Awww, that has made my day.
So, what sort of things did you get up to Jo.?
I bet you found Mercadona handy just around the corner and did you use the L1 bus.?

Sanji x

Hi Sanji

We used the Mercadona for our main shop on first day it was great , our villa was the last one at the very other end of the street on the right hand side, almost on the corner so it was only 5 min walk into La Carihuela (we used to cross the main coast rd by the MOT garage and walk down calle de aladino. We used the shop/cafe on the corner of Calle de Aladino and Calle de bulto to get our fresh bread and juice etc after the first day (the place with the fab cakes !)
We used the L1 bus lots of times.We went up into Torremolinos town on it and walked back down shopping on the way then walked back along promenade.We also used it to go to Benalmadena Marina many times. The 17 year olds used to use the buses on the coastal rd to get to 24 hour square so they loved that.
They baby sat one night for us and we had a fabulous steak at Restuarant Casa Juan Los Mellizos , by the fountain , more expensive but fab.
We took the boat from Benalmadena Marina to Fenguirola , not sure we would do that again it was 60 min each way , didnt think it was so far and when we got off the boat we thought we had gone into fuengirola but i dont think we did looking at map on return , i think we were in the area los bolliches ?? we turned right along coast instead of left.
Other than that we just lazed around pool and wandered around La carihuela most days.
For anyone wanting a large period villa for two famillies or 4 couples i can not reccomend the villa enough.It was beautiful and in a fab position , no car neede here.It is not cheap but well worth the money.
We are def going back next year , not sure yet if we will book the villa as the teenagers will be 18 next year and want to return to the same area alone!! so as much as we would love to it would be expensive for just us and little one.You may be able to help actually do you recognise this complex of apartments (sent a link) I wondered how may apartments shared the complex , pool etc? , And of course we were there for the spain semi final of world cup which was great.
Thanks again
Jo xx

Glad to hear you had a great holiday Jo

I've got some bad news to tell you, so brace yourself.....
You've now caught the Carihuela virus and medical science cannot find a cure for it.
I'd sell my soul to be in La Carihuela tonight because win or lose, with the resort having a big Dutch presence, it's going to be one hell of a night and if Spain win, god help anybody expecting things to be back to "normal" tomorrow.

It must be your lucky day because Yes, I know these apartments, I've always fancied them myself but not for a holiday, I want to live there.!!!
There are several blocks of apartments (I think there's 4 blocks, but don't quote me on that) positioned at various angles around a "gated and locked" complex and they are situated next to the Hotel Pez Espada, infact the grounds of these apartments are bang next to the gardens of the Pez, and if you were to stay in the Pez in the annexe and walking on the corridor of the annexe (looking out of the hotel corridor windows) you overlook the gardens/pool of this complex.
If my memory serves me well, I'm pretty confident this apartment (looking at the owners link) is in the complex called Residencial Dalí and there are a couple of gates into the grounds, depending which block you stay in ( one gate on Calle Salvador Allende just yards away from the front main entrance of the Pez and another gate around the corner on the street off from the promenade- Calle Nerja)

IMO: You'll have no problem here and I've never seen the pool/place over run with "holiday makers" (BUT I'm talking about June when we usually stay in the Pez) because the majority are private residential apartments, people do actually permanently live here.....it's a lovely "up market" and modern complex..
We've only just started going back to self catering and I'm already booked for this September and July/ September next year"¦I couldn't get my usual dates in June next year, and if I'd found that apartment, sorry, but I'd have been inclined to keep that one close to my chest.

If you look at the owners link, it looks like the apartment is overlooking the gardens of the hotel Pez Espada (those coconut parasols/sun beds are in the gardens for the guests of the Pez and that building with the blinds down is the place where they sometimes hold the reception for the weddings that take place at the Pez"¦.the little white wall is the boundary

we had a fabulous steak at Restuarant Casa Juan Los Mellizos , by the fountain , more expensive but fab

You've got good taste girl"¦
Yes it is expensive if you're comparing it to others in the vicinity and I couldn't afford to eat there regularly, but it is the most famous restaurant and people are prepared to save up for a special occasion or a monthly treat, and come and eat there from all over Andalucía.

I'll send you some photos by PM later... after dinner, but before the football match...Viva España.

Sanji

Hi Sanji, La Carihuela, has something special for us too, will definatley, be there next year...

Hi
Thanks for all the info as usual i think we may look at booking these apartments....i would love to book the villa again but just can not justify it
We have got the bug though.We have been to many destinations before but this had to be a favourite...it had everything we needed.
Can not wait to go back

Jo xx

jo jo - Can I ask you what villa you had booked originally? We've only been to La Carihuela once and loved the place. I'm looking slightly ahead and perhaps a family villa might be the way for us to go.

