Spain now and then

Marina Rio Hotel Lagos Algarve, Portugal

2010-02-28T22:51:00.004+01:00

The Marina Rio Hotel in Lagos as seen through the rigging of yachts in the marina last weekend. This was our second stay in the very friendly family owned hotel on the banks of the Bensafrim River and I can recommend it strongly.

It takes a comfortable four and a half hours by car from Marbella to Lagos and we were taking a chance on escaping the seemingly continuous rain that had been falling all February in Spain. Sure enough as we crossed the Centenary Bridge over the Guadiana river separating Spain from France in the afternoon the clouds cleared, the sun came out. As we drove westwards into the setting sun I put my sunglasses on for the first time since last year and enjoyed the natural warmth streaming into the car again for the first time in months.

Check in at the Marina Rio is a simple process and we were given room 201 on the corner of the building. With a parking place right outside the hotel on the pavement it was easy to ferry the bags from the car up to the room. You can see our room on the second floor on the left corner of the hotel building with a great view towards the sea, the marina in front and also the Saturday morning market right next to the hotel.

Internet access is available in some rooms and wireless is free with a strong signal on the ground floor. The Hotel Marina Rio serves an excellent breakfast. Our room rate including breakfast was €61 per day including VAT and when we checked out the total was exactly what we expected, nothing more and nothing less.

Address and contact details for the Marina Rio hotel are:

Marina Rio Hotel

Av. dos Descobrimentos

Apartado 388

8600 645 Lagos, Portugal

Tel: +351 282 780 830

Fax: +351 282 780 839

Cordoba Bus Station

2010-01-31T22:36:00.003+01:00

I spent the day in Cordoba on Saturday so walked up from the Mezquita to Avenida de América to the Cordoba train station. It took about 25 minutes. The bus station is just behind the train station.

This is the actual address of Cordoba bus station:

Estacion Central de Autobuses de Cordoba

Glorieta de las Tres Culturas s/n

14011 Cordoba

Tel: +34 957404383

Rather than try to find the address above, it's much easier to head for the train station and walk through it or around to the bus station!

It has all the amenities of a modern Spanish bus station including a left luggage locker department. Left luggage costs €3.50 a day and make sure you have everything you need with you for the day because if you need to open the locker again to get your sun glasses out, it´ll cost you another €3.50!

There is a Caja Rural cash point next to the entrance and right next to it a set of public telephones which were being used and looked to be in good order. Opposite the souvenir shop is an open air buffet style coffee bar, ideal for a snack in between buses. The seats on the concourse are comfortable and clean.

I tested out the information desk by asking what bus I needed to take me back to the Mezquita (It's the number 3 and the nearest point is San Fernando almost down by the Guadalquivir River) I was not given the departure point but found it for myself at the furthest end of the local bus stops between the bus station and the Cordoba train station. Cost €1.10 all the way back to the Mezquita. Good value and the bus was clean and comfortable.

There are 26 long distance bus bays arranged in a circle on the far side of the bus station. Cordoba bus station is functional and perhaps does not have the same charm of the Prado de San Sebastian bus station in Seville but is ideally situated for connections with train station and within very easy reach of the Cordoba city centre.

Let me know if I can help you with travel onwards to Marbella bus station or any other points in Andalucia.

By the way the picture shows Cordoba bus station on the right. I took the photo from the north corner of Cordoba train station which is just to my left. The local buses leave from the street you see here.

Hire Car from Malaga train station to Marriotts Marbella

2009-12-31T19:17:00.004+01:00

Dave wrote to me:

Hi Mike,

I am going to Marriotts Marbella tomorrow December 26th. I am flying from Singapore to Barcelona and travelling by train to Malaga. I have a few questions:

1. I want to rent a car at the Malaga train station. How far is the train station from Malaga Airport?

2. Do you have directions from Malaga train station to Marriotts Marbella by car?

I also need also information such as:

a) Do I need pay a ticket for car rental when I go out of Malaga train station in my hire car?

b) How do I fill up in gas stations, is it self service or there is an operator?

3). I will arrive in Malaga around 8 pm, is it safe to drive at night?

That's all the information I need.

Thanking you in advance.

Best regard, Dave

I wrote back to Dave

Hello Dave

First of all Happy Christmas. It's 8pm on Christmas Day, the 25th will be over by now for you in Singapore.

1) Malaga train station is approximately 13kms from Malaga airport.

2) I checked on Google Maps, driving directions putting in Malaga Train Station as point of departure and Marriotts Marbella as the destination and if you take the A7 then the AP7 toll road (around 4 euros) it is 49kms and if you follow the A7 all the way it is 55kms. I would take the second option because you just stay on the A7 and you don't have to leave it to get on the toll road (AP7) and then get back onto the A7. To get to Marriotts Marbella it is less complicated.

It is very wet and black night at the moment and I think it would be a good idea to add a GPS onto your car hire option especially as you will be driving at night. Remember if you haven't done it already, you can book a car at a very reasonable price through the Gomarbella car hire section and pick it up from Malaga train station. As soon as you book I will get an email confirmation.

a) Leaving Malaga train station with a hire car you won't need to pay anything. You will be given a ticket or a code to pass through the barrier.

b) About 95% of the gas stations in the province of Malaga are self service. Be careful you are putting petrol in, gasolina, or diesel, gasoil, depending on what your hire care uses. Your tank should be full. When you are putting in fuel after 10pm at night, most fuel pumps in Spain are in Prepago which means Prepayment. You need to tell the cashier how much you are putting in and pay before you refuel the car.

3) I don't think the roads will be very busy at that time of the evening, probably about 9pm by the time you get on the road, but take care if it is raining and just drive slowly. Remember my GPS recommendation and bring this street address with you.

Marriotts Marbella address is:

Marriotts Marbella Beach Resort

Calle de Cádiz, KM 193

29604 Marbella

Málaga

Tel: 952 76 96 00

Get the hire car office to set up the GPS and programme it with the destination.

