The Spanish resort of Benalmadena is located about 12 miles from Malaga airport, between Torremolinos and Fuengirola. A popular destination with families and holiday makers of all ages the resort offers good affordable accommodation, plenty of facilities and a beautiful sandy beach.

Benalmadena

The beautiful beaches of Benalmadena stretch for six miles along the Costa del Sol coastline. This long wide sandy beach has shallow waters which ideal for safe swimming for the whole family on their holiday deals to this popular resort. Parents can relax on the beach knowing there are lifeguards on duty who are keeping a watchful eye on the children playing in the sea. The promenade behind the beach is lined with hotels, apartments, cafes, bars and small shops. For quieter, more secluded sunbathing there are rocky coves and inlets along this coastline.

Benalmadena Marina

Benalmadena is also home to an award-winning marina brimming with modern yachts and luxury cruisers. The marina is home to an aquarium, sailing centre and numerous cafes and bars. Scuba-diving and sailing are available from the marina, as well as boat hire, deep-sea fishing trips, catamaran cruises and excursions to Torremolinos and Fuengirola.

Away from the beach is the authentic Andalusian village of Benalmadena Pueblo. Sitting up in the mountains, this traditional Moorish village with its narrow streets, whitewashed houses, quaint shops and lookout castle, the Castillo de Colomares, is a must to visit on your cheap package holidays to Benalmadena. As with all the resorts on the Costa del Sol there are plenty of golf courses to choose from along with other activities including water sports such as scuba-diving, wakeboarding, water-skiing, sailing and kayaking, fishing, horse-riding and cycling. For the more adventurous there is quad biking, off-road buggy riding and paintballing. The whole family will enjoy Tivoli World

Benalmadena Cable Car

theme park, the Aquarium and a cable-car ride up the mountains. On the cable-car ride you will be taken 800m above sea level where you will see stunning views of the coastline and across the sea to Gibraltar and Africa. On reaching the summit visitors can take a donkey ride tour of the area and also visit the Bird Sanctuary. If you are feeling really energetic forget about coming back down in the cable-car and instead come down on foot or by mountain bike. Tivoli World is the largest theme park on the Costa del Sol with rides, attractions, concerts, shows and gardens with fountains, making a great day-out for all the family. If you are looking for a day out of history, culture, shopping and dining then a trip to the cities of Seville and Grenada will fit the bill.

Benalmadena enjoys a lively nightlife, including a casino for those wanting to have a flutter. The resort has a wide range of evening entertainment including jazz and salsa clubs, discos, bars and restaurants, many of which are found in the marina area.

Benaldamena Beach

Enjoying a typically Mediterranean climate, Benalmadena has an annual average temperature of 21C and around 330 days of sunshine each year. The peak season sees average highs of 26C with up to 11 hours of sunshine a day but the coastal breezes help to make the heat less stifling. Water temperatures at this time are around a pleasant 22C. Spring and autumn temperatures average between 17c and 22C with 7 hours of sunshine a day and is a popular time for visitors wishing to partake in outdoor activities like walking, cycling and sightseeing. December and January are popular for golfing holidays as the temperature drops to around 15C, making perfect conditions for a round or two.

The Costa del Sol (Sun Coast) is located in the south of Spain between Costa de la Luz and Costa Tropical. Stretching for more than 90 miles, it includes the city of Malaga and the resorts of Benalmadena, Torremolinos, Marbella, Fuengirola and Nerja.

Costa del Sol

Originally made up of fishing villages, the Costa del Sol became a popular tourist destination back in the 1950′s.

The Costa del Sol has something for everyone, including great hotels, beautiful beaches and clear, calm blue Mediterranean waters, restaurants, bars, nightlife, golf courses, theme parks, waterparks, amusement parks, safari parks, zoos, casinos, flamenco shows, history, culture and architecture.

Places to visit and things to do

The following are just a few of the many attractions and places to visit in the Costa del Sol.

Tivoli World – Benalmadena
For a great day out for all the family, Tivoli World is an amusement park with lots of rides, entertainment and an open-air theatre.

Dolphin Watching – Benalmadena
There are many dolphin watching areas in the resort of Benalmadena which will be enjoyed by the whole family.

Crocodile Park – Torremolinos
The park has over 300 crocodiles which can be safely viewed from a distance of under 2 metres. An African museum, small zoo, small cinema, reptile house, kid’s playground and restaurant are also found at the park.

Marbella Beaches
Marbella not only has great nightclubs but it also has over 17 miles of glorious beaches.

Puerto Banus – Marbella
This is a luxury marina and shopping centre which is also home to a very interesting aquarium where you can see lots of different species of mediterranean sealife. There is also a great market here on Saturdays.

The El Pimpi – Malaga
A visit to the the El Pimpi restaurant is worth visiting, not only for it’s good food (which is reasonably priced) and great wine (make sure you ask for it from the barrell, not from the bottle) but most of all for its wonderful atmosphere and decor.

The Picasso Museum – Malaga
The museum, named after Pablo Picasso who was born in Malaga, houses many of the famous artists works.

Alcazaba – Malaga
This well preserved Moorish fortress in the capital Malaga has a the ruins of a 2nd century roman theatre at its entrance and is well worth a visit.

