For all those who want to hold on to summer a little longer – which includes us of course, a short trip to the Costa del Sol in the South of Spain is the perfect getaway; if you’re looking for nice weather, beautiful beaches, rich culture, fantastic sights, as well as affordable flights, the area around Málaga is just the right spot for a cheap holiday.

The city of Málaga from above.

Málaga has earned a reputation that makes is extremely popular with visitors. Flights are not too expensive from all over Europe, hotels & apartments are widely available, the beaches are well worth travelling there, the water is clear & refreshing and many of the activities & sights in and around the city are free of charge or low cost.

The climate in Andalusia is simply amazing, with temperatures in the high twenties to high thirties Centigrade in the summer months. This is just one of the many reason why we’ve been travelling to Carvajal, which is just outside of Málaga between Torremolinos and Fuengirola, for the last couple of years at the end of August or beginning of September. Staying outside of Málaga simply has to do with the fact that the beaches aren’t too crowded and we came across a very lovely apartment when we first searched for a place to stay at. Plus it only takes about 20 minutes by the Renfe train to the city centre.

The beach along the Costa del Sol in Spain.

Our core activities mostly vary from sunbathing to zipping Sangria, yet there are plenty of things to do both at day and night (among the most popular are for example a day trip to the world-famous Alhambra in Granada or a visit to the Picasso Home Museum), so every kind of traveller should find what they’re looking for.

The Alhambra in Granada, Spain.

1.) Tell us a little bit about yourself and how your passion for travelling started.

I was fortunate enough to live some abroad experiences before becoming an adult. From then on, I started to travel as much as I could, almost every month. Once again lucky, I lived the glorious days of European low-cost airlines that allowed me to travel as much as I could in between jobs and studies. Today, I am pretty much always on the move.

2.) Where is home?

Home is and always will be Galicia, a beautiful region in the north west of Spain, featuring more than 1000km of rough coast and a not so developed tourism industry yet. I would like to keep it like that.

3.) How did you get there? Have you lived there all your life, moved there because of College or just fell in love with the city/town on one of your trips?

I was born in Ribadeo, a lively coastal town and try to come back as much as I can to visit friends and family.

4.) What does your living situation look like? Give us a brief description (city or countryside, apartment or house, messy or neat-freak, roomies, pets, plants etc.)

At the moment, my life is spread among different places in the region although I would like to get rid of some stuff to be able to travel without any attachments. When I am home, I live between my boyfriend’s and my family’s.

5.) What’s your favorite spot in your apartment or house & why?

Neither I rent or owe a house but I guess the living room is where all the social action takes place. I love to have guests and friends over.

6.) Do you prefer books or movies (plus what’s your favorite one)?

Movies. I can’t live without a daily one. Anything clever, with a good photography or OST would do. Just forget about comedies, terror, cheesy, teen or B-movies. I am more into drama, history and biographies.

7.) Where & how do you write your blog articles? Do you start with a rough draft or get right to it?

It’s been just three months since I started writing at A World to Travel so I am still trying to figure out how to proceed. Anyway, I write whenever I have some spare time. Balance between travelling and writing is not easy.

Many times inspiration comes while having some tapas or right before going to sleep. An always present little notebook keeps track of those ideas waiting to become articles.

8.) What does a perfect day in your hometown look like? What season is it? Are you inside or outdoors? Do you hang out with friends or family?

Getting up as early as I can (not a morning person), it would involve some outdoor activities in the afternoon before heading for some social time at the local tapas bars. Beach life is big in summer and there are endless hiking opportunities as well.

At the moment, I’ve just arrived from a Balkans trip and my bags need to be unpacked before my friends come over for dinner.

9.) Name three spots in your hometown, which you’d probably not find in a guidebook but you could recommend to travellers. Tell us what’s special about them.

Since my hometown is tiny, I will consider the whole region.

Loving the great nature by the Atlantic; I would recommend to pay a visit to Cies islands and Baroña ruins as well as Cathedral’s beach facing the Cantabric sea.

10.) What’s your favorite local dish (if you have one in your country/town, please tell us which one)? Can you cook it & what are the main ingredients?

Unluckily without mastering the art at all; I could still try to prepare some seafood and empanada, a tasty dish consisting in a cooked pastry filled with anything you can imagine!

11.) How much does 1 liter (or one gallon) of milk and petrol cost today?

Milk can be priced as low as 0,50€ and petrol would be 1,40€ per liter.

12.) Where are you right now, on which device to you answer this questionnaire and what shoes are you wearing (if possible please add a picture)?

At the moment I am at my boyfriend’s, writing on my laptop and barefoot. Smart phone, though, is not far away and keeps distracting me more than it should.

13.) Last but not least: What does “home” mean to you?

Not having to pack and unpack every day; the awkward necessity of cooking sometimes and a warm welcome from friends and family whenever I come back!

Want to be a part of this series?

If you want to be a part of our series, just go to the “Home Sweet Home” article and download the appropriate questionnaire. We’d really like to read your stories :)

Participants so far:

#1: Ulli Maier
#2: Nisa Maier
#3: Shvyia Nath
#4: Rika Huang
#5: Yvonne Zagermann
#6: Dario Endara
#7: Bird
#8: Roy van den Bos
#9: Monica Stott
#10: Doris Neubauer
#11: Amanda Slavinsky
#12: Edna
#13: Casper Oppenhuis de Jong
#14: Ashley Abroad
#15: Inma Gregorio

His goal was to capture the beautiful Milky Way galaxy and the surrounding of the mountain; and he managed to do a great job! Check out this video: