Things to do in and around Benalmadena costa del sol

dizzybee

Manged to get a last min holiday to Benalmandena in costa del sol,all inclusive,
looking on ideas of things to do places to visit around the area has we don't want to just stick around the hotel for the holiday.
there will be me and my Daughter who has special needs although not servere she is 17 she likes to go sight seeing,shopping, and music mad.not clubbing though.
have had a look at thomas cooks web site and they offer trips out but friends tell me i should wait till i get there and look for tours in resort but i am worried that i may get ripped off doing it that way.
i don;t drive so wont be hiring a car.
any ideas would be great please.
thank you.

HXDave

there is a coastal train that runs from Malaga down to Fuengirola (i believe the line is being extended down to marbella area, however not sure if it has been compleated yet). this will allow cheap transport to some of the other resorts down that area (torremolinos, fuengirola, malage etc.........) for about £1.30 each way, and the trains run every half hour, and are brilliant on timings.

You will also find that many hotels will have 'leaflets' in reception area's advertising local attractions, and they may be able to give some options.

however just be careful as the last time i was in a hotel, there was a 'free blanket trip'. whilst it might give a free trip out, i understand that there is a bit of 'hard sell' involved, however as i did not go on it personally, i stand to be corrected on this.

Hope you have a great trip.

dizzybee

Thanks for the advice HXDAVE,will have a look out for the leaflets when i get to the hotel and find out about the train.

wept

Plaza Mayor is quite a nice shopping area, bars, restaurants, cinema - its about 20 mins on the train.

Tivoli World used to be worth a visit - havent been for about 4 years though. Has a good market on a Sunday??

Paloma Park is nice to walk around.

Buses are very cheap and you can go into Malaga or Fuengirola very easily.

Take the bus up to Mijas - not a lot to do but the views are breathtaking.

There is a junk that does trips around the harbour - very good.

The harbour has loads of shops/activities - take some bread and feed the mullet.

If you like nightclubs head for Bonanza area loads of pubs/clubs. There used to be a place called 24 hour square that was 'lively' not sure if still like it now.

KonkyWonky

We did a full day tour to Grenada through a local tour company, was a great day and I would well recommend it. You are also reasonably close to Gibraltar which may be worth a visit.

I wouldn't book tours through your operator, they are way more expensive than booking direct in the resort. I'd be very surprised if you got ripped off, these companies are running tours on a daily basis and they wouldn't be around long if they were in the habit of ripping people off. If it is of great concern then pay via CC so you are protected by Section 75 although bare in mind your card operator may charge a commission for paying in a foreign currency.

CharlesCooper222

Don't want to dampen your spirits but at the moment we're having some wet weather in Benalmadena and October can be a bit wet.
So its good to know that the cinemas do run films in English. As Wept wrote, Plaza Mayor is good for shopping and cinema and can be reached by train and bus. Towards the Marbella direction you have Myramar Shopping Centre near Fuengirola which also has a multi cinema, tons of shopping and plenty of fast food. Both places are worth a visit because they're not tourist traps, they're where the locals go for fun and at weekends

HXDave is right to avoid the 'Blanket Tours'. In fact, avoid anything that's FREE! There's always a catch, and if someone does pull you in off the street - don't be afraid to get up and walk out. Really - just get up and walk out.

But on the positive. 24 hour square is still there but if you're near Benalmadena Port, the Bars there are really much livelier at this time of year and mostly Spanish young people out for the night. Your daughter might need to know that Spanish teenagers and 20 somethings go out late - maybe 11pm till 5am. However, ID is a must in most places!

If you're using your credit card - you will always be asked for identification - usually a passport. Unlike the UK, ID is compulsory in Spain - so always have it with you.

Hope this is of use...

wept

As you are going out of season you probably wont be so bothered by the scratch card touts that plague the resort.
It was really hot one August day and we had been to Selwo..my nipper got to swim with the dolphins
anyway on the way back we 'won' first prize think the seller got extra money for it.
A taxi was summoned and along we went ...we knew what was coming but wanted to get out of the sun so went along with it.
We were given a drink, they even fed us....by the pool....then came the hard sell...I told them I was being made redundant...not true then - it helped that my company were in the news with the lay offs.
out come the hatchet man who got a bit nasty but he soon got the message....the accomodation they were selling was ok but miles from airports.
A taxi was summoned and back we went to our apartment - don't get conned into it by the lovely sellers.

jhe

if you are looking for a day trip gibralter if i remember correctly was around a 90 min bus ride, there are also boat trips to see dolphins, and morroco day trips are available.

dizzybee

Thank you for all the tips guys,
i don't have a credit card but will be taken my Fairfx card just in case i need it.does anyone know if you can use this at the hotel to pay the deposit we have to pay a £100 deposit just in case of breakages or would i be better using cash.
my daughter wants to go to Gibralter so will find out more about this when i get there and find where the buses go from.
Thomas cook charge £130 for two for the trip so hope fully will find it cheeper.

wept

If you walk up to the Sails Roundabout....you will see the one when you are there.....there is a travel agent on the right hand side they do trips in there to Gibraltar or did when we went - was too early a start for my lazy lot!!

tanith

I second Mijas (spectacular) and definately Gibralter lots to do and see there.. but don't forget your passport you'll need it to get onto Gib..the shops are very handy , lots of them, you can take a cable car up the 'Rock' very interesting but watch out for the monkeys.. I found the history of the place fascinating,..