A few years ago my brother announced that he had bought an apartment in a place called “La Duquesa” on the Costa de Sol. Having spent some time “down the Costa” in the past I couldn’t think where it was but it turned out to be midway between Estapona and Gibraltar, well away from the noise, all day English Breakfasts and Irish bars of Torremolinos and Fuengirola. You can reach it cheaply via Malaga or slightly more expensively via Gibraltar (we choose the later because we live near Heathrow but mainly because Gib Airport is so much easier to navigate through when you are travelling with somebody in their 90s).
As indicated by the name the centre of La Duquesa is around the Puerto, the harbour. There are small shops and a good range of bars and restaurants, none of which are likely to be claiming Michelin stars but most serve inexpensive but good quality food, To either side of the harbour there are long beaches backed by walkways, with a small but worth a visit castle a kilometre to the southwest and sandier beaches in Sabinillas to the north east. At regular intervals there are chiringuitos, a couple of which can be reached by car, allowing easy access for a reduced mobility person.
Nearly all the accommodation is self catering and some comes with a health warning – they are some up rather large hills (including my brother’s place). However, there are plenty by the sea front and if you don’t mind driving there are some superb views from on-high. Shopping for the basics is at a couple of local supermarkets, Aldi or Lidl or, if you are desperate for English stuff, 25 mins away in Gibraltar.
For other things to do other than relax, eat and drink, Estapona old town, Puerto Banus and Marbella and even Rhonda are in range. Gibraltar is more than worth a day visit, remembering that some of the sights there involve a bit of difficult walking.