I hope you have a good stay David, thanks for your contact and best wishes

Mike

(By the way, if you are planning to use local buses from Marriots Marbella this link might be useful.)

A Weekend in Oporto

2009-11-10T20:19:00.004+01:00

Before setting off on a car trip from Marbella I like to walk out onto the terrace with my TomTom to check the distance and how long it will take.

This time however, on my journey to Oporto in northern Portugal my departure point was Malaga airport where I had just arrived back from London. My wife picked me up from the far end of the first floor departure level, a very easy collection point in the late afternoon and we set off to spend the first night in Sevilla in the conveniently situated Los Bormujos apartments on the Portugal side of Sevilla.

The distance from Marbella to Oporto is 956 kms and 9hrs 30min but from Malaga airport it took 2hrs 20 mins to the other side of Sevilla that evening and then an unhurried 9 hours the next day into Portugal through the Algarve and then turning north up the excellent IP1 highway running from south to north.

The service areas up the IP1 toll road are cleaner and better maintained than in Spain and the food is excellent. The only toll on the journey was from the Algarve all the way to Oporto and this worked out at just under €30 each way. Money really well spent.

Our TomTom miraculously took us right into the heart of Oporto to the very door of the Villa Gale Hotel. We missed the hotel's underground parking entrance and had to do a circuit but once we had located the sign it was easy.

The highlight of the trip for us was meeting up with our friends, Paul and Wendy Wright. They had flown into Vigo in Spain an hour to the north a few days earlier, hiring a car through gomarbella car hire at Vigo airport and then driven down to meet us in Oporto.

We had a quick look around Oporto, taking in a red open bus tour and a boat trip on the River Douro. It's a most interesting city, too much to take in on such a short stay but we'll go back perhaps in February to have a better look around. The picture you see is looking back towards the city. Our Vila Galé hotel is up and over the skyline across the River Douro.

It took us 11 hours to get back to Marbella. Despite being the beginning of October it was hot and we stopped often to rest. The next time we go back there I am thinking of taking the high speed AVE train from Malaga to Madrid and then flying with Ryanair to Oporto. The February 2010 flight to Oporto from Madrid shows up as costing €2.99 taxes and all! Join us?

Car Hire Vigo Airport

2009-10-05T21:40:00.003+02:00

Paul Wright wrote in with account of his experience using the gomarbella car hire picking up his rental car from Vigo airport in the north of Spain.

We booked our hire car using the easy 3 step booking facility on your website and were pleased to find a very reasonably priced option with Alamo Car hire at just £16 per day! On arrival at Vigo airport last week, the car hire kiosk was easily located just outside the arrivals exit and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The car was located a short distance from the main terminal in a multi storey car park.

We were very pleased with the 'budget' range car especially as it was a brand new, sleek black Seat Ibiza TDI. Apparently the largest of the 'small' cars we had selected. It was very sporty and, being diesel, very economical too! A small car with a very big feel! I am pleased that we decided to opt for a SatNav as that made driving in Spain and Portugal so much easier. I would recommend anyone to go to the extra expense as it makes life so much easier and our drive in to Vigo was a very pleasant experience as we could enjoy the fantastic views without having to worry about finding our way!

We booked a hotel in the old town of Vigo near the Port and had a wonderful holiday there. Our plan was to make short excursions each day to various places of interest in Galicia. The most interesting was of course Santiago de Compostelo - about 90 minutes drive from Vigo in our hire car. We took the coastal road and stopped at various small towns along the way. The seafood was delicious!

Towards the end of our trip we decided to go a little further afield by driving to Porto in Portugal. Suprisingly this was not as far as we thought using the motorway and we arrived within just an hour and a half. What a great time we had in that colourful city located on the edge of the River Duoro.

We returned our hire car without incident although I should mention that Vigo airport is a little confusing. Hire cars need to be returned to the other side of the airport to the public car parking. One needs to look out for the signs at the main roundabout by the entrance and take the correct exit. The hire cars are located at the next exit to the main public car park entrance and, although its clearly signposted, you do need to look out for it!

Calahonda Bus Stops

2009-09-16T17:11:00.007+02:00

Kathleen: (June) "I wonder if you can help us. We will be arriving in Malaga airport in September. Can you please advise which will be the best way to get to Club Marbella apartments in Sitio de Calahonda as we are not sure about train and bus travel on the Costa del Sol? Thanks a lot."

Mike: (June) "Hi Kathleen, thank you for writing in to www.gomarbella.com

The quickest and easiest way to get to Club Marbella in Calahonda from Malaga airport is to take the train from the Malaga airport train stop to Fuengirola train station. There are two trains every hour and the train timetable hardly varies all year round.

The Fuengirola bus station is only 200 metres away from the Fuengirola train station and you can then take the bus which travels between Fuengirola to Marbella and get off at the Calahonda bus stop.

You will find information here about the Fuengirola bus station and check here for information about all the bus stops between Fuengirola and Marbella and also a schedule for that bus service. You will see the Calahonda stop on the list.

I'm not exactly sure of the location of Club Marbella in Calahonda and there are actually three bus stops which serve the Calahonda urbanisation so I suggest you get off at the first Calahonda bus stop coming from Fuengirola and then rather than pull a suitcase for the last stretch, you can take a taxi from the taxi rank next to the entrance to the Calahonda urbanisation. The taxi rank is not more than 200 metres from the bus stop.

I'll have a look in June or July because I need to sort those bus stops out. My bus stop list only shows one bus stop for Calahonda. Would you write back to remind me before you come out and I'll give you the exact information on that last bit?

