Marbella

Ever heard the saying " Just a Way of Life " ,well this was the original motto for this up market resort town . For a long time Marbella has been a favourite location for the rich and famous, (and the aspiring rich and famous) many have compared said that Marbella is southern Spain's answer to St Tropez. Well San tropez it certainly isn't, It is more brash and in your face and at times resembles a scene from "Dallas a la Costa" However haning said that, marbella is unique and well worth a visit, Prices tend to be higher here than most other coastal areas of Spain but the international choice of shops, restaurants and clubs remains unsurpassed

In addition to the multi million euro villas and overpriced apartments there are still the charming back streets in the old part of town. The central point of these is 'Orange Square' located just off the main street and is home to the 16th century town hall and tourist office .. Orange Square, ( "La Plaza de los Naranjos") has many old buidings,shops,galleries and bars/restaurants and is worth a visit . Walk around the surrounding streets where people live as well as work and play, there are many upmarket restaurants here as well as local spanish tapas bars.
Visit the La Alhameda are between the coast and Orange square and take a horse drawn carriage to tour the city, but negotiate your fare first. The Paseo maritimo area and the Avenida del Mar (Avenue of the sea) area has a unique style , Up market restaurants, shops, bars, apartments,beach bars etc etc.
The coast area of Marbella (Stretching 25km from Cabopino to Guadalalmina) is delightfull stretch of sandy beaches. stop off at one of the beach restaurants (Cheringitos) and samole freshly cooked fish and sea food and of course the regions favourite sea side meal of chargrilled sardines followed by Paella and sangria.
Marbella has its own casino (One of suprisingly few in the region), A sporting harbour, shops, and a unique collection of Salvador Dali sculptures on permanent view outdoors. Although many people confuse Marbella with Puerto Banus, The Banus area is the real Jet set coastal area , Chic and pricey, here you will find upmarket shops, a cinema complex, bars and restaurants, coffe shops, and of course the deepest marina on the coast (Which can be home to some of the worlds most expensive Yachts) . Over the years Banus has grown and grown and with this expansion has come change, In its hey day if you lived in Puerto Banus you were part of an international jet set elite, Nowadays, nobody can deny the area still has a lot of class, charism and pazzaz ,but it also has a fair share of "Common Tat", See if you can spot the difference????

The area of Marbella consists of a number of sub regions,
Bahia de Marbella , Calahonda, Marbella City, El Paraiso, Elviria , Golden Mile , Guadalmina , Los Monteros , Nueva Andalucia , Puerto Banus , San Pedro , Sierra Blanca ,

Bahía de Marbella

East of Marbella an upmarket urbanisation . Situated by the beach close to theHospital Costa del Sol,.
the area has its fair share of top hotels,restaurants, golf courses (Including the famous Marbella golf club)
The naturist area and marina of Cabopino are just a couple of killometers away.

Calahonda

Originall Calahonda was the name of the property development (One of the largest on the coast) But over the years the area has grown and matured and is now regarded by many as a town . Truth is that it is part of the municipality of Mijas.The are has many green areas and remains not to badly over crowded. There are shops, restaurants and leisure facilities, including 4 golf courses, all on site

City Centre Marbella

Marbella's city centre provides a Spanish urban lifestyle , Housing is mainly restricted to either high rise apartment blocks or small white town houses, The city area can be very noisey and hot but you have all the facilities and culture of Marbella on your doorstep.

El Paraiso

El Paraiso is, as the Spanish name suggests, a paradise. One of Marbella's more prestigious urbanisations, this community is made up of villas and flats and enjoys a peaceful setting, which is preserved by strict rules governing the type of development that can take place within its borders.A fine four-star hotel, El Paraiso, located within the urbanisation, is known for its health clinic which focuses on wellness therapies and strategies. Also on site is an 18-hole golf course with its accompanying club and various tournaments, including a celebrity Pro-Am, that are held here every year. To complete the offering five hard courts are available at the tennis club and there is a lawn bowls club as well.
All amenities are available at the community's commercial centre, which includes a bank, supermarket, restaurants, travel agency, care hire and an array of other professional services.
El Paraiso is located approximately 10 minutes (driving) from Marbella, heading west towards Estepona. The nearest airports are located in Málaga and Gibraltar, each of which can be reached in about one hour.

