Benalmedena is not a hideous concrete jungle. There is a great promenade from there to Torremolinas. There is a fabulous area full of fish restaurants called La Carhuela. It is a great base for exploring Andalucia.

Thanks stevelyon, I am feeling much better about Benalmedena. We'd like to do a few day trips during the week we are there. We are pretty good at using public transport. Would you suggest using a bus or renting a car for the week. We're thinking of Gibraltar, Ronda, maybe Seville, and a few other small towns.

robert2533 I have been looking on line at the VRBO site. Thanks for the 2 suggestions. The Granada Apartment 218695 looks fantastic. In Toledo I was looking at 1372246, 16th Century Palacide la Palma Hurtado. Do you know that apartment?

And when in Benalmadena, you should definitely visit fabulous and genuine Malaga city itself, just a very short bus or train ride away (some 25€ with taxi). My favourite city in the South of Spain after at least once a year traveling in the area for the past twelve years.

Málaga city is genuine and laid-back atmosphere, great tapas bars, cafés, terraces, restaurants, theaters, concerts and 3000 years of history. Within 300 meters in the city centre you'll find the newly excavated Roman theater just beyond the 8-11 century Moorish Alcazaba (fortress), the 16th century cathedral, Picasso's birth home, the Picasso museum and the new Carmen Thyssen museum and a long etc. http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/home.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/200...el?INTCMP=SRCH

Recent article about "Malaga attractions" in Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...tractions.html

When it comes to food, I highly recommend the sea-food and the world's best jamón/cured ham. Go where the locals go. But be absolutely sure to taste Conchas finas when down here. First and foremost a Málaga speciality served in any decent marisquería in the region, tastes pure sea. Have them raw with a sprinkle of lemon. http://www.google.no/search?q=Concha...w=1600&bih=775

A good reminder kimhe about Malaga, Benalmadena is very close to Malaga which is a beautiful city and easily reached from there, and as, kimhe brings our attention to, full of great tapas bars.

Thankyou kimhe and stevlyon. After your first post I began accepting the fact we'll be in Benalmadena for a week and now I'm looking forward to it. We will certainly spend one of our days in Malaga. We will be eating as much seafood as we can. In Ontario Canada much of our fish comes frozen.

"will be eating as much seafood as we can"

Los Mellizos is a sure bet for the best fish and seafood, paellas, arrozes (more soupy seafood and rice dishes) etc in the heart of Malaga city: http://www.losmellizos.net/index.php...home&address=6

And you might also want to go to one of the many excellent and affordable waterfront seafood restaurants in Pedregalejo just east og the city center. Sunday lunch out here is a highlight of the week for many malagueños.

The area called La Carhuela is walking distance from Benalmadena and is famous for its fish. Pedregalejo is an atmospheric area of Malaga but personally found it a drag to get there by public transport.