Costa del Sol with 2 adults, 2 senior citizens, 2 infants
Mar 31st, 2011, 12:30 AM
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Costa del Sol with 2 adults, 2 senior citizens, 2 infants
Hi,
Our summer vacation looks like its finally firmed up - or at least the destination. We will be spending 1 week in May at the Club la Costa, Costa del Sol. My DW and I will be accompanied by my parents and our 2 girls, aged 2.8 years and 8 mths.
I believe this resort is in a place called Fuengirola. We are relatively active adults and we are interested in main attractions, historical sites, a bit of adventure where possible to fit in (considering the kids). This will be our first trip to Spain and the Andalusian area. I am hoping you lovely Fodorites will help with the planning of this trip which is in 2 parts.
The first part of this trip is a 1 week stay at the earlier mentioned resort. For this part of the trip...
1. Do I need a car for the week or can I depend on public transport?
2. How crowded does it get toward the end of May? (22-30)
3. What will the weather be like? Most people come to the area for the warm weather. Its currently 38 degrees in the shade in India, so we're hoping for some respite from the heat!!
4. We'd like to visit Nerja, Granada, Ronda - Are these doable as day trips from the resort? Any particular routing that we should follow?
The second part of the trip is possible destinations for a quiet getaway for me and DW. We will leave the kids with my parents and are looking for a nice romantic location for 2-3 nights. Any suggestions?
Our summer vacation looks like its finally firmed up - or at least the destination. We will be spending 1 week in May at the Club la Costa, Costa del Sol. My DW and I will be accompanied by my parents and our 2 girls, aged 2.8 years and 8 mths.
I believe this resort is in a place called Fuengirola. We are relatively active adults and we are interested in main attractions, historical sites, a bit of adventure where possible to fit in (considering the kids). This will be our first trip to Spain and the Andalusian area. I am hoping you lovely Fodorites will help with the planning of this trip which is in 2 parts.
The first part of this trip is a 1 week stay at the earlier mentioned resort. For this part of the trip...
1. Do I need a car for the week or can I depend on public transport?
2. How crowded does it get toward the end of May? (22-30)
3. What will the weather be like? Most people come to the area for the warm weather. Its currently 38 degrees in the shade in India, so we're hoping for some respite from the heat!!
4. We'd like to visit Nerja, Granada, Ronda - Are these doable as day trips from the resort? Any particular routing that we should follow?
The second part of the trip is possible destinations for a quiet getaway for me and DW. We will leave the kids with my parents and are looking for a nice romantic location for 2-3 nights. Any suggestions?
Mar 31st, 2011, 04:53 AM
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1) Great public transport in the area, but a car gives you of course more freedom to explore the beautiful inland.
3) 14 past years statistics says high temperatures between 73 and 82°F in the last week of May.
4) Beautiful Ronda and Nerja with the famous caves are very doable as day-trips. Granada would be a very long and tiring day-trip, some 4-5 hours travelling in total.
http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerja/nerja-caves/
When in Nerja, I recommend lunch at extremely popular La Marina. As good as you get a seafood freiduría in all of Andalucía: http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm
For the second part of the trip, I guess you will get tons of suggestions. My idea would be to take a look at the areas around Casares and Gaucín, a bit inland in the most western part of the Málaga region.
Casares: http://www.andalucia.com/casares/home.htm
Gaucín: http://www.andalucia.com/gaucin/home.htm
Some hotels in this area: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/casa...asares.en.html
http://www.casablanca-gaucin.com/
http://www.molinodelcarmen.com/
And remember, Málaga city itself is fabulous. Genuine Andalusian atmosphere, lots of sights (within 300 metres you find a quite recently excavated Roman theater, the 8th century Moorish Alcazaba/fortress, the grand 16th century Cathedral, Picasso's birthplace and the new Picasso museum), great tapas bars, cafés etc:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...-treasure.html
3) 14 past years statistics says high temperatures between 73 and 82°F in the last week of May.
4) Beautiful Ronda and Nerja with the famous caves are very doable as day-trips. Granada would be a very long and tiring day-trip, some 4-5 hours travelling in total.
http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerja/nerja-caves/
When in Nerja, I recommend lunch at extremely popular La Marina. As good as you get a seafood freiduría in all of Andalucía: http://www.guideofnerja.com/pages/gu.../marina_en.htm
For the second part of the trip, I guess you will get tons of suggestions. My idea would be to take a look at the areas around Casares and Gaucín, a bit inland in the most western part of the Málaga region.