Elviria

Elviria is a community located about 15 minutes east of Marbella's city centre. It is well equipped with services, amenities and entertainment facilities.
Because this is a coastal urbanisation, many homes are within walking distance of the beach. Also conveniently located are the Santa María and Santa Clara golf courses with their respective clubs; two more courses - Golf Club Marbella and Golf Rio Real - are only a short drive away. The El Casco Tennis club is another attraction at Elviria, offering quality facilities.Cabopino port offers nearby moorage to Elviria residents with Málaga's international airport only 50 kilometres away. Health services are also nearby in the form of one of Málaga's most prestigious hospitals, Hospital Costa del Sol. Also on site is the English International School serving primary and secondary students.The area's five star luxury Don Carlos Hotel is a local landmark and just one of the many hotels available in this urbanisation.

The Golden Mile

What is known as Marbella's Golden Mile begins at the western edge of Marbella city and stretches to Puerto Banus. The area is exclusive and home to some of the area's most impressive villas and estates.The Golden Mile is divided into two parts by a motorway that runs through it. Along the motorway are strings of business centres, five-star hotels, golf course and other services. The beachside of the motorway is fully developed, while the mountain side is still undergoing development. Investment opportunities in this area include spectacular views of mountain and sea.Urbanisations in the area's sea side are Alhambra del Mar, La Alcazaba, Las Torres, Los Verdiales, Marbellamar, Marina Marbella, Oasis, Rio Verde and Santa MargaritaOn the Mountain side of the motorway, the following urbanisations are currently developing: Sierra Blanca, Nagüeles, Cascada de Camoján, Jardines Colgantes, Marbella Hill Club, El Venero, El Batatal, La Capellania, La Virginia, Carolina, El Vicario, Altos de Salamanca, Casas del Señorio de Marbella, Coto Real, Ancon Sierra.

Guadalmina

Guadalmina is a beachside community. It is centrally located, about 10 minutes from Marbella's Puerto Banus, even closer to the small, satellite neighbourhood of San Pedro de Alcántara and a 10 minute drive from the city of Estepona.The urbanisation has a 36 hole golf course and is close to three more quality courses: Monte Mayor, Atalaya Golf and El Paraiso. It is also only about five minutes driving from the health clubs at the El Paraiso urbanisation's commercial centre and the Hotel Atalaya.Three international schools are nearby: Calpe College, Aloha College and Swans Primary School.The Guadalmina Commercial Centre provides all amenities and services and includes a large supermarket, banks, numerous restaurants and cafés, an English language bookstore, furniture stores and many other retail outlets

Los Monteros

The Los Monteros area is about 15 minutes driving from the centre of Marbella. In this vast area, there are both seaside and mountainside developments separated by the coastal motorway.One of the most prestigious hotels on the cost - Los Monteros Golf - makes its home here. It is associated with the Rio Real golf course about 3 kilometres from the hotel itself. The area has added cache thanks to Spanish actor Antonio Banderas' residence here.Also worth noting is that the Hospital Costa del Sol is right off the Los Monteros exit and is well known as one of the area's highest quality health centres. The hospital overlooks Santa Clara golf course and luxury urbanisation.Los monteros is about 10 minutes from the English International College, which serves children at both primary and secondary levels.

Nueva Andalucia

Nueva Andalucia is a well thought out and attractive area just west of Marbella where, as its name suggests, the villas and apartments are based on traditional Andalusian architecture and design.
The bullring on the right marks the entrance to Nueva Andalucia, while the road climbs towards the mountains affording magnificent views of the coast. On a clear day, you can even see North Africa off in the distance. Sports enthusiasts can find plenty on offer here with tennis, paddle tennis and a gymnasium. For golfers in particular, the area could not be more ideal. There are several magnificent courses within virtual putting distance, including Las Brisas , Los Naranjos , Aloha Golf and La Dama de Noche , which is floodlit for night time play. All the Nueva Andalucia golf courses are surrounded by stunning scenery with a backdrop of mountains.Nueva Andalucía is also fast becoming known for its cuisine which ranges from a down home American deli to the ultimate in cordon bleu. It also boasts one of the most popular commercial centres in the area, Centro Plaza comprising quality shops, restaurants, bars and offices, as well as a supermarket, gymnasium and beauty parlour. In other words, this thriving commercial centre has everything that the consumer might want - from taking care of the weekly shop, to buying unusual and exquisite gifts, including carpets, antiques, luxury toiletries and, not surprisingly perhaps, everything you may need for the golfer in the family. There is also an excellent street market (" rastro ") held next to the bullring here every Saturday morning.Aside from recreational, sport and commercial facilities, Nueva Andalucía has several schools, including the international Aloha College. It is also home to one the Costa del Sol's just two casinos, which boasts a vast gaming room as well as various other facilities.For both residents and visitors, Nueva Andalucía is ideally situated, just a few minutes drive from the glitz and glamour of Marbella and Puerto Banús , yet close to the natural beauty of the Sierra de Ronda mountain range and San Pedro Alacantara, a refreshingly unspoilt pueblo with an appeal all of its own.

