Advantages: Location, comfort & views. Disadvantages: Businesslike and few English speaking staff.
We were outside work in the car park, three of us enjoying the fresh air and sunshine and Angry Man kicking the wall and smoking a cigarette. "Malaga" he said authoritatively "is a dump." This was a view I was to hear echoed from the minute I booked the flight to Malaga and decided to stop overnight before we travelled further into Spain, right up to getting the train from Malaga Airport. Even as a kindly English lady helped us work the ticket machine, our decision was under question.
I am pleased to report that Malaga is not that bad. In fact (and I'm not saying this to be contrary) - I like it! This was helped in part by our rather well located hotel. The train journey in from the Airport twists through slum like flats, but somehow, these look better than the approach to Paddington in the rain and the 2 euro journey was the start ...
I went to malaga in 2007, I wasn't impressed at all, personally I think this may stem from the hotel and if you haven't got a good place to stay, it usually would hinder the holiday experience.
Although, saying this there were a few good aspects of the holiday, the beach was lovely, plenty of sunloungers with comfortable cushions which we had to pay a small fee for for the whole day. The route to the beach wasnt very good there were steep hills and a lot of steps which could be a problem for a lot of people - there is a lift though.
Another good point was the shops, they were open very late and when i was there, there were lots of sales on in good shops, Malaga has good shops like zara.
A bad point in my opinion was the entertainment, we went at peak season and there wasnt a lot to do, and not much going on for families.
The eating ...
hollie1408 10.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Málaga (Spain)
Advantages: Beach, big swimming pool Disadvantages: Mosquito
My family and I stayed at the Barcelo Solymar Hotel for two weeks in June 2005. The first thing I must say about this hotel is what a great location, the beach is right on its door step and must the one of the best beaches in the world, the white sand seems to go on forever and the sea is so clear and warm it is almost like your stepping into a giant bath tub.
The hotel itself is very large with one of the biggest swimming pools I have ever seen! The hotel has a huge open lobby area, it is very pretty with a nice bar, lots of different seating areas, a few shops, a bank and the reception desk. My biggest complaint about this hotel would have to be no air conditioning in the lobby, it is unbearable to stay by the bar because of the heat most nights I found myself taking drinks to my room to enjoy the air-con.
Second biggest problem ...
