Elcano is a simple, charming and very clean hotel. The staff are very attentive, and you can walk to the beach or go downtown in less than 10 minutes...so, no need to take the car. The trouble is that it's almost always full, so you'll have to book well ahead of time. The price is pretty good, although it's more expensive in August, so I prefer going during Easter.
This family hotel is in the Pedregalejo neighbourhood in Malaga, the Costa del Sol capital, just a few meters from the Pedregalejo beach and Playa del Palo. The historic city centre and the harbour are about 10 minutes by car or bus, and are full of good restaurants. The hotel itself is in quite a good neighbourhood full of pubs and bars to have a drink at night with lots of atmosphere. Elcano Hotel has 12 double rooms, snack bar, terrace and garden. It also has deals for large groups or long stay. If you want to discover other Spanish provinces, it's 134 km from Granada and 210 km from Seville.