Casares: http://www.andalucia.com/casares/home.htm
Gaucín: http://www.andalucia.com/gaucin/home.htm
Some hotels in this area: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/casa...asares.en.html
http://www.casablanca-gaucin.com/
http://www.molinodelcarmen.com/
And remember, Málaga city itself is fabulous. Genuine Andalusian atmosphere, lots of sights (within 300 metres you find a quite recently excavated Roman theater, the 8th century Moorish Alcazaba/fortress, the grand 16th century Cathedral, Picasso's birthplace and the new Picasso museum), great tapas bars, cafés etc:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...-treasure.html
Mar 31st, 2011, 05:26 AM
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... and here's a recent article from The Guardian about Gaucín and El Molino del Carmen:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...-artists-views
The article was written by Michael Jacobs who also is the author of perhaps the best introduction to Andalucía and its culture:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andalucia-Pa.../dp/1873429789
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/201...-artists-views
The article was written by Michael Jacobs who also is the author of perhaps the best introduction to Andalucía and its culture:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Andalucia-Pa.../dp/1873429789
Apr 1st, 2011, 05:47 AM
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Kimhe - thanks for your suggestions. Gaucin actually sounds wonderful. Are you aware if these hotels would have daily rates? I noticed they only provide weekly rates. Which would you recommend between Casablanca and Molino del carmen? I will wait if other suggestions come through. Thanks again
Sunshank
Sunshank
Apr 4th, 2011, 06:23 AM
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So this is what I've come up with so far...
May 22 - Fly into Malaga. Pick up rental car - Got good reviews about Tony's rent a car on this forum. Anything I should worry about or any other suggestions? Drive over to Club La Costa
May 23 - Explore Malaga; Alameda Principle, larrios Street,
Any recommendations for a good restaurant / Do they allow kids into tapas bars? My parents are vegetarian so will need options for them.
May 24 - Drive to Ronda - El Tajo, Puente Nueva, Bullring. Back to the resort - rest
Evening - Marbella - [Plans open] Any sights of value that's not to be missed?
May 25 - Day trip to Granada. Spend the morning there at Alhambra. Lunch in Granada. Stop by Nerja on the way back. Visit caves and Balcon de europa. Does this look like a very long day? I looked up the map and looks like a 70 minute drive.
May 26 - DW and I leave parents and kids behind for a 2-night getaway (Still unsure of where we can go for a romantic trip). Unfortunately Kimhe, the Molino del Carmen is full for these dates.
May 26-28 - Parents spend the day with kids at the local beaches - Any suggestions on trips they can take nearby?
May 28 - DW and I return back to the resort. Get in balance of sights in Malaga.
What's the best place to watch flamenco performance and a bull fight in the region in these dates?
May 29am - Check out of Club La Costa - fly into brussels.
May 30 - Spend the day at the Atomium / Mini Europe. City tour
May 31 - Flight back to India.
Does this look ok? Are we missing out on something?
Next item: Night spots near the resort for DW and I to go to - either tapas bars / entertainment.
thanks
Sunshank
May 22 - Fly into Malaga. Pick up rental car - Got good reviews about Tony's rent a car on this forum. Anything I should worry about or any other suggestions? Drive over to Club La Costa
May 23 - Explore Malaga; Alameda Principle, larrios Street,
Any recommendations for a good restaurant / Do they allow kids into tapas bars? My parents are vegetarian so will need options for them.
May 24 - Drive to Ronda - El Tajo, Puente Nueva, Bullring. Back to the resort - rest
Evening - Marbella - [Plans open] Any sights of value that's not to be missed?
May 25 - Day trip to Granada. Spend the morning there at Alhambra. Lunch in Granada. Stop by Nerja on the way back. Visit caves and Balcon de europa. Does this look like a very long day? I looked up the map and looks like a 70 minute drive.
May 26 - DW and I leave parents and kids behind for a 2-night getaway (Still unsure of where we can go for a romantic trip). Unfortunately Kimhe, the Molino del Carmen is full for these dates.
May 26-28 - Parents spend the day with kids at the local beaches - Any suggestions on trips they can take nearby?
May 28 - DW and I return back to the resort. Get in balance of sights in Malaga.
