We go to Carihuela every February, and we always take a walk along the flat promenade to Benamadena - it's now a lovely stroll all the way from Benalmadena to Torremolinos, with little chiringuito bars all the way along for drinks and snacks. The marina at Benalmadena has some nice coffee shops/bars where you can stop and gawp at the fantastic meringue-shaped buildings in the posh marina (and look down at the huge fish, too). Don't miss out on taking a bus trip up to Mijas Pueblo in the hills behind the sea- it's become more commercialised in recent years but the views from the church gardens right at the top are absolutely stunning, you can see the whole coastline spread out before you, and there are plenty of eating places up there too. Plenty of hotels and apartments to suit every pocket. Tivoli World is at the top of the cable car. Day trips to Gibraltar, 2-3 day trips to North Africa if you feel like it. Malaga is the other way, easily got to on the bus (buses are excellent and cheap) and is worth a day trip if you like history/architecture - they have an open top bus tour too which is interesting.