpe/althea etc. We've also been inland quite a bit from there, murcia, even madrid. If you get to know the area there are lovely isolated beaches off the beaten track, and fab restaurants and brodegas.

I actually hopped on this thread looking for ideas aroudn the costa del sol. I'd really like to go there, but dp is convinced that marbella is going to be just like Benidorm (which we avoid at all costs) and we will hate it.

I'm not keen on Marbella ChopstheDuck but we have been to Nerja a couple of times and really enjoyed it, we found quite a few nice places to drive to and only go for a week at Easter. Probably wouldn't fancy it for longer. Want it to be Spain cos DS got Spanish GCSE this year. Thanks both.

I'm not keen on Marbella ChopstheDuck but we have been to Nerja a couple of times and really enjoyed it, we found quite a few nice places to drive to and only go for a week at Easter. Probably wouldn't fancy it for longer. Want it to be Spain cos DS got Spanish GCSE this year. Thanks both.

Actually, Javea near Denia is a pleasnant little place. It's maintained it's 'low rise' whitewashed look due to shingle rather than sandy beach.