Andalusia is really three holidays in one: beach resorts, mountain villages and the Atlantic coast around Cádiz.
On the Costa del Sol, Benalmádena and Torremolinos are the easiest bases for families and first-timers, with long beaches, restaurants and everything on the doorstep, and Benalmádena has a marina and old village above the coast. Marbella is the smart end of the coast, with a pretty old town, while Estepona has a flower-filled old quarter and a calmer feel. Further west, Mijas Costa, Manilva and Casares mix quieter beaches and golf with a white hilltop village.
Inland, Cómpeta and Sedella in the Axarquía are white villages in the hills east of Málaga, cooler and quieter, with views down to the sea and the beach under an hour away. Toward the Atlantic, Cádiz, Puerto Real and Arcos de la Frontera give you a different Andalusia: a historic port city, wide beaches and one of the famous white villages.
Málaga (AGP) is the main airport for the whole region, with direct flights from many UK and European cities, and the coast and the Axarquía villages are within roughly an hour's drive. For Cádiz and Puerto Real, Jerez (XRY) is the closest airport and Seville (SVQ) is a good alternative. Granada (GRX) has its own airport for the Granada area. A hire car is useful for the villages and for exploring beyond the coast, while the coast itself is well served by buses and the Málaga-Fuengirola train.
Andalusia is one of Europe's sunniest regions, with hot, dry summers (July and August often reach the mid-30s) and mild winters. April-June and September-October are the best months for beaches and sightseeing together, with warm sea in early autumn. Winters are pleasant on the coast, while the hill villages can be noticeably cooler and wetter.
On the Málaga coast, look for espetos, sardines grilled on skewers over an open fire on the beach, plus pescaíto frito (small fried fish) and cold soups such as gazpacho and ajoblanco. In the Axarquía hills expect hearty mountain dishes, cured ham and sweet Málaga wine. Around Cádiz the seafood is the star, with tortillitas de camarones (shrimp fritters) and tuna from the old almadraba fishing tradition.
Every CasaLinking stay on the Costa del Sol and in Andalusia is booked straight with the owner — same real prices, no Airbnb or Booking.com markup.