Where can I buy tickets for the Malaga airport to Marbella bus?

We are arriving at Malaga airport this Saturday at 8:15pm in the evening and plan to catch the 9:15 pm coach to Marbella- will we definitely be able to get a ticket on the bus? How busy is this bus usually? If it is easier, can we buy the tickets in advance? Many thanks A

From Malaga airport buy tickets on the bus

Hi A Thank you for checking in to www.gomarbella.com There is no place to buy tickets in advance for the bus service when you are travelling from Malaga airport and you have to buy them on the bus. I have often used the service myself and it has never been more than about a third full at the most.

Just this morning though I went to the airport to pick up a family friend at midday and the bus pulling out was nearly full. This is the only time I have ever seen it like that.  If it looks like a lot of people waiting don't be polite, one of you puts the suitcases on and the other pushes firmly towards the door. The baggage locker doors open on both sides of the bus at the same time so if your partner zips around the other side of the bus, where nobody ever goes, he will get the suitcases on before anybody else and be back with you in the queue at the bus door.

There are other buses using the same bus stop so what looks like a lot of people may well be travellers using the internal bus system or going to Malaga bus station so there are no well defined queues as such.

Your bus will be marked Marbella - Aeropuerto so when you see it coming through the tunnel past the taxis, just start moving off the kerb towards the front door of the bus. Don't be polite, if there are Spanish travellers on the bus, they are not going to hang around!

From Marbella bus station buy the tickets from the ticket office
Buy your bus ticket to Malaga airport at the Marbella bus station ticket office
These passengers have already put their suitcases into the luggage lockers under the bus going from Marbella bus station to Malaga airport and are waiting for the driver to open the door. The driver sits on the right of the bus and this is the side of the bus which pulls in to the kerb at Malaga airport. There is always a scramble on this side while passengers heading for Marbella try to put their suitcases on whilst the passing arriving at the airport try to get their suitcases off. The smart thing to do is to load your suitcase on the other side and get it off first. Watch out for traffic on the other side of the bus.

When you travel back from Marbella bus station to Malaga airport, you have to get into one queue at the Marbella bus station ticket office along with everyone else travelling to other destinations on the Costa del Sol. The airport bus leaves very punctually and won't wait if you are in the queue.

If it looks as if you are not going to get your ticket in time then go to the driver of the airport shuttle bus and tell him you are in the queue. He will take you to the front to get your ticket. Don't miss your bus just to be polite. You are in Spain now and you want to get home.

The airport bus driver will open the luggage lockers first for you to load your suitcases on and then when he is ready, had his coffee or been to the loo, will open the doors. A queue of travellers who already have their tickets will form until the bus door is opened.

Many thanks for your prompt reply to my email. I must say, that is the best, most honest advice I have been given in a long time!! Many thanks, I will push my way onto the direct bus to Marbella no matter what!! If not, I will travel in the boot!! A
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Hello, I am travelling to Marbella with my wife via Malaga Airport arriving on Monday in November at 10.15. We are visiting family in Marbella but they can not pick us up and suggested that we travel by your bus. I have downloaded your time table and note that the bus leaves Malaga Airport at 10.15. My question is does this bus wait for passengers to come out of the airport or do we have to wait for the 12.00 bus? Our flight is with Easyjet. Thank you for any help you can give. Sorry I don't speak or write Spanish. Regards Michael
Hello Michael Thank you for using www.gomarbella.com

I am afraid that the bus from Malaga airport to Marbella bus station does not wait for anyone at all! As soon as all the passengers are on board, the bus leaves the airport bus stop.  You buy your tickets as you get onto the bus. On the reverse journey, it leaves according to the scheduled time and passengers need to have bought their tickets from the Marbella bus station ticket office in good time.

If the plane lands at 10:15 and Easyjet is most often a little early, then you should have your luggage by 10.45. I suggest that you have a coffee in the restaurant in the arrivals hall, just to the left as you come out into the arrivals area. The bus will arrive from Marbella a few minutes before the scheduled departure time from the airport, load up suitcases and passengers and then be off again so don't be late coming out of the restaurant!

I hope this helps your planning. Please note that this information is coming from the gomarbella information web site and not from the Portillo bus company.

Sent: Monday, October 08, 2007 Subject: Malaga Airport to Marbella Bus Station
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How to get your ticket for the Malaga airport to Marbella shuttle bus from www.gomarbella.com