casperjj

We're planning to visit Spain next summer. We were debating visiting both Spain and Portugal in our 16night visit but once we looked into the Costa del Sol area, we figure we should stay in just Spain. The thought is Barcelona 4 nts (daytrip somewhere), Madrid 5 nights (daytrip to Toledo and Segovia), Seville 3 nights (daytrip Cordoba)... and then, I'm lost. We'd like to visit Costa del Sol. We'd like to visit Granada and Gibraltar (and maybe Ronda), maybe as daytrips or maybe a night on their own for Ronda and Gibraltar. I'm not a fan of one night stays but it could work maybe for one of them. The kids don't do well on buses (they get nauseous) but trains are great so if we could go by train it would be perfect. Or a short bus would be ok (less than 1hr). We're also open to hiring a guide for one day so we'd have a guide and private driver. I think the kids would enjoy spending an afternoon on the Mediterranean beach and swimming so we were thinking of 4-5nights close to the beach but I can't narrow down where. I thought Nerja would be perfect until I learned of the sewage problems so that's off the list. Espenona looks nice but it might be bit far from the Granada area maybe?

I'd love some advice on these last 4-5 days.

When we leave Seville, should we stop overnight somewhere on the way to Costa del Sol? Ronda maybe? Or just stop on the way for the day and store the luggage?

Should we spend a night in Granada or visit from our base in Costa del Sol?

Where should we stay in Costa del Sol? Looking for somewhere close to the beach, somewhere easily accessible for daytrips (short bus or train), somewhere that isn't an all inclusive resort but a Spanish village feel that we can wander in during the day and evenings. We're not interested in activities like aquariums, amusement parks, etc. unless they're unique to Spain. We can do that at home.

Can anyone help?

Rubicund

Staying along the coast of the CdS, it's difficult to find the Spanish village feel that you're looking for. This coast is one of the most developed in Spain. Maybe the small resort of Mijas Costa might suit you? It's not too brash and your day trips are easy to get to.

If I remember rightly, there are no trains along the coast, except from Malaga to Fuengirola and no further West. You're limited to buses or hiring a car. We always hire a car as it makes it very easy to get to most places, even Gibraltar and certainly up to Ronda.

Bedar

Casper - from Sevilee I'd suggest going through Ronda - a half day should suffice there - and on to Granada. for a couple of days. From there go down to the sea at Nerja. The sewage problem is supposed to be fixed by the summer of 2016. Or to Salobrena. I guess you're flying into Barcelona. Where are you flying out of ? Malaga ?

casperjj

Thank you both. I'll look into Mijas Costa. I haven't looked there yet. Same for Salobrena.

We're actually not sure where we're flying into yet. The visit will be July 2016 so I haven't booked flights. Trying to get a handle on where we should arrive first really. Options are Barcelona and Madrid. We could fly into Malaga or Seville for a little more but departure from there almost doubles (flying Air Canada)with a stop overnight in Frankfurt or Brussels before heading back to Canada. I'd prefer to enter and depart via Barcelona or Madrid if we could make it work. We could visit Barcelona and then take an inexpensive flight to Malaga and head towards Madrid maybe? Or start in Madrid and go south then take inexpensive flight to Barcelona for 4d before we leave. I'm so confused!

Bedar

Don't feel confused. Just remember you want to fly into one and out of the other, "open jaw" flights. Yes, look at Salobrena, Almunecar, and La Herradura.

nytraveler

You need at least one night in Granada (look at threads on getting tickets in advance) and Ronda is well worth seeing for the day, but IMHO you don't need to stay overnight.

Gibraltar is a must miss. Nothing much to see, a bunch of nasty monkeys that like to bite if not fed - or even if - and a bunch of British styles pubs. Getting back into Spain can take a very long time depending on the state of relations between the two governments.

We have stayed near Marbella a couple of time (Puerto Banus) and found the beach nice (sand unlike many rock or pebble beaches in europe), a couple of good restaurants and a cute casino. Greater choice of restaurants actually in Marbella. Note: this is a resort area - not cute spanish villages.

Can't help with transit as we usually do road trips by car to have the most flexibility.

casperjj

Excellent information!

Ok, we'll do at least one night in Granada. We'll also stop in Ronda either as a daytrip from base on the coast or on the way from Seville. (I'm assuming here that that's the direction we're heading, does anyone have any insight as to the best order to visit these locations?) I'm torn on Gibraltar. Great to know the monkeys are mean! We visited the sweetest monkeys at Monkey Mountain in Alsace Region of France a few years ago. We fed them popcorn. But if its not the same, we'll skip it. I was also interested in the boats to visit the dolphins as my daughter loves dolphins... maybe we could do that without visiting Gibraltar from another location?

I looked into Mijas Costa. Looks nice! Still need to look into the Costa Tropical area.

stevelyon

I would have suggested Nerja, as I didn't know about the sewage problem. Personally, I love Torremolinos - it had a reputation in the 70s/80s but is a great base right next to Malaga. It has a super promenade and beaches and has renown fish restaurants. Benalmedena is good for children and just outside Torremolinos. Estepona not far from the border with Portugal is another alternative and close to Seville. I would echo nytraveller regarding Gibraltar, I disliked the place but do know others who like it.

Bedar

Torremolinos is now the gay capital of the Costa del Sol, if you don't mind that. Estepona is NOWHERE near Portugal. It is just between Marbella and Gibraltar. You really must get yourselves a proper map.

