Mijas

Has anyone visited this village. Looking for an excursion from Malaga. Thanks for you input

Abby

Has anyone visited this village. Looking for an excursion from Malaga. Thanks for you input

Abby

Mijas is pretty in a Disney sort of way but VERY touristy.

It has some good - but expensive - restaurants and many, many expensive craft shops.

If you haven' t visited lovely Malaga before I would suggest you stay in the city. If you know Malaga well then maybe it is worth considering a trip to Mijas but, rather than going on your cruise ship excursion go DIY - local train to Fuengirola then bus up to Mijas village.

On our last port visit to Malaga we rented a car in order to drive up to Ronda (a favorite place of ours). Since we had a very long port day we decided to stop in Mijas while enroute. Having not been to Mijas in many years we were somewhat surprised at how this town had changed.....from a charming little village to what is today a charming tourist town. It is still a nice place for a visit and perhaps some shopping, but I am not sure I would recommend it for anything more then a short stop enroute to other places.

Hank

When Spanish tourism first boomed in the 1960's with northern Europeans jetting off for some sun, the coastal fishing villages quickly became holiday resorts & kinda lost their Spanish flavour.

A day trip up to Mijas was a day in "real Spain".

Not sure I agree with the use of the word Disney (:confused:), though Mijas is now much more commercialised & certainly the centre is no longer "real Spain" - but wander just a few paces up the steps behind/through the shops in the main square and you'll find the empty & quiet little streets of whitewashed houses similar to the "white villages" further inland. Charming little bullring too.

A very pleasant & un-hurried day-trip.

Awkward from Malaga by public transport, involves a train along the coast to Fuengirola then bus up to Mijas & not very practical in a cruiser's time-slot.

And I doubt you'll find van tours being offered at the pier. But easy enough by taxi, about a 30 minute drive from the port. Plenty of taxis in the main square for the return.

Or mebbe rent a car though parking is a little difficult.

If your time in port permits, I'll agree with Hank about Ronda though it too is much more commercialised than it was. The drive to & from is also very attractive - make it a circular route, out across country via Burgos & return down the steep & winding main road direct to the coast near San Pedro de Alicantara then the fast AP-7 toll road along the coast. Around 90 minute each way.

Or check out latest train information. Poor connection times made it impossible for cruisers but I believe changes from about a year ago make it viable.

Just MHO as always

JB :)

Not sure I agree with the use of the word Disney (:confused:),

 

I meant the village centre has, in MHO, a theme park feel rather than the atmosphere of a working village. Lovely views though from above the Bullring.

 

Trains run from Malaga to Fuengirola every 20 minutes - journey takes around an hour and the railway station in Fuengirola is very close to the bus station.

 

Timetable for the buses up to Mijas village here http://www.avanzabus.com/web/archivos/base/File/Horarios/Portillo/Horario-de-autobuses-de-Fuengirola.pdf Journey time 25 minutes.

Oops!

<<Trains run from Malaga to Fuengirola every 20 minutes - journey takes around an hour and the railway station in Fuengirola is very close to the bus station.>>

Just checked and the journey time is 46 minutes not an hour.

If I hadn't visited Malaga before then I would either do as suggested and stay in Malaga as there is more than enough to fill a day in sightseeing there. Or got to Granada as it is spectacular. I revisited about 18 months ago after not having been there for some years and had forgotten how lovely just the drive to get there is.

If I was renting a car I would probably go in the other direction to places like Lake Vinuela, Torrox, Frigiliana etc and stop for a nice fish lunch at one of the many restaurants along the coast. Unfortunately, most of the CDS is commercialised and over developed, but I think the western side of Malaga slightly less.

 

If I was renting a car I would probably go in the other direction to places like Lake Vinuela, Torrox, Frigiliana etc and stop for a nice fish lunch at one of the many restaurants along the coast. Unfortunately, most of the CDS is commercialised and over developed, but I think the western side of Malaga slightly less.

I agree wholeheadrtedly with all your suggestions LondonTowner.

Just to clarify, Lake Vinuela, Torrox, Frigiliana etc. are the eastern side of Malaga not the western. We live at Lake Vinuela.

campolady

Sorry, often get my east and west mixed up. Lucky you living in Lake Vinuela, it's a lovely spot. I have had lunch a few times in the grill restaurant with terrace overlooking the lake. I can't remember the name, but on the main road and parking in front.

I remember Mijas years ago when it was a lovely typical village, but all that area is far too developed for me. I have visited Marbella a couple of times in the past couple of years, but really have no desire to go back.

<<Sorry, often get my east and west mixed up.>>

I am like that with my left and right LondonTowner!

<<Lucky you living in Lake Vinuela, it's a lovely spot. I have had lunch a few times in the grill restaurant with terrace overlooking the lake. I can't remember the name, but on the main road and parking in front.>>

Do you mean the ' Camping' Restaurant or the adjacent ' Pantano' ? We regularly use both but our favourite place is ' Venta El Charco' just below Los Romanes village 3km above the lake - well worth trying if you ever return to this area.