Check out the above Kathleen, look at the timings and please let me know if I can help at all with any questions you might have. Best wishes from Marbella and I look forward to hearing from you. Mike"

Kathleen: (June) "Hi Mike, Thank you so much for your reply, which is most helpful. I will contact you nearer to our departure date to see if you have been able to sort out the bus stops. In the meantime, thank you again for your prompt reply, Kath"

Kathleen: (August) "Hello again Mike, As we shall be arriving at Malaga in a couple of weeks time, I wondered if you had been able to find anything more about the correct bus stop nearest to Club Marbella. Kath"

Mike: (September) "Hi Kath I went out on my motorbike yesterday to have a close look at the Calahonda bus stops which I must have passed a 1000 times in the last 30 years.

If you look at the picture above you will see the taxi rank at the main entrance to Calahonda. I took this picture from the pedestrian bridge over the A7. The Calahonda main bus stop is actually just to the left of the picture, just after the pedestrian bridge. The red car is travelling towards Marbella and the sea is behind me.

The main Calahonda bus stop is the next one after the Doña Lola Macdonalds stop travelling from Fuengirola towards Marbella. When the bus stops at the Doña Lola bus stop, start moving to the exit and press the stop request bell. It was called Las Postas but in fact now, on the new bus shelters at the bus stops between Fuengirola and Marbella most of the names have been removed!

From the Doña Lola stop, if you look at the curve of the road going towards Marbella, the main Calahonda stop is just around the curve to the right.

Hope this helps you Kath, let me know how things go. Best wishes from Marbella, Mike"

Footnote: Saturday 26th September.

Kath: Hi Mike, We have just returned from Calahonda where we had a super holiday. We found the bus service really good to and from Fuengirola train station and also made our own way to Marbella for a day trip, then on to Puerto Banus by boat. Thank you, again, for your help. Kath

Mike: Thank you very much Kath for taking the trouble to write back and let me know how things worked out. I am going to dedicate this page to you because thanks to your contacts, I am sure that it will help other bus travellers to Calahonda. Here's to your next visit!

PS: You can now do online bus ticket reservations through the gomarbella reservation system.

Parking Sur Malaga Airport

2009-09-15T19:34:00.002+02:00

It was good to see the family car parked next to the Parking Sur car collection office facing the exit gate last night after getting back from a four day trip to London.

Normally we use the Malaga airport to Marbella bus station bus service to get to Malaga airport and back but this time we needed the car at the airport so I completed the online booking form and booked the car in at Parking Sur. I got an almost immediate confirmation reply email. This is unusual for Spain where the reply ethic is not strong.

Coming from Marbella we came off the A7 onto the road from Torremolinos to Malaga and then swung off to the right as if we were going to go over the bridge next to the San Miguel factory. Halfway round the left hand curve we turned off to the right and followed the signs to the Parking Sur premises just past the Malaga airport to Fuengirola railway line bridge.

Together with two other parties who had also just arrived we were driven in the Parking Sur courtesy bus to the departures level at the airport. From driving into the parking site to arriving at Malaga airport departures level at T2 it would only have taken 15 minutes at the most.

After a very smooth Monarch flight back home to Malaga yesterday I realised that I didn´t have the Parking Sur phone number. The Malaga airport information office in arrivals gave me the information in seconds. I phoned the 24 hour mobile telephone number and in less than five minutes the Parking Sur shuttle bus had picked us up and taken us back to the car park.

Some information:

Parking Car Sur
Tel: 952 23 28 91
Mob: 669 803 702
Mob: 691 323 095

Email: parkingsur@hotmail.com

2009 Parking rates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
1 year 700 euros
Month 90 euros
Day 5.50
Car wash 20 euros

Our charge for four day's hire worked out to be 22 euros exactly.

In the picture above you see the cheerful, welcoming Parking Sur team on duty that evening. I do recommend their short and long term parking services.

Marriotts Playa Andaluza from Malaga mairport by bus and taxi

2009-08-15T20:21:00.006+02:00

“Hi Mike, I've been reading your blog for past many weeks. Excellent blog and very useful site. I've been helped greatly by the information on the site. I've got one quick question. Me, my wife and 5 year old son will travel to Malaga from London in January for 5 days. We'll stay at Marriott's Playa Andaluza. We are planning to take the bus from Malaga Airport. I've got two questions:

A) How much the taxi would cost from Marbella bus station to Marriots Playa Andaluza and where would be get a get taxi from?

B) If we decide to go by bus instead and take the Marbella to Estepona bus then at what stop do we get down. I've got the list of stops between Marbella and Estepona from your website. Sam"

“Hi Sam Thank you very much for checking into www.gomarbella.com and especially for reading the blogs!

I have just phoned the Marbella taxi company and they said that the day tariff for a taxi to to Marriots Playa Andaluza from Marbella Bus Station (the taxis are right outside) would be 21 or 22 euros. and in the evening, that’s after 10pm and at weekends it would be a couple of euros more. There are always taxis right outside the bus station.

If you check out the link which gives you information about the bus stops between Marbella and Estepona you will see that the Isdabe bus stop is the closest to Marriotts Playa Andaluza in the Estepona area. because of the proximity of the pedestrian overpass next to that bus stop.

I almost always suggest taking a taxi for first arrivals at the Marriotts Playa Andaluza resort to avoid pulling suitcases. It must be at least 800 metres to the complex from the Isdabe bus stop and the overpass. If your son is feeling tired at that stage after your plane flight to Malaga and then the bus journey to Marbella, he won’t feel like walking.

With all the money you will save on the airport bus to Marbella you can treat yourself to a taxi from Marbella to Marriotts Playa Andaluza on your first day. When you are settled in then use the bus to get up and down the coast during your stay and even all the way back to the airport on departure. Mike"

“Hi Mike Thanks for your response. Very useful. I was just looking through again the list of bus stops from Marbella to Estepona and comparing with the Google map. I thought PLAZA ORTIZ may be the nearest stop to Marriott Playa Andaluza. Or have I got my geography completely wrong.

