We found a sunny harbor town which is brilliant for parents with young children

For a long time my thoughts when it came to the holidays were beer, sun, beer and more beer.

Whether it was boys’ trips or city breaks with my partner, getting away was always about a few days of hedonism and a break from work and any other responsibilities.

Now that I’m a dad, the prospect of traveling abroad has brought with it a slight sense of dread, to be perfectly honest. I love my little boy but like most babies he can be a little fussy and the thought of boarding a flight to a hot country with an eight month old gave me sleepless nights (although he was already easily holding me up ).

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But alas, I needn’t have feared. The little guy did a first-class performance on the plane, expertly assisted by my wife, who managed to keep him feeding or sleeping all the way there (and all the way back). What a result.

We decided to head to Malaga, a port city in the autonomous Spanish region of Andalucia on the Costa del Sol. You can fly to Malaga from Liverpool with Jet2. Our choice was based on a combination of cheap flights, good weather and the prospect of exploring an interesting city that we (my wife) had heard was good for getting around on foot and with a buggy.

It’s funny how your priorities can change. In previous years I would have found the best location for lively pubs and cool clubs, but now I look at where it has accessible ramps and places with solid baby changing facilities. Obviously pubs remain a big factor and always will be.

After sailing smoothly, I was able to get from an easy train connection directly from the airport to the city center. As a group of rambunctious lads headed towards Torremolinos in the other direction, it made me think of my younger self, but to be honest, as a man now in my thirties, I got tired and restless just imagining- the hangovers they were going to have. .

With the weather on our side, we left our bags at the Airbnb (thankfully air conditioned well) and with the baby playing ball, we set off to explore.

Malaga is a truly wonderful city. It combines great culture and hospitality with walkable streets, trendy neighborhoods and a hugely impressive regenerated harbor area that welcomes cruise ships throughout the day.

There are also a multitude of beaches to explore (16 in total). The town’s main beach is Playa de la Malagueta, about a 20-minute walk from the old town. Here we introduced our little man to his first taste of sand and sea (the former more popular than the latter).

We enjoyed exploring the pedestrian streets of the city’s old town (great for pushing a pram) where you can find a mix of shops, bars, restaurants and some important historical sites nestled together. A visit to the incredible Alcazaba in Malaga is a must.

Obviously, no trip to Spain is complete without stuffing your face with delicious tapas and things we did. However, if you fancy a change of cuisine, we’ve found plenty of really interesting restaurants serving everything from tacos to curries.

After a tumultuous first eight months of parenting, this was exactly the kind of relaxed trip we needed in a city that offered everything we needed – sunshine, good food, culture, accessibility and of course some cracking beers. We will come back.

Ryanair and easyJet both offer flights to Malaga from Liverpool, while Jet2 will offer a new route to the city in 2025.