I will be going to Spain soon and want to spend some time on the beach. I will be stopping somewhere along the Costa del Sol. Are there any towns in the Costa del Sol that you would recommend for good beaches? I would prefer a spot that's not "resort" like. thanks.

I can strongly recommend the little (tho I am talking 1991 when I was last there!) town of Motril as a nice spot for a quiet vacation.

My favourite Spanish beaches are, however, those on the north coast, in San Sebastian and 30km to the east and west of there. But there is a reason for that, namely that there are surfing waves on this coastline, as it fronts onto an ocean.

Harzer

Best beaches in Spain are NOT on Costa del Sol. They're better for snorkeling on the Costa Calida (north & east of the Costa del Sol); but I must agree with harzer in that the best beaches are on Spain's north and northwest coasts (Cantabria, Asturias & Galicia). I'm not all that excited about San Sebastia's playa Ondaretta or la Concha in Guipuzcoa or those around Vizcaya's Bilbao: I prefer Santander's playa Sardinero. But so do most Spanish and other European beachgoers.

That is very helpful info!!!! Thanks so much!! We will also be heading to the East and South coast of Spain. Would you recommend any good beach spots in those areas? thanks!

As Ned said, Santander's Sardinero Beach is beautiful! And Santander iteself is a very attractive city.

isaf,
If you prefer something not resort-like, I would go north, north, north.
As cruiseluv and NED have mentioned, El Sardinero in Santander is one of Spain's most beautiful, expansive urban beaches, as are La Concha and Ondarreta in San Sebastián ( just returned from the last two). These are large ,just stunning beaches in two vibrant cities, having been home to Spanish royalty in the 19th century as the royal court summered there. In September I would certainly go to either or both, if I had the luxury of choosing.
But the San Sebastián International film festival takes place from Sept. 21-30, when lodging is at a premium.

Most of the beaches on the eastern and southern coasts are more "resort-like" and quite built up with concrete high rises. My brother-in-law has a beach house in Gandía, as do all his Madrid neighbors, but Gandía holds no appeal to me at all. Most all the Costa del Sol resorts are just way oversaturated now, but they'll be less crowded in mid-September after the school holiday ends.

I think the nicest, as in prettiest, southern beaches can be found on the west side, on the Costa de la Luz around Conil. Tarifa is for windsurfers. To the east of Málaga, some like the beaches of Almuñécar and Motril, as harzer mentions. I have friends with homes at La Herradura, near Almuñécar, which has a very pretty setting.

On the Costa Brava, I like Calella da Palafrugell.

There is a webcamera that shows a decent view of El Sardinero: try http://www.gobcantabria.es/webcam/we...cam=cam1_mutua

I have to say that if I ever go to Spain for its beaches, Costa del Sol would be the LAST place I would consider.

the area around moraira is low key off season.

many of the beaches on the levante coast are vast and very DEEP.. you walk quite a ways til you get to the water, so they don´t have that small, secluded feeling.

Since you're stopping in the Costa del Sol, go east to Nerja. Not a secluded beach by any stretch, but not bad for a public beach since it's at the very end of the Costa. If you're adventurous, there are numerous small pocket beaches further east with varying degree of services & accessibility.

We drove to a naturalist beach which was a challenge just to get to with a very steep road & steeper cliffs.

See www.esplaya.com/mapa.html for good info.

Ian

BARCELONA! So much ro do and it has some fab beaches on the med too

oops sorry didnt read all your orrigional message .. if you are looking at the Costa and not a resort ... dont it is all really a mess down there