I personally would recommend the Torremolinos/Benalmadena area, between La Carihuela and the marina, or just passed the marina. It is a flat area along the beach and several good hotels are there, but there is a hill to climb to get on the top road where lots of shops are.

For hotel reviews, have a look here;

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/reviews/spain/costa-del-sol/

Robby

If you want something flat, then Fuengirola is flatter than Benalmandena.

Fuengirola for sure....I am biased I go every year....love it .....

Benelmadena - Torremolinos Just past marina either way. Much prefer than Fuengerola, found to be quite dirty

Dirty? I didn't think it was.

benalmadena by far.Fuengerola is ok but to many pickpockets ect,

La Carihuela, between Torremolinos town centre and Benalmadena Puerto.

http://www.holidaytruths.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=87&t=113553

I don't like Fuengirola either, don't hate it but it's a bit further out and much more options in the Benalmadena/Torremolinos area.

Robby

ok Fuengerola like i say is nice.but to much like a spanish town.like back home.Benalmadena is well geared up for holiday makers and Torremolinos is shop till you drop.(i mean where esle can you buy a jacket for 6 euro.s) plus the market.and the walk back along the beach to Benalmadena is so nice.dropping into the port area. for a pitstop and just thinking if i had not spent all my money on other stuff.i too could have a apt or boat there.

Isn't it strange how we all like different things or see different things in a resort ?....I guess that's a good thing otherwise we'd become a boring race.

I don't hate Fuengirola, it's lovely up in Los Boliches, but it's a very busy Spanish working town and one thing that does my head in, is the amount of traffic.
It stands to reason, when you have all that choice of shops/bars/cafes, then it will produce traffic, simply from the amount of residents and workers, plus you have all the buses coming into town that serve all down that coast from Malaga City....it's a bit too over bearing for me at times, but I have stayed in Fuengirola in the past, but now I like it a bit more tranquilo. (that's a sign that I'm getting old !)

It is the end of the line if you want to go west of Fuengi... otherwise you're looking at a bus journey (2 hours) to Marbella, Puerto Banus,San Pedro or Estapona.
There are more options in the Torremolinos/Benalmadena area, sorry, I don't like Benalmadena....the marina is OK, but IMO it's over rated and a rip off.
Benalmadena is hilly and full of ex-pats, but I like to go to Arroyo, have a meal and then walk through Paloma Park back to La Carihuela, I personally wouldn't stay in Benalmadena...tried it once for 5 weeks and out of season, it's a ghost town.
Muy tranquilo ? more like dead !

Torremolinos is no good if you're wanting to shop in the town centre and have the beach on one level...that's one good thing about Fuengirola...all flat, all on one level.
The steps up from the beach to Calle San Miguel are a killer and if you stay in the Playamar area of Torre...unless you stay on the beach/promenade level, then you have nothing but hills around you to climb for either the town centre or the bus station/train station..

All the resorts have their good/bad points, but the original poster was wanting somewhere flat with nice hotels,(small children) so my choice would be La Carihuela...nice and flat, plenty of shops, pedestrianised ...can walk either way to Torremolinos or Benalmadena.
A nice resort, popular with Spanish families, no yobs, nice beach front hotels...but I'm biased because I'd live there tomorrow.

Sanji

I second that sanji my wife loves it too

La Carihuela sounds like a lovely place Sanji! Does it have a stop on the train? Can you tell me a bit more about it? I have only been to Benalmadena, which I thought was nice, and I love Fuengirola. xx

La Carihuela is a nice place and typically Spanish as is the centre in Torremolinos. There are a few Brit bars but not all over the place. If you like fish there are loads of restaurants to suit all tastes and prices.
The nearest train station is " El Pinillo" at Torremolinos. I'm even thinking about using it myself in November instead of using a car.

Robby

The nearest train station is " El Pinillo" at Torremolinos

If you are staying in La Carihuela,the nearest station is Montemar Alto, next to Parque La Bateria....one stop after Torremolinos and it saves you having to cross the busy Carretera Circunvalación
Plus I've never seen a taxi at El Pinillo station, unless you're lucky to catch one dropping people off.


Red :Torremolinos (Centre)
Blue: Montemar Alto
Black: El Pinillo
Click on image to enlarge
Sanji

Yes you are right, sorry. I normally stay at the marina end now but class the whole beach area as La Carihuela even though it's not.
That's the 2nd time now in my life I've been wrong (shucks!!!!).

Robby

When we next are in Costa del Sol, I might pay a visit. Thanks xx

I love fuengirola it has everything, and love the hussle and bussle, but still is very spanish, los boliches is cute but I am staying opp harbour las palmeras in 2 weeks, so cannot wait....do love puerto banus and marbella but its such a rip off just because of the status, I hate benalmandena its very british and reminds a tad of benidorm, the marina part is ok, im not overkeen on loads of british cafes pubs etc, I might try la carhiala (however you spell it) I will have a wander when I am there in 2 weeks... Torromolinos is ok, however found it to hilly for my mum, we always get the bus on a day just to go clothes and shoe shopping, but personally prefer fuengy,.

Does anyone know of any fully inclusive hotels or self catering apartment which are wheelchair accessible and within walking distance of the beach. I know a family with a child in a wheelchair who are looking for a much needed holiday?

Diana.

Hi
Dont book in the H10 Palmasol in Benalmadena as there is no disabled rooms despite it saying on there website that there is and its at the top of a very steep hill.