Anyway I'll take the taxi from Marbella as per your advice. But it will be useful if you could let me know if I am wrong as it may help me get an idea as to whether I got the location of Playa Andaluza (or indeed PLAZA ORTIZ) incorrect.

Thanks again for wonderful blog and the extremely useful website. Sam”

“Hi Sam Thank you for your reply and your kind words. Much appreciated.

I got Google maps up and typed in Plaza Ortiz and it came up as being in the town of Estepona which is quite far from Mariotts Playa Andaluza. It could be a sales point for Mariotts which is showing up.

Try getting Google maps up and typing in atalaya-isdabe you should see the name near the sea. This is the Atalaya hotel in the Isdabe Urbanisation. Your bus stop is at the end of the orange section of the road, just past the A7 sign. Over the road is the Centro Comercial Diana. Marriots Playa Andaluza doesn't show up but it is just to the left of the Atalaya Hotel.

A couple of stops back is the Guadalmina Commercial Centre.

I hope you have a good trip, the weather is very changeable at the moment, warm, cold, windy so bring something warm to put on as well!

Best wishes from Marbella Sam and thanks again for your contacts. Mike.”

PS: You can now do online bus ticket reservations through the gomarbella reservation system.

Riviera del Sol by bus and train from Malaga airport

2009-08-15T08:13:00.003+02:00

“Can I get from Malaga Airport to Riviera del Sol by bus and train?" wrote Vince.

I wrote back: “Hi Vince, You can catch the train from Malaga airport train station to Fuengirola train station at 4 minutes and 34 minutes past each hour.

It's a 45 minute train journey and then you only have to trundle your suitcase for less than 200 metres between the Fuengirola train station and the Fuengirola bus station a block away.

If you check the bus timetable you will see there are two buses every hour on the Fuengirola to Marbella route and the Riviera del Sol bus stop is one of the bus stops between Fuengirola and Marbella. I hope they have cleaned it up since I last checked it out.

Best wishes Vincent and thanks very much for using www.gomarbella.com Mike"

PS: You can now do online bus ticket reservations through the gomarbella reservation system.

Malaga Airport to Benamara

2009-08-13T23:28:00.002+02:00

Kat: “Hi Mike I was hoping you could help me with some information please? I have booked an apartment in Benamara and I am planning on getting a bus from Malaga airport to Marbella bus station then a taxi from there to the apartment. Do you think this is the best way to get there and back? I am familiar with the Costa del Sol but unsure of the exact location of Benamara. Many thanks, Kat.”

Mike: “Hi Kat, Thank you very much for checking in to www.gomarbella.com

Yes, with all the money you save by taking the Malaga airport to Marbella bus, you can treat yourself to a taxi. I am guessing but it could be around 20 to 25 euros. Benamara is about halfway between Marbella and Estepona. The taxi will go past Puerto Banus, past San Pedro and then it has to overshoot Benamara, do a U turn about a kilometre beyond Benamara and then come back towards Marbella before turning off right towards the sea to Benamara.

The A7 through San Pedro is being closed from mid September 2009 for about 15 months whilst the tunnel is being built and for this reason it will be simpler to take the taxi from Marbella rather than travelling on to San Pedro and taking a taxi from there.

Here are all the bus stops between Marbella and Estepona and your Benamara bus stop will be El Pilar. You can get up and down the coast easily by bus without having to take a taxi again. Always use the footbridges!

I hope this helps you Kat, let me know if I can help any further. Best wishes from Marbella, Mike"

PS: You can now do online bus ticket reservations through the gomarbella reservation system.

Malaga airport winter bus schedule

2009-08-12T23:22:00.004+02:00

David wrote to me: "I am travelling to Marbella on the weekend of 2-5 April 2009. Can you tell me if the winter schedule timetable for the bus from Marbella bus station to Malaga Airport listed on your website is for Sundays as well as a weekday timetable? Thanks!"

I wrote back to David: "Hi David, thank you very much for writing in to www.gomarbella.com

Yes, the airport bus service runs every day of the year. I use it a lot when visiting my two grandchildren in London and often use it to get to the airport on a Friday and then come back to Spain on Sunday returning from the airport to Marbella on the airport bus late on a Sunday.

The winter schedule for the bus from Marbella bus station to Malaga airport ends at the end of June and starts again at the beginning of October.

Best wishes from Marbella, David and have a good trip and thanks again for your contact. Mike"

PS: You can now do online bus ticket reservations through the gomarbella reservation system.

Malaga airport train timetable

2009-08-10T23:22:00.002+02:00

Gail: " Hello Mike, Are there any buses from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola in March please?" (2009)

Mike: "Hi Gail, Thanks very much for checking in to www.gomarbella.com

There isn't a bus direct from Malaga airport to Fuengirola bus station, you would have to go all the way into Malaga city to the Malaga bus station then catch the bus from there all the way back past Malaga airport, stopping all the way along before getting to Fuengirola.

But there is a great train service from the Malaga airport train stop to Fuengirola train station, it runs every 30 minutes from 6 in the morning to midnight.

Look here at the timetable of trains from Malaga airport to Fuengirola train station. You will see that the first train of the day leaves Malaga airport at 05.34 then at 4 and 34 minutes past the hour. The last train at 22.34. There is one later train during the summer months.

Does that help Gail? Let me know if I can help at all with other information.

Best wishes for your trip to Fuengirola and thanks again for writing. Mike Drury"

Dunnes Stores Fuengirola

2009-08-09T18:58:00.005+02:00

Dunnes Stores shown here in the picture is on the outskirts of Fuengirola just out of town off the A7 autovia where it rings Fuengirola on the Marbella side. Very conveniently situated with covered parking it's right between the Miramar commercial centre out of sight to the left of the photo and the Parque Miramar shopping centre at the end of the road on the left in the picture.

If you are driving towards Dunnes Stores Fuengirola from the Marbella side, exit the A7 at the first Fuengirola sign and at the roundabout turn left under the road. At the next roundabout turn right. Dunne's Stores Fuengirola is the first shop a little further along on the left.

