Hotel Suggestion for Malaga?
 

We're finalizing our Spain plans for May and will drive from Arcos to Granada -- we have a day in between to get there by car. Is Malaga the best place to stop?

After Arcos, I was thinking we'd spend the day in Ronda and then overnight in Malaga (because the drive won't be so long to Granada the next day). Does this sound sensible? Any suggestions for a hotel in Malaga --or any better suggestions nearby? For example, maybe we could stay the night in Nerja.

Ronda is 90min drive from Arcos, I just wrote a report some days ago. Good road, 90km/h.
Ronda to Granada is 2,30hrs drive. First stretch good road as before, but with roadworks around Teba that may slow you a little. At over one hour you reach Antequera, on the motorway to Granada.
I would overnight at Ronda or even Antequera. Depends on what itinerary you take Arcos to Ronda. Read http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35114918 and decide. Would not bother driving to Malaga to spend the night. Nerja I consider too far away.

Thanks, Josele!

I'm going to try to stay in Ronda as first choice. I put a request in for the San Gabriel Hotel after reading all of the great reviews (this seems to be a top choice and reasonably priced too). If that doesn't work, then I'll try the parador. And if that is full, I'll try Antequera.

Changing my plans really helps, too. Something must be going on in Malaga the weekend May 23-25 as it is fully booked up for just that weekend (and even though I only want to stay until Friday, I couldn't find anything) so I'm hoping Ronda or Antequera is available.

In Ronda, also take a look at Hotel Montelirio, in front of Parador but the other side of the gorge, great restaurant. It is pricier, but has a view (I believe not all the rooms, beware). San Gabriel is a very nice hotel, but not with views.
In Antequera you have the Parador and Antequera golf hotel, both not in the city center proper, but near. Antequera is a monumental city worth a vist.
That weekend is the Corpus Christi day (día del Corpus), a hilight in Catholic liturgy. The proper day is thursday 22 of May, but in most places it is celebrated on following Sunday. You may find a beautiful procession (some places on Thursday, others on Sunday, I cannot check) wherever you are, check with locals

Thanks Josele. We'll make sure to make a stop in Antequera too.