It was my sister’s 18th birthday and I wanted to treat her. I had been working for a couple of years full time and (considering I was still living at home) I had money saved. Therefore, I booked for us both to head to Torremolinos on the Southern coast of Spain for a week. We flew from Bristol airport in the early hours of the morning (best value flights at this time) and were slightly delayed due to strikes. However, this wasn’t for long, and we were on our way.
MS Hotel Amaragua – www.amaragua.com
Sat right on the beachfront with copious sea views, the MS Amaragua is a great value 4-star hotel. Our room was just a standard twin, but our second floor balcony gave us a great view and beautiful sunlight levels!
We only ate dinner on-site once, during our first night, then every other time was at a local restaurant. The choice was good when we went, as there was a large buffet consisting of Spanish cuisine, as well as food from across the globe. We had breakfast at the hotel on a few occasions too, and this was a similar style buffet. The breakfast options were vast, however I opted for churros pretty much every day, as it appeared to soak up the alcohol from the night before very well!
The hotel has many facilities, most of which we rarely had chance to use! There is an indoor pool/spa and fitness centre, as well as the opportunity to hire bicycles to explore the area at faster speeds. The swimming pool has a snack bar too, however we just used the outdoor pool most of the time. We had sunbeds poolside, as well as a gate (only accessible to hotel guests) directly to the promenade and beach. It was a great place to stay and the location by the beach was ideal!
Dining in Torremolinos
Although we technically stayed in Torremolinos, we actually spent most of our time in the nearby town of Benalmádena. The latter was closer in distance and was full of places to eat, drink and explore. Everything we needed!
The first place we stumbled across in Torremolinos was Rias de Galicia where we stopped for some lunch on the first day. Here I attempted ordering in Spanish (which went down quite well) an Italian delicacy (pizza) which went down well. Sat in the Spanish sun, watching the world go by with a fresh Fanta was a great way to start the holiday!
Our favourite restaurant of the week was Enjoy; a newly (at the time) opened restaurant in Benalmádena. On our first visit (yes, we went there twice) we were given a 10% discount voucher before sitting down. I had a chicken burrito meal, accompanied by a few vodka, Fanta lemon mixers. I hadn’t thought of this mix before, but it definitely worked! Our second visit was on our last night. I had a freshly made chicken paella with an edible flower. The dish was enormous and I struggled to finish! It was a lovely last meal and the weather was gorgeous for being sat outside eating.
As if our early-week Italian wasn’t enough, we later found an actual Italian restaurant called De Fano for dinner another day. We were given complimentary bruschetta on arrival and the staff were really friendly. I then had a Garlic bread to start (second starter), followed by a Tagliatelle bake in a tomato sauce. It was delicious.
In terms of places to drink, there were certainly many options! We stopped off in a couple on our way around; Monet (for a Koppaberg during the day) and Mombasa (for a few heavier drinks in the evening). There was also an Ice Bar that we went to which served disgusting shots but a fantastic, novelty experience.
Sea Life Benalmádena
As we walked around the town, past all the yachts, shops and restaurants, we came across an aquarium. Now I haven’t been to an aquarium in years, and we had been walking for quite a while by this stage, so decided to go in. The entry fee was €16, but cheaper tickets can be booked in advance if you know you’re going to visit!
Unsurprisingly the aquarium was filled with a range of aquatic animals; starfish, sharks, stingrays and clown fish were just a few that particularly caught my eye! It was a couple of hours well spent, learning more about these fish and their roots.
Exploring Benalmádena
On our last day, we wanted to do something different. The Teleférico Benalmádena is a cable car service that operates from the centre of the town and up the mountains. The views at the top are absolutely spectacular, however the fee is a little pricey. On their website, you can book your tickets in advance for the day you want them, which gives you a good saving!
At the top, not only are there incredible views, but there is also a small café and falconry displays at set times. There is a small walkway with a couple of viewing platforms to make use of the time at the top.
When we got back down to the bottom we walked the longer route back to the hotel, passing through the Parque La Paloma. The park itself had a range of wildlife and scenic plants, including most notably a cactus garden. We walked through this for a while, looking at the desert plants in their not so natural habitat. After spending some time in the park, we left and came across the beach. We walked along the sand, and saw a large cluster of people further along. Upon approaching the group, we realised there was a relatively small whale washed up on the beach. The police were present keeping people back, and there was a group with the whale keeping it wet. It was a sad sight, however we didn’t linger for long as there was ample support.
Anything else?
There was plenty to keep us occupied in both Torremolinos and Benalmádena while we were there. There is a great variety of shopping, sightseeing and drinking to be had; a great way to spend a holiday! Although some of the attractions are quite pricey, they are worth spending the money on to break up the days of walking around, chilling on the beaches and getting drunk!