We had planned on holidaying in the UK this year, European trips seemed to be getting expensive and our eldest was going to be starting school this September. But the bad summer weather and an increasing need for sun, coupled with an improved exchange rate changed our mind. As such, we booked our holiday pretty late on and were looking for a deal.
Finding the Holiday
We tried a few sites (including direct holiday sites and flight sites) before eventually going to On The Beach to book the holiday. The website was pretty easy to use, and I liked the way we could pick our flights independently and then book the hotel. This allowed us to pick a nice early flight and a family friendly hotel. We couldn’t find anything cheaper, despite going direct to hotels, so the pricing was pretty good too.
Where to go
We wanted to guarantee the weather and since we were travelling with two children under 5, we also needed a short flight (under 3 hours). This put us in Spain and we decided on the Costal Del Sol, which was eventually narrowed down to Torremolinos. With only a 10 minute taxi ride from the airport , it meant after a long flight we didn’t have yet a further long journey into resort. A taxi shouldn’t cost you more than $20 euros.
Getting There
There’s no easy way to fly with young kids, particularly when travelling with ‘no frills’ airlines, but we did find that paying extra for priority booking bought us a bit of time to drag everything across the tarmac and secure seats together. For those a little braver, kids need to travel with an adult so at least one parent will get a seat with them but the other may end up seated elsewhere on plane!
Accommodation
We stayed at the Sol Principle, which is a 4 star hotel located just outside the centre of the town and opposite a long sandy beach. We decided on half board, as this saved us having to search for restaurants to eat in every evening.
It is a large hotel and I think almost everyone that was staying there were families with young children and babies. This meant that it was a relaxed environment for us and our two children. I‘d suggest that the experience would be opposite for any couples looking to get away for a quiet break.
When we first arrived, we were impressed with the appearance of the hotel and there was even a welcome drinks table which, since we seemed to hit check-in at peak time, helped pass the queuing time.
Rooms
We were staying in the new section of the hotel, and got a low level family room. The rooms themselves were large, modern and open plan, with a good sized bathroom, large balcony and plenty of wardrobe space, etc. We were lucky in that we had a great sea view too. For those seeking more privacy, Pool side rooms, although a little older, are split into two defined bedrooms (and cheaper too).
We were also greeted with a welcome pack including fruit, water & cuddly toys for the kids.
Facilities
The hotel couldn’t be faulted for not having things to do. Facilities for the children range from; pools for adults, children and toddlers, an arcade, playground, table tennis and a variety of children’s clubs. The theme for the hotel is The Flintstones, and this runs through a lot of the events & amenities, including a Flintstones burger restaurant & daily appearances from Fred & Barney for photos with the guests.
Although the hotel was very busy (we were staying at peak time for Spanish holiday makers), we always managed to get sunbeds. Away from the main pool area, at the other end of the hotel near the beach was a further pool which tended to be less busy and have less children using it.
Food
Breakfast started at 07.30 and went on until about 10.30. Head straight for the veranda (through the dining hall) as the views across the beach front are great and the environment has a bit of a beach bar vibe to it.
There was a good selection of cereals, pastries, fruit and hot food. Coffee/ Tea and Fruit Juices were also included & there were adequate high chairs and tables in the large dining area.
The evening meal, started at 7.30 pm, so anyone who’s kids are usually in bed by then, may need to embrace the holiday vibe and get the little ones into taking a mini siesta during the day so they can go the distance. The food was typical buffet style, with children’s burgers, chicken nuggets etc on offer. There wasn’t too much variation each evening but the food was of a good standard.
There’s a 2 for 1 Happy Hour on drinks every evening between 17.30 and 18.30,if you want a warm up before dinner!
Entertainment
The evening entertainment also kicks off quite late (the Mini Disco didn’t start until 9.30 pm) but it was worth the wait as the open air stage area gets packed, creating a great atmosphere.
The shows are all music and dance based including themes such as, Mama Mia, Flamenco, and Terror Night – a great show of spooky songs!
Things to do
The Beach & Promenade
Torremolinos is a typical beach resort, with a lovely long sandy beach and accompanying promenade. It’s great for strolling along with push chairs and walking with little ones. Walks, sea and sand made up the basis of our entertainment – Stopping off at some of the many bars and restaurants along the way. Most of these are pretty similar and serving the usual burgers, pizzas, chips etc (so take your pick). However, we did stumble upon a Sushi Bar, and although we didn’t eat there we thought it was a welcome change to the typical food on offer.
If you want to make a day of it you can walk around the coast line to Benalmadena, which has a cluster of bars, restaurants and shops.
Visiting The Old Town
It took us around 30 minutes to walk to the centre of the town, where via a lift you can make your way to the Old Town. There are lots of bars and restaurants there, with souvenir and clothing shops. We visited the Old Town a couple of times, and found it was pretty easy to actually go down to the beach not in the lift, as the steps were small and fairly easy to push the pram down.
Trips and places
We stayed close to the hotel, beach and Old Town, but there are plenty of trips that would suit a family day out, including:
Tivoli World – An amusement park with shows in Benalmadena
Aqualand – The biggest Water Park in Costa Del Sol, located in Torremolinos
Crocodile Park – With over 200 crocodiles and situated in Torremolinos
Selwo Marina – Dolphin and sea lion shows, exotic birds, penguins and more
Conclusion
Overall, our holiday delivered on everything we wanted it to. It was easy to book, reasonably priced, decent standard accommodation, with lovely weather.
Hopefully some of the tips here will help you get the most out of your trip too!
