We're staying at the Sol Aloha Puerto this time (got a very good deal) and was wondering which is the closest train stop please?

If you're determined to use the train and no other means of transport, it's El Pinillo station, BUT I wouldn't recommend it if you're lugging 20 kgs of luggage and 10kgs of hand luggage around, but if you're travelling light, it's a nice day, you want to stretch your legs, have a ciggie in peace and save some money on the taxi fare....at least it's all downhill.

You know part of the way from last year....Cut through the park, negotiate the little mini-roundabout on the side road and just keep walking downhill, stay on that side of the road and when you finally get to the bottom, follow the pavement around the corner, cross over the pelican crossing near Lidl, turn right and the first left is Calle Saltillo, the Hotel Aloha Puerto is at the bottom.
It's a trek because the dual-carriageway isn't straight, it swings wide and arches before in comes back in at the bottom.
The only other alternative to save some money is to get off at Torremolinos and get a taxi from there.



Click on image to enlarge, Thanks to ImageShack for hosting.

Sanji x

The only other alternative to save some money is to get off at Torremolinos and get a taxi from there.

Nope, I was having a senior moment there and I've had another brain storm.

You could get off the train at Montemar Alto and catch the L1 bus, which will take you to the hotel Aloha Puerto, I think the price is €1-20 each, but as it only runs every half hour and if you've just missed the bus, you'd probably walk it from El Pinillo station in that time, but if you don't want to walk it's another alternative.

Sanji x

Sanji, as usual has come up with loads of info for you. just wanted to let you know we got the train to Torremolinos and a 6euro taxi journey into La carihuela from there. Nice short relaxing journey- all the stations the train stops at are displayed by LED screen in the carriages

Thanks Sanji and Shirley!

We are travelling quite light so wouldn't mind the walk, but would like to get to the hotel in time for dinner, so will probably get off at Torre and get a taxi from there.

Best Regards and Thanks Again!

Elaine

PS. I still have the map you did me a couple of years ago when you directed us to La Luna Blanca!!!

Yikes! It's here! We fly this afternoon - so excited! Four nights in La Carihuela at the Sol Aloha Puerto.

Will report back on our return.

Thanks again Shirley and Sanji and everyone else for their help, as always!
We've decided to get off the train at Torre and grab a taxi to the hotel, so we can hopefully get dinner before the restaurant closes!

Best Regards

Elaine

Safe trip Elaine

Well, arrived back to EMA safely last night (half an hour early Ryanair!) after four wonderful nights in La Carihuela.

Arrived at Malaga last Thursday evening and jumped onto the train to Torre. Was very impressed with the new station at the airport, no sitting around in the heat with all your luggage. Got a taxi from Torre to the hotel. Managed to get there in time for dinner, threw on some clean clothes and went out for a few drinks. Hadn't realised but it was the Fiesta de San Juan and the place was packed! Hundreds of Spanish along the beach, lighting small fires and BBQ's, plus a mobile Bar and small rides etc for the children. Everyone was good natured and they all seemed to be having fun. Had a drink at Cheers at the end of the pedestrianised road, just past the fountain, then had a stroll back along the promenade and had a night-cap at Champagne Charlies (just opposite our hotel) always very busy but relaxed with decent music. The night had been really misty, you could see it coming in from the sea, really strange. I seem to recall Sanji mentioning this before but can't remember what it is called.

Following morning, woke early, had breakfast and decided to do our 'usual' walk to Arroya. walked through the Marina and along the promenade as far as Sunset Beach, then up past Benalmadena Palace (we come this long route round, as we stayed there many years ago and always like to have a look at what's changed and what hasnt!). Along the way, there were still people (fast asleep in sleeping bags etc) from the evening before! There were skips also on the beach and all the remains (bottles, etc!) were being cleared away! Walked up to the market (be careful, when I was looking at ahandbag, the stall holder asked me how much I would pay, I answered I was only looking, and as I went to walk away, he grabbed hold of my arm to pull me back - never had that before even at Benidorm market. Then had a look at the cable cars, decided it was to cloudy to go up (any excuse ), so headed for the little fountain square for a nice cold beer. Walked back through Paloma Park where they were setting up the fair. Really strange to see their caravans on the side of the road, with veranda's and automatic washing machines on them! How very prepared!

