Fuengirola, Costa del Sol, Spain

I have been to Fuengirola twice, in July 2012 and then again in May 2013. I love it! It is not too far from Malaga airport, about 30 minutes on the transfer coach so it is convenient. It is a lovely town. I have stayed at 2 different hotels here, Florida Spa and Hotel Angela both are fantastic.

There is lots to do, I have been to Malaga and Benalmadena on the train. The trains are excellent. In Benalmadena there is a cable car that goes to the top of a mountain. On the mountain there is a café, shop and a falconry display at certain times during the day.

Fuengirola has an excellent bus service too, and it is quite cheap compared to UK prices.

There is fantastic weather during the summer months, last May it was about 24 degrees.

I want to go back again!

The Yaramar in Fuengirola is a Thomson Gold hotel and there is no guest under the age of 16.

The pool area is large with ample sun bed's and there is an outdoor Jacuzzi at the far end. The pool is over looked by some apartments on one side and also at the end of the pool area by another apartment block. The pool and Jacuzzi's were cleaned daily and the water quality was also checked.

The hotel is very large with several seated lounge areas. There was a bar at the end of the 2nd floor which is also the restaurant level. There are 4 lifts in the foyer, they represent rain drops and the table and chairs in the ground floor bar lounge area represent clovers.

The restaurant area is very large and very clean with helpful members of staff, it has an a la carte menu that is booked separately, the choice of food was good and they also had theme night menus. There is a poolside caf that serves snack meals but it was seldom used apart for getting drinks, at the back of the hotel there are a variety of small cafes that most people seemed to prefer to use for snacks. The pool side area is used some nights for entertainment depending on the weather, there is a basement bar with stage and seating area with a projector screen for those seated at the sides, typical Thomson rep acts with special guest star nights. Both bars had a happy hour. The rooms were cleaned daily by a very efficient staff and they work all day, they are all very polite and nothing is too much trouble. There is no 13th floor. There is a gym area with sauna and indoor Jacuzzi.

The balcony views are good. the road next to the hotel is busy with a very long promenade, there is a restaurant opposite that is owned by the hotel and I believe it is discounted to hotel user's and is also used by the public, The beach is clean and protected by life guards and the green / red flags fly to inform when safe to swim. Behind the hotel is a railway I think this goes as far as Malaga. I found the night time to be quiet and it is a good walk up to the harbour area, were there are some bars & restaurants.

There is midweek market that we found to be poor very crowded but poor.

Take a local bus ride to Mijas rather than the Thomson excursion, its cheaper and more of a scenic ride. Mijas is a small white walled village of beauty that is set in the mountains behind Fuengirola. If you have a hired car the parking is all pay and display along the front but the hotel has an under ground car park for a fee that was a cheaper option we paid '80 for 14 nights I was pleased with that.

We had a good trouble free holiday and we were able to relax we would go back again.

fuengirola is a great place for a family holiday. The best months to go to fuengirola are between may and september after september it become a little cold and less enjoyable. Fuengirola is a small town which is ideal for tourists as nealry every hotel is very near the main shops and the beach.