Leading Malaga holiday website adds tickets and excursions to their offer

Image via Wikipedia

Malagaholidays.com has just released tickets for Malaga attractions and excursions from Malaga at very cheap prices. We will find:

• Tickets for Selwo from 16 (children) to 23.50 (adult) Euros
• Tickets for Bioparc from 11 (children) to 16 Euros.
• Selwo Marina tickets from 12(children) to 17 Euros.
• Hop-on-hop bus tour tickets from 8.50 (children) to 17€.
• Sea Life tickets from 11.50(children) to 13.50 Euros.

And if you are looking for guided tours and 

the offer is wide:

• Excursion to Nerja and Frigiliana, including a visit to the Nerja Caves.
• Day trip to Granada and la Alhambra with entrance tickets included.
• Day trip to Gibraltar with a few tours to choose from.
• Excursion to Tangier.
• Day trip to Ronda from Malaga.
• A guided visit to Ceuta.
• Tour to Seville.

The new Mercedes SL500 is presented in Malaga

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Mercedes Benz has chosen the city of Malaga, namely the Automotive Museum, for the international launch of its new model, the SL500. Thus, some 600 journalists from five continents will visit the city until next March 22 in order to test the lightest model from the German company.

The climate and the facilities of the Automotive Museum Malaga were good reasons for Mercedes Benz to choose the province to publicize their new creation, a car with 435 hp V8 engine that lets you go from zero to sixty in 4.6 seconds. Although it may be established only on a race track, its maximum speed reaches 250 kilometres per hour.

But most highlighted by the creators of the new Mercedes is its lightness, since it is made entirely of aluminium, thus it weights 140 kilo less than its predecessor. A new feature is also a Bluedirect engine, which allows driving 29% cheaper than other models in the range.

A specially created sound proofing system to go with the convertible and directional spouts inserted into the windshield to reach the entire surface of the glass, are some delicacies of this luxury car, which goes on sale priced from 117,000 Euros.

After the technical talk, journalists have the possibility to measure in person the benefits of the new car, driving it to Marbella, always accompanied by a technician to address concerns that arise along the way.

More Brits are interested in organized tours from Malaga

A study from Malagaweb.com showed that the brits are becoming more and more interested in tours from Malaga within Andalucia.

The visit of the white villages and other cities in the southern of Spain is getting adepts, and I can understand it…the beauty of those villages make it worths to visit them.

One day trips are perfect for those who like to know the most they can about their destination and surroundings. The tour bus will usually pick you up next to your accommodation, sometimes even in front of it, of course they will drop you off at the same place.

As tip: Before arriving to Malaga airport, I recommend to check prices for Malaga airport transfers and for the excursions you will like to make. It is better to plan in advance.

Top villages and places to visit in Malaga

This is my personal list, I think you should not miss any of the places below:

Ronda

Visiting Ronda is an experience you should not miss. It is common to see japanese tourists taking pictures in Ronda during the year.

Puerto Banus

Puerto Banus is in Marbella and the luxury present in Puerto Banus worths the visit. I guess you have seen luxury cars and yachts, but the number of luxury unseen vehicles in Puerto Banus is higher than anywhere else. I have seen even a Jaguar prototype not for sale in Puerto Banus…which made me wonder how much the owner paid for that car.

Benalmadena

When thinking in Benalmadena the Paloma park “Parque de la Paloma” comes to my mind, a beautiful park with animals in freedom.

Nerja

The most beautiful beaches on the Costa del Sol probably and the Caves of Nerja make of this place a must visit.

Malaga

Malaga city centre has much to offer, I can’t count all the places available to visit, but the Gibralfaro Castle is the place I would choose first. There are also many bars with the typical tapas to taste, you can perfectly spend a complete day in Malaga without getting bored.

 

Useful resources:

I already linked them within the text, but for those who finished the article and don’t feel like reading again…

• Malaga airport transfers
• Tours from Malaga
• Malaga car hire

Do you recommend any other places? Any thoughts on those I recommended?

Malaga airport to Nerja, how to get there and tips

If you are coming to the Costa del Sol, and it is the first time you visit Nerja, you may need a guide to get there. Even being easy to reach this destination, it is not close to the city centre or the airport.