Before going back to the hotel, we stopped at the Dark Side of the Moon for a small beer and a bite to eat! Went back to the hotel and lounged around the pool and went for a swim, before getting ready for dinner and venturing out again for a few drinks. Again, it was a lot busier than usual and a lovely atmosphere too.

Following morning after breakfast, we had a stroll into Torre (again very cloudy, but also very warm - We did see a lot of burnt bodies the following day, I am certain people underestimate still getting burnt although the sun is not visible.). After a browse round the shops, we had a steady stroll back and spent the afternoon around the pool. Walked upto Arroya again in the evening after dinner for a drink in the square and what a lovely surprise. More celebrations going on, lots of children and ladies dressed up in Spanish Dresses and dancing in the street. Everyone having a great time, alcohol and food - and not a spot of bother. Why can't it be like this over here?

Headed down to Paloma Park where the illuminations and fair ground rides were again superb. Lots of people milling around, brilliant atmosphere, and everyone enjoying themselves. Headed back to the hotel via a couple of bars along the seafront.

Spent the last day chilling around the pool (with a couple of small walks inbetween) overlooking the sea and watching the world go by. Had a swim in the sea which was great, never seen the waves as big as they were the past few days.

Had a lovely long stroll after dinner, a few drinks and back to the hotel bar, overlooking the sea.

All in all, another fantastic time in one of my favourite resorts. This is our third visit and certainly won't be our last. We were very impressed with the quality of the good and the location of the hotel, and would definitely use it again.

Then, back to Malaga Airport (blimey, what a trek once you get inside there!) And onto our Ryanair flight, on-time, sitting amongst the rubbish left from the passengers who had just got off. Then people getting on with bags and cases that were obviously too big. We ended up having to take my ‘legal' size bags out of the overhead storage and put them on the floor underneath my seat . Oh well, you get what you pay for with Ryanair and we took off on time and arrived back at EMA safely!

Hope I haven't rambled too much"¦"¦"¦.four weeks to go until we go to Benidorm with Jet2, hopefully a more comfortable journey!

Best Regards and happy holidays to those going away soon.

Elaine

Welcome back Elaine. If you think that was a ramble, then keep on rambling !
David

Hi Elaine
Sounds like you had a great time ...we have been back 3 weeks now and reading you post brought it all back
How far into benalmadena do you have to walk to reach the cable cars? (we do not walk much past the first bit of promenade where most of the stalls / bars are after the marina as those are our favourite parts)
Last time we probably walked as far down the prom as ... well we past some public loos lol and reached a sort of small headland / bend where there was another cluster of brit bars....are the cable cars much further ?
Ta
Jo

Hi Elaine, thanks for the report, I enjoyed reading it. You mentioned a few places there that we haven't found yet so will keep an eye out for them next time we go. I'm leaning towards next Easter

Hi Jo

The cable cars in Arroya are perhaps another 25 minutes walk (uphill) from there. You can turn right at the Windmill Island and carry on walking. Carry on up the hill, passing Paloma Park on the left hand side and just carry on. You will see the Cable Cars as you get higher. It really is a lovely area. The little square with the bars and fountainis lovely too, all serving food. Failing that, depending where you are staying, you could always get the train, which stops at Arroya and the square is probably a ten (if that) minute walk from there. Then it's far easier walking down the hill......!!

Shirley - isn't it lovely to like somewhere that much, that you want to book as soon as you get back for the following year! We will be checkign the Ryanair flights as soon as they are released!!!

Dave - thanks for your kind words!!!

Right, I am off now, to look at my photo's AGAIN!!!!

