Ah, the “Sun Coast”; one of the most in-demand tourist destinations in the world, and for good reason. Whether your “thing” is seemingly never-ending sun, picturesque scenery, cultural diversity, an abundance of leisure and sporting activities, or something else entirely, the Costa del Sol has it, and then a lot more. It is a destination that will keep you constantly captivated and stimulated.
It certainly helps that the Costa del Sol is so well set up to cater to tourists’ preferences and needs; however, that doesn’t mean you can treat the region as being just like your country of origin. You will still be in Spain, after all.
So, with that in mind, let’s take you through some of the mistakes often made by recreational visitors to this part of southern Spain, and how you can avoid them.
Expecting to have lunch at noon
So much of the glory of experiencing Spain is that there is no other country quite like it – and that extends to many easily overlooked cultural factors, right down to when people dine here.
One mistake that many tourists make, then, is imagining that they will be able to stroll into a Costa del Sol town or village at midday, and see plenty of traditional restaurants open.
Instead, local restaurants in Spain tend to open at around 2pm to 3pm, in line with the time of day when Spaniards typically have lunch. They will then often close after 4pm, and not open again until 8pm or as late as 9pm, in accordance with the timing of Spanish residents’ late dinners.
Drinking in the midday sun
While we’re on the subject of midday, we might as well mention this one; Brits can be particularly notorious for drinking a lot outdoors when it’s very warm and sunny, whereas Spanish people tend to go to the beach early in the morning, before lunching from 1pm to 5pm.
So, if you don’t want to seem like an “obvious tourist” on your visit to the Costa del Sol, and instead blend in with the locals, drinking at noon in the sun is one thing you might want to avoid.
Not having arrangements in place for travel around the region
Particularly if you are visiting the Costa del Sol with a view to taking in certain specific locations, attractions, and activities, you will want to be sure of planning your time well. That may necessitate having the transport arrangements in place that will enable you to get swiftly and comfortably from one part of the region to another.
While renting a car can be an option in Andalucia, you will need to be mindful of certain essentials, such as the minimum age of 21 for renting a car, and the fact that people drive on the right side of the road here.
You might find it easier to instead get in touch with Simply Shuttles about our own great-value, efficient, and comfortable Málaga Airport private transfers, as you can do by calling +34 951 279 117.
Failing to make the most of the free things to do here
You probably won’t need our team to remind you that there is an ongoing cost-of-living crisis going on across Europe, and indeed, the world. So, wherever you are coming from as a visitor to the Costa del Sol, there’s a good chance that you will be on a tighter budget than you might have ideally wished.
Well, one of the great advantages of holidaying on the Costa del Sol is that it’s not exactly a place where you can only have fun if you spend heavily on certain attractions.
After all, the “Sun Coast” is replete with all manner of natural attractions such as beaches, parks, and gardens – and that’s before one even considers the free or low-cost entry that many museums and landmarks offer.
Bear in mind, though, that certain sites may be free on specific days, and charge full-price admission on other days. So, if you truly wish to make the most of your finite money, it’s a good idea to do your research in advance of boarding your plane to the Costa del Sol.
Buying essential goods on the beach
Of course, we can’t guarantee that any particular items bought from any particular outlet in Spain will be good or bad quality. However, you might want to be wary of purchasing such essentials as sun cream or flip-flops from beach vendors, as they can be extremely variable in quality.
There you have it – five mistakes to swerve clear of when you next visit the Costa del Sol. Hopefully, we will have helped you to feel more confident about your upcoming break in this ever-rewarding region. And when you turn to us for excellent-value Málaga Airport private transfers, you can be sure of seeing and doing even more during your holiday in southern Spain.