It has a great range of reasonably priced children's and adults' clothes, shoes and fashion accessories and is packed everyday with British shoppers looking for good quality clothing at knockdown prices.

Right next door to Dunnes Stores Fuengirola is DM Brico, a well stocked hardware shop where the assistants will actually come to you and ask if they can help. Next door again is Lidl with great South American wines at giveaway prices and selling a range of bargain food, drink and household items again with plenty of free covered car parking.

A magnet for discerning Costa del Sol shoppers, just inside the store is a great little cafeteria which caters for expatriates needing anything from a full English breakfast through to carrot cake or good and inexpensive tapas and drinks.

New stock arrives every Thursday to fill the shelves and the home furnishing department is a must for good quality sheets and towels. The childrens' department in Dunnes Stores Fuengirola is second to none with colourful and practical garments.

Dunnes also have branches in Fuengirola town centre, Coin, Vélez Málaga and Malaga and all of them are definitely worth a visit.

If you've got this far you are probably wondering why I am suddenly writing about shopping centres. Well I get most of my shirts, long trousers, summer shorts, polo shirts, gym T shirts not to mention trainers from Dunnes. Like I said, it's good quality, cheap, the coffee's good and there's a great hardware shop next door. Dunnes has great stuff for the grandchildren too. I got bored yesterday morning and wandered outside and took the photo from the pedestrian footbridge over the A7 next to Dunnes. Happy shopping!

Contact details:

Dunnes Stores Fuengirola Commercial Centre
Hiper Andalucia
Avda La Depuradora, s/n
29650 Mijas Costa

Tel: + 34 952 47 80 00

Dunnes Stores Fuengirola Town Centre
C/ Jacinto Benavente 2
29640 Fuengirola, Spain

Tel: + 34 952 197 109

Dunnes Stores Malaga City

Avenida Aurora 25
29002 Malaga, Spain

Tel: + 34 952 369 499‎

Dunnes Stores Coin
Commercial Centre La Trocha
Carretera Cártama KM 1,
29100 Coin, Malaga

Tel: +34 951 315 068‎

Dunnes Stores near Vélez Málaga
Avenida Juan Carlos I s/n
29740 Velez-Malaga,

Tel: + 34 952 542 488
‎

La Colina taxis

2009-08-08T18:45:00.003+02:00

Paul: "Hi, I hope you can help. I am traveling to Malaga airport on 22 June but only going as far as La Colina. We will miss the last train and I was wondering which would be better, 2 taxi's (How much?) or a transfer. I have 6 people travelling 3 adults and 3 kids."

Mike: "Hi Paul Thank you very much for checking in to www.gomarbella.com. I have just phoned the taxi company Unitaxis Tel: + 34 952 333 333 at Malaga airport and the girl gave me the cost of a taxi from Malaga Airport to Torremolinos. By day it is € 15 and after €17 after 10pm and over weekend and on public holidays, it is €17.

There is only one taxi price even though Torremolinos is very big and La Colina is about the closest point in Torremolinos to the airport.

I wouldn't bother with a transfer. There are always countless taxis waiting right outside arrivals. You will need two taxis to move the group of 6. Here are the train timetables from Malaga airport in case you want to return to Malaga airport from the La Colina train stop or use the train whilst you are in La Colina.

I hope that helps you Paul, please let me know if I can help. Best wishes from Marbella, Mike"

Paul: "Mike thank you so much for your reply. I know over here in Dublin taxi drivers make a big deal about doing short runs from the airport. Is it the same there?

Mike: "Actually taxi prices here are carefully controlled. All destinations on the Costa del Sol are contained in a book which each driver carries. To avoid too many prices for Torremolinos which is so close to Malaga airport, they must have come up with a blanket fee covering the whole Torremolinos municipal area. It is just bad luck in that sense that La Colina is so close to the airport. The taxi associations will have covered themselves by fixing one fee for the whole locality. But the taxi drivers will take you without argument or fuss. They have to because every taxi carries a complaints book! If you have any problem at all at any stage just ask for a receipt for the fare, post it to me or email me the details and I'll follow it up.

Check the fare when you get into the taxi because what the girl quoted me may not coincide exactly with what you are actually charged on the ground and I wouldn't want you to get into an argument about a fare price which I got over the telephone. The fare might even be less. Not more.

It's not such a short run actually and you will be in the taxi for a little while. If you catch the train back from La Colina train stop to Malaga airport train station you won't even notice the cost of the train tickets.

I hope that helps you Paul, have a great holiday. The weather is really good down here. Warm during the day and lots of sun."

Paul: "Thanks again Mike. Your knowledge and help has been fantastic. Enjoy the sun, as I send you this mail the rain is pouring down in Dublin."Best of luck and thanks again."

Marriotts Playa Andaluza

2009-08-07T23:38:00.005+02:00

Bernetta wrote to me: " I am arriving at Malaga Airport on Sunday at 4:15. I am travelling to Marriott's Playa Andaluza. Can I take public transport to get there or at least close?"

I wrote back: "Hi Bernetta, Thank you very much for checking in to www.gomarbella.com

Yes you can travel all the way by public transport to Marriotts Playa Andaluza in Estepona but I suggest a taxi for the last stretch from the Marbella bus station to the resort.

Take the airport bus from Malaga airport to Marbella bus station. I think you will just miss the 16.30 bus but the 18.30 bus is well worth waiting for at less than €4.50 for the trip. You catch the bus just outside arrivals. Have a drink at the cafeteria in Malaga airport arrivals on your left as you come out, while you are waiting and then get to the bus stop about 20 minutes before to get your place in the queue. You buy your tickets on the bus. Here is the timetable for the bus from Malaga airport to Marbella Bus Station.

