Is Benalmadena the right choice if you're looking for a golf course property on the Costa del Sol?
Yes — Benalmadena is the clear winner for buyers seeking a townhouse on a golf course on the Costa del Sol. This type of property is readily and easily available there, making it the natural destination for anyone with golf-front living as a priority. Fuengirola, by contrast, is largely flat and more urban in its centre, and simply does not offer the same golf course residential options.
The distinction matters more than it might first appear. When comparing two locations just ten minutes apart on the same train line, the differences in terrain and urban character directly shape what property types are available. Benalmadena's hillier topography creates the conditions for golf course developments to exist and thrive — and that shows up in the inventory available to buyers. If a golf course setting is non-negotiable for you, focusing your search on Fuengirola would mean limiting your options significantly.
Warner Leen and the team at WL Costa Properties have spent a decade living and working in Benalmadena, giving them direct knowledge of the day-to-day reality of each location — not just the listings. That ground-level familiarity is exactly the kind of context that shapes smart buying decisions. You can explore the full episode, including the five questions they use to help international buyers choose between these two towns, on Listenly.
"Every property can be made beautiful, a bit of cosmetic work, a bit of patience. But you have very little influence and control over what happens outside your property."
— Warner Leen, Co-Founder & Property Consultant, WL Costa Properties · The Costa Property Podcast, Ep. #114
See also
Yes — the advice given in the podcast is to rent via Airbnb for a month or six weeks, and to do this multiple times at different times of year, including during quieter, off-season periods, before committing to a purchase.
Roger and Stephanie, a mature couple who moved to Spain permanently to retire, chose a rustic country village property seeking an idyllic rural lifestyle. The reality of remote living proved far more challenging than expected, and their experience serves as a cautionary tale for buyers romanticising rural life on the Costa del Sol.
The biggest mistake buyers make is prioritizing the aesthetic of the property and what life looks like inside the four walls, while underestimating the importance of the surrounding location, neighbourhood, and external environment.