Holidays to the Costa del Sol

1:10pm Thursday 15th April 2010 in Holiday Information

From Pablo Picasso to Puerto Banus...

Holidays to the Costa del Sol provide an amazing 150km of picturesque shores on the sunny south coast of mainland Spain. It has been one of the most popular destinations for UK holidaymakers for 30 years now and its southern location means temperatures remain mild during our winter months, making holidays to the Costa del Sol popular all year round.

Nerja is the most north eastern of the popular holiday resorts and has managed to retain a certain Andalucian charm despite the influx of tourists every year. You won't see any high rise buildings here as traditional apartments and hotels fill the narrow cobbled streets and the cliff side promenade provides wonderful views of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.

Malaga is home to the region's airport and not only offers stunning beaches but also a fascinating history. The Picasso Museum has been welcoming visitors since 2003 offering the perfect tribute to the locally born artist.

Three of the most popular family resorts are Torremolinos, Benalmadena and Fuengeirola which are all backed by the majestic Mijas Mountains. Torremolinos is full of family fun with Crocodile Park, Wild West shows, Andalucian horses, Golf, fantastic sandy beaches and a great pedestrianised shopping area. Nightlife is lively with Brit pubs, Irish bars, Karaoke clubs and the La Nogalera district, an adult only area popular with the gay community.

The affluent Marina joins Torremolinos to its neighbouring Benalmadena. Waterside cafes and restaurants offer welcome refreshments and the perfect chance to indulge in some serious people watching as you sit by the million dollar yachts, glistening in the dazzling summer sun.

The wonderful promenade with its wide sandy beach is just one of the many attractions to this fashionable family resort. Selwo Marina, Paloma Park, Calamorro Mountain cable cars, the world famous Tivoli World and the Sealife centre are another few good reasons why people choose Benalmadena for their holidays to the Costa del Sol.

Fuengeirola is next stop along the coast and another family favourite with wonderful facilities and great beaches. The fascinating animals in Fuengeirola Zoo provide the perfect day out for the whole family.

Just along the coast lies Marbella, known as the Spanish St Tropez or Monaco, filled with fashionable casinos, upmarket restaurants and chic boutiques. Again the marina here is a major attraction with wealthy yacht owners sipping champagne on sun drenched decks. It's an excellent resort for families too as there are trampolines, mini bikes and a kart track just near the beach.

Puerto Banus has a bit of a reputation for being a millionaire's playground and is extremely popular for stag and hen nights. It's not the cheapest resort on the Costa del Sol, but you do get what you pay for here and the shops are lined with designer labels and brand names. This has to be the most interesting place on holidays to the Costa del Sol to partake in some serious people watching where you are very likely to bump into 'a list' celebrities, footballers and their 'wags' or even the odd member of royalty.

Holidays to the Costa del Sol really do have something for the whole family; the only difficult bit is deciding which resort is right for you.