Los Amigos Beach Club

Los Amigos Beach Club is an aparthotel built around the useful side of a diving holiday: space to sit down, a kitchen for the days when restaurant timing does not match your appetite, and the beach close enough to make a last swim an easy decision. The design is simple and modern rather than dressed up for show. That is no bad thing when your priorities are a decent meal, a cold drink and somewhere to put your feet up.

The mix suits couples who want more room than a standard hotel bedroom, as well as families and small groups travelling together. English, Spanish and French are spoken by the host team, which removes one of the usual small frictions when arranging your stay. A restaurant, poolside drinks and practical on-site services keep the basic logistics close at hand.

You are in La Cala de Mijas, on Spain’s Costa del Sol, at Carretera de Cádiz Km 204 in the Playamarina urbanisation. This is a coastal location rather than a town-centre address, with direct access to Playa del Charcón. Sun loungers and parasols are available on the beach, so you can move from apartment to sand without turning the outing into an expedition.

The immediate area gives you options beyond the property. Las Casitas and Restaurante La Teja are only a short distance away, while Punjab Palace is within walking distance. Fuengirola’s railway station is about 3.8 miles away by road, and Malaga Airport is around 18 miles away by car, with a typical drive of about 26 minutes. The Costa del Sol is not short of places to go, but you will not need to leave the gate for a piece of beach.

The accommodation is made for staying rather than merely sleeping. Studios and apartments have seating areas, dining space and a proper kitchen with a fridge, microwave, hob, oven, toaster, kettle and kitchenware. That matters when you return hungry, do not fancy dressing for dinner, or simply want to make tea without negotiating with a minibar. A washing machine is also available in the accommodation.

For two, the studio is the compact choice, while the one-bedroom apartment gives a couple more breathing room and a separate living area. Groups should look towards the larger two- and three-bedroom apartments, particularly when several people need a place to sit and organise themselves without climbing over one another. The three-bedroom layout also has two bathrooms, which is the sort of detail that becomes more important with every extra occupant.

Air conditioning and heating cover the less predictable side of the Andalusian weather. Some apartments have a private balcony with outdoor furniture, and the beds have been particularly well received for comfort. Satellite and cable television, free Wi-Fi, a wardrobe and an alarm clock are included; the rooms are non-smoking and have private bathrooms with either a bath or shower.

You have a restaurant on site, along with a bar and a snack bar for the moments when a full meal feels like overkill. The pool bar is the straightforward option for drinks beside the water: no need to dry off completely before making the decision. Wine and champagne are also available.

The apartments give you a second route to dinner. With an oven, hob, microwave, fridge, dining table and kitchen equipment in place, you can keep things simple and eat in when that suits you. No fixed board formula or breakfast arrangement is set out here, so the useful assumption is flexibility rather than a timetable built around every meal.

If you want to eat elsewhere, Las Casitas and Restaurante La Teja are close by, with Punjab Palace a little farther on. The choice is therefore not limited to the restaurant on the property, but you can still get back to your own door without arranging transport after dinner.

Two pools give you an easy choice when the sea is not the plan: one outdoors and one indoors. The indoor pool, hot tub and sauna are useful for a slower afternoon, while the spa offers massages for anyone whose shoulders have spent too long carrying the day. A fitness centre is also available, though nobody will judge you for choosing the lounger instead.

For something more active, you can play table tennis, tennis, mini-golf or billiards. Tennis equipment, mini-golf and billiards carry a separate charge, so check the arrangements before you start keeping score. Evening entertainment is available on site, adding a little life after dinner without requiring a trip into town.

The family side is well covered, with a kids’ club, indoor and outdoor play areas, a games room, board games, movie nights and a children’s playground. You can also reach nearby beaches for snorkelling and other water sports. In other words, there is enough here for a non-diving partner or a family member to fill a day without turning the hotel into an amusement park.

Free public parking is available on site, with no reservation needed. An airport shuttle and a local shuttle service are available, and car hire can be arranged. Malaga Airport is the practical arrival point, around 18 miles away by road; Gibraltar International Airport is a much longer alternative at around 61 miles by car.

Check-in runs from 4pm to midnight, and you should give the property your arrival time in advance. Check-out is by 10am. The front desk operates around the clock, with express check-in and check-out, luggage storage, lockers, a concierge service, currency exchange and an ATM on site.

Children of all ages are welcome, with cots available for babies subject to the accommodation selected. The minimum age for check-in is 18. Smoking, pets and parties are not permitted, and cash is not accepted; Visa and Mastercard are accepted. Free Wi-Fi works throughout the property, including in the rooms.