Almeria and Surrounds

[Motown Junk]

Looking to rent a villa with pool next April/May in the are.

Never been, in fact, never been to Spain, any recommendations for where to stay?

Sea or Inland, not looking for pubs/clubs, but within walking distance of restaurants/cantinas and with a golf course or 2 within 30 mins drive.

Any suggestions, most welcome.

[Bluebarge]

I'd pick a different bit of Spain if I were you. Lived there about 20 years ago, and unless it's changed dramatically it's a relatively poor and underdeveloped part of Spain with high levels of unskilled workers (gypsy women) working in the market gardens (which means acres of plastic greenhouses). It's very dry and dusty (they used to film spaghetti westerns down there) and whilst there are nice beaches at Aguadulce and east of Almeria (Cabo de Gata) there's not much else to see.
I'd try further west, closer to Malaga.

[lunarscope]

I agree with BlueBarge - pick a different area of Spain.
Almeria is dry, dusty and covered with huge expanses of plastic greenhouses as the major industry is large-scale market gardening - IIRC, they grow most of Europe's winter vegetables there.
The greenhouses are all over the place and it is not a pretty sight.

[Motown Junk]

The Spaghetti Western set was the main (maybe only) reasons to go there!

May have a look nearer Barcelona, wherever I go will be driving from Santander so via the Pyrenees could be more scenic, anyhoo.

Ta.

[Bluebarge]

There are lots of good golf courses on that Northern Spanish coast.

[bint]

Have to agree with the comments, most of Almeria is desert - my parents live on the Almeria / Murcia border and it's all great expanses of Almond trees. The greenhouses thank goodness are further south. The lakes around Baza are worth a look, and theres some stunning scenery on the Almeria - Granada road. But if you want golf courses, go to Murcia as there are dozens around there. Cheap flight airport is Murcia, that or Alicante.