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Walking around Arroyo de la Miel amongst the hustle and bustle of the Spaniards going about their day. Sitting having a cafe con leche whilst people watching. Sampling new food. Visiting Paloma Park and just feeding the wildlife. Just simple things, but to me sheer bliss and total relaxtion.
Meeting the many new friends we have made in Benalmadena, and spending good nights in their company, what more do you need from a holiday. Yes, Benalmadena has a few things that i am not to keen on, but for others it makes their holiday. Benalmadena has it all. Whether you want your liver and onions or paella, you can get it here. It is a totally versatile resort.
The train service i love, cheap, clean and always on time, and it gives you the chance to visit the surrounding areas. Funny really because after our first visit to Benalmadena, i said i would never return. But like so many others, it drew me back, and even now i still keep returning, and love the place to bits.
Dawnie
I heard so much about Benalmadena before my first visit..."it's little britain in the sun"....."just like blackpool but with better weather..."it's a little piece of heaven just 2 1/2 hours away"...."it's where we want to live, life there is great"...As you can see, quite a mixed bunch! I wasn't very positive about my 5 day trip. As i sat in the departure lounge at liverpool airport I decided that I would get the 5 days out of the way, tell my grandparents it was a really nice place...but not for me...and i would never have to go again. I am 24, I did not imagine that I would love a place a couple in their 60's referred to as a 2nd home.
It is now 4 months since I took that dreaded trip and i'm just about to go on my 3rd visit (with my 4th planned for june!) What can i say..!?! I just fell in love with the place. Your holiday is what you make it, you can make a trip to Benal truly Spanish, enjoying tapas and other spanish fare in one of the local eateries, exploring the windy streets of the neighbouring, typically spanish villages, admiring the stunning scenery when taking a cable car ride high into the mountains, finishing the day of with a few san miguels, sat outside a bar watching the sun set. If that isn't your cup of tea then don't worry, it doesn't have to be spanish living, there's british restaurants and bars, indians, chip shops, even a burger king and mcdonalds, british supermarkets for those home comforts, cabaret entertainment ranging from drag acts to karaoke to frank sinatra and co!! Take the kiddies to tivoli world for a fun day out! Hit the beautiful beach! There is so much to do, the best advice I can give to those who haven't been is to stop wondering about it, just book it! Do your research, the forum is a great place to get advice, no question is too stupid, there's always someone who can help, by asking for advice and info you will see a new side to benalmadena and you will want to return time and time again. Not everyone is going to fall in love with Benal but surely it's worth giving it a chance!!
leanne
Benalmadena / Arroyo de la Miel is an enigma. There are certainly strong English influences with a lot of English bars on the Costa and a growing number in Arroyo. However, at its heart it is still, very much a Spanish resort.
It is a Spanish resort with fun. Built very much for the holiday maker, it offers so many and varied options with so much to do. The resort itself has a variety of attractions, from Benalmadena Pueblo in the hills above the coast, the cable car ride through to fantastic beaches. Parque Paloma is a pleasure in itself and it’s free! The Selwo Marina Park and Sealife Centre will occupy the kids for hours.
The Puerto Marina is one of the finest in Europe. Its shops, restaurants, bars and walks around the boats are an education in themselves. Boat journeys from here to Fuengirola and Malaga provides even more opportunities to explore. Malaga itself is an education. Very much retaining its strong Spanish links. Wonderful old buildings, the Alcazabar and Castillo (castle) plus all its designer shops makes this a “must visit” destination.
Benalmadena / Arroyo de la Miel is at the heart of a wonderful transport network. Only 15 minutes from Malaga airport by taxi and with first class bus links along the entire coast and rail links down the coast to Fuengirola and up to Malaga and beyond means that anyone can easily survive without access to a car.
Arroyo de la Miel is a wonderful mix of Spanish shops and wonderful tiled streets with traditional Spanish houses. Wander for hours at your leisure. The Friday Market at Tivoli World and fleamarkets near to Parque Paloma have wonderful reputations.
It would be a shame to come to the resort and not experience the variety of restaurants and bars that exist. From traditional Spanish through to the MacDonald’s at the Marina, there’s something for everyone. Tapas bars abound and high class restaurants are available throughout the resort.
But what we’re really here for is the sun. Great year round climate and beaches that are well kept with many sunbathing areas makes Benalmadena a place that people return to again and again.
No, it’s not the most beautiful place in the world, but it’s very attractive. No, it’s not idyllic and quiet, it attracts many visitors particularly in late July and August. But taken as a whole, I don’t know of anywhere better.