Puerto Banus
is located just west of Marbella, before you reach the small town of San Pedro de Alcantara. This is the place to be pampered yachtside and ogle those fabulous luxury yachts while sipping a drink at one of the many open air restaurants and bars. The setting is close to ideal, with its impressive mountain backdrop and ocean views.
Since its inception some forty years ago, the port has steadily grown and now features a casino, commercial shopping centre, a Corte Ingles department store, marine observatory and a multi cinema with films shown with their original soundtrack.
Nightlife buzzes at Puerto Banus with your choice of alfresco bars, piano clubs and discos while during the day this is a window shopper´s dream with several of the world renowned fashions houses featured here, in addition to small, interesting shops and boutiques.
If you really want to have a bird´s eye view of the port´s magnificent position, then regular boat trips are the ideal solution and available on a regular basis from the central promenade.The beach adjacent to Puerto Banus holds a European blue flag.Every Saturday morning at Puerto Banus by the bullring is a very popular street market where you can pick up all sorts of bargains.

San Pedro de Alcántara

is in an ideal situation, just 10 kilometres west from all the glitz and glamour of Marbella , yet just a few minutes drive away from the natural beauty of the Sierra de Ronda mountain range and 20 km from the town of Estepona . An ancient farming community, once famous for sugar cane, today San Pedro is a refreshingly unspoilt pueblo with an appeal all of its own. Be sure to head for the central plaza here with its gracious parish church and surrounding narrow streets which are packed with intriguing small shops, sidewalk cafes and bars. Thursday is street market day with all the associated hustle and bustle; a veritable bargain shopper's paradise. A pleasant walk is from the centre of town to the beachfront along the Avenida del Marques del Duero which is a particularly attractive wide avenue flanked by palm trees. And the modern wide promenade is ideal for continuing your stroll (or skateboarding!) with several excellent chiringuitos (beachside restaurants) specialising in fish dishes. Visit Bora Bora if only for a drink at the bar. It is one of the best beach clubs on the coast, with a superb restaurant and all the usual beach facilities, a tropical paradise. San Pedro also has the last summer fair ( feria ) in Andalucia being in the second week in October. History buffs will enjoy the Paleochristian Balisilica Church by the sea and the third century Roman Baths, Las Bovedas . Check at the local tourist office for timings. The Paleochristian Balisilica Church and Necropolis is located in the woods next to the Bora Bora Beach Club that is on the sea front directly infront of the town. A little further west along the beach to Guadalmina is located the restored remains of the Roman Baths. If driving leave San Pedro westward towards Estepona. Stop at the tourist office in the Arch for the keys. After passing under the Marbella Arch, turn right and double back under the road tunnel.Head down to the sea and the Roman baths are next to the Guadlamina Beach Club.

Sierra Blanca

Sierra Blanca is an urbanisation located at 300 metres above sea level and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea to Africa as well as Marbella's lush, green Golden Mile. The term "Golden Mile" has traditionally referred the coastal area that stretches from the western border of Marbella city to Puerto Banus port. However, now that the Golden Mile is fully developed some residents and estate agents are beginning to refer to the corresponding inland area as the mountainside of the Golden Mile. This is where Sierra Blanca is located along with a number of other fine, rustic urbanisations. Sierra Blanca takes its name from the Sierra Blanca mountain range of which La Concha, the mountain that towers above the urbanisation, is part. Views are breathtaking in every direction and all services and amenities are conveniently located in the nearby centre of Marbella.