Benalmadena holiday apartment: Torrequebrada, Benalmadena Costa

Had a really wonderful week in this beautiful apartment. It is extremely spacious and we loved it. Just some details - the lounge is large with two really comfortable sofas (often missing in holiday lets). The ingenious coffee table turns into a table for indoor eating (needed once or twice). The kitchen is a good size and well equipped and the bedrooms are large with comfortable beds, good hanging space etc. Bathrooms are marble and well appointed. However, best thing was the location - a huge balcony with just the gardens and pool between you and the sea. Even when it rained, we pulled over the sun shades (!) and sat watching the sea crashing in. Evening meals were wonderful with candlelit dinners on the balcony watching the sunset. Beautiful gardens, easy parking, attractive clean pool.

We did some sightseeing - up to Ronda, Mijas, El Torcal (have lunch at the Hotel Posada El Torcal), and also used the beach just 10 mins. walk away where two beds and umbrella were only 8 Euros for the whole day - good value. We shopped in the nearby supermarket - was it Supercor? - which had everything we needed and was easily walkable if we didn't feel like driving.

All in all an excellent spot as long as you remember how built up the Costa del Sol is. However, sitting looking out over the sea, you could easily forget the hotels and apartment blocks around you.

Only rider to this is to remember your ear plugs. The second bedroom is facing on to a busy dual carriageway and our friends staying there found the noise quite intrusive, but apparently we are only the second people to mention this in over two years!

Would definitely return.