There are different ways for getting to Nerja from Malaga airport:

• By bus: We should make our way to Malaga city centre, and then take from the main Malaga bus station a bus to Nerja…it is not a short journey.
• By train: There is no link to Nerja from Malaga train station.
• By taxi: You can check for different websites on Malaga airport transfers and get a shared minibus or a taxi transfer both to Nerja or back to the airport.
• By car: In my opinion driving to Nerja from Malaga is the best choice. You can hire a car online and have it ready and waiting for your arrival at Malaga airport. Prices are low, even more if we are looking for car hire in Malaga during the low season.

Please check the website for further information on getting from Malaga airport to Nerja and enjoy your visit!

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The Axarquia supports nuptial tourism to combat seasonality

By the seashore, with mountain views or by the Viñuela lake, are just some of the multiple options that the Axarquia district offers to get married. A recourse that is trying to be exploited by the large capacity hotels and restaurants of the touristic coastal towns situated to the east of the province, that are trying to compensate the lack of work that they experience during the low season months.

Hotels and restaurants are starting to launch discounts and offers to couples, specially foreign, who choose this region to get married

This craze of getting married in Spain is not new to the foreigners, but in these last few years, the bookings have increased, confirmed to this newspaper by some of the managers of various hotels and resorts in Nerja. This way, four-star establishments, as well as the hotels Marinas de Nerja, Perla Marina or Balcon de Europa are some of the most demanded due to their extraordinary location, only a few metres away from the beach.

“We organise the whole wedding, as we have a covered area to protect the couple from the sun and sit the guests on the lawn with views to the sea”, explain the hotel Marinas de Nerja. The menus, in all consulted cases, are very varied, with prices that range from 35 euros which are more economic, to 90 euros for the more sophisticated tastes. “It’s all a matter of what one can afford”, say the entrepreneurs.

On the other hand, in the hotel Balcon de Europa, also in Nerja, they offer the possibility of celebrating a civil marriage by the seashore, in a terrace situated right by the sand. But the towns attractions also offer other options, like the restaurant Torres de San Juan, from where you can enjoy spectacular views over the whole town, that boasts of being the touristic capital of eastern Costa del Sol. The restaurant Cuevas de Nerja also offer wedding receptions and organize the civil ones.

The truth is that this market niche of nuptial tourism is also making its way in other surrounding towns at quite a fast pace; like Frigiliana or La Viñuela. In Frigiliana, the Town Hall offers the Cultural Hall to the couples, which is a XVII century historical building called ‘La Casa del Apero’.

Homosexual couples

Frigiliana

In this enchanting enclave, over the recent years, more than a dozen weddings have taken place here, including a few homosexual ones too. In fact, the consistory of frigiliana, together with the local entrepreneur association, are trying to promote the village as a wedding destination, including those of the same sex. For this, they attended the Expogays fair which took place last weekend in Torremolinos.

“Frigiliana makes a bet on this type of tourism, with an open mind, and obviously, without excluding any other field, concentrating during this campaign in a very interesting sector, that moves in a very organised way and in large masses, and would be a great support for local tourism if Frigiliana could achieve this reputation as an ideal destination for gay weddings, amongst many other activities”, assures the Frigiliana consistory.

The Axarquia district also has extraordinary facilities in many other interior enclaves, like the Viñuela hotel, situated by the shore of the lake, that, in this time of year, offers a historical image, with bookings that reach up to 75% of its capacity, or the hotel Cortijo jurado on the Benamocarra road. “We have to make the most out of these type of events, specially the ones with foreign couples, to combat seasonality”, assures the Nerja Entrepreneur Association (AEN).

Increased tourist interest for Andalucia

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The tourist interest for Andalucia has increased by 27% over the past year 2010 according to Homelidays, a company specializing in renting holiday accommodation among individuals via the Internet.

The region is the third in Spain in most demand by users of its site and among the cities is outstanding Seville, with growth in demand for information in 37%, followed by the towns Nerja and Marbella in Malaga, with an increase of 45 % and 21 % in requests for information.

