I often see posts suggesting that Torremolinos is not the place to go. Why? I found a great offer to the Melia Costa Del SOl in late June to early July. We love relaxing on beaches with some sight seeing. What has happened to Torremolinos that has caused these no no posts? Is it too crowded? Too seedy? Please help.

Gosh, I have spent many winters in Torremolinos, Spain at the Bajondillo with Grand Circle Travel and enjoyed it each time. True, it may not be the total emersion trip some want, with the Americans, Europeans, Brits around but it is very enjoyable. Always went in the winter of course so have not experienced the summer heat which you will when as I understand it, all the folks say from Malaga and other cities have summer places say in Fuengirola and Torremolinos and it may be extremely crowded then with the Spanish (after all, it is their country). Just wanted you to know that some folks DO enjoy Torremolinos. Halfpint

i think this opinion is prevalent because there are so many other smaller scale, lower height built areas that are not with so densely populated with foreign tourists,and perhaps more attracive to the eye (skyline,etc).

however i do understand that this type area is exactly what some people are looking for.

i would compare it to benidorm, but with a lot more to see within 150 miles.

the melia hotels are usually very nice, especially if they have been upgraded recently since they DO get well-used. so many of the torremolino properties get SO used, that if they aren't well kept, it can be disappointing.

Torremolinos is the center of the super budget group tour/package travel for many folks from northern europe. It is probably the most un-spanish place in spain - and yes- many places are filled with crowds of the extremely rowdy.

The daughters of a friend of mine went there two summers ago and left after a day - said it reminded them of nothing more than a really gross drunken frat party.

They ended up staying near Marbella - which they said was also very un-spanish - but at least much more civilized (they weren't accosted on the street at least) and there were opportunites to go see a couple of the white villages.

We stayed at the Melia Costa del Sol about 3 years ago. It was lovely. Our room look across at the water (there is a road in between hotel and beach). The rooms were very comfy, nice balcony which in effect gave us an extra sitting area.

We were there in April and the weather was great. The beaches were very quiet, lots of British and German tourists. There are many shops nearby.

The price we were given (booked directly on the solmelia.com website) included half-board, and what a treat that was! Breakfast and dinner with the biggest buffet I've seen outside of Las Vegas, and the quality was very good as well. At that time I think we only paid about 80 Euros for the room and meals. Amazing deal (and that's when the dollar was in better shape)!

On the same trip, we traveled throughout Spain and stayed at several other Melia hotels (Seville, Granada, Madrid). All were wonderful. Would highly recommend.

Happy travels!

Torremolinas was notorious over 30 years ago for being totally geared towards Brits on cheap packages, with wall to wall 'English-style pubs', fish & chips, etc - as per the Monthy Python sketch of tourists singing 'Torremolinos, Torremolinos' & drinking Watney's Red Barrel.

I daresay this hotel may be nice, though - although kopp's comment "The beaches were very quiet, lots of British and German tourists." doesn't seem to make sense.

To clarify...yes, the beaches were quiet. If you have ever been to some beaches where folks use boom boxes and have loud parties, this is to what I was referring. It was indeed quiet with tourists just quietly enjoying the scenery and their vacation time.