Hotel Casa la Concha
Marbella
The wonderfully friendly French owner of this villa started an attractive initiative a year ago. She transformed her spacious villa in one of the higher-lying neighbourhoods of Marbella into a small-scale luxury accommodation. Very tasteful, beautifully decorated, spaciously set up and close to the sea!!
The villa has been subdivided into three rooms that lie within the house. In addition, there are two more rooms situated in a separate cottage in the back of the gigantic garden. All of the rooms, but also the public areas such as the lobby and swimming pool, have in common that they are spaciously designed and radiate luxury, not in the least thanks to the owner’s many beautiful and valuable possessions. The villa has been mentioned and praised in various international magazines. It’s an immensely special place for a unique stay. Check out the photos; further commentary is superfluous!! A tasty breakfast is served daily on the terrace, at the gigantic swimming pool or wherever you like. There is no restaurant but it is in the centre of Marbella, with an abundance of locations within five minutes by car, and that goes for the beach is well.
Moreover, the villa is perfectly suited as the starting point for trips to the entire coast. Wonderful address, not cheap, but very original and successful and it’s no wonder why!!
Cons:
• It is situated on the other side of the motorway. It takes you five minutes by car to get to the beach and the centre of Marbella. By the way, you won't hear any noise from the motorway.
Pros:
• Luxuriously and spaciously designed villa
• Very personable
• Quiet setting
• Intimate atmosphere
Hotel Casa la Concha
surrounding area
Marbella
Marbella’s old town is definitely worth a visit. One of the highlights of your visit will be having a nice outdoor dinner on the Plaza de los Naranjos, the main square, lined with orange trees. After dinner you can stroll through Marbella’s narrow streets and past its many squares.
The finest beaches on the Costa del Sol are those at Marbella, including Babaloo Beach (Puerto Banus) and Victor’s Beach Marbella).
Active/Golf
The hotel can sort out your green fees and golf lessons at several golf courses in the area. There are over 25 golf courses in Marbella and Estepona, and over 40 on the whole Costa del Sol. Other options include walks, an excursion in a 4x4, treks by bike or on horseback.
Family
A wide choice of beaches makes Marbella a suitable destination for families.
Close to Estepona (30 km; 25min) you will find the safari park Selwo Aventura, with about 200 different animal species. Some animals can be seen from a 4x4 safari bus, or you can go on an adventurous walk over the park’s wire bridges.
Close to Benalmádena (37 km; 45min) you will find the Costa del Sol’s oldest and largest amusement park: Tivoli. It offers 36 rides, beautiful gardens, and fountains.
Sealife, Andalucía's first interactive underwater park, is another option for an interesting day out.
There is also the zoo in Fuengirola (37 km; 45min), which is a small but beautifully laid-out zoo.
Torremolinos (47km; 50min) has water parks with slides over 100m long (!). As well as a beautifully laid-out zoo, which is not overly big, but interesting and fun for the kids nonetheless.
Nature
Trips by car through the hinterland of the Costa del Sol, to the Pueblos Blancos (white villages), for example, will take you through magnificent landscapes. And apart from that, you can go for walks, bike rides or treks on horseback in the adjacent Sierras.
The following villages/towns in the area are definitely worth a visit:
Málaga (59km; 45min):
The bustling port city of Málaga is Andalucía’s biggest city after Seville. It used to be an important trading port, because in the 19th century Málaga wine was exported all over Europe, until Phylloxera, the pest that had already destroyed grapevines all over Europe, reached Málaga and put an end to its wealth.
Málaga old town is the area around the cathedral. The Museo Picasso is also near the cathedral, and exhibits many of the works of this famous artist, who was born in Málaga. Further sights include the Alcazaba, one of the prime Moorish fortresses in Andalucía, and the Castillo de Gibralfaro, a 14th-century Moorish castle, which you can access through its beautiful gardens.
Also make sure you taste some of Málaga’s fine wines in a bodega, some of which also serve delicious tapas.
Ronda (61km; 1h):
Ronda has one of the most spectacular settings in all of Southern Spain. Due to this town’s unassailable location, it was one of the last standing Moorish bastions, which only fell in 1485, when it was conquered by the Christians. The town is split in two by a spectacular gorge, with the southern part being the classic Moorish pueblo blanco with cobblestone streets, small fences in front of the windows and whitewashed walls all around. The new town on the other side of the gorge contains the Plaza de Toros (bull ring), the cradle of bullfighting; it was built in 1785 and is one of Spain’s oldest. The bridge that connects the two parts of Ronda, the Puente Nuevo, spans the 100-metre-deep gorge and has become Ronda’s most famous feature, drawing in millions of visitors every year.
Gibraltar (81km; 1h10min):
The British occupied Gibraltar in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession. In 1713 Britain was granted the rock ‘forever’.
A cable car will take you from the city centre up to the Top of the Rock, Gibraltar’s highest point (450m). Halfway up the rock, at the Apes’ Den, is where the tailless monkeys of Gibraltar live. These world-famous monkeys can be rather aggressive, so hold on to your bags and cameras.
At the top of the rock you can walk to St. Michael’s Cave. Other interesting sights at the top of the rock include the Upper Galleries, tunnels in the northern part of the rock that form part of Gibraltar's defences.
From Gibraltar you can also go on a boat excursion into the bay of Algeciras to spot dolphins.
And you can, of course, head for one of these world famous cities for a day trip:
Granada (190km; 2h10min):
The Alhambra was the part of town where princes, nobility and court staff dwelled, on the hill right in the middle of Granada. The Alhambra is a huge complex, 720m in length and 220m wide. Clever use of space, light, water and decorative features are the Alhambra’s defining features.
On the hill opposite the Alhambra, the Albayzín quarter, is where Granada’s Moorish past is still most tangible. Stroll through its narrow streets, past villas with Moorish decoration and gardens, up to the Mirador de San Nicolás. This is where you will have the best views, of the roofs of Granada, with the Alhambra behind them, which makes for a stunning view, especially at sunset!
Córdoba (215km; 2h25min):
Visit the Mezquita, Córdoba's huge mosque, which has seen various different developments throughout the years to become a fascinating blend of styles and religions. And you can also go for a stroll through the districts of San Lorenzo, Judería and San Basilio, where you will encounter the most beautiful Moorish patios. Other sights include the palace/fortress Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos with magnificent gardens and fountains; various museums, such as the Museo Arqueológico, Museo Taurino, Museo de Bellas Artes; a string of great squares, such as the Plaza de la Corredera, Plaza del Potro.
Seville (255km; 2h45min):
The capital of Andalucía is a compact city with a rich past. Most of its major sights are in or near the city centre on the Guadalquivir river’s left bank. And they also know how to party and have a good time in this city of flamenco and tapas.
As you wander through the old Jewish quarter, the Barrio Santa Cruz, through a maze of white streets and patios, you should not forget to take in the imposing cathedral, the Moorish bell tower, La Giralda, and the royal palace Real Alcázar. You can unwind in the María Luisa park, where you can spend the hottest part of the day under orange trees and palm trees.
The museum Museo de Bellas Artes, one of Spain’s best museums of art, is a real must. And then there are its magnificent palaces and other sights, such as the Plaza de Toros de la Maestranza (bull ring); Casa de Pilatos and the Torre del Oro.