What's the best place to watch flamenco performance and a bull fight in the region in these dates?
May 29am - Check out of Club La Costa - fly into brussels.
May 30 - Spend the day at the Atomium / Mini Europe. City tour
May 31 - Flight back to India.
Does this look ok? Are we missing out on something?
Next item: Night spots near the resort for DW and I to go to - either tapas bars / entertainment.
thanks
Sunshank
Apr 4th, 2011, 09:01 AM
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May 23:
Kids in all sizes and ages are more than welcome in tapas bars, Spain is in general extremely child friendly and kids are everywhere. Most tapas bars will have some vegetarian options, normal in Málaga would be fried aubergine with honey, fried green peppers, tortilla de patatas and the delicious cold tomato soup gazpacho (also normal with thicker variants from Antequera or Córdoba called Porra or Salmorejo: be sure they leave out the ham garniture!), garlic soup etc.
A couple of popular vegetarian restaurants in the center of Málaga, the first close to the Roman theater and the Alcazaba fortress and the second in close by Plaza la Merced. Three course lunch menu for some 10€:
El Vegetariano de la Alcazabilla: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...Andalusia.html
Cañadú: http://11870.com/pro/restaurante-vegetariano-canadu
May 25: Looks like a very long day. Expect at least some 90 mins drive to Granada. Driving and parking in the center of Granada can be hell. Longer way home via Nerja. Granada with Alhambra is doable in one day. Leave Nerja and the caves for another time.
Regarding flamenco, there are so far three great options during your stay as far as I can see:
On the 26th, theater performance with local singer Rocío Bazán, two guitarists and Gema Garcés dancing at Auditorio de la Diputación in Calle Pacífico 54 in Málaga at 20:30h. 5€. Expect to see mostly flamenco aficionados in the audience.
On the 28th, the very popular local dancer Sergio Aranda performs at the flamenco club Peña Bonaire in Avenida Bonaire, 12 in Málaga at 22h. You might be up for an intimate and special experience. http://www.andalucia.com/flamenco/da...rgioaranda.htm
The legendary dancer El Carrete, now about 70 and very much alive and kicking, performs most nights at Tablao Los Tarantos in Paseo Marítimo, 5 (Playamar) in Torremolinos between Fuengirola and Málaga.
http://www.andalucia.com/flamenco/dancers/elcarrete.htm
Kids in all sizes and ages are more than welcome in tapas bars, Spain is in general extremely child friendly and kids are everywhere. Most tapas bars will have some vegetarian options, normal in Málaga would be fried aubergine with honey, fried green peppers, tortilla de patatas and the delicious cold tomato soup gazpacho (also normal with thicker variants from Antequera or Córdoba called Porra or Salmorejo: be sure they leave out the ham garniture!), garlic soup etc.
A couple of popular vegetarian restaurants in the center of Málaga, the first close to the Roman theater and the Alcazaba fortress and the second in close by Plaza la Merced. Three course lunch menu for some 10€:
El Vegetariano de la Alcazabilla: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaur...Andalusia.html
Cañadú: http://11870.com/pro/restaurante-vegetariano-canadu
May 25: Looks like a very long day. Expect at least some 90 mins drive to Granada. Driving and parking in the center of Granada can be hell. Longer way home via Nerja. Granada with Alhambra is doable in one day. Leave Nerja and the caves for another time.
Regarding flamenco, there are so far three great options during your stay as far as I can see:
On the 26th, theater performance with local singer Rocío Bazán, two guitarists and Gema Garcés dancing at Auditorio de la Diputación in Calle Pacífico 54 in Málaga at 20:30h. 5€. Expect to see mostly flamenco aficionados in the audience.
On the 28th, the very popular local dancer Sergio Aranda performs at the flamenco club Peña Bonaire in Avenida Bonaire, 12 in Málaga at 22h. You might be up for an intimate and special experience. http://www.andalucia.com/flamenco/da...rgioaranda.htm
The legendary dancer El Carrete, now about 70 and very much alive and kicking, performs most nights at Tablao Los Tarantos in Paseo Marítimo, 5 (Playamar) in Torremolinos between Fuengirola and Málaga.
http://www.andalucia.com/flamenco/dancers/elcarrete.htm
Apr 4th, 2011, 09:13 PM
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Thank you so much kimhe and josele for your comments and suggestions. Marked down El Vegetariano. I have heard so much about churros. What is it exactly?
