Torremolinos Transportation

We flew to Malaga with Easyjet from London Gatwick but returned with Monarch as that enabled us to travel at a better time of day, and only cost a couple of pounds more. Monarch also has the small benefit that you can pre-book seats when you check in online at a reasonable charge, eliminating the mad rush for seats that you get on other budget airlines.
We found Malaga to be a large modern airport with a reasonable range of shops, several places to eat etc. At that time of year it was very quiet and pleasant to use on both our outward and return journeys. Our accommodation, the Apartamentos Bajondillo, provided free shuttle service to and from the airport, so we were met on arrival, and after a short wait for another flight to arrive, were escorted to the bus parked in the underground car-park, and in just 15 minutes or so found ourselves at the apartments and ready to start our weekend!

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While there is a mainline train station in Malaga connecting with the major Spanish cities, it is the local line that most people are interested in. This runs from Malaga to Fuengirola and has stops at all the main tourist areas. The carriages are clean and spacious and the next stop is always shown in lights above every door making them easy to use for visitors.
Examples of prices are as follows:
Hans took the train one way from Torremolinos to the Airport 1,05 Euro
We took the train to the Fuengirola Flea Market - Torremolinos to Los Boliches return 1.70 Euro
We took the train to Fuengirola to meet Carmen & Stace one way 1.30 Euro
Tip: If you plan to go both ways ask for returno, which is cheaper and you don't have to get in line again.

CERCANIAS MALAGA
Lines - There are two lines:

C-1 (along Costa del Sol)
Centro-Alameda
Málaga railway station (Renfe)
San Andrés
Guadalhorce
Terminal Carga
Aeropuerto
San Julián
Plaza Mayor
Los Álamos
La Colina
Torremolinos
Montemar-Alto
El Pinillo
Benalmádena-Arroyo de la Miel
Torremuelle
Carvajal
Torreblanca
Los Boliches
Fuengirola
C-2
Málaga railway station (Renfe)
Los Prados
Campanillas
Cártarna
Aljaima
Pizarra
Alora

Since Hans and I did our own arrangements this time and did not go through a tour company, getting to our Bajondillo Apartment in Torremolinos was our own responsibility. So after getting our baggage at Malaga Airport, we just went outside, headed for ground transportation - taxi area and took the first cab in line. It's only a short distance to Torremolinos and the cost of the fare was 15 Euros.
On our return trip, we had the person at the Lobby of our Apartment call a taxi for us when we were ready to leave. The taxi was there in a few minutes, took us to Malaga Airport in his impressive taxi with a sun-roof and leather seats and wanted 20 Euros. Of course, I complained that it was 15 Euros to get to our Hotel and it should be 15 Euros to bring us back to the airport. He shrugged his shoulders, said "OK" and took my 15 Euros that I had ready in my coin purse, to pay him. mmm very interesting!!!

Update: February, 2009
The taxi fare from Malaga Airport to our Bajondillo Apartments is now 17 Euros

Update: February, 2010
The taxi fare from Malaga Airport to our Bajondillo Apartments was 20 Euros - way too much for a 20 minute taxi ride in my opinion.

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Not too far from our Apartamentos Bajondillo is located MOTO MERCADO which is an excellent place to rent a bicycle (bicicletas) or if you wish - motorbike.
They are located at Plaza de las Comunidades Autonomas, at the corner of the Paseo Maritimo and Avda. Del Lido.
They had a good selection of bikes and motorbikes / scooters / mopeds.
All ages starting at 16 can rent and of course you need a valid driver's licence.
Rental day is 24 hours and locks are supplied to you so you can keep it at your hotel overnight.
Price per day - Precio por dia (as of February 2008)
Bicycles - Bicicletas - Deposit 50 Euros 1 - 3 days 10 Euros 4 - 7 8 Euros 8+ - 6 Euros
50 c.c. Peugeot Squab - Deposit 100 Euros 1 - 3 days 25 Euros 4 - 7 20 Euros 8+ - 18 Euros
Other vehicles require a Credit Card as Deposit and range in price from 30 - 120 Euros per day.

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We usually have no need to rent a car while in Torremolinos, as public transportation is so good. But this time, Hans wanted to take a drive up the northern coast to the Costa Blanca, and see the area where he once lived and worked forty years ago.
We checked out a few car rental companies and decided upon the local Betica Travel, which arranges car rentals for you. We booked the cheapest car, a Ford Ka which was 97 Euros for three days, plus SCDW (insurance) of 5 Euros per day.
As we wanted to leave early Tuesday morning, a young man from BRAVO CAR RENTAL came to the Hotel Lobby Monday night and delivered our car to us. We got an upgrade to a four-door Ford Focus Diesel - nice little car. They would pick it up Thursday night at our apartment. Great service.
The car was excellent and had good mileage. We drove 1241 kilometres and it only cost us 70 Euros in diesel gas for the trip.

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For those that enjoy WALKING, Torremolinos has a wonderful promenade that runs along the beach for many kilometres. It is possible to walk from the eastern end of Benalmadena all the way through to the far east side of Torremolinos.. There is also no shortage of places to stop and rest, with many benches situated along the promenade and lots of cafe's and restaurants.
Also every other day, I liked to go uptown Torremolinos. I actually counted the steps once and there were 178 steps. I usually take my time and rest if I get winded. Towards the end of our time there, I walked up the steps with no problems at all.
I also walked to the grocery store and to the internet cafe'.

When we travel, we like to be independent to do our own thing and it usually involves getting off the beaten track. As a result, we almost always hire a car if it makes any sense at all given the circumstances of where we are visiting. In this case, because Sue's sister was joining us from England for eight days of our trip, I had to go one size larger than normal to accommodate three suitcases. It turned out to be a diesel Ford Focus station wagon with a 5-speed manual transmission. There was enough space in the rear for the suitcases plus a few other odds and ends as well as a flap that covered-up everything from prying eyes. However, I did not like the fact that it had a big 'Goldcar Rental' sticker on its rear window, advertising that fact to the world.

We hired it from Red Ribbon Car Hire Spain but picked it up from the Goldcar desk 500-km distant at the Alicante airport - at a daily rate of 18.26 Euros. However, when all the extras like insurance and diesel surcharge were added in, the total for 18 days came to 618 Euros.

Everywhere we went in Spain, we found the roads to be in excellent condition - even on small secondary roads in the Sierra Nevadas or along some 'off-the-beaten path' coastal roads. I must be a crazy driver, because the legendary Spanish drivers did not bother me at all. The biggest problem with this Group F-size car was in towns, trying to squeeze it into one of the few small parking spots that one might chance upon. It did not give us any mechanical problems during the 3240-km (~2000 miles) we drove it.

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There is a train running from Malaga to Fuengirola every half an hour. Fuengirola is the final station and from there the train returns back to Malaga. It is a cheap and fast way to travel. I used this train a lot as I love Fuengirola. The train is modern, clean and there is a security guard on-board so you feel very safe. There were incidents some time ago of people being robbed on the train, thus the security guard on-board.

The trip from Torremolinos to Fuengirola lasts ca 15-20 minutes and a return ticket costs 3,20 euros (2010). One way costs 1,55 euros so it is strange really that a return ticket (ida i regres) costs a little more?

The trip from Torremolinos to Malaga lasts longer, ca 25 minutes as it goes first to the airport. A return ticket costs 2.05 euros (2009).

The train station is situated on Avenida Jesús Santos Rein on Plaza de la Nogalera.

You can get a train timetable at the Information centers in Malaga and Fuengirola, but not in Torremolinos. You might be able to get the timetable at the train station in Torremolinos though.