Hi

Here is the link....as i wrote earlier it is not cheap but it has 3 large double bedrooms and a single bedroom and it is in a fab position on Calle Don Juan manuel...a beautiful garden and pool

http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/spain/S11934.htm

we loved it

Jo xx

We too are looking to go back to Carihuela, haven't been for 2/3years so looking for a nice 1bed or studio if anyone knows one. Have previously stayed at Alegria and Tiburon a few times, I can't face going back to Tib. Have looked at Residential Dali but can only find the 3bed one, can you point me in the right direction. Planning on going in May. Thanks

Glad you had a good time, Jo.

oap, may I sugest the Plazamar or Playa Miguel Apartments - they are on the sea front. Fab position.

Thanks - been looking at Plazamar will look at the other now.

Somersetsuzie - who did you book san miguel apts with - i can't find them ta

oops, oap - I have corrected my post to read Playa Miguel. Sorry for the confusion!

2 weeks today we will be there. If on time will be in Tom's Tavern by now. Staying at El Tiburon, yet again. Anybody else going then? Lovely relaxing holiday here we come. Glad everyone is enjoying this little gem on the costa del sol.

Hi

Wish it was me Annengeoff

still ....just booked my next trip for May

Jo xx

Sangi, you are the undisputed expert on this part of the World. I am trying to book a holiday mid Sept, self catering, at a reasonable price.
I would be grateful if you would give me your top three or four self catering recommendations.
Many thanks in anticipation.

Nah, I've just been going there for years, we have tried other places in between but they just don't "cut it" and if it isn't broken, then why try and mend it.? We both just love this area and for me it feels like I've come home.
I couldn't possibly give you the top three or four S/C accommodation because there are too many issues to consider and what will be important to one person, may not be for another"¦EG: Price? Location? Size of accommodation? Amenities within the accommodation? Do you want a tourist place or a private rental with a more homely interior.? Do you intend to eat out every night or do you require more than a two ring hob.? Do you want a pool or just a cheap and cheerful place to lay your head.?
For some people it's important to stay in La Carihuela village itself and near to all the shops and restaurants, others don't mind staying in the Montemar area and want to be near the British/Irish bars and Benalmádena Marina, and love walking down to the village.

Playa Miguel apartments have been mentioned, but I personally wouldn't like to stay in them with a sea view because you'll not get a lot of sleep due to the noise from the bar/chiringuito below"¦.it might be different if I was 40 years younger or stayed there "out of season".
The Buensol apartments, basic and I wouldn't go there either now because they are cheap n cheerful and have started attracting the hen/stag groups because of the location being near to Benalmádena Puerto Marina and Benalmádena itself ( 24 hr square)

The Ecuador Park, another place with paper thin walls where I wouldn't stay (around the corner from the Buensol appts) and then there's the Sol Timor, affectionately known as the Irish Embassy due to the amount of Irish clients who want to be near to the Irish bars opposite, and IMO probably the best option out of all those I have mentioned.
When I was looking for accommodation I found the prices in the village were higher than the Montemar area, and in September all the accommodation are holding their prices because it's a popular month, hopefully the hot weather is still there and the Romería de San Miguel takes place around the latter end of the month.
This year it's on the 19th Sept and the feria from the 29th -2nd October, which for Torremolinos is probably the biggest date on their calendar, so it's not just the tourists wanting to grab a late holiday, you've also got the Spanish coming in for the fiesta and needing accomodation.
So, sorry I can't tell you and you'll have to do some research based on what you require and if you come back with a few names, I might be able to help regarding the location. Advantages/disadvantages.

Sanji

Ta for your reply and as suggested I will do my own research and maybe run a few names past you. For a start do you know Apt. Plazamar, they appear to be near the beach.

Hi

There are some private rental apartments on
http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/
If you do DIY holidays

The La Carihuela ones are listed under either Torremolinos or Benalmadena though so you have to hunt through them to check location.

But with "budget" flights not really being "budget" anymore it needs thinking about....ive just had to pay £170 per person return flights to malaga for May 2011 and that was after some price research !

The Buenosol appartments sound ideal for my daughter and her friends...they are 17/18 and i worry that they make noise late and not exactly "Tidy" with their rooms when away but if this is the norm there i might look at that for them...if anyone else knows of any more stag/hen type places around Marina or that end of La Carihuela any info would be welcome

Jo xx