Tag: Málaga

Costa Del Sol – 14th June

Costa Del Sol – 14th June

We all had good intentions on Sunday 14th June as the plan was to spend the morning on the beach, come back for pool or siesta time and then go out for a meal at a pre booked restaurant this evening. Claire had been looking after everyone and she had suggested a lovely loll on the Fuengirola beach.
Unfortunately, by the time we had ransacked the breakfast buffet, time was ticking on and we sacked off the idea. We went round the pool and I decided it would be good to get us some bucks fizz. I’d not paid for a taxi last night, nor had I bought any shots (which we thought were probably not the real Tequila Rosé, anyway) so it was a small gesture to show I wasn’t the cheap chaser I came across as in my blogs!
I also treated my roomies to a strawberry Calippo each. I thought the on-site shop was, once again, reasonably priced and was well stocked with cold drinks. Here’s what I paid with prices in Euros.

Ramada Hotel shop
1 carton orange juice 2.50
2 Calippo lollies 6.00
1 bottle of Cava 8.50
Total spent €17.00 (£14.43)

For lunch the gang had more munchies from the shop but I made my sandwiches from breakfast bread rolls and the left over pork knuckle – it was still amazing! I really do think not wasting food and eating more leftovers is the way forward, even on holiday.
At the Ramada by Wyndham resort there was a train to take guests around but we never quite timed it right – such a good idea when it’s sunny or for families, though. Of course, I’d made use of the washing machine facilities and done a wash ahead of my 4th destination tomorrow. By late afternoon a few of us were lounging around our room and decided to play some of the games Claire had brought. It was a great way to pass the time when we had a short shower of rain and I enjoyed having a laugh with everyone.
In the evening we ventured out for drinks and dinner in the very classy Mijas Pueblo – I even popped on a long black dress and borrowed a strapless bra from Dawn. We had some lovely wine, cocktails and sangria at Alboka Gastro – a delightful place not far from the donkeys we had been warned against riding. I’d been there a handful of times over the years and it’s never been on my itinerary to ride the donkeys or horses, it’s just cruel! We had a nice little wander around the area and got a few photos. A couple were hogging a horse statue for way too long so I ended up taking their photo.

The placeholder we had booked for dinner was cancelled and Claire went on ahead to scope out a more suitable alternative for our evening meal. She chose Restaurant El Mirador which had good views, a substantial menu, cheap house wine and lovely staff – perfect for our last night together!
Having already eaten a large breakfast and most of the other half of the pork knuckle in sandwiches for lunch, I wasn’t particularly hungry so I plumped for a mushroom risotto – it was huge! I didn’t eat it all but decided left over risotto tomorrow before our flights might not be a good idea and didn’t bother with a doggy bag this time.
Everyone enjoyed the meal but I was so full I could barely move – Carol’s Fat Club scales, when I got back to Dalyan, were not going to be favourable at all! The free limoncello nearly tipped me over the edge but we didn’t want to offend the kind staff so it was forced down.
Claire and I got a taxi back leaving the younger and wilder ones to give the ball a kick for the last night.
I’d had such a lovely weekend away and it was really good to have taken some time off. Tomorrow 6 of the gang were heading back to Bournemouth or Gatwick, while one lady was staying an extra night with a friend in Fuengirola and I was off to another exciting destination.

Gratitude List
1. A relaxing Sunday with the gang at Ramada by Wyndham
2. A classy night out in Mijas
3. Great food and hilarious company.

Photo Credit – some photos by the Costa Del Sol gang

Sevenoaks to Costa Del Sol – 12th June

Sevenoaks to Costa Del Sol – 12th June

The day of our girls’ trip was here on Friday 12th June. Our group of 7 women and 1 (gay) man had been counting down the days until this much needed holiday. What had initially started as a group of about 10 and me being their travel agent had changed in to 7 of them and me being invited to join the booking! A first for me and definitely not an opportunity I wanted to pass by. Of course it helped that one of my best mates was in charge of the booking and I knew 2 or 3 of the other ladies so it was definitely a no-brainer when I was asked to join. I had not been on a girls trip for what seemed like forever so Claire and I were super giddy.
I’d been up since 4.30am for a pee and to check my phone to see if my customer had arrived at the hotel after a flight delay last night, but I had heard nothing. By 6am I was up and getting the contact details for the hotel to ask them to get my friend to contact me when they arrived.
Captain Caveman said farewell and was off to Bristol for work. As I accompanied him outside to his van to see him off, he made me laugh; we hugged and kissed goodbye and I said I loved him, he just said ‘yeah, I know’ but didn’t say it back – he never does. I was off on a 6 day trip to Spain then a 5 day Fam trip luxury river cruise and then meeting up with a friend in Vienna, after today, but he didn’t wish me well for any of that either. I would next see him again in 3 week’s time when I would be joining him in London.
After dropping Claire’s daughter off at school and taking Reg for a run about on the field, Claire and I decided to have sausage sandwiches at the cake shop/cafe.
At just after 9am (UK time) my friend messaged to say she had arrived at the hotel at 1am but hadn’t connected to the WiFi to let me know they had arrived – they had both had a good sleep and were about to have their first breakfast in Marrakesh. I was relieved and meant I could get on with getting excited for my own trip now.