Best Regards

Elaine

Shirley - isn't it lovely to like somewhere that much, that you want to book as soon as you get back for the following year!

I don't know what it is about the place because I've been to many places that I've loved but have never gone back to. We had a great time the first time round in la Carihuela but enjoyed the place even more the second time when we discovered more places. I think it's going to be quite a regular haunt of hours at Easter. I enjoy the Greek islands for my main 2 week summer holiday but La Carihuela is going to be a home from home for us for our Easter break
It helps that we can get reasonable flights from a regional airport (although it will have to be Bristol instead of Cardiff next year) and the flight is quite a short one

A great report Elaine
The sea mist is called la bruma del mar and you mention seeing the waves big.....apparently, or so I've been told, the big waves send a bigger concentration of salt into the atmosphere which hangs around in the bay and causes the sea mist, I don't know how true it is, but I've seen it happen on several visits over the years"¦.it just seems to come in from ‘nowhere'.

La fiesta de San Juan is good isn't it.? Did you manage to see the firework display.?

Hope you've left me some sunshine.

Sanji x

Hi
Re waves ...strangely enough while we were there although the weather was fab the waves were very high and sea rough..bit scary at times

Ps Sanji ..did you get my message about the september fiesta? ...appologies if you did and just not hand chance to reply ..thanks Jo x

PS ...thanks Elaine for the cable car info ... will try and get up that way in September
Jo x

Well hubby and I are back from our first visit to La Carihuela and had a lovely time. It was really hot though so poor hubby struggled a little at times.

We ate out a few times and never had a bad meal anywhere. Tried brekkie's in Cosy Nook, the Welsh bar next door & Dark Side - we liked Dark Side's best.

Met up with Sanji and Dave (lovely couple) a few times & they were brilliant showing us around & were very informative. They took us up to the Cable cars and Shirley managed to get on for the first time ever!! She was chuffed to bits with herself (rightly so too) . Whilst we were at the top the Birds of Prey show was due to start so we waited around for half an hour to watch it. Worth the wait - although baking hot sun Walked back down to our resort.

Another day Shirley and Dave took us to Mijas which was lovely. I wasn't too keen on the donkey situation but the village itself is definitely worth a visit

Only got back yesterday so still catching up - so will add more later.

We only spent 2 days on the beach due to hubby feeling the heat Beach was really clean & each morning I'd watch the brolly folks setting out their mattresses etc. They kept everything spotless, hosing down the walkways, gardens etc & raking through the sand. Of an evening around 9pm I'd watch them putting everything away again. We thought it good value at €8 for 2 umbrella's and a brolly per day.

We walked loads. Round and up to Torre & through the other way to Benalmadena. We made it as far as the windmill roundabout in Benalmadena. (Not my cup of tea as a resort from what we saw but in fairness we only walked along the prom part so we couldn't really judge it.) Did a few walks with Shirley and Dave too.

Got a shock in De Klikspaan when we decided to have a take-a-way. Hubby opted just for a hamburger/chips & I decided to have chicken satay. Mine came to €12 I lived in Holland years ago and chicken satay was always just a carry out menu. Of course hubby had a field day every time we passed the place after that I wouldn't care but I changed my mind at the last minute from burger and the old woman behind the counter didn't look too pleased - I'd have thought she'd be cocka-hoop at 3 times the price.

I particularly liked the mixture of nationalities in Carihuela. It was lovely watching everyone strolling up the prom during the day/evening

I enjoyed your report Glynis. It was nice of Sanji to take you on a bit of a tour Thanks for posting it.

Sounds like you had a great time Glynis

Really pleased you like La Carihuela, it's a beautiful resort isn't it! Made all the better I would imagine, by meeting up with Sanji and her husband....one of these days we will be out there at the same time as they are and treat them to a much-deserved drink or two for all the help and advice she has given me over the years.

I trust you'll be returning again in the future!

Best Regards

Elaine