Can't remember the name of restaurant. You walk via a small terraced area to get in. Inside it has a fairly large seating area with wooden tables and chairs and large picture windows overlooking lake and to the side and down one level is a terrace where you can also dine.

My friend lives in Torre de Mar and she had originally recommended it. Would be a lovely place to stop for anyone renting a car from a cruise ship.

Can't remember the name of restaurant. You walk via a small terraced area to get in. Inside it has a fairly large seating area with wooden tables and chairs and large picture windows overlooking lake and to the side and down one level is a terrace where you can also dine.

 

My friend lives in Torre de Mar and she had originally recommended it. Would be a lovely place to stop for anyone renting a car from a cruise ship.

Yep - that's the ' Camping' restaurant.

Hi there I've just found this thread whilst researching for our cruise on explorer in June. We would like a short visit to mijas followed by a few hours in fuengirola. Having spent many holidays in both places as a child I'd like to show my family. I've costed car hire for the day which is approximately 130 Euro for the 4 of us in a megane or similar. Does anyone have any idea how much a return taxi trip would cost? Do we ask the driver to wait in fuengirola to bring us back or is it easy to get a taxi back to the port? Thanks in advance.

You can get a bus or taxi from Mijas to Fuengirola.

And a train from Fuengirola to Malaga.

Add a taxi from ship to Mijas & the total cost is likely to be significantly less than €130.

But a car gives you so much more flexibility & better use of your time, even though you'll find parking a pain at both Mijas & Fuengirola.

If you've been to neither since you were a child you'll hardly recognise either, other than the centre of Mijas. And there's virtually no countryside left between the two.

Fuengirola especially can be congested - and frankly pretty boring.

If you stick with a rented car, can I suggest you go the other way round.

You'll probably not want to spend much time in Fuengirola & you'll get that congested part of the trip over & done first. A drive along the Paseo Maritimo in Fuengirola is probably all you'll need.

The drive from Mijas to Malaga is much less prone to delays - take the twisty A368 mountain road (signed Benalmadena) from Mijas to join the AP7 autopista at La Capellania, don't double-back down toward Fuengirola.

Beware the words Mijas Golf, Mijas Costa & probably a few more, the good name of Mijas has been purloined for urbanisations some distance from the town of Mijas

JB :)

You can get a bus or taxi from Mijas to Fuengirola.

And a train from Fuengirola to Malaga.

Add a taxi from ship to Mijas & the total cost is likely to be significantly less than €130.

 

But a car gives you so much more flexibility & better use of your time, even though you'll find parking a pain at both Mijas & Fuengirola.

 

If you've been to neither since you were a child you'll hardly recognise either, other than the centre of Mijas. And there's virtually no countryside left between the two.

Fuengirola especially can be congested - and frankly pretty boring.

 

If you stick with a rented car, can I suggest you go the other way round.

You'll probably not want to spend much time in Fuengirola & you'll get that congested part of the trip over & done first. A drive along the Paseo Maritimo in Fuengirola is probably all you'll need.

The drive from Mijas to Malaga is much less prone to delays - take the twisty A368 mountain road (signed Benalmadena) from Mijas to join the AP7 autopista at La Capellania, don't double-back down toward Fuengirola.

 

Beware the words Mijas Golf, Mijas Costa & probably a few more, the good name of Mijas has been purloined for urbanisations some distance from the town of Mijas

 

JB :)

Hi John wow thank you so much for this. We haven't been for eighteen years this month! My parents had an apartment in los boliches when we were growing up. My husband and I got married in the grotto chapel in mijas and had our wedding reception in fuengirola. Our eldest daughter was three the last time we where there. She is now twenty! Our younger daughter is 16 so docking in malaga seems a good opportunity to take a trip down memory lane.

I'm sure it does all look very different.

My husband has driven abroad and has driven for a living so that doesn't bother us but we are happy to use public transport/taxis.

We used to always get the train from malaga airport to fuengirola. But how far is the nearest train station from where the ship's dock?

Maybe now thinking train to fuengirola have a wander then find a local taxi and go to mijas and then back to the ship.

How easy is it to buy train tickets as I can't remember? Also are taxis easy to find in fuengirola and mijas?

We literally want to visit fuengirola then show the girls the chapel where we got married.

Thanks again and I hope you can help with my extra questions x

Train station in Malaga is a 15 - 25 min walk, depending exactly where you berth. Never taken the train (always have a hire car) but I guess easy enough to buy tickets at the station.

Plenty of taxis at the main square / viewpoint in Mijas, don't know about Fuengirola.

You'll know that regardless of personal connections, Mijas is a great place for a one-day visit. Fuengirola more for the beach & the nightlife.

Given the timescale I think I'd stick with a rented car.

