The Costa Del Sol, the much-maligned coastline of the Spanish region of Andalucía, is not, as many think, purely high-rise hotels and British breakfasts. You can find it in the package-holiday destination of Torremolinos and on a smaller scale in nearby Fuengirola. But move away from the main tour operators and their accommodation and you will find yourself in one of the most pleasant holiday destinations in Europe.
Climate
One of the major attractions of the Costa Del Sol is the weather. The sun beats down on its shores for the majority of the year and as it is the closest point to Africa in Europe it shares the temperatures of the North African coast. The Costa has been a popular winter-sun destination for years due to its year-round temperate climate. With flights leaving twelve months of the year from regional as well as major United Kingdom airports, it is also one of the easiest sunny spots to reach whenever you decide to fly.
Attractions
The Costa del Sol caters for all tastes and ages. From the fun-filled attractions of Selwo Safari just outside Estepona and the Selwo Aquarium inside Parque de Paloma in Benalmadena to the classic Andalucian cities of Granada and Ronda, there is something here to appeal to everyone. Star spotters can walk the streets of Marbella and Puerto Banus and admire the yachts and cars that sit here every day. Those in search of the real Spain can head to the hills to one of the pueblos — the small white-painted villages that appear on so many postcards.
Resorts
For those in search of a little culture and sophisticated nightlife, the clubs and casinos of Malaga town and Marbella and the classy marina of Estepona will provide plenty of choice. If you want good traditional hotel entertainment head for Fuengirola. For a mixture of the old and the new, the resort of Benalmadena manages to combine both without losing its own identity. The area’s only fun-fair theme park can be found here at Tivoli World. From the entrance, a cable car will swing you high above the swimming pools to the top of the mountain, where you can see birds of prey and watch Andalucían horses dance to Spanish music in the moonlight.
Accommodation in the Costa varies from traditional package-holiday hotels to privately rented villas with their own pools. There are other options for apartment and villa rentals with companies that have made it their mission to provide the very best the Costa can offer for their travelers. Operating their own complexes, these companies offer everything that the holidaymaker needs while providing a sanctuary from the busy streets and bars of the main resorts.
So if you are thinking about going abroad this year, why not try the Costa Del Sol? It’s a great place for an enjoyable holiday that won’t cost the earth.