From Marbella bus station it is about 12 kms at least from Marbella to Marriots Playa Andaluza which is on the other side of San Pedro. You could catch the bus which travels from Marbella bus station to Estepona and get off at the Isdabe bus stop which is the nearest stop to Marriotts Playa Andaluza. Here is a list of all the stops between Marbella bus station and Estepona.

The only problem is that Marriotts Playa Andaluza is sme distance from the main road and the Isdabe bus stop and on your arrival you would need to cross the footbridge over the A7 and then trundle your suitcase about another 800 metres.

I suggest for your arrival that you take a taxi from Marbella bus station to the resort, or take the bus from Marbella as far as San Pedro and then a taxi from there to Marriotts which would be about €10.

Once you are at the resort, you can use the coastal bus service for exploring the coast. It is just not that easy to arrive at Marriots Playa Andaluza by bus pulling a suitcase.

Bernetta please check out all the information and then write back if I can help you at all. I can check on the price of a taxi from the Marbella bus station to Marriotts Playa Andaluza and let you know if that will help.

Best wishes from Marbella for your stay and thanks again for your contact. Mike Drury"

PS: You can now do online bus ticket reservations through the gomarbella reservation system.

Macdonalds Doña Lola bus stop

2009-08-06T23:41:00.007+02:00

Kevin wrote to me:

"To reach the Macdonalds Dona Lola resort by bus which bus stop do I need from your excellent list of bus stops between Marbella and Fuengirola?

I wrote back to Kevin:

" Hi Kevin, thank you very much for your kind words.

The bus stop you need is the Garu Calahonda bus stop. It's the next one after the Riviera del Sol bus stop travelling from Fuengirola to Marbella. I took this photo from the footbridge over the A7 / CN340. You will see the Doña Lola sign on the sea side of the road. The Macdonalds Doña Lola resort is about 150 metres from the Garu Calahonda bus stop.

The traffic coming towards the bridge is travelling from Marbella to Fuengirola and the traffic travelling in the other direction is going to towards Marbella. There's a great little bar called Al-Alcasur at the bottom of the footbridge on the sea side of the road. If you are pulling your suitcase, or coming back from shopping in Fuengirola from the Fuengirola bus station, just stop there, have a cold beer and a plate of fish, enjoy the pines, the noise, the smells and just relax a while. You're in Spain, take it easy, that's why you're here.

Have a great trip and use the pedestrian overpass bridges at all times! The traffic on the A7 is lethal.

I hope you have a really good visit to Macdonalds Doña Lola. The weather is brilliant at the moment. (This was back in December of 2008)

Best wishes from Marbella Mike"

P.S. The next stop is the Las Postas Calahonda main bus stop with a taxi rank right next to it.

PS: You can now do online bus ticket reservations through the gomarbella reservation system.

Malaga airport to Marriotts Marbella by bus

2009-08-05T23:38:00.005+02:00

Bernetta wrote to me: "I am arriving at Malaga Airport on Sunday at 4:15 I am travelling to Marriotts Marbella. Can I take public transport to get there or at least close?"

I wrote back: "Hi Bernetta, thank you very much for checking in to www.gomarbella.com

Yes, you can take public transport all the way to Marriotts Marbella. I would start with the Malaga airport bus to Marbella. You will just miss the 16.30 bus but the next one at 18.30 is well worth waiting for, the cost is less than €4.50.

Then from Marbella bus station to Marriotts, you can either take the bus which runs from Marbella to Fuengirola and get off at the Pino Golf bus stop closest to Marriotts or you can take a taxi all the way from Marbella bus station to Marriotts if you are tired from travelling.

Here is a link about getting from Marbella bus station to Mariotts Marbella with a lot of information including the airport bus times and the schedule for the coastal bus to Fuengirola which I mentioned above. You will also find a list of bus stops between Marbella and Fuengirola.

Bernetta, check it all out and then please write back especially if there is anything you are not sure of.

Best wishes from Marbella and thanks very much for your contact. Mike"

PS: You can now do online bus ticket reservations through the gomarbella reservation system.

Los Boliches train stop to Aparthotel Ronda 4

2009-08-04T23:22:00.003+02:00

Maddy wrote to me: "Hi Mike, I have just read someone else's question and your answer, it seems quite straight forward from Malaga airport to Los Boliches train station, I just wanted to know if we can walk to the Ronda IV apartments (two young fit people with suitcases) and how long it would take or whether it might be better by taxi? Many thanks, Madeleine"

"Oh, just one more question, how long do you think it might take to walk it?"

I wrote back to Maddy:

"Hi Maddy

It's good to know you are fit and willing to walk! Long may that be.

One route from Los Boliches train station would be to walk down towards the Fuengirola Paseo Maritimo and then turn left and it is a very pleasant short walk. The weather is great at the moment, warm during the day and cool at night. It will be a nice stroll with the sea on your right, tempting smells of frying seafood, sea breezes and the promise of a cold beer or two at the end. About 12 minutes pulling a suitcase I calculate. Longer if you stop for a beer or sangria on the way.

Here is a link with a map showing Ronda IV apartments in relation to the Los Boliches train stop.

If you look at the map you will see the railway line apparently disappearing under a wider road, the Malaga airport train stop to Fuengirola train station rail line actually goes overhead at that point. You will see the road called Avda Jesús Santos Rein. Los Boliches station is where the "Av" is, closest to the river.

You could also actually walk back along that road until it merges with Avda de Las Gaviotas and then drop down to the Ronda IV. That wouldn't take more than 10 minutes.

I think between the two routes, I would choose to walk along the Paseo Marítimo along the beach, just to get an early taste of your beach holiday!

