Nerja, east of Malaga on the Costa del Sol, is the place to be for a wonderful family holiday. We wnet last August and we're going back this year. It was recommended by a friend and it sounded just right for us; quiet, lots of restaurants, excellent beaches and reasonably Spanish and unspoilt. She was right on all accounts!!
We could only go in August so it was touch and go whether we could afford it. The packages, even the cheap ones, came out at around £2800 for the four of us (mum, dad, girl 10 and boy 8). So i decided to go it alone.
Good thing I did and I'd recommend booking the holiday yourself. I found a three bedroom apartment on the internet: Spanishholiday.com. They are agents for private owners and you deal with the owners yourself. Excellent communication, very good price: £680 for two weeks in August. I booked the flight with Easyjet: £960 for the four of us. Total £1640, near on half the price of the packages.
The apartment was gorgeous, quite near to the beach and with a lovely roof terrace. It was very hot and we stayed out of the midday sun. All the facilities: microwave, washing machine, digital telly.
Nerja is lovely. We stayed on the Burriana beach side and I think we made the right choice. Burriana Beach itself is great, with lots of cheap beachfront cafes. The gin and tonics are huge and the paella at Ayo's is the best. You can rent sunbeds and shades for around £3.00 a day and just lie back and relax. The sea was clean and warm but the waves can be a bit high at times.
We ate out every lunch and dinner because it was so nice and so reasonable. There are a lot of pizza places (yes, we were in Spain) that are very good value. Our favourite haunt was the cafe opposite the Hotel Carabeo, right near the path to the beach. seriously good meal for four for £20.00, drinks included. I recommend the home made burgers and the avocado soup (!)_
There are lots of shops in Nerja selling jewellery and touristy bits but they're a bit better quality than the usual tat. Shoes are a bargain as well. On Tuesdays there's a really good market: If you want beach toys (surf boards, lilos etc) for the kids I'd go there instead of the shops near the beach. Pottery stalls are also much cheaper than the shops.
I'm almost ashamed to say that we did very little sightseeing. We went to the Balcon Europa in the centre of Nerja in the evening and ate ice cream. Lovely atmosphere. Other than that we were either eating, sleeping or on the beach.We eventually dragged ourselves to the caves the day before we left. They are very impressive and well worth a visit: not if your unsteady on your legs though, there are lots of steps and no disabled access.
There are lots of buses to places along the Costa if you want to travel around.
So go there and see for yourself, it is still possible to enjoy the best of Spain at a very reasonable price. We would seriously like to buy an apartment there, that's how lovely it was.
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We "went-it-alone" to Nerja - www.inter-sol.com are absolutely fantastic, very helpful and I still keep in touch with the guy that runs it - one day we'll make it back there.
Great Op!
Elainebaba 13.03.2002 01:35
Can I come with you next time?
Avril
janna 12.03.2002 21:44
excellent op - we have thought of visiting Nerja & now I have read your op it sounds just my sort of holiday. Good title too
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We propose some unforgettable holidays in "El Capistrano Villages", in Nerja, the privileged balcony of the Costa del Sol. "El Capistrano Villages" is, possibly, the most beautiful and exclusive Urbanisation on the Costa del Sol.
Advantages: Beautiful scenery and good all year round weather (well, better than England anyway!) Disadvantages: busy on the coast and the N340 is a nightmare
lovetoad 01.10.2003 ·
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