I will move Nerja to another day. I have heard some horror stories about driving to the Alhambra. From the parking lot is it a short walk to the gates (especially with kids on the pram?) I have heard there is a shuttle bus?
The Sergio Aranda show sounds perfect. Any idea on how one goes about getting tickets for that show?
Thanks again
Sunshank
I will move Nerja to another day. I have heard some horror stories about driving to the Alhambra. From the parking lot is it a short walk to the gates (especially with kids on the pram?) I have heard there is a shuttle bus?
The Sergio Aranda show sounds perfect. Any idea on how one goes about getting tickets for that show?
Thanks again
Sunshank
Apr 4th, 2011, 11:47 PM
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Churros is not so far from a doughnut, but quite different and very Spanish at the same time. Often had together with a cup of thick Chocolate. One of the best churros con chocolate places in all of Spain is legendary Casa Aranda in central Málaga (C/Herrería del Rey, 3), just off Marques de Larios street. Perhaps the best café I've ever been to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMMBZx4ESJk
Sergio Aranda at Peña Bonaire sounds like a great plan. A Peña is a small flamenco club, and you don't buy tickets in advance. Just show up at the door, and perhaps it will be an entrance fee of some 5-15€. If you want to be absolutely sure and perhaps reserve a table, you can drop by my friend Paco in his flamenco shop Flamenka in Calle Pasillo Santa Isabel, 5 (on the corner of Calle Cisneros). 3 mins walking from central Plaza de la Constitución in Málaga. He knows everything and everybody concerning flamenco in the region. Performances in his shop every Wednesday at 21:15. Wed the 25th this group will perform at Paco's place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKyb8ES2raY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMMBZx4ESJk
Sergio Aranda at Peña Bonaire sounds like a great plan. A Peña is a small flamenco club, and you don't buy tickets in advance. Just show up at the door, and perhaps it will be an entrance fee of some 5-15€. If you want to be absolutely sure and perhaps reserve a table, you can drop by my friend Paco in his flamenco shop Flamenka in Calle Pasillo Santa Isabel, 5 (on the corner of Calle Cisneros). 3 mins walking from central Plaza de la Constitución in Málaga. He knows everything and everybody concerning flamenco in the region. Performances in his shop every Wednesday at 21:15. Wed the 25th this group will perform at Paco's place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKyb8ES2raY
Apr 5th, 2011, 06:12 AM
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Kimhe - You are a wealth of information. Gracias. You have plugged in many holes that I had foreseen in my itinerary.
Casa Aranda - Check. My parents would have loved to have seen a show and since two of us have to babysit, the wednesday show for them would be wonderful.
Sunshank
Casa Aranda - Check. My parents would have loved to have seen a show and since two of us have to babysit, the wednesday show for them would be wonderful.
Sunshank
Apr 5th, 2011, 06:45 AM
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Regarding the show on the 25th. From the website:
"Live flamenco show. Singing, guitar and dance. Cuadro Flamenco Alcazaba. Location: Flamenka, Hall. Calle Santa Isabel nº 5 ground floor, corner of Calle Cisneros. Malaga. Very near the Plaza de la Constitution. 21:15 hours. Price. € 12 (with one drink included). Required Reserve"
http://www.flamenka.com/html/agenda/.../mayo2011.html
Make a reservation using either of these mail adresses: [email protected] or [email protected]
Fine if you write in English.
"Live flamenco show. Singing, guitar and dance. Cuadro Flamenco Alcazaba. Location: Flamenka, Hall. Calle Santa Isabel nº 5 ground floor, corner of Calle Cisneros. Malaga. Very near the Plaza de la Constitution. 21:15 hours. Price. € 12 (with one drink included). Required Reserve"
http://www.flamenka.com/html/agenda/.../mayo2011.html
Make a reservation using either of these mail adresses: [email protected] or [email protected]
Fine if you write in English.
Apr 5th, 2011, 07:11 AM
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... and Sergio Aranda on Andalusian TV. Dancing from 5 mins. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4seJqVLrGAQ
I haven't seen him yet, but I will for sure in a not to distant future. You might be up for a night to remember!
I haven't seen him yet, but I will for sure in a not to distant future. You might be up for a night to remember!