Have a great stay Maddy and thanks very much for your contact. Mike"

The address of Aparthotel Ronda IV is:

Aparthotel Ronda 4
Paseo Marítimo 96
29640 Los Boliches
Fuengirola Málaga

Tel: + 34 952 660 716

Economy car rental Malaga airport

2009-08-03T23:11:00.004+02:00

Justin wrote to me to say: "Mike, I need to rent a car from Monday 22nd June until Monday 29th June. Pick up and return at Malaga Airport, economy car ideally and 2 drivers. I need to pick the car up at 15:00 and return 22:00. Do you have anything available and can you give me an idea of prices, in £ sterling if possible. Many Thanks, Justin"

I wrote back: "Hello Justin, I had a look at my Cartrawler car rental search engine for Malaga airport car hire and in the economy range (that's one up from the mini range) came across a Toyota Agya for 161.98 pounds for the seven days. This is a four seater.

There was also a Ford Fiesta five door for 168.83 pounds for the seven days. The Fiesta is a five seater

Adding on an extra driver comes to a maximum of €20 for the seven days, it is around €3.20 per day to a maximum of €20.

To find these deals and also to have look at the mini range, click through to www.gomarbella.com and fill in the dates and times on the car rental search engine box and Cartrawler will automatically find you the best car rental deal available at Malaga airport.

Best wishes from Marbella, Mike

Marbesol hire car pick up Malaga Airport

2009-08-02T23:40:00.004+02:00

Joan uses www.gomarbella.com a lot and wrote to me back in March this year to ask: "THIS IS FOR MARCH WHEN WE COME OUT AGAIN DO WE GO TO THE CAR RENTALS AREA FOR RESERVATION WITH MARBESOL THROUGH CAR TRAWLER?"

I wrote back to Joan:

"Hi Joan thank you very much for writing in again and especially for using Cartrawler. Marbesol is one of the car hire and rental companies at Malaga airport that is most used by the www.gomarbella.com Cartrawler rental and hire car search engine.

I checked with the Marbesol car hire office at Malaga airport and they confirmed that you will be met by a Marbesol representative just outside the baggage retrieval area automatic exit door before you enter the public waiting area. Just look for the Marbesol sign held by the representative.

You´ll be taken in their mini-bus to the Marbesol car hire offices which are right at the entrance to the airport and you'll pick up your car there.

If you are using a GPS to get back to the airport you´ll need the address of the Marbesol offices at Malaga airport:

Marbesol
Avda García Morato 50
Edif. Checkpoint Malaga Airport
29004 Malaga

Tel: + 34 952 233 507

Out of interest the Marbesol fuel return policy is pick up half full, return half full. There is a garage right next to the Marbesol car depot so it's very easy to top up the tank if needed.

As you drive out of the Marbesol office, go anticlockwise around the roundabout keeping to the right with the big San Miguel factory on your immediate right before you swing right to pick up the A7 down the coast.

March will be a great month to come out in. With the heavy February rains behind us and all the reservoirs on the Costa del Sol full for the first time in as long as I can remember, the countryside will be stunning especially with all the rivers running.

I hope that helps you Joan and don't hesitate to ask for any more information.

Best wishes from Marbella Mike"

Tango in Marbella

2009-08-01T23:37:00.003+02:00

World renowned tango teacher Eduardo Tapia fourth from the left in the back row was giving his last tango class on his tour of Spain before returning to Buenos Aires back in May this year.

Well known Costa del Sol tango teacher Graciela Heredia fourth from the right in the back row organised the class held at the Argentinean restaurant El Teleuche on the road to Benahavis.

Tango in Spain is big and there is a milonga at least once a week somewhere on the Costa del Sol.

If you are looking for information on tango classes and milongas in the area, let me know in the contact box on this page. By the way, have you spotted me in the group?

Excursion to Gibraltar

2009-07-31T23:45:00.004+02:00

Chris was staying this summer at the Cortijo Blanco Hotel and asked for suggestions about a day´s excursion to Gibraltar with her children. They were going by bus. I wrote back to her:

"Hi Chris, a day out in Gibraltar makes a fantastic excursion. Take bottles of water for the children as you go because it will be a long day and they´ll need to keep drinking. When you get to the La Linea bus station in the morning, book your seats to come back in the afternoon. Try and get the earliest bus down to Gibraltar to give you more time in the cool of the morning.

Go on a week day rather, many of the shops shut on a Saturday afternoon. You can pay in pounds or euros. Try to keep some pounds just for your excursion to Gibraltar because if you change your pounds into euros in Spain and then back into pounds in Gibraltar at today´s exchange rate, it will be a painful experience. Keep an eye out for any electronic goods that you might be after, they are normally well priced compared to Spain and you can sometimes bargain the price down.

Just on the other side of the border after the Gibraltar passport control you can pick up a taxi or a bus. The Route 9 bus which runs every 10 minutes Monday to Friday from Gibraltar airport at the frontier and it takes you to the Market Place at the bottom of Main Street. The Route 3 bus which runs every 20 minutes Monday to Friday takes you from Gibraltar airport at the frontier right the way across Gibraltar to Europa Point on the other side of the Rock.

It's not difficult to get around Gibraltar without a car. Basically you start at the bottom from Market Garden and walk up Main Street to the top where you will find the cable car ticket office. On the way up there are all sorts of shops. Not long after leaving the bottom of Main Street Sacarello's Coffee House is a good place to stop and have a coffee. It´s an institution in Gibraltar and you can ask any local Gibraltarian to direct your there. It's one street down to the right from Main Street.

At the top of Main Street take the cable car ride from its start at the Gibraltar Botanical Gardens. The Rock of Gibraltar cable car takes you to the top of the Rock which the children will enjoy. The views are great and on a clear day you can see the little flat topped houses across the straits in Morocco, the Mediterranean sea on one side and the Atlantic ocean on the other.

Next to the cable car is the Wildlife Park which is stocked with exotic animals that have been imported into Gibraltar and siezed by Customs. I haven't seen it myself but am told by animal lovers it worth visiting. A Rock Tour by taxi or mini bus isn't expensive and is a quick and easy way of seeing nearly all there is. The tour will take you around Gibraltar and the includes St Michael's Cave which is an enormous natura grotto and the Ape's Den amongst other sights. The guides are licensed and give a great commentary on the way around. You will find more taxis and Rock Tour guides as you walk up Main Street.

