mandalay

I am planning to stay 5 nights on costa Del Sol in January - thinking Torremolinos.

Has anyone stayed in Costa del Sol over January?
I am also going to Seville. I am planning to do a day trip to Granada and explore the Costa del Sol over the 5 days.

Accommodation recommendation in torremolinos for 4 people. We like to be pampered!

Thanks

Robert2533

Torremolinos? Pampered? Nothing there I am aware of would fit the bill. You might want to consider staying Malaga. At least there will be something to do when it rains.

nytraveler

Torremolinos is NOT a place to be pampered. It is organized for budget tours and masses of people who just want to drink beer and roast on the beach - and it's the wrong time of year for that.

Agree that Malaga has way more to see/do. We sometimes stay at Puerto Banus - the far side of Marbella - but only in April or so - for a couple of relaxing beach day s.

mandalay

Should I stay in Malaga for 5 nights, or go somewhere else?

I have booked 4 nights in Seville, and 3 nights in Barcelona.

thanks for your advice

Robert2533

I'd add one more day to Barcelona and do four in Malaga. Granada is an easy day trip from Malaga by bus, but in January, the days will be short, so you'll have to be up early.

kimhe

Málaga city in January could be just excellent. A genuine and laid-back Andalucían city with three thousand years of history, great sights right in the city center, tons of nice cafés, tapas bars and restaurants, fine theaters and nightlife. And Málaga is a museum city: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/museums.htm

A couple of quite recent articles:
"Secret Spanish pleasures" (Telegraph): http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalis...pleasures.html
"Picasso's city of hidden treasures" (Guardian): http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...el?INTCMP=SRCH

Granada and the Alhambra is a good idea for a daytrip. So is the spectacular Nerja caves a little to the east along the coast. Buses all the time: http://www.cuevadenerja.es/index.php?lenguaje=en

Then perhaps have lunch in La Marina in Nerja, as good as you get a traditional, no fuss freiduría in all of Andalucía: http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm

Or the paella at Ayo's famous beach restaurant, it has been cooked up for lunch every day since 1969: http://www.ayonerja.com/

The past seventeen years weather statistics for Málaga in mid January says average highs at 62F, 6 hours sun/day and rainfall one in five days (wetteronline.de)

stevelyon

Torremolinos gets pretty unfair hammer here. I go regularly as it has a wonderful mix of quality and tackiness - more quality than tacky. It has a great promenade that takes you to La Carhuela where they have fabulous seafood restaurants (many open in January). There are some very good Spanish tapas bars scattered around the town as well as (in the minority) Brit places.It is not far from Malaga and we have used it as a good base for day trips. There is a good atmosphere about the place.