Just returned from four nights at the Hotel Monte Victoria. Yes, it's a bit of a climb up from Malaga but you can always catch the hourly No 36 bus for 1 euro which stops and picks up outside the hotel. Loved the clean comfortable room and fab bathroom. Breakfast for 7 euros extra was OJ, croissants, rolls, butter/jam andcoffee/tea or you can walk down to town and have breakfast in one of the lovely cafes on Placa de Merced. Don't miss the roast chestnut stalls - small bag for 2 euros.

We stayed at this small family hotel for one night and wished we had been able to stay longer.

It is in a lovely old building, beautifully restored, with an idyllic terrace-garden with a great view over the Gibralfaro castle and Malaga and run by a very friendly and helpful Spanish family.

We stayed in the family room, which has a spacious balcony with the same good view, and bougainvillaea climbing up to it. The furnishings and decor are very tasteful. Breakfast was good and beautifully presented in the dining room with traditional carved furniture.

The hotel is up a hill in a pleasant area of quiet streets behind the Gibralfaro castle, about 20 minutes walk from the tourist centre. Parking is possible outside, but awkward as the street is hilly and narrow.

If you want to stay in Malaga in comfort and traditional local style and visit the old centre, and aren't just looking to be near the beach, we would highly recommend this hotel as a lovely quiet and characterful place to stay.