Our flight was at 3.25pm and I had to make sure I had packed everything for my next 10 days; Spain, Mallorca, Hungary, Slovakia, Vienna and back to Türkiye – although I’d not booked my flight back from Vienna yet!
Claire had checked us in as 5 of us were on the flight from Gatwick to Malaga but the others had already departed from Bournemouth very early this morning.
Claire drove to the airport and we picked Dawn up on the way – now there were 3 giddy girls on their way to Costa Del Sol for a long weekend. At the airport we joined Carol and Spawn who were already in the Wetherspoons, drinking Prosecco. We had a few glasses of fizz each and then did a stock up for lunch on the plane at Pret a Manger, a posh sandwich shop which I usually avoid because it’s pricey! I chose a Turkish style salad which looked great and some chocolate, we all got water too – the tin water bottle would come in very handy for the holiday too.
We were all excited, I did a Friday travelator dance while singing and I snaffled most of my delicious salad before take off – I was now a Pret fan! As we had exit row seats, I had to put the rest of my food up in the cabin for take off. Pauline, my petite pink underseat case, also had to go up overhead too – she didn’t mind as she got to keep her detachable wheels on!
I nodded off, as I was tired from being up so early, but the girls continued with the fizz from the trolley.

On landing we all had to do the finger print thing at Málaga airport, where there were no queues, it was quick and straight forward for all but one person who had a dodgy finger. They had to go to a counter with a person at it and we went to pick up the one suitcase. Our Suntransfers driver was waiting when we arrived and we had a fairly straightforward journey to our hotel.
We were staying in the Ramada Hotel & Suites by Wyndham, located between Fuengirola and Mijas. The driver dropped us off at the top end of the massive resort and we walked through to find reception, passing wild boar on the way. We checked in and had to pay €20 deposit each for a pool towel – they don’t mess about in Spain!
Claire, Dawn and I were sharing a room with 1 bedroom and a pull-out sofa bed in the lounge. We had got a cheeky upgrade, which was nice. Carol and Spawn were sharing a twin room and they went to their room, with instructions to meet back in 20 minutes. Our room had a washing machine and kitchen, despite us having booked to include breakfast, and I was on the sofa bed which seemed pretty comfy.

It was after 8.30pm so we didn’t even get changed as the Bournemouth 3 were already out and we needed to catch up with them for dinner. We got 2 taxis which I paid about €12 for one of them down to a beach side restaurant called Ella’s in Fuengirola. Everyone said hello and were introduced to me, as we were celebrating Dawn’s 50th, Spawn’s Hen and Jamie’s 40th so a real good mix of celebrations this weekend. The rest of us were just celebrating being on the Costa Del Sol with some really fun people. I ordered a delicious tagliatelle carbonara which was only €14 and shared some wine and plenty of water. Claire wasn’t hungry so ordered a salad but when it came, it was massive. The weather was pleasant and the food was very good. As there was 8 of us, we split the bill and I paid €40 including the tip for my share. I took half my meal home to eat the rest tomorrow as it was a big portion and I wasn’t going to waste it. No one else did this and I realised it’s not a very common thing for my English friends to do. Most of the gang wanted to carry on so we went to a bar but I couldn’t physically drink any more. I was also tired from being up so early this morning so Claire and I went to buy bottles of water.
We all got a couple of taxis back and for one at after midnight it was around €15 with 4 of us in, so pretty reasonable. It had been a good first night but tomorrow was our first proper day and we planned to make the most of it.

Gratitude List
1. Sausage sandwiches to start the holiday off
2. Airport fizz with 4 of the gang
3. Dinner and drinks with all 8 of the gang.

Photo credit – some photos by Claire & Dawn