As reported in a statement by Homelidays, the interest in Andalucia is increasingly high, and pointed to the 161 festivals and itineraries declared of Tourist Interest by the Government of Andalusia, according to data from the Ministry.

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Water taxi from Malaga to Marbella will be lanched by Easter

Image by Kristin Myers Harvey via Flickr

A Fuengirola based company is set to launch an alternative way of travelling between Malaga and the rest of the Costa del Sol: water taxis.

A group of entrepreneurs have brought from Southampton in the UK, one of the boats they plan to use to connect Malaga and Marbella within 45 minutes.

They are negotiation with national shipyards the manufacturing of the rest of boats needed to provide the service, which it plans to extend all the way along the coast to Gibraltar and “in the medium term will run all the way up to Nerja and Almuñecar linking the east and west”, the company said in a statement.

Under the same Aqua Taxi, each boat will be able to carry up to 12 passengers.

It is hoped that the Aqua Taxi service, which will be based at Malaga port, will be up and running before Easter.

The home port for the fleet will be Malaga harbour, with the main information point at the crossroads between Pier 1 and 2; this will be the main nerve centre of the new harbour, a must for cruise-ship passengers.

The company also has authorisation to operate from Marbella, Benalmadena, Fuengirola and is hoping to get permission in Puerto Banus, being an alternative to the Malaga airport transfers.

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Discover Malaga for your vacations

Entrada de la feria de málaga (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Malaga has many charms. Malaga has beaches, culture, good food and good weather all year, charming towns and great golf courses. Doesn´t sound too bad, especially taking into account that Malaga international airport is served by many low European cost airlines facilitating a sunny break in less than three hours.

The first thing you’ll notice in Malaga is how friendly the people are, how good the Mediterranean food is, with the freshest fish and, of course, it’s great weather, with very warm summers and mild winters. Malaga is a city to be enjoyed 365 days a year.

Among the many activities you can enjoy in Malaga, are excursions into the province, with spectacular landscapes and rich cultural and artistic heritage. Special places to visit are Ronda and Antequera.

You can also visit one of the prettiest white villages on the Costa del Sol, Casares, or the lagoon Fuente de Piedra, with one of the largest colonies of flamingos in Europe. Or visit the Torcal de Antequera, a natural site in which you feel like in the midst of a fairy tale. If you are interested in prehistoric rock art, you can also visit the cave Cueva de la Pileta, in Benaojan.

If you feel more attracted to beaches and coastal areas, you can visit Marbella and Puerto Banus with its luxury shops, yachts and a wide variety of leisure; or further west Estepona, where you can enjoy your fried fish, clear water and the warm sand. On the eastern Costa del Sol is located the charming village of  Nerja offering stunning sea views from its viewpoint Balcon de Europa.

Malaga vacations in August, will provide you with the possibility to enjoy the Feria de Malaga, one of the most famous fairs in Andalusia, and enjoy food, drink and experience live how locals party.

Outside the province of Malaga in Andalucia, you can also take trips to Cadiz and Gibraltar, Granada, Cordoba and Seville. And of course, you can enjoy golf at one of the 61 golf courses located throughout the entire province.

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The Costa del Sol, a paradise in southern Spain

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The Costa del Sol is a paradise of sun, sea and beaches. The south coast of Spain, where the Costa del Sol is located, offers a variety of tourist destinations, with excellent beaches and lively nightlife.

No wonder then, that thousands of vacationers choose this destination every summer. The Costa del Sol has over 50 golf courses and a wide range of activities for the whole family. With its 300 days of sunshine a year, you should not miss it.

This stretch of coastline is stretching from Estepona in the west to Nerja in the east, with several popular destinations in between. One of the most popular tourist destinations is Fuengirola, with its large collection of hotels in the Costa de, bars, discos and a variety of activities. Fuengirola Zoo is one of its most popular attractions.

On the way to Fuengirola is situated Torremolinos, a paradise for those seeking the best gay scene of the Costa del Sol. For lovers of water sports, Mijas is ideal. Home of golf courses, a water park and even beautiful scenery for horseback riding.

