by Justin | Mar 15, 2011 | Holiday Tips, Things To Do

From this Thursday – 17th March – and until Sunday, visitors to Benalmadena Marina will be able to enjoy the 3rd “Feria del Marisco (Shellfish Festival). For the 3rd year running, the Town hall’s tourism office together with the Benalmadena Port Authority have organised this popular event with the aim of promoting the towns extensive gastronomic offering.
Throughout the 4 days of the festival, anyone who visits the Port can sample some of the best shellfish at spectacular prices. Just to give you an idea, these are the prices of some of the portions – or “raciones” as we refer to them here –
Boiled Prawns – €3
“Concha Fina” (a type of clam) – €3
Grilled Prawns – €8
Steamed Mussels – €3
Clams – €5
This is just a sample of the delicacies that you’ll be able to try; the restaurants that are taking part in the festival are planning to offer more than 20 different types of shellfish and dishes whose main ingredient is shellfish.
Anyone wanting to enjoy some of the best shellfish at “recession” prices can do so as from Thursday at the following participating restaurants in the Marina: El Arrecife, Carretero, El Trasmallo, Alborada, Calamar, Ventorillo La Perra, El Rincón Asturiano, El Faro, La Taberna Marinera de Juan y Pepi, Los Mellizos y El Mero.
So what do you think, are you up for it?
by Justin | Mar 14, 2011 | Holiday Tips, Local News, Places to See

"La Buenaventura" by Julio Romero de Torres - one of the paintings being exhibited in the Museum
We’ve finally got a date for the official opening of the much-awaited Thyssen Museum of Málaga: The 24th March 2011 is the chosen date for the inauguration of Baroness Thyssen’s latest project.
The general public will have to wait one more day – Friday 25th March – in order to be able to enjoy the impressive collection which will be exhibited in the Palacio de Villalón, a XVI century building located in the historical heart of Málaga. This beautiful building has been completely renovated and fitted out for cultural exhibitions – Málaga Town Hall has already invested more than 15 million euros on this ambitious project.
For the first three days of operation, entrance to the museum will be free of charge; a great opportunity for locals and tourists to enjoy fine art at a great price…free!
The museum will have a permanent collection and three temporary exhibitions. The permanent collection is made up of 230 works of art from the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza collection covering Spanish art from the XIX. Visitors will be able to enjoy works of art from painters such as Sorolla, Zurbarán, Zuloaga, Romero de Torresy and Málaga favourites such as Gómes Gil, Moreno Carbonero o Barrón.
The series of three temporary exhibitions programmed for 2011 will start with “From Picasso to Tàpies” and will include pieces from Picasso, Torres-García, Saura and Tàpies. In September the museum will introduce work from Monet with “Monet: The house amongst the roses”. The final instalment of exhibitions will take place in November with “Sorolla in Andalucia”; 80 paintings from the Valencian artist’s repertoire.
Opening times are the following:
Tuesday to Friday – 10am to 10pm
Saturday and Sunday – 10 am to 9pm
Monday – Closed
by Justin | Feb 25, 2011 | Holiday Tips, Places to See

Bioparc in Fuengirola
Next week is half term here in Andalucía (we call it Semana Blanca) and many children will be off school. Because of this, the Bioparc in Fuengirola (Zoo) has decided to put on some extra activities targeted mainly at children – although no reason why adults can’t join in!
If you’re staying at Sunset Beach Club for half term next week and haven’t visited the Bioparc in Fuengirola yet, this is the perfect chance to do so.
Between the 1st and 4th of March, visitors to the park will be able to enjoy free guided tours in the morning (for parents and their children); in the afternoon, there will be special educational workshops designed to explain to visitors, in an easy and non-techie way, facts about protected and endangered species which face extinction.
A visit to the Bioparc is a great day out for all the family. The park is very well maintained and a lot of care and attention has gone in to ensuring a fantastic experience for kids and adults alike.
If you’d like more information, please stop by our Leisure Desk where Annemie and Susanna will be able to help you.
by Justin | Feb 14, 2011 | Holiday Tips, Places to See
As from the end of last summer, Malaga city has a new museum: The “Museo Automovilístico de Málaga” (Malaga Automobile Museum). Located in the Tabacalera building, the old tobacco factory, this modern installation has 6000 m2 dedicated to one of the most important car collections in Europe. This is more than a regular trip to a museum, it’s an experience that will provide fun, entertainment, art and culture to all visitors.
The museum is divided into various themed areas which exhibit a collection of more than 90 cars like the Toyota Harrier Singapore, all restored to incredibly high standards (the collection actually has 120 models; however, only 90 are available for the public to view). These themed areas transport visitors on a trip through time – 3 centuries – showing and illustrating the evolution of the automotive industry, both aesthetically and mechanically. (more…)
by Justin | Feb 4, 2011 | Holiday Tips, Things To Do

The Mijas Racecourse will be opening for its 2011 winter season next month (February), having been closed for its annual break.
Horse racing enthusiasts will be happy to know that the winter programme includes 6 race days between February and April (see programme below). Entrance are only €5 per race or a season ticket can be purchased for €20; children and teenagers under 18 are allowed free entry.
The Mijas Racecourse has fantastic facilities which cater for all the family. There are bars and restaurants for the adults as well as a wide range of activities for children, including bouncing castles! Races during the winter months start at 11am and the Racecourse has free parking available for all visitors.
The Race programme for this winter is as follows:
Sunday 13th February – 11am
Sunday 20th February – 11am
Friday 25th February – 4pm
Sunday 27th February – 11am
Sunday 6th March – 11am
Friday 22nd April – 4pm
Enjoy the races! Make sure you don’t bet too much on the horses! 😉
by Justin | Jan 21, 2011 | Holiday Tips, Things To Do
Stressed out and in need of some R&R? Staying here at Sunset should help; however, if you need a little boost, I highly recommend a quick visit to the “Agua de Oriente” Arab baths in Benalmádena.
The Arab Baths are located in the centre of Benalmadena (just next to the Marina) and a mere 20 minute walk from Sunset Beach Club. Inspired by the Nazari architecture of XI century Granada, this impressive “Oasis” of relaxation is a real treat to the senses. I think the following phrase on the “Agua de Oriente” website describes the experience perfectly:
“A journey into the past, to discover a world of sensasions”
The traditional word for this type of Arab Bath is “Hammam” and in the next few paragraphs, I’ll provide you with a brief explanation of what you can expect on your visit – just in case you’ve never been before.
The “Hammam” Experience
As you can see by the photos, lighting and architecture are key components of the Hammam experience. When you enter the baths you are, literally, transported into another time period. (more…)