We visited for New Year 2009/2010. It had rained for a week before we arrived, but we had lovely weather apart from the odd shower. Apart from one evening when it was very cold, the rest were nice and warm and they had their warmest December evening in 40 years.

There are a lot of British bars serving the usual breakfasts and pie and chips, but there are some Spanish bars if you look for them, especially in La Carihuela between Benalmadena and Torremolinos.

Despite not being lovers of British bars, we really liked the Wheel Tapas and Punters on main road opposite the Hotel Riviera. Karen and Iain were friendly hosts and they had free internet and a free juke box. Prices were reasonable and they served extremely large measures even by Spanish standards.

We had dinner at the Port ‘O’ Call carvery which was excellent. €9.95 for the carvery and a dessert. We had beef, pork and gammon with loads of fresh vegetables and there was a good choice of desserts such as jam roly poly, apple crumble and custard, trifle, etc.

We also had dinner at the Milan Indian and Italian restaurant at Windmill roundabout which was very good. After the meal they gave us a voucher for bottle of wine or main course on the house on our next visit.

We tried to visit Brown’s restaurant. They asked if we had a reservation and when we said we hadn’t they couldn’t serve us as they “didn’t have enough veg”. How long does it take to prepare veg?

Cheap food and drink at Bar Ibensa on Ibensa Square on way to Bonanza Square, €8 for chicken curry and rice, tortilla, coffee and a beer.

The Orient Palace II Chinese restaurant on Avenida Palmeras had a 3 course meal for €7. The China Town one opposite the Riviera has special menus starting at €4.95. OH had the €7.85 menu and got half a roast duck which was very good.

There is an open top bus and a road train. The normal bus service was good and frequent.

For kids there is Selwo Park, Marineland and Tivoli World.

the beach and promenade are very clean there are plenty of seats and places to rest the marina is looking a bit run down to what it was a few years ago but is very affordable other than that the resort is very run down many shops and bars shut or up for sale.

the resort is lovely,hotel is on promenade reached by steps or hotel lift. the walk to marina is very pleasant and there are bus stops outside hotel for neighbouring resorts and mijas. i would definately visit benalmedena again.

Recommend a stroll down the Marina and promenades especially early evening when stalls open up. Beach clean. Very hilly.

I found the main road to be very busy, the pavements were in very poor repair, and the area was dirty.
There was an abundance of small bars and shops along the road but not very pleasant to sit and enjoy a drink at night, as the bars were so close to the road, cars bikes and buses flying past, and exhaust fumes, horrible.
I would advise going onto the prom and into one of the many bars there, total contrast, you can sit with your drink, looking out to sea and watching the people pass by, really nice. There is a lovely marina which you should visit and take in the yachts and boats.
The beach seemed ok although didnt spend much time there, I dont think i would rush back to this area, this is just my opinion as it seemed popular

Very busy promenade but also quite dirty underfoot Beach a little gritty and quite narrow The marina area is lovely and very busy

benalmadena is a beautiful area with a great marina, you are situated between fuengirola and torremolinos and if you like to walk there is plenty of beach for you

My first time to Benalmadena. I really like it, I really feared it would be full of drunk 17 year olds but was very pleasantly surprised. You're far enough away from the main nightclub square but there are plenty of bars and restaurants on the way down to the marina. We love to walk so the promenade made it very nice indeed. Definitely looking to go back to the Costa Del Sol next year, may try Torremolinos, Fuengirola or Marbella

Paloma Park is excellent for the younger kids, we went twice walking from the hotel, about 15/20 minutes.

Selwo (Dolphin/Sea Lion Park next to Paloma Park) was excellent we thought. Small but dolphin and sea lion shows are excellent and our daughter had a picture taken with a dolphin later for an extra charge.

Prom is very nice and tidy, walked all the way to the other end where the marina is and Sea Life centre and got a taxi back for 7 Euros..

So overall I'd say, fairly good experience, daughter loved it.
Would we go back to Benalmadena? Probably not, it's a bit too Spanish Brighton for me and been there done it now really. A lot of people keep going back I'm sure, but for us, it was fine but after a week of prom/bucket and spade, ceramic shops and a beach that is pretty good but not as good as some of the other Spanish beaches like Alcudia or Santa Eulalia etc..., we'd say, holiday was fine, hotel was ok, location was fine but we're not creatures of habit and will explore other parts of Spain in future.

Nothing wrong overall.

Very nice clean resort with lots of great entertainment. Prices were very resonable. Monkey Business bar on the front serves great food (home made chips) at good prices staff there are really friendly. Also Mr Pickwicks Bar is a great laugh well worth visiting. I would definetely return