Hi Kay,

The hotel Angela on the main seafront looks nice, although I have not stayed. Los Boliches where it is situated is a nice and busy area of Fuengirola, but if your son cannot walk far, it may just be abit too far away for the town centre.

A new hotel which looks fantastic but again one which I have not stayed in is the Yaramar. This again is right on the seafront but is nearer the busier bars and cafes and nearer to the town centre.

Fuengirola itself is very flat which will be ideal for your son. The beach is 7 kilometres long and all flat so as you can imagine, alot going on.

I am sorry but I do not know much of the other hotel in Benalmadena but Benalmadena is not as flat as Fuengirola which may help you.

Kay

Myself and my wife are going to the Riviera on Sunday for two weeks and will write a review as soon as we return. Tony has just come back and he said it was very good only thing negative was the decor which was a little dated.

The location of the Riviera is very good, only 5/10 minutes away from the Marina whch has many shops and restaurants. You are also a short bus trip away from Torremolinos which again has many shops.

If you go onto the Hotel reviews there are some there plus my previous post about the Riviera has a few pointers.

We also went to the Angela 2 years ago. It was okay although we preferred Benalmadena to Fuengirola. The good thing about the Angela was it was fairly central in Fuengirola which itself is very flat. There was a train station close by with a regular service to Torremolinos and Malaga. The rooms were okay although the meals we felt were a bit poor with not much selection. Bar prices were okay.

Hope this helps

Steven

Thank you both for your replies.

I like the way you've both described Hotel Angela, so I'm still thinking about that hotel! We're not going to go on and book it just yet, as we need to find an Insurance Company that will cover my sons back problem first. We normally like a quiet hotel in a quiet resort, then if we want more life, we go to it, but this year will be different, due to my son and we want a nice, central hotel where he can walk a bit. Kids... I thought they got easier as they got older?!

A hotel I have been to several times in Fuengirola is the Las Palmeras. It is a large hotel right behind the marina so it's very close to just about everything! The trian station is a couple of roads back where you'll be able to go from Fuengirola all the way to Malaga. There are plenty of restaurants, bars and shops around Las Palmeras whereas the other hotels mentioned are a bit further away from the main part.

My husband and I have been lucky the time we've stayed there because some people have been unlucky and ended up with a room overlooking the London Bar which is on the opposite corner to the hotel and can get very noisy but it shouldn't be too bad in October which is when we've been. We've also been in July and it's certainly a lot busier in Fuengirola then.

You mentioned Benalmadena but I don't know if you'll have heard that it is VERY hilly in places. If you wanted to go on the train the station is a long way up, although there are some further along on the outskirts of Benalmadena. I think I know where the Riviera hotel is and I've read that the gardens lead down to the beach but there are quite a few steps, although there's also a lift. If it's the hotel I'm thinking of the back of the hotel is very close to the beach but the front is on the main road which is busy and a lot higher than the beach.

If I had to choose which hotel I would definitely go for Las Palmeras rather than the Riviera, just because it's all on the flat and there's much more going on in the area.

Details of most if not all of the Hotels in Benalmadena can be founf here
http://www.benal-life.com/hotels.htm

Cheers,

John

Kay, if your son has mobility problems don`t even consider Benalmadena. He will be restricted to the promenade and the main road, everywhere else is up a hill! Riviera is a fine hotel but there are plenty of hotels in Fuengirola which is flat.

have you checked with your son,s specialist to see if he can travel, i,m sorry if i sound like a party pooper, but some g.p,s will allow him to travel, but ask his specialist ,as his travel insurance doesn,t cover his back, plus as someone who has a fusion and plate in one,s back ,flying can get very uncomfortable,the pressure of the plane causes problems,my advise would be for him to sit on isle seat so he can stand frequently,hope all goes well,as there is nothing better than heat for pain.