Holidays to Fuengirola are fast-paced and full-on, but it's still easy to find pockets of calm and family-friendly fun.
Beachside beauty
Fuengirola's halfway between party-loving Marbella and history-soaked Malaga on Spain's southern coast. There's a lively nightlife scene, plus golden sand that stretches along the Costa del Sol. The place has its cultural side, too – think quaint squares and Moorish architecture.
Going out-out
Lounge all evening with tapas and a glass of wine in the laidback square. If a homespun beat's what you fancy, make a beeline for either the main promenade or Calle del Capitan behind the beach – the street's got a string of British bars.
Animal magic
Bioparc Fuengirola's an award-winning zoo with an emphasis on conservation. It gives endangered and rare animals like the Sumatran tiger and roloway monkey a happy home – check out the enclosures designed to recreate natural habitats from continental Africa, south-east Asia and Madagascar.