Hello,

We are spending 16 days in Portugal/Spain in Sept./Oct. 2011. We land in Seville, rental car to Tavira, Portugal for 4 nights, drive to Montejaque (white villages region) for 5 nights. We then want to proceed to the coast for 6 nights and can't decide on where to locate, Marbella, Malaga, or Nerja. We enjoy the beaches, although mostly for walks and sitting by for a drink or meal, not really lazing in the sun all day. We also would rather be in a quaint area with historic roots, nice restaurants, and charm. We are leaning towards Nerja, could anyone advise on the pro&cons of the Costa Del Sol. As we take short day trips on most days from the apartments we rent this is important as well with Cordoba being close to Nerja.

Thank you and Happy New Year!

Mike

Don't know if this is any use to you....a friend owns these 2 places in Vejer de la Frontera which looks great and I'm dying to get out there....sounds like the sort of place you are describing...http://www.vejerrentals.co.uk/Vejer_Rentals/Vejer.html

Malaga is a large city - mostly modern and full of high rises. Marbella is a sizable town focused on tourism - although if you head west along the coast there are some very charming places to stay - esp near Puerto Banus. Nerja is the least developed of the 3 - although is still has LOTs of tourists.

In my opinion Algarve is a much better beach destination than Costa del Sol (although I've never been in Tavira). We usually stay in western Algarve (Portimao & Carvoeiro). It's more picturesque (rocks) & better value for money. I like the beach in Alvor the best. But ocean can be rough sometimes. Beach in Malaga (I went to one near the port) is pretty bad but the city is good as a base.

'Marbella, Malaga, or Nerja' - very different and surely none could fit all the criteria of 'a quaint area with historic roots, nice restaurants, and charm' so compromise will be required as with anywhere on this Costa.

I am unsure Nerja is close to Cordoba at perhaps 2.5 hours each way by car, but we may perceive differently.

Best wishes.

Thanks for all the replies.....yes I realize a quaint area is not easy to find along the Costa del Sol, but I do not want to be surrounded by high rises...Wombatt, my bad, I meant Granada at 97 kilometers from Nerja (an hour or so by car).....I think Nerja will be our best fit.

Mike

hands down Nerja will be my recommendation as well, not as overly developed as Malaga or Marbella, but small enough that it still has the charm of a small town on the beach, with many great restaurant to choose from, paellas on the beach, and driving distance to many towns.

If you were to stay in Portugal, then I'd recommend to drive towards Lagos area, and west of Lagos, you will find many villages such as Salema that are beautiful, but please note that the water is way way colder in this part of the country

Málaga is a big and fabulous city with some 560 000 people, while Nerja is small (pop. 20 000), more touristy but with lots of charm and great beaches. I spend time in both places quite often.

I posted this some time ago, about both Málaga and Nerja:

MÁLAGA:
Genuine Andalusian atmosphere, excellent tapas bars, cafés, nightlife and perhaps the most easy-going people in all of Andalucía. Within three hundred metres in the center, you'll find the recently excavated Roman theater, the 8-11th century Moorish Alcazaba, the great 16th century Cathedral and both Picasso's birth-place and the new Picasso museum (2003).
A couple of articles on the city:
"Málaga: Authentic charm of an overlooked treasure"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/ci...-treasure.html
From Andalucía Magazine:
http://www.andalucia.com/magazine/en...ed2/malaga.htm

These are two great hotel options in different price categories in the middle of everything:
Hotel Molina Larios: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/mala...-lario.en.html
Hotel Don Curro: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/mala...ncurro.en.html

NERJA:
Nerja (pop. 20 000), some 35 miles east along the coast from Málaga city. Has got everything that makes it popular with tourist, but has retained much of its charm and character. Great food, beaches etc. This site is excellent about Nerja: http://www.nerjatoday.com/

If you go to Nerja, I can recommend bustling La Marina or La Puntilla to get a feel of the local flavour. Especially La Marina in Plaza la Marina is in my opinion as good as you get a seafood freiduria in all of Andalucía.
http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandrestaurants/la-marina/
http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres...s/la-puntilla/

Top tapas grilled on the spot (conchas finas, mussels, clams, prawns, monkfish, whitebait, baby-squid, sausages, pinchos morunos, mini-burgers etc.) and great atmosphere at El Pulguilla in C/Cristo, just off Balcón de Europa. Free tapas to choose with every drink in the bar area (as in almost all tapas bars in Nerja).
http://www.nerjatoday.com/barsandres.../el-pulguilla/

Cafetería Cavana, on Plaza Cavana behind the church, is an excellent place to relax and have a heavenly Carlos I (primero) brandy. One of the oldest bars in Nerja.

Some ten beaches in and around town. Quiet El Salón is my favourite: http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/el-salon/

The spectacular prehistoric Nerja caves are just outside town: http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerja/nerja-caves/

You should live in the centre/old town close to the sea, the best bars, restaurants etc (some of the tourist apartment areas are 20-30 mins walking from the center). These are all great options ranging from upscale to basic and good value:
Hotel Carabeo: http://www.hotelcarabeo.com/
Hotel Plaza Cavana: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/nerj...cavana.en.html
Hostal Mena: http://www.hostalmena.es/hostal/eng/

Please note that Nerja is turned upside down in the second week of October during the annual Feria. Great fun, but be prepared: http://www.nerjatoday.com/fiestas/nerja-feria/

Great stuff Kimhe, much appreciated, and very helpful.

Thank you,

Mike