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Casa Margarita
The closest airport is Malaga (AGP) but you could fly to Gibraltar (GIB) if you wanted to.
There are lots of regular service providers from Manchester (MAN) to Malaga including Easy Jet and Ryan Air. The 7am flight on a Saturday morning gets you in resort for midday, we find this perfect for us as we can just dump our bags and go for lunch! https://www.skyscanner.net/ will look at all the service providers for your dates so you can choose which one you prefer.
It is much easier to check-in online, especially if you only have hand luggage as you don't have any cases to check in so you can go straight through security. We recommend that you pay for a Fast Track pass to get through security quickly, you will need to scan your boarding pass and then your fast pass at the gate.
Don't forget your clear, resealable plastic bag for your liquids and gels, 100ml max per item and only one bag per person (they have bags there you can use). You are only allowed one lighter per person and don't forget to remove anything sharp from your hand luggage such as scissors, penknives, tweezers and tools. You will be asked to remove jackets and belts, empty your pockets and take electronic devices out of bags and put them in the trays provided, your case does not need to go in a tray. Check here for a comprehensive list of what is not allowed in hand luggage.
If you are only taking hand-luggage make sure that you get in the queue in good time as they start taking hand luggage to put in the hold after a while and it can take 30 minutes for your luggage to come through on the belt (plus its a really long walk to the belt).
Flight time is less than 3 hours and you will be at Malaga airport for about 45 minutes collecting your luggage and going through security.
On the return journey once you have checked in you will have to go through the badly planned and slow moving Malaga airport security, the carousels are confusing so make sure you join the back of the queue or you will get told by other passengers, there has been some improvement in this area recently and where the queue starts is much clearer.
Return flight time is usually 15-30 minutes less and Manchester airport are now insisting that people over 18 years of age use the e-passport stalls unless you have children with you. The queues are really long and slow with airport workers shouting the same instructions at you over and over, terribly frustrating unless you have an old style passport!
PLANE
TRANSFERS
Malaga Airport to Calahonda by Taxi
Malaga Airport to Calahonda by Private Transfer
Malaga Airport to Calahonda by Public Transport
Public transport is much cheaper but takes a lot longer and you have to get a train then the bus, OK if you only have hand luggage as the services run regularly and are usually on time but if the weather is hot it is very tiring.
Malaga Airport to Fuengirola by train
Trains on the Malaga - Fuengirola line now stop at the new underground station which is just a 30 metre walk from the new Terminal 3, follow the RENFE signs.
You must get a ticket before boarding your train as the ticket inspector will give you a hefty fine. The machine takes debit and credit cards and tickets cost €2.90 each (as of April 2017).
Trains leave for Fuengirola every half hour from 5:34am until 22:34pm and the journey time is 35 minutes. They are very punctual but stop at every stop on the way.
Fuengirola to Calahonda by bus
Exit Fuengirola station and head towards the bus station which is situated at the next junction going towards the sea front. Cross over the traffic lights, walk a short way and you will see the buses lined up.
Walk up some steps on the right (before next set of traffic lights) and you will see the ticket office. Tickets cost €1.55 each (as of April 2017). You must buy your ticket here (unless late at night when it is closed and you can pay the bus driver).
Number 220 signed Marbella goes along the coast to Calahonda every half hour on the hour and at half past. The last bus leaves at 11pm weekdays and 10:30pm Sundays and bank holidays. The journey time is approximately 30 minutes.
Keep an eye out for the Riviera del Sol stop and be ready to get off after this.
TRAINS
On the Cosa Del Sol the train service starts and terminates at Fuengirola.
The RENFE train station (952 128 079) is located on Avenida Jesús Santos Rein, just one road away from the bus station.
From here you can catch the Fuengirola to Malaga commuter (cercanías) trainline C-1 which takes 48 minutes to get to Malaga City, via Benalmádena, Torremolinos and Malaga Airport.
Trains run every 20 minutes from 06.20 until 23.20. Check times on RENFE website.
The station is disabled-friendly and has a cafeteria and a news stand.
The ticket cost depends on the number of zones that you cross. See prices.
The Cercanias line conveniently connects with the main line trains in Malaga Maria Zambrano station for high speed AVE trains to Madrid, Cordoba, Sevilla and other parts of Spain.
RENTAL
There is a parking space available for you to use on the complex, if you are intending to hire a car let us know so that we can include the remote control for the gates with your keys.
There are plenty of rental agencies operating from Malaga Airport. We have tried one of them and found the whole process quite frustrating as we wanted to start our holiday but there is such a lot of waiting around. You have to meet a representative from your chosen company who gives you a scrap of paper with a number on. You then have to walk to the underground parking area and wait your turn to get into one of the mini-buses that pick you up and take you to the office. Then you have to wait in another queue to get your car. If you want to do this and need directions click here.
Last time we rented a car we used Fetajo, the car hire place on the strip, they allow you to drop your hire car off at the airport on your return journey. It cost us €89, full insurance was approx €13 per day of that, for 2 days and the car was a new Ford C-Max Diesel (April 2017).
BUS
Local Bus:
There is a bus stop for local buses at the bottom of the hill near the roundabout, walk down the right hand side of the road and it’s near to the security hut. For buses to Marbella or Fuengirola you will have to walk down to the main road bus stops.
From Sitio de Calahonda get the M220 bus. The bus stops to Marbella are on the El Zoco side of the motorway and the nearest one to El Zoco is by the footbridge near the big Sitio de Calahonda sign. Timetable here.
Fuengirola Bus:
The bus station in Fuengirola is located in the town centre, on Calle Jacinto Benavente, just one road away from the train station. From here you can take buses along the Costa del Sol, west to Algeciras and east to Malaga. There are also other services across Andalucia and daily, but less frequent, services to Cádiz, Coín, Córdoba, Granada, Madrid, Ronda and Sevilla. The station has luggage lockers and there are several cafes and restaurants nearby. Timetable here.
BUS
TAXI
Another option to cut costs is to take the train from Malaga Airport to Fuengirola and then grab a taxi to Calahonda for the short 10 minute journey, although local taxis can be quite expensive because of the standard rate.
There is a taxi rank at the bottom of Avenida de Espana, after the roundabout on the left hand side near to the small cluster of banks, there are always taxis waiting there.
A taxi to the airport will cost approximately €70.
A taxi to Marbella will cost minimum €20.
Short Taxi rides, e.g. from the supermarket to the apartment cost approx €5-€8