The Gibraltar museum is worth visiting and has a great audio visual show about the origins of Gibraltar from 200 million years ago. It´ll also give you a good chance to rest your legs along the way. The Tourist Information office is about half way up Main Street in Gibraltarand you can pick up maps and brochures there.

Out to sea there are boat cruises and dolphin watching trips around the Bay and you can get their contact details from the tourist information office also although maybe the cruise will have to wait for your next trip!

I hope this gives you a taste of Gibraltar Chris and that you have a fun day out! Keep an eye on the time and your possessions and leave time to get back to the bus.

Best wishes from Marbella and thanks again for your contacts Chris, Mike Drury"

A beach in Marbella

2009-07-30T12:57:00.006+02:00

Come on down to the beach in Marbella today. Everybody's taking it easy. The sun's hot and the sea's refreshingly cool.

Bring your watermelon and cool drink and picnic on the beach or feast on sizzling fried prawns in garlic washed down with cold white wine or sangria in a chiringuito nearby.

Out at sea the windsurfers are gliding up and down the coast. In the distance you'll hear the buzzing of jet skis rented from Funny Beach past the fishing port.

White T shirted beach security personnel patrol the beaches or cycle up and down the Paseo Marítimo while the lookie lookie men sidle cautiously along with their trays of Rolex watches, latest CDs and designer sunglasses.

There are at least another eight weeks of glorious sunshine over the Costa del Sol. Come on down!

Lux Sevilla Burmujos self catering apartments in Seville

2009-07-29T23:25:00.003+02:00

The Luxsevilla Bormujos tourist apartments are a great place to stay in Seville if you have a car. Situated just off the motorway to Huelva and Portugal, take the Gines, Bormujos exit Nº 6. If you need to fit in a bit of shopping in Ikea in Seville, the Luxsevilla apartment complex is only five minutes away on the other side of the A1 E49 motor way.

If you are picking up your hire car from the Santa Justa train station the complex is exactly 7kms from the Sevilla station. Pick up your car, drive to Luxsevilla Burmujos, park right outside, unpack in the air conditioned apartment, do your shopping next door, shower and change and you are ready to do the city.

In the pic you see the entrance to the building. The reception is on the first floor reached by a glass sided lift or stairs. I took a much better photo of the first floor area where the swimming pool and restaurant are but lost it! Next time I go I'll retake it.

We´ve stayed there twice now. The first time two years ago we needed quick access to Sevilla's old town for an early morning seminar and last night we stayed overnight after the Bruce Springsteen concert in the Sevilla Olympic Stadium rather than drive back to Marbella at 2am in the morning.

It's fantastic value, 55 euros all in including breakfast and a comfortable airconditioned apartment complete with a fully equipped kitchen. As a base to explore Sevilla or stop over on the way to Portugal, you won't do a lot better. The Luxsevilla Bormujos apartments have unlimited street parking outside. If you´ve ever tried to find overnight parking in the old town in Seville near your hotel, you'll appreciate how valuable this is.

There is a Dia supermarket right next door for any self catering grocery needs and the Luxsevilla apartments back onto the big Megaocio leisure centre. If you prefer to eat onsite the Piazza San Mateo restaurant is on the same first floor level as the apartments. The telephone number is the same as the Luxsevilla Burmujo complex Tel: + 34 901 380 000

Back on the gomarbella webcam terrace this afternoon I pointed my GPS at Avenida Secoya in Bormujos in Sevilla to check distances and saw that the complex is exactly 246kms from Marbella, that's 2hrs 31mins driving time routed through Malaga although we took the route through Los Barrios on the way back.

Here's the address Luxsevilla Bormujos,Avda del Barrillo, s/n, Bormujos, 41930 Sevilla Tel: + 34 901 380 000 or Tel: + 34 954 48 67 40 For good value for money, easy parking and access to Sevilla I really recommend it.

Fly Blue boat cruise from Marbella Puerto Deportivo to Puerto Banus

2009-07-28T11:02:00.004+02:00

On their way home to Brisbane Sharon and Daniela Knight had an action packed two day stay with us in Marbella managing to fit in the Fly Blue Catamaran boat cruise from Marbella Puerto Deportivo to Puerto Banus on their last afternoon.

Here's the timetable of sailings

From Marbella Puerto Deportivo the Sky Blue catamaran leaves at 11.00, 12.00, 13.00, 14.30, 16.00, 17.30 and 18.30.

From Puerto Banus the Sky Blue catamaran leaves at 11.30, 12.30, 14.00, 15.30, 17.00, 18.00 and 19.00.

During July and August there are two extra sailings, from Marbella Puerto Deportivo to Puerto Banus at 22.30 and 18.30 and from Puerto Banus to the Puerto Deportivo in Marbella, at 22.00 and 23.00.

Of course the sailings depend on good weather and a number of other conditions so my advice is to phone + 34 663 827 986 for information before you sail. You can use this number to make reservations or simply email Fly Blue on info@fly-blu.com.

After you have had a good look around the Old Town in Marbella, rather than take a taxi or a bus to Puerto Banus, why not do it in style on the Sky Blue catamaran?

A return boat cruise ticket will cost you 15 euros and 8 euros one way which is cheaper than a taxi and a return boat cruise ticket for children is 8 euros and only 5 euros one way.

Get your tickets at the entrance to the Puerto Deportivo in Marbella from the little stand on the pavement and the boat leaves from the outer wall of the port. In Puerto Banus you get your ticket on the boat right outside the Red Pepper restaurant. In the picture above you will see the new Sky Blue catamaran waiting to leave Marbella port. The dramatic back drop to Marbella is provided by the La Concha moutain. On the left of the picture you'll see the very popular Skol apartments.