Glad you enjoyed Toc Al Mar, JoanYUL. The setting couldn't be better!

Maribel, I'm wondering if you would mind sharing the name of the apartment complex where you stayed in Estepona?

We are meeting our son and his family there at the end of October. They (mom, dad & 4 young children, all of whom have been living in Europe since 2022) have already reserved a beautiful place which is located on Buenas Noches beach (I think that's the name of the beach.)

Though we are invited to stay with them, we really need to have our own place for "breathing" purposes!

Hi LucieV,
Sorry about the delay in replying. We just returned home from Asturias and hadn't been checking Fodor's.

How nice that you can meet your son and family there!

The Estepona apartment complex is Apartamentos Alcazaba Beach. It has 5 or 6 pools, open all year, and a very good restaurant and has access to the wonderful pedestrian walk to Estepona center along the sea, which we walked every day.

We were invited to join our friend whose parents own the apartment so didn't go through a rental agency. We actually want to return next year right after Holy Week and are looking at this one- It's a 2 bedroom/2 bath, space the two of us don't really need but has gorgeous views.

https://www.alcazababeach.net/es/apa...-playa_24.html

The complex was built in 1989, so you should make sure to choose an apartment that has been renovated. There are several on the web site, but we're looking at the 3 or 4 star ones marked "renovado". That's important!!!

ETA:
I just looked up Buenas Noches and it's beyond, west of Estepona, while Alcazaba Beach is just east of the center, very near the giant Carrefour (where you can purchase everything under the sun!), so you may want to be closer to your family....or not. :)

¡Muchas gracias, Maribel!
Honestly, this is extremely helpful. I'm not sure we'll want to be that far away from the kids, but it's definitely food for thought and it looks splendid.

If it's okay with you, I may PM you re: the places I'm considering, as well as some questions about the high-speed train from Madrid > Malaga; getting to Estepona from Malaga; car rental v. Uber/taxi (my husband and I do NOT enjoy driving when we're on vacation!); and a few other things.

Again: grazie mille!

LucieV, much better if you ask Maribel those questions here instead of by private message so others can benefit from her extensive knowledge. Or start a new thread with those questions, since they aren't in line with the original question of this thread.

You're right. I'll do that.

It's me, back again.

Costa Brava is still in play for next fall (September/October 2026).
I just read about yet another (posh) hotel and wondered if Maribel, or anyone else, might give a comment or two on the location and the hotel itself: LA VELLA FARGA:

https://hotelvellafarga.com/en/home/

What I'd like to do is (depending on how my visit goes in March) spend a few days in Barcelona and then drive to a hotel in the countryside to relax, eat and swim.
We will have a car.

Maribel, I took your advice and booked ten nights at FINCA VICTORIA with arrival the second week of September. I'll begin a thread later on about where to eat, where to explore, etc.
I've never been to the Dali Museum so hope we can get there this time.

I think we will take a flight from Barcelona to Santiago after our stay, and have another week--at GH LA TOJA.