Benalmadena cast her spell on me in October 2000 and still, I’m pleased to say, she calls me back at least five times a year. I still can't quite put my figure on her enigmatic spell, but I’m glad she chose me to cast that spell upon.
ArroyoArry
Well we are really spoilt for choice, the marina must be the most stunning in Europe and is a night or day out in its self, the resturants are brill and considering their position in the marina are quite reasonably priced. Paloma park is wonderful with beautiful walks and lots to do for the kids.
The promenade is majestic and you can walk from the top of Benalmadena by Sunset Beach to the bottom of Torremolinos, there are countless resturants, cafe's and bars along the way, so you will never go thirsty.
Arroyo de la Miel is the cherry on the top, basically a beautiful working spanish town/village half a mile from the seafront with many shops, resturants, bars etc.
Bonanza Sq. is where you get your english fix, full of vibrant british and Spanish resturants, bars, if your missing your Fray Bentos this is the place to come.
We nearly forgot Benalmadena Pueblo which is a wonderful White Village high on the hill above Arroyo. How much more do you want ?
T.C.
Why I love Benal
Home with sun (I live in Manchester)
Great restaurants
Great bars
Great people (both residents and holiday makers)
Great weather
Great base for trips out (Horses at Jerez - unbelievable)
When i'm there I wake up with a smile, and go to sleep with a smile, and after 2 visits a year since 1985, am I bored, what do you think!! Counting the days until June
Vernon
I love the buzz of Benal but also the calm when I get off the beach area. I like the mixture of different nationalities, the friendliness of the spanish and the comaradary of the brits. I love the liveliness of the marina and the quiet of the park. I love the lively bars, and the small spanish restaurants. I love the 10 minute drive to the airport and the 20 minute drive into the country. I love the strolls along the seafront in the evenings and the wander round Arroyo in the days. In fact it's difficult to not love Benal, there is so much to do in and around for everyone!
Allison
I can always remember being about 6 yrs old playing in the streets, (not just outside the house), with my brothers, walking to the shops with sixpence for a Calypso on a hot summers day, seeing all the friendly faces and going out on a Sunday night with Mum and Dad to the working mens club seeing more friendly faces. Only now i'm 41, it's not my brothers but the wife walking to the shops in Arroyo, no Calypso but instead an ice cold beer, kids playing safely in the parks, no hassle and the sun still shines. Can't think for the life of me why we keep going back too Benal!!!. And more friendly faces every time we go back. After a few visits and a lot of help from members, we've found the real Malaga and love it. The trains? we use them all the time, clean, on time,and dirt cheap. The park? what a fantastic place to chill out in. Want a meal out? you could'nt visit all the places to eat if you tried, but I would say that the majority are really nice, from the budget to the higher priced. The beach front? what a great place for a stroll and a drink and the beach looks perfect, and thats before you stop and have a drink and a bite at the Potter. Arroyo? pick a seat have a coffee and people watch!!!! I really don't know lots, but i do know
I LOVE BENAL
Monsterdog
We've walked, drank, enjoyed the sites and sounds of Benal for the past 5 days, the restaurants, Benalmadena Pueblo, fine wine, the trains, the walks on the sea front, the friends we've met in the Forum and while being out in Benalmadena,(the rain saved a shower chore at night), the cheap cigarettes, beer (when bbb is paying,"cheers mate"), the park!!!!!,how do you beat that?, even on a rainy day the ducks still need a loaf. Benal is everything to everybody if u know what to look for. The best way is to be there or find out on the Benal Forum, thanks bbb, if not for the site would never have been enlightened to the joys of the friendly faces in and around Benalmadena,(a knighthood is on the way i hope).
Monsterdog
Our first meeting? - I still remember clearly after all this time.
It was a Friday, and I came by train, to seek a bargain and the odd tacky toy.
So that I could remember her with fondness and bring smiles of joy
to much loved tiny faces back at home.
My mission finished I did turn to go, but through the twinkling sunlight
and the jasmine-scented air, she whispered, "stay awhile".
And holding out her arms to me in loose embrace, she said,
"We could be lifelong friends, if you just look about and hear me out".
She told me she had several names, and they could suit my every mood.
"If it was peace I sought and views into forever, then I could call her 'Pueblo'.
But if sun and sea and sea and sangria were on my mind,
then I should call her 'Costa', or 'Puerto' widely famed.
"But what if I needed some hustle, or to put the world to rights -
or just sit and watch the people as they go about their lives?"
