Torremolinos

has evolved as an attractive and appealing resort noted for its clean sandy beaches, wide choice of hotels and restaurants and unparalleled variety of entertainment, activities and nightlife available. Located 7km west of Malaga airport and was the first Costa del Sol resort to be developed back in the early sixties when it was little more than a sleepy village, still today the town reflects its heritage with several of the original fresh fish bars located right in the shopping centre, incongruously flanked by exclusive boutiques and gift shops.

In general, however, the wave of tourists who descended on the town in the fifties and sixties changed the face of Torremolinos for ever. Over the years, Torremolinos has evolved as an attractive and appealing resort, noted for its clean sandy beaches, wide choice of hotels and restaurants and unparalleled variety of entertainment, activities and nightlife available. At the height of summer, the resort has a great appeal for the younger set, with a reputation for its hectic gay friendly nightlife. Out of season, however, it takes on a different character. Now practically a suburb of Malaga, the atmosphere

The Cuesta del Tajo, at the end of San Miguel, leads down a steep flight of steps through the old fishing district of El Bajondillo. This is a popular, picturesque area lined with restaurants and market-style kiosks, selling souvenirs. Down at the bottom is the beach of El Bajondillo. The beach area shows another side of Torremolinos. To the left, the Playa de Bajondillo gives way to the beaches of Playamar and Los Alamos. To the right, beyond the Castillo de Santa Clara, lie the beach areas of La Carihuela and Montemar. The seafront promenade, Paseo Maritimo, extends east to Playamar and west to La Carihuela, now continuing as far as Benalmadena Marina.

Torremolinos is much more Spanish, especially at weekends, with an air of friendliness and welcome.

Packed with tantalising shops, thronging with people of every nationality and located right at the heart of the town is the pedestrian only Calle San Miguel, the main artery of the town. This smartly paved pedestrianised street is lined with boutiques and shops with a great variety of goods on offer, attracting a constant flow of people. Just off this main strip is the Gay area of La Nogalera, Quiet by day with a few gay eateries and bars opening at teatime the whole area comes alive at midnight with a bar to suit every taste and fashion. Watch the free Drag shows, Dance at the discos or just watch the world go by as you sip on a cocktail or whatever takes your fancy…..

The walk to La Carihuela offers pleasant sea views and some dramatic rock formations, before entering the old fishing village of La Carihuela which is a delightful area of picturesque simple houses and bougainvillea clad patios where old men play dominoes and drink anis. Many of the original cottages still exist and not all have been turned into bars or shops. Some have stood still in time. Wander around the area early one morning before the tourists wake up and see a different world. This is the area also known for its excellent seafood restaurants and chiringuitos (beachbars).
While some may feel that Torremolinos has an abundance of concrete highrises, this is offset by the recent emergence of numerous public gardens. More than one thousand species of trees have been planted in the town, ranging from the exotic magnolia and banana tree to vibrantly colourful beds of roses and azaleas. On the outskirts of town, there are three forests with freshwater springs and barbecue facilities and highly recommended for those seeking a little reprieve from the bucket and spade scenario on the coast. At the same time, if it's family fun you want, Torremolinos is hard to beat with seasonal seasports including windsurfing, paragliding, water skiing and pedal boats.

Fuengirola

is probably most famous for its five miles of sandy beaches, flanked by high-rise hotels and residential blocks of apartments with magnificent views of the Mediterranean and sweeping coastline.The beaches known as Boliches - Gaviotas and Torreblanca hold a European blue flag.
Fuengirola is particularly popular with Spanish nationals, many of whom own summer apartments here. There are also a considerable percentage other nationalities with the result being an impressively wide variety of entertainment and restaurant choice, ranging from the Andalusian traditional tapas (bar snacks) and shellfish dishes together with Guinness on tap.
The advantage of staying in the area is that it is a compact seaside resort and town which has an excellent selection of supermarkets and competitively priced shops, as opposed to being restricted to the typical gift shop strip with its imported shells and t-shirts.
Follow the shopping baskets on Tuesdays and you will find yourself at the largest and liveliest street market on the coast. There is also a Saturday boot sale here with the predictably intriguing selection of items on sale.
There is certainly no shortage of things to do for holidaymakers in Fuengirola, ranging from such fun activities as aqua park, a trip to the zoo and a host of sea sports to a leisurely sight seeing tour on a horse-drawn carriage, or by foot, particularly recommended for Fuengirola's neighbour, Los Boliches which still reflects the ambience of a bygone era with narrow streets, neighbourhood shops and traditional white washed houses which once belonged to the local fishermen.
Annual fiestas here include the feast of the Virgin del Carmen in July when local fisherman carry an effigy of the Virgin out to sea, while the colourful feria takes place in October and is the time when the town really comes to life with flamenco, fino ... (dry sherry) and fun which carries on from dawn to dusk for a week.

Mijas

is a typical Andaluz village, perched high above Fuungirola and Mijas Costa like so many sugar cubes with spectacular views of the coast and surrounding heavily wooded mountains. There are no main thoroughfares here, instead a web of narrow cobbled streets complete with terraces overflowing with geraniums, red tile roofs, archways and, of course, the occasional chirruping canary.
Since this village was first discovered in the sixties, close to sixty nationalities have made the pueblo their home and the impact can be agreeably appreciated via the international cuisine, cosmopolitan clubs and associations and, in general, the influence of foreign culture and the arts.
Fortunately, however, the village has still managed to retain some of its quaint traditions, one of the most unusual being the donkey-taxis, which line the central plaza. Like Ronda just over the mountaintop, the village dates back to distant times and there are two Mudejar churches here to prove it, as well as the sanctuary of the patron saint of Mijas, from the year 850.
During the month of January, Mijas holds their festival of San Anton which is celebrated with a "romeria" (open air party) at the holy hermitage and reached in carriages and on carts, piled high with flowers and food.
With the completion of the A7 Highway Mijas is now easily accessible from Malaga Airport and only minutes from Torremolinos. The entire Costa Del Sol is on display for you to discover…
There is a thriving arts and crafts movement in Mijas, particularly linen and wicker items and the locally made bread and honey is definitely worth trying.
Still on a culinary note, the traditional local fare includes "gazpachuelo" (an egg soup) and for those with a sweeter tooth, there are the typical cakes made with almonds, called bunuelos and homazos.
One of the most interesting buildings in Mijas is the hermitage of El Puerto which can be spied, just about everywhere in the village, appropriately enough, halfway up a mountain! Keep looking and you may just catch a glimpse a hang-glider wafting over the peak.
Also look out for the Mineral water spring at the entrance to the village.
All of this and more… within easy reach of Villa Crusoe.