Mainland southern Spain.........holiday suggestions please :)

[vickster]

I'd agree, that coast, particularly Asturias is my favourite place, but, you can't beat the south for guaranteed sun!

OP, I go to Spain several times year, love the place, I can recall "combat alley" in Torremolinos as a young man, now, you'd struggle to find a Brit bar in Torremolinos, things change.......

I've just come back from Alicante, my first holiday there, a compact city with great nightlife, a decent beach and very few non-Spanish tourists. I stayed in Barrio Santa Cruz, Google it, was like a Brazilian favela. A short tram ride away is Playa de San Juan with a superb beach miles long with a bike path alongside. Valencia is about a 2 hour train ride away and well worth the visit. Alicante has regular bike hire and you can have a road bike delivered to you direct.

Still, I'd go to Malaga. It's a city that has transformed itself over the past 20 years, it is now stunning. Loads of cultural things to see/do. Worth spending all your holiday there but it has the easy access to Seville and Granada if you wish. The El Palo/Pedragalejo coastal suburbs are nice places to stay, a short bus ride into the city, or a very easy cycle ride. I can recommend Recyclo for road bike hire in Pedragalejo. The AC & Don Curro are good central hotels, the former has the benefit of a roof top pool.

Both Alicante & Malaga have safe & spectacular riding only a mile or so inland.

My only time in Torremolinos was for a gay wedding... it's got a very lively scene if that's your thing. Lots of ex pats
Nice beach too from what I recall

 

[MarkF]

My only time in Torremolinos was for a gay wedding... it's got a very lively scene if that's your thing. Lots of ex pats
Nice beach too from what I recall

I inadvertently stopped in the Nogalera complex 2 years ago whilst touring, I had no idea that Torre was now a gay destination. I also found out what a hairy bear party was......

 

[Andy_R]

Looks a good site............they do Croatia (and other places at "reasonable" prices.
Have you used them ?
Are they reputable ?

We've used them about half a dozen times and never had a problem.