Hotel Las Islas
Fuengirola
Amazement all around! After following an ugly winding road through an urban area, we arrived at this hotel and were prepared for the worst, but not this!!
The place is a true paradise, with a beautiful restaurant, tropical gardens, large crystal clear swimming pool and the sea in the distance. The sympathetic and energetic owner Omar has had various successful restaurants in London over the past 20 years, but at a certain moment he chose to sell them and realise his dream here in the south of Spain. A few years back he bought this hotel when it was an old hostel, and for more than a year people put everything into it to turn it into something special. And they succeeded completely!
The hotel has been built in a U-shape, with the 12 rooms on one side and the restaurant on the other. In between lie the beautiful tropical gardens and a fabulous swimming pool. There are 6 rooms on the ground floor, with bath, and 6 on the first floor that have only a shower but a bigger view. It is simply a matter of what you enjoy most.
And speaking of enjoyment, you can do that in the truly outstanding restaurant. Inspired by the owner’s heritage, Lebanese-Mediterranean food is served here, outstandingly original and seriously tasty!! And in the evening, the setting is fairy-like and very romantic. Also there is a funny detail; having driven along the long entryway, you feel at first as if you are far away from the sea. But to our great surprise, there is a footpath that will take you directly to the beach via the garden in less than 10 minutes!
We are very enthusiastic mostly by a welcoming Omar and his energetic team!
Cons:
• Coming by car, you have to take a long and winding entryway through an urban area. It's really only like that getting there, though, coming back is much more efficient.
Pros:
• Very friendly personnel, owner is an enthusiastic perfectionist
• Romantic atmosphere
• Very tasty and original food
• Extremely well maintained
• Lovely tropical gardens that are beautifully lit in the evening
Hotel Las Islas
surrounding area
Fuengirola
Fuengirola is a frequently visited seaside resort. Along with Torremolinos it is the most popular destination along the Costa del Sol. Unfortunately there are a lot of new buildings, but in the Santa Fé de Bolices neighbourhood with its small streets the old fisherman's village is still vaguely recognisable.
Family
In Fuengirola the zoo, which is a small but beautifully laid-out zoo.
Torremolinos (20km) has water parks with slides over 100m long (!). Both you can visit a crocodile park with more than 300 crocodiles.
Close to Benalmádena (10km) 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.
Close to Estepona (67km) 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 (from the higher part of the park down to the bottom).
Golf
The hotel can sort out your green fees and golf lessons at several golf courses in the area. There are over 40 golf courses on the whole Costa del Sol.
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.
The following villages/towns in the area are definitely worth a visit:
Mijas (9km; 20min):
Mijas is a pueblo blanco (white village), 8 km inland on wooded slopes. It is a touristy village with a labyrinth of steep streets with steps that you can negotiate on a burro (donkey) taxi... On a clear day, the village’s park offers fine views of the valley and the sea.
Marbella (36km; 30min):
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).
Málaga (33km; 30min):
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 (94km; 1h20min):
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.
Apart from the Plaza de Toros, the Palacio Mondragón is another important sight; this is a palace decorated with original Moorish mosaics and plastering.
About 15 km outside Ronda you will find caves, the Cueva de la Pileta (near Benaoján), with prehistoric paintings.
And you can, of course, head for one of these world famous cities for a day trip:
Granada (163km;1h55min):
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 (188km; 2h10min):
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 (238km; 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.