Spain holiday?

[ForBlueBird]

Has anyone been on holiday to Spain with kids? Is it muslim friendly? I'm thinking will we be able to wear hijab swimsuits and find some halal food? Any insights greatly appreciated.

Salaams sister. How old are your kids?

Andalusia is a great destination with lots of Muslim history. some islamic travel companies do tours there as well. Cordoba, Granada and Seville are the main places to visit but tbh even if you go to one of these, you will enjoy yourself. but maybe not the best place with small children as hilly and lots of walking.

never been on a beach holiday to Spain, but villas are pretty reasonably priced and you could get a villa with a private pool? I found Spain to be pretty hijab friendly. however this year in Costa del sol, there is a drought and many areas are keeping pools empty - so I would be weary.

Turkey has some Muslim friendly resorts with seperate areas for sisters that might be more what you are looking for?

Is there a reason for Spain in particular?

As in are you open to other places?

Thank u I wanted to try something different to Turkey. Kids are from 4 to 14 so think they will enjoy either but need water parks or swimming for sure.

depends on your budget but how about SEA? Malaysia is very nice and very Muslim friendly. Sentosa in Singapore is one water park.

I haven't been myself but I know friends who have been and absolutely loved it. It's on my list for when DC is a bit older.

Which part did your friend's go to? I'm looking for short haul flight.

We went to Granada earlier this year. The plan was to also visit Seville and Cordoba but that didn't happen. Granada is lovely. A huge Moroccan influence and halal food is very readily available. It's worth going to visit the Alhambra Palace alone. Absolutely stunning but ours was an adult holiday. I don't think there is much for children, particularly younger ones. Although I haven't been I'd suggest Malaga as it's more a beach/pool holiday within that region and I've heard from other people that halal food is available.

The flight is only a couple of hours directly to Málaga so if you stay there you won't have to do the additional two hours of travel to any of the other parts with young kids.

I didn't feel out of place at all as a hijabi.

Thank u so much will definitely look into malaga

We have been to the Costa del Sol area numerous times, but always in the christmas holidays, and we haven't gone for the purpose of the beach. You can find halal food in Malaga old town, Benalmadena, Torremelinos and Fuengirola - there are mosques in all of these areas too. I wouldn't have considered going in the summer as it will be packed and everyone in the hotel will understandably be naked, but I do know some families who do and they don't mind looking out of place.
There is a halal hotel in Marbella called Alanda, it's right beside the mosque. From what I gather the 'halal' aspect is that they don't have alcohol and they might have a separate pool for ladies only. Last time I looked at reviews there were disgruntled non Muslims saying they weren't aware it was alcohol free, so it isn't an exclusive place for Muslims, so you'd still get bikinis etc around the pool.

We went to the malaga area 2 years ago. Didn't feel out of place. Went to alhambra etc we actually struggled to find halal food
But mainly because DH is fussy over cuisines! We rented a villa and a car and drove to the different places. About 1.5 hours to al hambra. We drove to benalmadena as they have a sealife centre there and a few more things around the port.

It was good fun. We rented a villa on the outskirts though as it was cheaper. More in the mountain area called frigiliana. It was lovely but would try and stay more central if we went back

Just come back from Andalusia to visit my sister. Temperatures up to 39 degrees during the day. Really not recommended. I love it though. The culture, not the heat (and I hate cold weather!).

Kids are from 4 to 14 so think they will enjoy either but need water parks or swimming for sure.

Forget it then. Andalucia has an enormous water shortage and on the bus saw water parks were closed. The sea is there of course, but with if they cannot swim..... No.

Centre Parks England? Or even France.....

We went to Fuengirola a few years ago, it was really lovely. Don't remember seeing many obviously Muslim people but we didn't have any problems and my DM is a hijabi and my DB has a typical beard so it was quite obvious that we were. I'm vegetarian anyway and didn't have any problems with food, and I think my relatives just ate seafood and veggie food whilst away. We were half board though so we only had lunches out. My DC was a baby at the time so can't comment on food options for children but it was a lovely location for families in general, and a short transfer from Malaga airport. I'd definitely go back if I had the funds!

I live in Andalucía (not muslim) and water parks are absolutely not closed.
Granada and Córdoba are amazing for islamic history but it will be very very hot in July and August, it's been 42 degrees today in Seville.

If you wanted to do Granada, Almuñécar is about 50 minutes away by car at the coast, it has a water park right on the sea front and an aquarium, it's a really nice town. Not sure about halal but there are a couple of indian restaurants.

Granada has the most amazing mosque right opposite the Alhambra (plaza San Nicolás)

it's lovely but the climb almost killed me lol

You can go up on the micro bus.

did not know this! genuinely thought my friends were going to have to read my janaza by the time I reached the masjid 🤣

next time I will definitely be getting the bus. the view of alhambra from the top was magnificent though

🤣 It's a steep climb! I can't remember which number bus it is but it's one of the little microbuses that do a circular route, I think you can catch it from Paseo de los tristes. You can buy a top up travel card to use on them, which makes it really really cheap. I think you can buy the card at the Newsagents kiosks (our accommadation left us one to top up).

https://www.visitalmunecar.es/ if this comes up in Spanish you can select English in the menú.