We'll be staying in Malaga for one night in the latter part of September. We are interested in staying at the Parador Malaga Gibralfaro;however, we don't have a car and need to get to the airport the next day. Is this possible to do with little hassle or would you recommend another place? Thanks!

The taxi ride from the Parador Gibralfaro will take about 20-25 minutes, depending on time of day and the Parador can order a taxi for you.

That said, we enjoy staying in the pedestrian-friendly downtown with access to the Picasso, Thyssen, Pompidou, Wine, CAT museums and the dozens of great tapas bars and restaurants.
We usually stay at the AC Palacio in a room with terrace facing the port or most recently, during Carnival, at the art-deco style Room Mate Larios on lively, pedestrian Calle Larios (the AC was undergoing renovation). We like both very much. Great service at the Room Mate Larios.

We also saw the newly opened Room Mate Valeria, next to the Tourist Office, whose exterior rooms have water views. All three have nice roof top terraces for drinks and views.

The Molina Lario, across the street from the AC is also fine, with an equally great location.

All of the above receive an 8.7 or above guest rating on booking.com

There's also the Room Mate Lola (8.4 rating on booking.com)

The Sercotel Don Curro has a good location and low rates but rooms could use a little updating. (8.3 on booking.com)

Great input from Robert, but of course the Parador setting and view is something very special if your main focus is not to absorbe the city vibe (but it also can be combined )

I love the Room Mate Larios hotel, great amenties, good breakfast and location. We took the bus to/from the airport,really fast and easy. Early one morning,we took the on/off bus and got off at the Parador-what a view and had breakfast,wonderful! Then we caught the bus for a tour of the rest of Malaga.

marinbo,
Yes, the Parador Gibralfaro setting is spectacular, with 180 degree views of the city and a great bird's eye view of the Plaza de Toros. And it does have a roof top pool, open all year (only 3 of the 50 Parador pools remain open all year).

I've stayed there but long ago, before the rebirth of now incredibly vibrant downtown Málaga.

It's not an historic Parador but instead a purpose built one, in the late forties, but it does sit below the fortress so you do have an historical feel.

If you want to combine relaxation with splendid views for just one night and enjoy a bit of the downtown vibe, you can walk from the Parador downtown, about a 20-minute very steep walk, or take bus 35 (but it doesn't run in the late evening-last bus up from Avda de Andalucía departs at 7 pm, bus fare is €1.30) or take a taxi (maybe about 8 euros?).

It's just as easy to get to the airport from there as most any place if you take a taxi. It isn't that much farther than from hotels in the dead center. I took a taxi to the airport from a hotel near the river and it didn't cost that much. Taxis aren't that expensive in Spain. It's only 15 km to the airport from there.

Robert: Would you let us know which paradors have pools that remain open all year long, besides the one in Malaga? Thanks!!

ekscrunchy,
We subscribe to the Parador newsletter and there was a notice yesterday about the summer opening of the pools. Actually there are 4 rather than 3.

The two Paradors in Canarias, La Gomera and La Palma, have pools open all year.
Mazagón's pool as well (in Huelva).

La Granja's pool is currently closed for renovation.
Mojácar's pool opens in March.
El Saler's in April and closes in October.
Cádiz's April 1 and closes October 12.

Speaking of Málaga and pools:
There's a spectacular 5 star Grand Luxe hotel opening in Málaga sometime (?) in October (opening has been delayed)----to be called the Gran Hotel Miramar.

It was inaugurated in 1926 by Alfonso XIII (same grand style as the Ritz, Palace, Seville's Alfonso XIII), known then as the Hotel Príncipe de Asturias, and served as a hotel, a hospital during the Civil War and a palace of Justice.
The emblematic building faces La Malagueta and the sea.

It will offer 172 rooms and 26 suites, one indoor pool in the Wellness Spa and two semi-heated outdoor pools (one can be used in winter), restaurant, VIP lounge, garage with valet and 9,000 square meters of garden. It will be run by the Santos group who run Valencia's Las Arenas Balneario.
Rooms will be all white, contemporary/minimalist is style with some Moorish touches.

When it opens there will be a promo offer of 25% off the best rate and a complimentary upgrade.
One to watch.

Here's a preview:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2s6t-9Rsl7s

http://www.granhotelmiramarmalaga.com

Wow Robert, things are for sure happening in Málaga now, and glad to see that much of it make good use of history and historic buildings.

Or, you could stay downtown but go up to the Parador for lunch.

Speaking of good use of Málaga's historic buildings and Málaga's becoming a "city of museums",
by the end of the year (maybe, sometime?) there is supposed to be yet another new museum, the Museo de Málaga, housed in the Palacio de la Aduana (Customs House) which will be a combo Fine Arts Museum, Museo de Bellas Artes, and Archeology Museum.

It's a 40 million euro project that has taken years to carry out.

Here's a preview of what it's supposed to look like-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMTAhV_Z4fU

http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/20...93_849985.html

A taxi to the airport should cost around 20 euros. There's a 5.50 euro supplement for airport runs and a 0.45 euro supplement for bags over 60 cm carried in the trunk.

http://www.aeropuertodemalaga-costad...ga-airport.htm

marinbo,
While I don't want to talk you out of a one night stay at the Parador, I like chapla's (and Bedar's) idea of staying downtown and going up to the Parador, maybe for the buffet breakfast, views and visit to the Gibralfaro Castle.

Like the Parador in Toledo with its great views, the terrace bar area does get busy with visitors during the day and evening who come up for a look and a drink, so service at peak hours on the terrace can be slow.
Lunch is served from 1:30-4:00. The fixed price, 3-course menu costs 33 euros or you can order a la carte.
Another idea.

From downtown, at the Alameda, we took bus 16 to reach the fantastic new museum duo, the Museo Automovilístico y de La Moda (vintage automobiles and fashion, really well done) and the Museo Ruso St Petersburgo, both housed in the Tabacalera complex (former Royal Tabaco Factory), sitting side by side. They're both very worthy of the short bus ride. We spent about 2+ hours there. There's no combo ticket.
The bus 16 drops you right in front of the entrance.

http://www.museoautomovilmalaga.com/?lang=en
http://www.coleccionmuseoruso.es

Thanks so much for your input. We are currently leaning toward finding a nice hotel downtown and perhaps taking the bus up to the parador.