130 euros sounds heavy - perhaps cos we just rent compacts. Wouldn't one of those be OK for just a day?

Does the insurance include CDW waiver? The CDW excess is usually many hundreds of euros, you won't want that risk. If their CDW waiver is expensive you can get that independently over the internet for about a fiver - in the case of damage it means you have to shell out first & claim back from the excess insurer. I've done it that way a few times but no damage so how good hasn't been put to the test.

Beware fuel policy. You must be sure its collect full/return full, which is quite normal with rentals of 3 days or less. Collect full/return empty means paying their excessive price per litre & donating them at least half a tankful.

Have a great day & reminiscences, whatever way you do it :)

JB :)

Train station in Malaga is a 15 - 25 min walk, depending exactly where you berth. Never taken the train (always have a hire car) but I guess easy enough to buy tickets at the station.

Plenty of taxis at the main square / viewpoint in Mijas, don't know about Fuengirola.

 

You'll know that regardless of personal connections, Mijas is a great place for a one-day visit. Fuengirola more for the beach & the nightlife.

 

Given the timescale I think I'd stick with a rented car.

130 euros sounds heavy - perhaps cos we just rent compacts. Wouldn't one of those be OK for just a day?

Does the insurance include CDW waiver? The CDW excess is usually many hundreds of euros, you won't want that risk. If their CDW waiver is expensive you can get that independently over the internet for about a fiver - in the case of damage it means you have to shell out first & claim back from the excess insurer. I've done it that way a few times but no damage so how good hasn't been put to the test.

Beware fuel policy. You must be sure its collect full/return full, which is quite normal with rentals of 3 days or less. Collect full/return empty means paying their excessive price per litre & donating them at least half a tankful.

 

Have a great day & reminiscences, whatever way you do it :)

 

JB :)

Hi John

I've found malagacar dot com they say they have a depot in the port or will bring the car to the port. the 130E was for a megane yes we could go smaller for the sake of a few hours I guess but with one adult child and one teenager they are both tall and would be squashed in the back.

Malaga car has the following info on their site:

Best price guarantee.

Check our rates now »

Car hire Malaga airport

All included rentals:

No credit card needed for booking.Direct hire. Not a broker.Pay your rental on arrival.Full insurance coverage.24-hour breakdown assistance.Unlimited mileage.No cancellation or amendment fees.Fast delivery service at no extra cost.NO FUEL RIP-OFF, WE DON´T CHARGE REFUELING SERVICE FEE.

I'm going to email them for some more info.

So we are swaying between car hire or train to fuengirola return with a taxi from fuengirola to mijas return.

decisions decisions!

Have you allowed for extra insurance for the CDW excess, not included in the basic package?

The excess is 800 to 1000 euros, ie you pay the first 800 - 1000 euros of damage, unless you pay an additional 36 euros for the waiver.

Other exclusions such as the underside are normal, though unusually interior damage is not covered.

http://www.malagacar.com/uk/terms-and-conditions.html

Fuel policy is a little strange - half full to hall full. I suspect that means return the car with the gauge needle in the same quadrant as when you started. Full to full is better, but no big deal.

I think the operator I've always used is only at Malaga airport, very inconvenient for you.

http://en.aurigacrown.com/car-rental/car-rental-airport-malaga-(agp)_AGP.html

JB :)

Hi

I thought I'd check back on this thread, in case any one else comes looking for info in the future.

We had decided to do Fuengirola return by train from Malaga, and then get a taxi up to Mijas and back from Fuengirola.

As we stepped out of the cruise terminal at Malaga there where taxi companies offering tours. I spoke to a really nice Spanish man called Jonathon who agreed the following with me:

Taxi to Fuengirola with one hour and 30 minutes free time.

Taxi up to Mijas with one hour free time before returning in the taxi back to Malaga. E140!!

We were really happy with this seeing as car hire would have cost us over E150.

On the way back to Malaga he offered to do us a tour of Malaga for an additional E30. Which was great value for money.

I gave him an additional E10 tip as he was great, very friendly and clearly passionate about his home city of Malaga. So our total day out for the 4 of us was E180.

Very happy.

I have his contact details should anyone ever want them just ask.

Wow, Wondering why a rental car would cost over 150€. We paid a lot less then that for our rental at Europcar. And a quick look at prices for a rental (next week) show rental prices of about 70 Euros are not hard to find. Of course one would have to also pay for fuel which will add to the cost. And these cars are for an entire day, not just a few hours.

We had quotes between E90 - E120 for a car suitable for 4 tall adults. Factor in fuel and insurance on top of that. The taxi was quick, convenient and he knew where he was going lol

We had quotes between E90 - E120 for a car suitable for 4 tall adults. Factor in fuel and insurance on top of that. The taxi was quick, convenient and he knew where he was going lol

All good points :). I sure would not want to sit in the back seat of most small cars (but then I am always the driver).

Hank