Hi

I'm looking for a nice Spanish holiday resort.

Near the beach with an authentic Spanish flavour.

Any ideas please on Mijas or Marbella or anywhere that could fit the bill?

Thanks

Try Punta Umbria.

People further west than me seem to think Estepona is properly Spanish, I wouldn't go that far and like the smaller less glitzy places East of Malaga, such as El Palo and Pedregalejo. Not too many furrin languages spoken on the beaches thereabouts!

I would agree with that

Hi Bajanqueen.

I have lived in Marbella and Mijas. They both fit the bill, I currently live in Mijas as i found Marbella a little too cosmopolitan!

Mijas is anything between 1 and 5km to the sea depending if you live in the quaint white village of Mijas pueblo, typical Spain, Or Mijas costa. Lots to do and on a bus route to the coast.

Visit both if you can and choose for your self.

Kindest regards,

Carl.

The trouble with Mijas pueblo is that it is toooooo touristy!!! In fact it almost feels like its been preserved and the "old" feel is there simply to satisfy those who want a taste of what Spain used to be like in the olden days. Benalmadena pueblo isnt quite as bad, altho it again, is kinda artificially preserved IMO!

Jo xxxx

Try Punta Umbria.

Didn't you just say that

Don`t understand what you mean by artificially preserved, all the houses in Benalmadena pueblo have been built for years and the people take pride in their community and I can`t really see how it could be changed without a massive re-developement of the area, why would they need it anyway ?

I'm not suggesting it should be changed, but, certainly in the case of Mijas Pueblo, it does feel more of a show case for tourists than a real working village. I'm not knocking it, afterall its part of spains heritage and makes a lot of income from tourism. Its just my opinion. I guess you could liken it to Stratford upon avon, which revolves more around history and tourism than the realism of today.

I once had a visitor here who wanted to see "real Spain" I showed him my local town (at the time) Alhaurin de la Torre, but no, he didnt think that was real Spain, simply cos there were no whitewash buildings, narrow streets etc. The fact that Alhaurin de la Torre is a modern "SPANISH" town, didnt appeal to him. It was only when I took him to visit Mijas Pueblo with coachloads of tourists, traditional spanish donkeys, the "get your real Paella here" signs that he announced - yes, this is real Spain!!

Jo xxx