Picasso’s Corner is a fairly cheap youth hostel located in Malaga, Spain. Don’t let the price deceive you, you get a lot of bang for your buck. Having stayed in the nearby Marriott in Marbella, a hotel that costs several hundred dollars a night, I can safely say that the $20-$30 a night hostel was a far better experience.

You are located right in the heart of Malaga. There is an outdoor mall two minutes away by foot and a large department store (far larger than anything I’ve ever seen in the States) is about fifteen minutes away by foot, or a 3-5 Euro cab ride. This outdoor mall has any type of store you can imagine, mostly clothing and such. The department store, El Corte Ingles, had everything and more! Electronics, Clothes, Music, Sporting Goods, Etc.

Just outside the front door of Picasso’s Corner is the Minisupermercado and Jefro’s. Both are good for buying drinks, baguettes, and snacks. I did find it funny that a liter of beer was almost the same price as a small bottle of water. Minisupermercado has a very friendly owner, you should definitely strike up a conversation.

Just around the corner is a Chinese Restaurant and Donkebab. Both good if you are hungry. A 5 euro combo meal at Donkebab will fill you up for the 30 minute walk to the historic castle on the hill, and last you the return journey to boot. Beyond the castle is the bullfighting ring, and if you’re lucky you can see them practicing from on the hill.

Now the good stuff. The beach. The water gets very warm in the summer and there is a nice sandy beach with very few rocks. All the people are friendly and there is plenty of room for everyone to lay out and enjoy themselves. You don’t have to worry about what you step on when wading out into the Mediterranean to cool off.

So the rooms themselves, how were they? Well I stayed in a 5 person dorm with 4 friends and had the time of my life. If you have the choice though choose a bottom bunk as the hostel isn’t air conditioned and it tends to get hot at night even with the windows open.

The staff was quite friendly. At the bar they will make you any drink you can think of, and they come from all over the world. You get quite the diverse collection of people. There seemed to be quite a few Swedes vacationing there, and we even made a few friends. There is a communal hookah in the lobby right by the bar which is great for socializing. There is something going on every night and they even had a Spanish BBQ, and the Sangria was great.

I wouldn’t stay anywhere else. You get a very personal vibe and they are very easy going. Next time you go to Malaga, be sure to make Picasso’s Corner your home away from home.