desertchick

Planning a week long trip to the Costa del Sol after Madrid. Traveling with 9 and 7 year olds, want to be somewhere scenic but not piled with mass of tourists. Have read much about Nerja...any suggestions?? Hope to stay at beachside resort, suggestions?? Thanks.

Ian

We loved Nerja and our small hotel there - Paraiso del Mar. It was not a resort though, more very nice B&B with a view. Ditto the Parador beside it. They are both on a bluff above the Burriana Beach. Paraiso has stairs (a lot of them) leading down & the Parador has an elevator. With both, you would be close enough but also far enough away if that's what you want. Both have pools but the Paraiso's is quite small.

There are restaurants beachside & a 10 minute walk takes you into the core area with lots of eateries & shops.

There were numerous other hotels in the area including some on the back of the beach although they didn't seem that enticing.

Ian

car

It will help if you mention at what time of the year you plann.

Viajero2

Costa del Sol is grossly overdeveloped. From May-September YOU WILL be piled up with, not only tons of tourists, but surrounded by piles of concrete. Not much scenery other that looking out to the ocean, and going up in the mountains. Nerja, at the easternmost tip of Costa del Sol (about an 1-1.5 hours from Malaga) is about the closest you get to a more relaxed coast; still a bit too developed. If I were you, I would head out to Costa de la Luz, specifically Sancti Petri near La Barrosa Beach. Very beautiful resorts in Sancti Petri. At a minimum, split it.

eliza3

We go to Nerja a lot although do not stay there as we live about 40 mins away. It is nice and I donīt think too overdeveloped. Lots of restaurant and bar choices and not too expensive. Two nice (by european standards!) beaches.

It is big enough to have separate areas and various squares but small enough to be able to walk around it easily.

desertchick

Thanks for the info. We will be there the end of July. I remember the Costa del Sol from 20 years ago and don't remember it being so full of tourists. I just want to feel as though we are somewhere different, and encourage my husband to keep traveling so far out of the southwest USA!!
I will look up the Costa de la Luz as well, thanks!

Viajero2

desertchick-- brace yourself for the crowds. I go to Spain every year (last year more than once) and Costa del Sol is one pile of concrete; horrendous how this coast has been allowed to burst out in such way for the last 10-15 years.

Another choice in Spain? Costa Brava.

eliza3

Parts of the Costa del Sol have been overdeveloped that is very true - and very sad. However to say that whole coast is īone pile of concreteī is simply not so.

Viajero2

for example....?

Raydotman

I have been visiting the Costa del Sol since 1969 and I spend two months a year in Torremolinos. I also lived there for seven years. Better than most I am aware that the CDS has grown and has developed in ways that are not all appealing. Still, I manage to find areas even in Torremolinos that are friendly and still very much like years ago. Good fish restaurants still abound and there are many small places as well where the second time you arrive you are treated as a friend. The area makes a good base for visiting Granada, Cordoba, Seville, Gibraltar, etc.. And, if you think that the Costa del Sol is just a concrete jungle I am here to tell you that other places have changed as well. The Granada I knew many years where you could park almost in front of the Alhambra and did not have to reserve to get in..is no more. I remember Nerja when the Balcony of Europe was almost at the town entrance. I could go on and on but you get the point.
Also, for those who complain that the CDS is touristy, I would like to politely remind them that you and I are tourists.
I personally enjoy sitting a few steps from the beach on a sunny winter's day admiring the Mediterranean and eating grilled shrimp washed down with white wine followed by fresh strawberries and cream for dessert.
I do not wish to take away fro other comments and suggestions although I do not see that the Costa Brava would really be much of an improvement.

Viajero2

Raydotman-- as per prior posts on both of our parts, it is easy to see we do not agree on how to properly characterize Costa del Sol. That said, you are one classy poster. I really enjoyed reading your point of view and you have made some good points.

On a second thought the answer to this post may be that the OP needs to recalibrate her expectations. A beachside resort will be typically tourist-driven.

amsdon

Raydotman & Viajero2,

What a nice change it is see this kind of discussion with different opionions rather than the antagonizing and rude exchanges that are seen so frequently elsewhere on Fodors.

Ole.

walkinaround

i've been to nerja many times. paraiso and parador are nice hotels as suggested by Ian. keep in mind that the parador lift to the beach seems often broken (just might be my bad luck/bad timing). the stairs MIGHT be out i can't remember(lots of damage from erosion on these cliffs).

burriana has a lot of apartments and the best beach for kids BUT depending on how far up the hill you stay, you have a long hike down a hill and up another one to get into town. i would much rather stay in the town (i.e. at the top of the bluffs - at or west of the parador). the walking path is washed out so you cannot walk anymore from burriana to town along the water...you must climb the hills. burriana is also a british ghetto. almost all the burriana restaurants on the strip are british oriented. of course it's relative and the whole town is like this to some degree but more subtle than at burriana. at burriana restaurants you are greeted with 'you ok, mate?' and beans and chips seem to be most popular.

there are some hotels at the opposite end of town from burriana that are well located and you don't need to deal with hills.

i would never go there in the summer but that's just me. april-june or sept-oct would be pretty nice i think.

worldinabag

".. personally enjoy sitting a few steps from the beach on a sunny winter's day admiring the Mediterranean and eating grilled shrimp washed down with white wine followed by fresh strawberries and cream for dessert."

Stop it will ya!

artlover

If you do go to Nerja, make sure to go to the caves--they're incredible and I'm sure the kids will love them. There's also a white village nearby called Frigiliana which is wonderful and Granada is a good daytrip. While much of Costa del Sol is overbuilt and touristy, there are still some areas that are beautiful and worth going to (including Malaga).

Raydotman

I am pleased to be a participant in this discussion and I wish to thank Viajero2 for the kind words. It is reciprocal as I avidly read V's classy and informative posts at every opportunity. I must admit though that July is a very popular month on the "Sun Coast" and it is likely to be crowded. This is a hint for more information from Viajero2 about Sancti Petri near La Barrosa Beach. We are heading to CDS again this winter and maybe we can check it out and share with fellow Fodorites.

desertchick

WOW.....I have been out of touch and came back to quite alot of responses. Thanks to all for your honesty, I have alot to consider and more research to do. As I am certain of the dates for our trip being July, I will continue to consider other options as well. Don't know what else to say other than thanks for the guidance and if you see a newly posted question from me soon-- completely unrelated to this---DON"T LAUGH!!! Thanks

Mahya2

Bookmarking for late April early May 09 trip. Looking for central location on CDS to visit Granada, Malaga, Gibraltar,seville, Cadiz. Think someone suggested a town for central location above.

Any suggestions for hotel to stay in in that central location?

I dislike driving in Europe on roads I dont know - would train and bus travel be just as good as renting a car?

Thanks for all help.

Raydotman

Mahya, if you really do not like to drive I would suggest that you locate near the city of Malaga as transportation is much easier from there. Malaga offers trains to Seville, Cordoba, Madrid and buses to Granada, Gibraltar etc.... There is an intercity train line between Malaga and the town of Fuengirola which offers easy access into Malaga. You might try to stay in one of the resort areas along that line. This will offer you transport into Malaga and from there you can make your way to other destinations.

BarbaraMH

We spent the week in Nerja last May with our 2 girls, ages and 10. They loved it, loved the beach, nice town, friendly people. We rented an apartment about 10 minutes from the beach. Very nice accommodation called Casa Charlotte. It's nice to have the extra space with the kids. Check out their website (casacharlotte.com).