The hotels in Malaga and the Costa del Sol are very varied. Ideally, reserve one of them; however there are possibilities to rent apartments, an ideal accommodation for those who like to escape the hustle and bustle of the hotel resorts. Many of them have private pools and stunning views over the sea, since they are located on hills or cliffs.

Staying in one of these apartments is also ideal for those coming with their family. Fuengirola, Torremolinos, Nerja or Mijas, without a doubt the best places to spend the summer in the Costa del Sol.

Some interesting facts about the Costa del Sol

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One of the most popular destinations for tourists worldwide is the Costa del Sol, a coastline that stretches from Nerja to Gibraltar. Miles of beaches, a massive hotel infrastructure and sun almost throughout the year.

The best-known tourist places on the Costa del Sol are the coastal towns of Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella. Further to the west we find more quiet places such as Estepona, a charming city with a beautiful beach and economically very good prospects regarding tourism.

Since the fifties, the Costa del Sol attracts more and more people. The reason is that the lifestyle can be described as almost ideal. Golfers who want to play with good weather on first-class courses can find on the Costa del Sol exactly what they have been looking for. In fact, on the Costa del Sol have been designed golf courses which are among the best in the world.

If you’re more focused on sightseeing you won´t be disappointed on the Costa del Sol. Truly remarkable cities can be reached within a short time, while in the mountains are situated the beautiful, pristine white villages. In Casares, Ronda, Manilva and Sabinillas, just to name a few, time actually seems to have gone by.

All along the coast tourists from all nations are getting a warm welcome and there are only a few places where is not spoken at least English.

You don´t have to drive far from the beautiful beaches on the Costa del Sol, as they are directly adjacent to the mountain chains where are situated the white villages which are among the finest in the world. Car hire Malaga is a good choice when getting to the Costa del Sol for our trips.

White villages such as Casares, Manilva, Benalmadena Pueblo and Mijas are built on high mountains and the whitewashed houses seem to be glued to the mountain peaks. It seems that modern times could not harm their andalusian charm and which many visitors of the Costa del Sol miss to discover.

Especially in summer the heat away from the coast is overwhelming. But if you feel comfortable with the heat, you will be rewarded with exceptionally beautiful views of the villages, the mountains and the sea and the African coast.

Hundreds of thousands of foreigners have chosen the Costa del Sol as their new home or have bought a holiday home here. Thus has developed on the Costa del Sol a unique, multi-national infrastructure, including multilingual schools and large international communities.

This is one reason why foreigners decide on the Costa del Sol as their new home: An immigrant can enjoy all the benefits of the country, but also feel “safe”: for Northern Europeans there is usually never a language problem, as on the Costa del Sol are living many Germans and British, and thus not only the language barrier is removed automatically but they find easily like-minded people.

Costa del Sol Facts

The Costa del Sol (“Sun Coast”) is not called like that by chance – in this part of Andalusia is a fact the sun shines about 320 days a year!

For decades this famous coast is a popular international tourist destination, where can be enjoyed where both mass tourism, as well as rural tourism off the beaten tracks in beautiful landscapes.

Long beaches, partying, with very good and cheap availability from numerous airports and the especially lively cities such as Malaga and Marbella are the main reasons why each year the Costa del Sol is visited by a large number of tourists.

Some Costa del Sol facts:

Malaga, after Seville the second largest city in Andalucia, has about 560,000 inhabitants and is a charming mediterranean city with a pleasant atmosphere and a fascinating history.

Malaga city has miles of beaches and is also a city full of culture. There is a surprising number of sights in this city, such as the Alcazaba fortress. From there, you can enjoy a stunning view over the city centre, the sea and the coast.

The Picasso Museum, the Moorish castle Gibralfaro, the Botanical Garden and the colorful marketplace Atarazanas are in any case well worth a visit.

Marbella has about 130,000 inhabitants and is one of the most famous towns on the Costa del Sol. Marbella is a famous resort, which is especially popular among celebrities. In this hub of the jet-set and show business we find well-kept boulevards, parks and gardens and beautiful beaches. Characteristic of Marbella is the marina of Puerto Banus, one of the trendiest in Europe.

The Sun Coast offers its visitors both elegant, luxurious hotels and small and cozy accommodations.