Costa del Sol, located in southern Spain’s Andalusia, is one of the country’s largest autonomous communities. The region has miles of fantastic beaches facing the Mediterranean Sea and the Penibaetic System, resulting in a diverse landscape of sand, sea, mountains, and bays.

Climate:

The Costa del Sol has a warm climate all year round, making it a popular European winter sun destination. Coastal towns like Torremolinos, Marbella and Estepona have plenty of hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars to suit almost any traveler. The region is also nicknamed the Costa del Golf – you’ll find over 70 world-class golf courses, many of which have hosted international tournaments.

Costa Del Sol has a mediterranean climate with hot dry summers and mild winters. If you’re a sunseeker the best time to visit Costa Del Sol is between July and August. The hottest month of the year is July with an average daily maximum of 28 C and an average low of 22 C.

Times:

The same hours apply on the Costa del Sol as in most European countries. However, opening hours may vary. Small shops are open between 9.00 and 14.00 and 17.00 to 20.00 and are closed on Sundays. Large chains and shops in tourist areas are usually open all day until 22:00. Lunch is usually served from 13:00 to 15:00 and dinner from 20:30. What’s easy to forget is that Spaniards tend to take a siesta in the afternoon. This is when everything is tucked away and closed. Vacation is also important for Spaniards. Since Andalusia is one of Spain’s most religious regions, Sundays are days of rest. It is difficult to find an open grocery store on a holiday, so you need to plan your shopping carefully.

Safety :

As an ordinary tourist, you have nothing to worry about. You should always use your common sense and keep track of your valuables such as your wallet and cameras.
In Malaga and Marbella there are police offices specifically for tourists who need to make some kind of police report or need help of various kinds. In Marbella this office is located in the Plaza de lso Naranjos and in Malaga it is located inside the tourist office Plaza de la Marina. In Spanish the service is called Servicio de Atencion al Turista Extranjero (SATE). If you need urgent police assistance, call 091.

Healthcare:

Spain provides universal and free healthcare. If you are travelling from a European country you must be in possession of the European Health Insurance Card, although you will still receive any necessary emergency treatment if you don’t have one. In addition to public health, the Costa del Sol is home to numerous private hospitals and clinics that offer all nature of services where you will be attended in several languages.In the event of an emergency, you can call 061 (if you speak Spanish) , or international number 112,where you will be attended 24 hours a day in Spanish, English, French or German.

Stay:

A passport is a very good way to identify yourself when travelling. It can also be useful to have your passport with you when checking into various hotels, renting a car, or water scooter. It is very important to always carry a physical driving licence as copies/photographs are not honoured by law enforcement.

The mobile phone works very well in Spain. However, remember not to talk on your mobile phone while driving a car. It is forbidden to drive and talk on the phone in Spain. A very good way is to connect your mobile phone to your car’s screen (carplay). At All Cylinders Car Rental basically all cars have Carplay function which gives you the opportunity to easily and quickly connect your mobile phone to the car screen to be able to talk hands-free, use the map / GPS

Finding free wifi should not be a problem. Many restaurants and hotels offer this to their customers.

In Spain they have the same electrical outlets as in Sweden, so you can bring your own electrical items from home.

The water in Spain is usually drinkable but not very good.

Flags on the beach:
-There are several colours of flags that can be seen on the beaches of Andalusia. Each colour has its own meaning and certified lifeguards decide every day which flag to fly.

-A blue flag is a very good sign, it means you are on one of the best beaches in Spain. The Blue Flag certificate is not awarded permanently. Every year beaches are evaluated, not only the natural features are taken into account but also the services offered on site, restaurants, bars, shops, toilets, showers, facilities for the disabled, etc. Safety for tourists and the convenience of access routes are also taken into account.

-A green flag says there is no danger and the sea is perfect for swimming.

-A yellow flag warns of strong waves or polluted water: you can swim, but do not swim far from the shore. A yellow flag can also indicate the presence of jellyfish in the sea, but in this case an additional text message is usually given.

-A red flag means that swimming is prohibited. Sometimes this prohibition only applies to a part of the beach that has its own signalling system. A red flag is set when the tides are very high or there are other hazards: dangerous bacteria in the water, animals such as jellyfish or sharks. If someone decides to disregard the ban and enter the water they face an administrative fine of up to €3,000.

-The black flag is used very rarely: it means that, due to a high health risk, entering the beach is forbidden. This usually happens after a storm that has damaged the beach. There is a fine for breaking the ban.

-Different flags are used to warn of floating jellyfish near the beach. The ‘Red Cross’ organisation has chosen a white flag with a jellyfish pattern but some beaches fly purple flags with a silhouette of a jellyfish. In any case, if we have doubts or questions, we can always ask the lifeguards for clarification.

 

When you rent a car from car rental company All Cylinders located at Malaga Airport, our staff will be happy to share with you information such as descriptions of interesting places to visit, directions, parking, traffic radar and other information that will make your time traveling in Andalusia easier and more enjoyable.