Fuengirola is a town situated on the E340 dual carriageway between Malaga and Marbella.

Like many coastal resorts, Fuengirola has grown out of all proportion in the last 30 years. The single storey fishermen’s cottages have almost disappeared, replaced by 2 and 3 storey apartment blocks. You can still see one or two of the original cottages just behind the first line of shops, hotels and apartments.

The main shopping area in the town centre can be found running parallel to the seafront near the bus station. This area contains various retail outlets, with, as is compulsory in this area, plenty of shoe shops.

On the outskirts of town, at Las Lagunas and near to Euromarket, there is El Corte Ingles - a large department store similar to Debenhams and John Lewis in the UK.

If that can’t satisfy the serious shopper, there is also the Parque Miramar complex. This comprises of an indoor shopping mall housing a cinema and food court as well as the standard selection of retail outlets. (There are normally one or two films in English at this and most cinemas on the coast.)

A short walk from the mall is a retail park. This consists of a rather large car park surrounded by shops ranging from DIY, sports, motor accessories and clothing, to Iceland! Yes, Iceland. This is a recent addition to the car park and incorporates Waitrose and is proving very popular with resident Brits suffering from intermittent homesickness.

Multi-storey apartment blocks are dotted around the town in such a way that it reminds me of a lego city when looking down on the town from inland.

July and August sees a mass influx of Spanish tourists, as well as those from the rest of Europe, so beware - any parking space is probably already occupied!

Fuengirola from the south

There are countless bars cafes and restaurants wherever you wander. If you have time, take a look around the side streets and visit some of the Spanish bars. You will receive a warm welcome with most offering a good selection of tapas (snacks). If you would like to see a really big selection of tapas, pay a visit to one of the ´Tipi Tapas´ cafes. These have a fantastic selection at a reasonable price.

Just behind the seafront near the port is Fish Alley - a street crammed with a massive choice of places to eat and drink. For a special occasion try Aroma restaurant - it is more expensive than most but offers excellent cuisine and service.

If you prefer a nice meal at a reasonable price try out the Pergola. You will find this Italian style bistro behind the post office towards the beach. Great Italian cuisine served in a relaxed atmosphere at a good price, what more could you ask for?

The nightlife is as varied as you care to make it.

Riks Waterfront, on the marina, won the 2006 award for the best cabaret venue on the coast. Once you have been you will understand why. Karen, Dalton and family will be happy to see you enjoy the music which ranges from the 50´s to current chart hits. Dalton does his 50´s and 60´s hits in his own inimitable style most evenings with a guest artiste to cater for more modern tastes.

Speaking of more modern taste, the younger generation should to head towards the port entrance on the seafront. It isn´t too difficult to follow the bass leaking from many bars and nightclubs around here. These venues will cater for those of a more youthful disposition who like that up-to-date music.

For an even younger generation, the Parque Aquatico, (water park), is situated right next to the E340 and is a really popular venue in the warmer months. This can be really busy and it is advisable to pre book if possible, failing that, set the alarm in plenty of time to get near the front of the queue. The pools and slides will keep the kids, and the mums and dads, happy for hours.

On the subject of keeping the kids happy, Fuengirola Zoo is worth a visit. For an urban Zoo it is very good. There is a good range of animals as well as a play area. If you get thirsty or hungry there are cafes and bars to keep you going. A word of warning! If you intend to visit during the hot months, try and make time available on an evening. As you might guess, the animals are bordering on comatose during the late morning and afternoon sun.

Overall there is plenty to do, whether old or young, daytime or night - but don´t forget those side streets!

Beautiful Church Square, right in the centre of town