Spain's "Sunshine Coast" is the playground for Europeans who are seeking that glamorous beach lifestyle year 'round. It boasts the warm inviting waters of the Mediterranean, white sandy shores, sweltering nightlife and enviable celebrity spotting. There are 101 villages dotted along the Malaga province's coast, which make up the Costa del Sol area spreading east and west of the resort town of Torremolinos. But don't fret, while it may seem costly, there are some pretty reasonable deals to get you there.
Swap the turkey and trimmings for bikinis and sangria this Thanksgiving with a November 22, 2005 departure to the Costa del Sol. Gate 1 Travel (tel. 800/682-3333; www.gate1travel.com) has a deal that you will be truly thankful for, priced from $549 plus taxes per person. The offer includes round-trip airfare from New York to Malaga, four-nights accommodation at the four-star Alay Hotel in Benalmadena and a daily continental breakfast. If you can't wait that long, Gate 1 can get you to the Spanish sunshine throughout July, August and September 2005. Their eight-day "Independent Costa Del Sol" package includes round-trip airfare to Malaga from New York, six-nights accommodation at the harbor-front Pyr Fuengirola, across from the beach in the town of Fuengirola and daily continental breakfast is $959 plus taxes per person from September 15 to 23 or $50 more from September 1 to 14. From July 10 to 25 or on August 31 the rate is $1,259 and from July 26 to August 30, 2005, the price goes up to $1,329 plus taxes. All rates are based on double occupancy with taxes additional.
Probably the cheapest early fall deals to Costa Del Sol come from Travelocity (www.travelocity.com), especially if you are after airfare and hotel packages only. Fly midweek in September from Newark to Malaga on British Airways via London to Malaga and get seven-nights accommodation at the Hotel Eh El Pinar in Torremolinos, including breakfast for only $786 per person including all taxes based on dual occupancy. For $41 more, get round-trip airfare and stay at the Pyr Hotel in ritzy Marbella instead. Even if you are traveling alone, the same packages are only $136 more with a single supplement.
Grand Circle Travel's (tel. 800/959-0405; www.gct.com) "Essential Costa del Sol" package includes round-trip flights from New York to Malaga, 13-nights accommodation nights in Torremolinos at the Bajondillo Apartments, the first-class Don Pablo Hotel or the Melia Costa del Sol Hotel, daily breakfast and ten dinners (including beer or wine), free non-alcoholic beverages, two sightseeing tours (Picasso's Malaga and Mijas and Panoramic Andalucia), a taste of village life home-hosted lunch; "Spain: Past, Present & Future" and "Andalucian Culture and the Flamenco" lectures, a hospitality program director and private motorcoach for transfers, plus a 5% credit towards your next Grand Circle trip. If you are traveling solo, there is no single supplement charge. The December 6, 2005 departure is $1,095, other December departures (including over the New Year period) are $1,195 and prices range from $1,495 to $1,595 for departures in October and $1,295 to $1,395 in November. Add $200 from Miami, $250 from Los Angeles or Chicago and $350 from Detroit. Other departure cities are available.
You can choose to add on an extra week in Torremolinos from as low as $145 or see more of Spain with a three-day Barcelona extension before your beach vacation for an additional $395. The Barcelona add-on includes flying into Barcelona from the US (the return flight is out of Malaga), a domestic flight from Barcelona to Malaga, transfers, three nights at the three-star Rialto Hotel, breakfasts and a half-day Gaudi tour.
For an extended Costa Del Sol vacation that will make you feel more like a local, Skyline Travel (tel. 800/645-6198; www.skylinetravel.com) offers incredible deals starting at $1,668 per person for 27-nights accommodations (no, that's not a typo), plus international airfare from New York and transfers. This low price is per person based on double occupancy for midweek departures between November 1, 2005 and March 31, 2006. Taxes are additional with a blackout period between Christmas and New Year. From December 15 to 25, 2005 there is a supplement of $172. Accommodation is in hotels or apartments (with maid service) in Torremolinos, Marbella and Benalmadena. They also offer exceptional deals on shorter stays (six-nights, 13-nights or 20-nights) with added extras like free nights or free continental breakfasts. Land-only options also available.
Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.com) lists several low-priced summer departure options, with prices ranging from $506 to $856 for round-trip flights from New York to Malaga. It does list a $354 fare through Travelocity, but I couldn't find any available flights at that low fare. There are several alternatives around the $500 to $580 mark, through US Airways, United or Delta.
Airfare bargains to Malaga can also be found through Intra Tours (tel. 800/334-8069; www.intratours.com). Their current listed fare specials for midweek flights during the fall of 2005 (September 1 to October 31) include:
- From New York: $460
- From Raleigh Durham: $540
- From Boston or Philadelphia: $609
- From Washington, D.C.: $649
- From Los Angeles: $729
In winter, most of these fares drop by up to 20% (with the exception of New York, which increases by $10). Taxes are additional.
For more information about the Costa del Sol region visit www.frommers.com/destinations/costadelsol and www.visitcostadelsol.com/indexeng.htm. You can also chat with other travelers on our Spain Message Boards.