Gibralfaro Castle – Malaga
Perched on a hill overlooking the Alcazaba, Gibralfaro Castle is a fine example of 14th century architecture.

Golf
With more than 30 golf courses, the Costa del Sol is the perfect location to polish up on your golfing skills.

Climate
The Costa del Sol enjoys dry, hot summers and mild winters. The average temperature in May and June is 22-27C which is probably the best time to visit as temperatures soar to an average of 29C until early October when they drop back to an average of 23C.

No matter what your age, one of the cheap package holidays to Spain will be ideal for all the family.

With it’s mild climate and beautiful sandy beaches, the Costa del Sol is a popular last minute holidays tourist destination choice all the year round.

The following hotel review was supplied to us by our readers Janet and Chris Haigh

“We booked the Andalucia Plaza for our last minute holidays at the end of May this year. The hotel was only about a 10 minute walk from the beach and a short taxi ride from the town. Some of the rooms are in the process of refurbishment, ours was a nice size and clean. Breakfast had more choice than our evening meals but we still had plenty to eat. The hotel seemed to be popular with hen and stag parties but they were all well behaved, even around the pool where they seemed to be drinking all day!All the staff were friendly and helpful.”

H10 ANDALUCIA PLAZA HOTEL OVERVIEW

Location

The Andalucia Plaza is located just 500m from the resort of Puerto Banus. La Siesta Beach is just 500m away via an underpass under the main road.

Accommodation

390 rooms for up to 3 adults, all with twin beds, folding bed, bathroom, air conditioning, television, minibar, safe and balcony.

Food and Drink

Buffet restaurant, pool bar, ‘Toledo’ bar serving snacks.

Facilities

Swimming pool with free sunbeds & parasols, indoor pool, children’s pool, children’s playground, hairdresser, laundry service, air conditioned public rooms, late check-out rooms available.

Activities

Gym, sauna, Turkish bath, games room, tennis at nearby ‘Club International’, special green fees at 8 local golf courses.

Entertainment

Daily evening entertainment with live music in the ‘Toledo’ bar, free entrance to the Casino of Marbella (located in the main building).

The resort of Benalmadena lies 15kms south west of Malaga airport between between the resorts of Fuengirola and Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol.

Paseo Maritimo

The Paseo Maritimo (promenade) stretches the length of the resort, and with a small break at Benalmadena’s world class Puerto Marina, and continues on to the neighbouring resort of Torremolinos.

The Arabian style Puerto Marina is the resorts centrepiece, housing over one thousand moorings, restaurants, bars, shops and discos.

 
In Avenida Garcia Lorca you will find an indoor swimming pool and the Costa del Sol’s only real ice skating rink.

Malapesquera

BEACHES
Benalmadena has sixteen sandy beaches, Malapesquera, Malapesca, Torre Bermeja, Santa Ana, Bil-Bil, Arroyo de la Miel, Torrevigia, Torrequebrada, Las Yucas, Las Viborillas, Arroyo Hondo, Torremuelle, La Perla, La Morera, Tajo de la Soga and Carvajal These beaches stretch for 9kms from the Puerto Marina to the village of Carvajal.

THINGS TO DO AND SEE

Benalmadena Sealife Centre
The sealife centre is situated right in the port area. Exhibited here is sea life found in the Mediterranean. There is a walk-through Lost City of Atlantis with sealife swimming all around you. There are over 30 displays and Europes largest collection of sharks. Visitors to the centre also have the opportunity to touch and feed some of the fish. Most of the centre is indoors, with an outside mini golf course.

Paloma Park

Paloma Park
Rabbits, peacocks and other wildlife roam free in Paloma Park, which also has a large lake,childrens playgrounds and cafes. The park is also home to a cactus garden which has species from all over the world.

 
Tivoli World
The Tivoli World amusement park is split into different areas, the main ares being Andalucia with live Spanish music and dance, Western Square with live country music and dance and Tivolilandia with children’s rides. The 3500 seat theatre here features a variety of events throughout the year. There are also restaurants, cafes and bars in the park.

Teleferico

Teleferico (Cable Car)
The lower entrance to the cable car is located opposite the entrance to Tivoli World. The eight minute journey offers wonderful views across Benalmadena and the coast and on a clear day you can see the coast of North Africa. At the top of Monte Callamorro there are birds of prey exhibitions, featuring vultures, eagles, owls and falcons.

 
Benalmadena Stupa
This is a Buddhist temple on the main road from Benalmadena Pubelo to Mijas. This amazing building is lit up at night and can be seen for miles around.

 
Casino
Benalmadena’s casino is located within the five star Torrequebrada Hotel which overlooks the sea, just a few kilometres west of Benalmedena Costa. The hotel has an excellent restaurant which is open in the evenings, and a garden side restarant which is open at lunchtime.

 
Bil-Bil Castle
Concerts and exhibitions are held in this arabian style building which is situated above Bil-Bil beach.

 
Boat Trips
Regular boat trips run from Benalmadena Marina to Fuengirola. The trip takes sixty minutes each way and run all year.

WEATHER
With around 300 days of sunshine and an average annual temperature of 18C, Benalmadena is the perfect all year round destination for those bargain holidays. Temperatures can reach the mid 20′s in January and February and in July and August daytime temperatures often rise above 40C.
The sea temperature from July through to October averages 20C, with the average for the rest of the year 15C.