Making the best of Malaga

I was only in Malaga one day in 2006, but it's not clear to me that it's "so touristy." It was certainly not empty, but it didn't feel like there were no natives around. Many tourists are using its airport, but to get to beach destinations in the area (Torremolinos, Marbella, etc) rather than to Malaga itself.

Malaga isn't that bad. I would stay one night, explore it a bit the next morning to afternoon, then head to Granada. I haven't done much in Malaga , but there is a good cathedral area and some museums etc. I don't see the need for 2 nights if it's not somewhere you really want to go. But since you will be there, might as well see a bit of it! The really touristy stuff is in resort areas along the coast - I have not been, but I know Torremolinos and Marbella have this reputation. Malaga, not as much.

Just a note - It's GrAnada, not GrEnada. I'm not usually a stickler for spelling, but Grenada is in the Caribbean and Granada is in Spain, so mixing up the spelling gives you info about a whole different place. Careful when doing google searches, etc!

Malaga the city, not the province and not an alternative way of referring to the 200 km. long Costa del Sol, is a fine normal working Andalucian/Spanish city of over 500,000 population. It is touristed but I do not understand why you think this a difficulty or it it has no culture. Malaga is busy like a city, has tourists (what are you?) and rightly so, as does everywhere else on your itinerary - except I know nothing of Odeceix - more so day time, these days, with the expansion of the cruise ship port. Do some googling, even if you only look at the images.

There is nothing of any interest or worth in the surrounds of a hotel near Malaga airport.

We base out of malaga for at least a week every year since 2005 and suggest you stay for at least one night, perhaps two. I suggest you take a dive into reading about activities to undertake in Malaga via tripadvisor in order to gain a good understanding of the opportunities.

Also, have you obtained an IDP from AAA for driving in Spain?

Where are you going to park while in Granada?

My questions:
1. Is Malaga so touristy that we should just get on the road the Grenada and stay part way, or risk the additional 1.5 hour drive....

Malaga is the second biggest city in Andalucia, not very touristy compare to Sevilla or Granada, and it really worth it a visit to the 3.000 years old city of Malacca.

Malaga is not touristy compare to Granada or Sevilla, you won´t have to queu to get to Alcazaba or Gibralfaro, you can see the birth place house of Picasso, the Picasso Museum, Thyssen Museum or have a nice walk from Pedregalejo to Malaga centro (about 5 kms)

Hotel La Chancla is a small hotel, and in the area there are no big hotels or resorts, so mainly spanish people there or foreign students who goes to the area to learn spanish. There are many chiringuitos (fish restaurants) in Pedregalejo as the area is full of fishermen who lives near the hotel where you´ll be.

1. Is Malaga so touristy that we won't even want to stay two nights, and we should just stay one, near the airport, and get on the road to Grenada?

Again, Malaga is not so touristy, if you don´t want to mix with tourists them don´t go to Granada or Sevilla as the Alhambra in Granada or the Cathedral in Sevilla is full of tourists every single day.

1. Other options I'm not thinking of? Just give Malaga a try and Malaga can also be cultural one city, is just depend what you look at Malaga for.

The Picasso museum in Malaga is better than the Picasso museum in Antibes, and much better than most Picasso exhibits in the US. Get the local revista for events listings and you will easily find interesting things to go to that are almost tourist-less.

Recently rented a condo on Calle Nueva in Malaga for 6 nights and loved it. Clean, friendly, encountered very few North American tourists but many Northern Europe & Brits. Rented a car for day trips to Ronda, Nerja & Granada. Surprisingly none of us were taken with Alhambra nor Granada. Preferred Sevilla's Alcazar last year.