Rubicund

Steve, Estepona is about 380kms from the Portuguese border, so "not far" is an understatement. 8-)

Gibraltar is love it or hate it. The apes will try to steal anything that might contain food if you go up the rock, but the tunnels are well worth seeing. The main street down into Casement Square is like a little slice of the UK, lined with shops, pubs and cafes and while it's not upmarket, it's not unpleasant.

Sassafrass

Spend two nights in Granada, giving you a full day and a bit extra to see more than the tour of the Alhambra.

If you plan on Cordoba as a day trip from Seville, then you need another night in Seville. You could actually stop in Cordoba on the way from Madrid to Sevilla. It would be short and only enough time to see the great Mosque, but you can't take time to savor every place you go.

Depending on your itinerary, you could also make Cordoba a stop between Seville and Granada.

Depending on what you want to see, you could possibly cut Madrid to three days, one for Madrid itself, two for day trips.

alvamo

I would stay in Málaga, east area of Pedregalejo, really quiet, just spanish people in a residential area and some language schools to teach spanish.

Pedregalejo is close to the beach, bus and train station accessible for daytrips (just 6 kms away and 15 from Malaga airport),

Small charming hotels and you can wander in many terraces during the evenig, I love El Balneario de los Baños del Carmen and Pez Tomillo.

I would recommend you Hotel La Chancla

http://www.lachanclahotel.com/en/hotel-overview.html

kimhe

Nerja would tick all your boxes, and the sewage plant is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2015, then some months of testing and full operation from June 2016: http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjanews/...-in-june-2016/
http://www.europapress.es/andalucia/...324145607.html

Nine small and large beaches among the cliffs. Nerja has got all the amenities that makes it popular with tourists, but it has also retained much of it small town Andalucian charm, especially in the old town. Many great restaurants and tapas bars, and free tapas to chose with every glass of whatever in almost all Spanish tapas bars and restaurants in town. And close to both Malaga city and Granada. https://www.flickr.com/photos/trondjs/3735908317/
http://www.nerjatoday.com/

BritishCaicos

I sat in a restaurant in Nerja some years ago.

An 80 year old Brit was trying to place an order with a non English speaking waiter.

The customer clearly lived locally, after an age of shouting, the waiter left with a vague idea of what the customer wanted.

The old chap turned to his wife and said " you know we have been coming in here for 10 years and he still can't speak English"

That's the CdS for you.

Nasty place, other than Malaga.

mike1728

Have you looked into staying in the Costa de la Luz area of Andalucía? Some of the most beautiful beaches in Spain, less touristy and overdeveloped than Costa del Sol, and more of the Spanish villages you referred to (Cadiz, El Puerto de Santa Maria, Zahara de los Atunes, Tarifa, ect...) Also an easy drive to Gibraltar for a day trip.
In my opinion the Costa del Sol is WAY too overdeveloped.

Seville to Cadiz is an easy 2 hour drive.

BritishCaicos

We are staying in Conil next week. Very Spanish, like much of the Costa de la Luz.

We've stayed in all the towns Mike posted. They are all good options.

kimhe

Nerja shouldn't get the blame for the behaviour of an old Brit.

I've traveled extensively in different parts of Spain for some thirty years, and we've spent much time in Nerja (Moorish Narixa) the past 13 years with friends - who primarly bought a house here because of the kids - and for other reasons (and spent more time in other parts of Andalucia, Madrid, Barcelona and the Basque Country). Nerja is popular with tourists and expats alike, but not overdeveloped in any way comparable to the west of genuine Malaga city itself.

I keep coming back to Spain for history, food, people and culture/art/concerts, and Nerja has its fair share to offer when you know where to look outside the most beaten tourist track. A great atmosphere old town with many tapas bars and restaurants as genuine as it gets, and only this summer three of the greatest artists on the current flamenco scene held concerts here, Eva Yerbabuena, Jose Merce and Argentina. Full packed of Nerjeños (and hopefully an old Brit).

Jose Merce in Plaza de España on July 25th: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOLo7Th5hlA

Argentina in the same square August 15: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_dnr2RsepY

And Eva Yerbabuena down in the Nerja caves on July 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBiUPvJcLaA

The Nerja Caves, lived people here some 30 000 years ago. Took us some years to go here, but well worth for both kids and more grown ups. http://www.cuevadenerja.es/index.php?lenguaje=en

Could give you tons of Nerja tips based on what you're looking for.

MyriamC

I echo the idea of the Costa de la Luz, and especially Conil de la Frontera. Wide sandy beach, good restaurants (try Feduchy Lounge).

alvamo

That´s really funny, the bad impresion some people want to tell about Malaga and the Costa del Sol...

BritishCaicos I´m sorry but I don´t believe you, all the spanish waiter can understand english and even more if it is related to food and beverage, and even even more if he is been working there for 10 years, who would be the employer who keeps hired a waiter for 10 years and the waiter still doesn´t speak any English?

You said Nasty place, other than Malaga....please, respect and if you don´t like it is ok, but do not insult. I am malagueño and I feel like you are trying to ruin our largest industry...

By the way, Conil is great, but in the last year more and more young spanish people go there for bachelor party.

http://www.despedidasconil.com/

http://www.lavanguardia.com/local/se...l-magaluf.html

http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/07/23/...92_737047.html

MyriamC

I think everywhere you go in Spain (or Greece, or the Algarve, ...) in high season there's a lot of young people partying. We holiday in early June or end September, and whether we are in Málaga (which I also love), in Conil or somewhere else in the south, always find it to be very quiet. Mostly elderly people like us or couples with young children.