You can have it all on the Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is well-established as a bucket holiday destination, but many people don’t realise how much is on offer. Just a two hour flight from the UK, this is the short-haul destination with 300 days of sunshine per year and everything you could want for a holiday – beaches, history, culture, sports, fantastic cities, the great outdoors and even skiing! Here are just a few great reasons to overcome your preconceptions and try the Costa del Sol for your next holiday.

Terrific towns and picturesque pueblos

This area of Spain has been slammed for its concrete tower blocks and non-existent town planning. However, don’t be fooled by this negative press coverage, for every Torremolinos there are several stunning white villages nestled into the hillsides, not to mention vibrant, Spanish towns and cities with great architecture. Marbella is a fantastic town with lots of charm, a predominantly Spanish population, a beautiful beachside promenade and tons of fantastic bars and restaurants. It is often confused with the nearby Puerto Banus and thought to be an expensive, flashy place, but in fact this is a very real, working Spanish town and merits a visit. Marbella’s hidden gem is its historic and picturesque Old Town, or ‘casco antiguo’. This has changed little over the centuries and still features ancient architecture, a maze of narrow cobbled streets with charming white washed houses and beautiful plazas. At the centre is Orange Square, a beautiful and typically Andalucian square, full of orange trees and sweetly scented tropical plants. The Old Town is full of unusual shops and galleries, little chapels and churches, not to mention a fantastic selection of bars, cafes and eateries, and is a great place to explore.

The picturesque Pueblo Blancos ‘white villages’ are a typically Andalucian feature and have been well-preserved, yet little explored by most tourists. If you are able to hire a car then you can spend several days driving around the stunning countryside, exploring these little villages and stepping back into Andalucia’s past. The most beautiful is Casares, built on the mountainside around an ancient Muslim fortress. Despite its proximity to the coast it has been un-spoilt by tourism and you can spend hours wandering its quaint, narrow cobbled streets, taking in the breathtaking scenery and enjoying its sleepy old-fashioned feel.

Relax and Rejuvenate

A holiday in Spain is a great way to get rid of the stress and strain of working life. Visit some of the beautiful beach clubs, stroll down the promenade and enjoy the laid-back pace of life. In addition, there are some amazing luxury spas and health clubs where you can pamper yourself and ensure you come back rested, relaxed and rejuvenated. If facials and treatments just aren’t enough to achieve the desired result then you can combine a relaxing holiday with a spot of cosmetic surgery, for a truly rejuvenating trip! There are several clinics to choose from in this area and it can be a more affordable and discreet option than the UK. All clinics have fully-qualified, English-speaking surgeons, excellent after care and an opportunity to recover from the surgery before returning home.

Family Fun Spain is a very family friendly place and kids are welcomed wherever you go. The Costa del Sol has a whole host of fantastic places to go and things to do. A day at Funny Beach is perfect for those who love amusement, speed and adrenaline. There is a go-karting track, trampolines, video games, electric bikes and cars, a pool, children’s rides, as well as a restaurant serving kiddie-friendly fare and a bar with a live band on Sundays.

There are also a number of cinemas showing English films, children’s theatre at the Black Box Theatre in Marbella, a bowling alley and of course fantastic beaches. There is also Tivoli World Amusement Park in Benalmadena, the water park in Mijas-Costa, Fuengirola Zoo and Selwo safari park in Estepona.

For more teenage fun, there are many good organisations on the Coast who offer such adventures as scuba diving, quad-biking, jeep safaris in the National Parks, mountain treks on horse-back, canyoning in the region’s gorges, and paintballing. Eating and Drinking One of the many pleasures of a visit to the Costa del Sol is the fantastic food. There are so many restaurants to choose from, serving all types of food. The chiringuitos on the beach are great and tasty tapas is an excellent way to sample some of the local Spanish fare. You don’t have to walk far to find great restaurants, the main problem is knowing which ones to choose.