"Oh that's easy", she smiled broadly, as she handed me a drink.
"You need to call me 'Arroyo', and I'll be there every day,
with every creature comfort; you won't need to go away.
And so, for many years now, I have sampled her delights
From depths of despair on Heart Attack Hill to mountain top by Cable Car.
From white knuckle ride at Tivoli to joining Mary's procession to the Church.
And, with glass in hand, watching those sunsets!
Well, words alone cannot describe her incandesant beauty.
I do not come to own her but to dream with her, and let my worries drift away.
My tears have added to her tides, my smiles have stared into her horizon.
My kisses have been placed upon her face,
and I have bellowed and whispered songs and all my nothings in her ears.
Our love has grown as I have lived beneath her glowing sun
and sheltered neath her docile palms.
My memories now have built a home with her and my heart lives here,
in cool breezes and that bright, bright, moon.
There is no price on such peace and quietude.
In truth, she speaks to my soul and my heart gains strength
as I am joined with God in wholeness, honesty and peace.
Years will pass and die without a trace, but not for me this destiny.
For I am one with God and Benalmadena.
And together we remain for all eternity.
grandfrdavid
I love Benalmadena because I have the pleasure of meeting all of you, and the sun shines, (well not last week). Tomorrow I will get up early and take the dog down to the Sunset Beach Club, on the pebble beach, (yes you can take dogs there). I will spend a couple of hours throwing sticks in the sea, walking hand in hand with my man or just sitting on a rock watching the waves, then calling in for lunch somewhere and of course a couple of drinks. At about 3pm have a little sleep, then shower and out for the night. Then about 1am, walk back home knowing i don't need a coat. I am happy, the dog is knackered, my man is knackered, i'm knackered, but we are happy, happy, happy, and tomorrow I smile.
Rags (owner of the Potter)
I love Benalmadena because its:
15 mins from airport, without the air traffic noise.
got wonderful beaches
got quiet areas as well as mad ones
got lovely long walks
got a brilliant promenade
more Spanish than other resorts in Spain-believe it or not
got a brilliant park with all kinds of animals in
etc. etc. etc.
Tom C
Now ive only been there a few times and never in the height of the season but what i like about the place is the fact that it is so relaxed not as manic as some of the bigger resorts and as has been mentioned only a 20 minute journey from the airport. We were introduced to Benalmadena by my parents who used to spend 3 months there over the winter, so we decided to book a last minute deal to see what all the fuss was about and took an instant liking to the place. We like the diversity of it all from the typically Spanish areas in and around the pueblo to the mixture of English and Spanish bars and eateries on the beach plus good transport links to Malaga, Torremolinos, Mijas etc, etc. The only downsides being the scooters and that -------- hill!
Bluesman
Being an ex-pat living in Malaga I love Benalmadena as when I'm missing the Uk I can hop on the bus and be there in 30 mins (10 by car), head down to the Potter bar and eat some lovely English food and have some great English company ...
Costachick
Just after dawn, as tears of dew are shed upon my window view,
and autumn crispness fills the air and overtakes my senses,
I hear a quiet voice that floats across the stillness.
It is sweet Benal and she calls to me to take her hand.
It is that time again, she says, when you and I can wander side by side.
Perhaps along the beach for fine repast with Rags at Potter’s Bar,
and afterwards I can remind you just how many years we’ve shared
as your tired legs feel lead-like as they try to climb that hill.
We must have Fridays shared together in Arroyo when the Market comes to town,
but also quiet days in Pueblo and from the Church arrest our gaze on blue eternity.
Our evenings, we will spend in company of those we cherish most,
midst jasmine scent and sunset hue that has no equal anywhere.
One thing we really have to do is chill, and see what summer could have been
instead of howling wind and driving rain that wasted Blighty’s August days.
Take time to sit and just enjoy the view of high Sierra, lounge by the pool,
or sit in the quiet shade with drink in hand putting the world to rights.
Only a fool would turn away from such a call and so I answered with resounding “yes”,
The cases have been packed for many days. They too were waiting for her voice.
“Time out” – she calls to us – and so to Gatwick where our steed awaits.
Farewell to those we leave behind – but sweet hello to Forum faces in the sun
grandfrdavid
Beautiful Beaches
Enjoyable walks
Nice restaurants
Amazing Bars
Lazing in the sun
Marina
Arroyo de la miel
Delicious seafood
Efficient railway
Nightlife great
All very friendly
GCT & redhead
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