I am flying from LA to Malaga. After 16 hours of travel, I won't want to travel far from the airport to my hotel. I would like to stay some place nice on the beach. IE not more that 25 miles from the Malaga airport. Does anyone have any suggestions. The only place I see on the map is Tormellios, which I hear is not a great place. <BR>

Marbella is not far from the airport, and there's a fast road to get there. It has a charming old town and is a pleasant place to stay. Yes, it's known for it's "high-end" guests and society, but there are plenty of small pensiones and other lodgings in the moderate range. <BR>

We just returned from Spain and stayed at the Riu Bel Playa in Torremolinos. The hotel was right on the beach (the water was very chilly), had a nice pool and nice rooms. It was about 10-15 minutes by cab to the airport. Torremolinos is quite developed which is why a lot of people I suspect don't like it. From the hotel you can take a taxi or the train back into town which is known for its nightlife. The restaurants we ate in, however, weren't very good. We might have just selected the wrong places. We had a nice meal when we ventured further out, near the port. <BR> <BR>If you're interested in day trips from the area, I think you'll find that you can go from any of the citites on the coast. <BR> <BR>Marbella looked like a much nicer place, with a better class of restaurants but it is probably more expensive and it probably takes at least 30 minutes to get there from the airport. There is a good direct road from the airport to the town. <BR> <BR>There were a couple of places in between Marbella and Torremolinos, one called Fuengriola (sp?) and the other beginning with a B. They looked like they were geared more towards budget travelers. Both are in the Fodor's Spain guide under the Costa Del Sol section if you're interested.

inor, <BR> <BR>the place that the last person was trying to remember is Benalmadena. Although I really like it there - it is great to walk along the promenade and sample the white bait and sardines on the cafes along the front - a place that I personally prefer is Nerja. I am not sure how far from Malage airport it is, not far I think. You will have to check on the map. Marbella is quite a long way from Malage. Although the road is very straight and fast I would say it would take you nearer 45 minutes to one hour. I wouldn't bother with Fuengirola as it is very built up and the beaches are absolutely packed. Nerja is a very old village. Why not try to get info from Spanish tourist office or if not, read plenty of books. In my experience research certainly pays off and can be the making or breaking of a holiday. Contact me if you like. We stayed between Malaga and Marbella for three years running. Nerja is also near Grenada which is a lovely city.

PS - forgot to mention Mijas which is beautiful. It is a bit inland otherwise I would have suggested it to you for staying at. It is very pretty with whitewashed houses and donkeys in the streets. You can't visit the area without paying Mijas a visit.

We stayed this past June in Marbella and drove to the Malaga Airport in maybe 30 minutes. An extremely easy ride all the time on a highway. VERY EASY. Marbella is not as overdeveloped as Torremolinos and its old town is lovely. Also from Marbella you can take the Ojen Route towards the White Villages (like Monda, Ojen, etc). It is worth it to see what these villages are like and how far away it seems from the glitz of Marbella. We stayed in the Coral Beach Hotel: 28,000 pesetas a night for a BIG deluxe double room with a view of the pool and the Meditterranean Sea. It was perfect. The hotel opened in the late 80s so it has every convenience (including individually controlled AC!!!). My husband and I are VERY picky with our hotels and this is fit the bill. Request a room with a view of the pool/ocean. They have a fantastic buffet breakfast every morning. Also it is a 5 minute drive from Puerto Banus with all its restaurants and shops. Right in fron of the hotel there's a very good rest. called IL Vino. And in Marbella try to visit Restaurante Santiago, right on the Paseo Maritimo. The best paella I have ever tasted!