13 El Romeral, La Mairena, Elviria, Marbella

Helpful Hints

APARTMENT

Lounge

The lounge has Satellite TV and a DVD player. (It may be useful to take some DVD’s with you in your trip). The lounge also has a CD and radio with a collection of CD’s, although you may want to take your own.

We have left a number of books in the apartment, which may be enjoyed during your stay. Please leave all books at the apartment when you leave.

There a number of Costa del Sol and Marbella guidebooks and maps stored in the sideboard in the dinning area. These may be useful during your stay, but please leave these for the benefit of other guests.

Satellite TV

The Satellite provides BBC1, 2, 3 and 4 and a host of other sports and news channels. To start the satellite, press the AV button on the Grundig TV Remote Control. Then press OK on the satellite remote control and this will provide a list of channels. Use the up/ down buttons to choose relevant channel and press exit to clear screen when choosing relevant channel.

Kitchen

The kitchen is fully equipped with a large fridge freezer, cooker, microwave and dishwasher. The kitchen also has plenty of plates, cutlery, and pot and pans.

Please leave the fridge and freezer drawers open when departing.

Bedding and Towels

Fresh bedding is kept in relevant drawers in each bedroom. Fresh towels are kept in the upstairs bathroom cupboard.

You will need to take your own beach/pool towels, but regular towels are available in the apartment.

Security

The apartment is secure with security grates over all windows. There is a safe for storage of valuables.

SHOPPING

The Sol Supermarket is at the bottom of the hill (on the right hand side as you get to the roundabout before heading towards Marbella). The supermarket is within the Elviria Commercial Centre, which is a small complex of shops. This is not the best supermarket to shop in, but is good for small items and there is an in store bakery for fresh bread and cakes.

Taxi Sol are also based here – 952 774 488 + 952 823 535 – will come to German School at back of apartment to collect.

“ La Canada” shopping centre for all shopping needs is along the N340 Costa Road and is located just past the Marbella turn off.

This is the best place to buy food and drink, as the prices are much lower and choice much better than in the local Super Sol in Elviria.

CLEANERS

The cost of cleaners is included in the tariff for the apartment. They will clean the apartment on your departure. We would ask you to take out any remaining rubbish and empty the fridge of perishable items. The cleaners will wash and re-make the beds with fresh linen.

CAR HIRE

We would recommend that you hire a car in order to get to the apartment and fully appreciate the surrounding countryside. Directions from Malaga Airport and directions to local attractions can be found on the 'Directions' page. We can recommend www.carjet.com if you wish to collect a car from the airport.

RESTAURANTS

La Mairena  Kudu Bar and Café - At La Mairena in the square at the top of the hill – good for drinks and snacks – great long distance views up the coast to Mijas.

Elviria  Asia Restaurant - lovely Asian cuisine and a very friendly ambience.

 Fondue Lounge - speaks for itself!

 Dragon Del Mar - Chinese restaurant, also do take out...... and several others!

Puerto Cabopino

Minutes along the CN340 back towards Malaga. Several restaurants around a small marina.  Guiseppe’s - cheap an cheerful Italian, good pizza.

 Alberts - colourful dining experience!

 Da Brunos - excellent Italian food. Located other side of flyover at Cabopino (also located off Marbella beachfront).

Marbella

Lots of restaurants in the Old Town around Orange Square and along the beachfront.  Orange Tree Restaurant - fine Mediterranean cuisine. Off Orange Square. Telephone Number 952 924 613.

 Gambrinus - authentic Spanish tapas, seafood specialty. Off main road of Marbella town just past Zara.

 Da Brunos - as above, but more lively.

Puerta Banus

Lots of restaurants around the marina and also further back towards Plaza de Antonio Banderas.

BEACHES

16 kilometres of beaches along the coast.  Playa Perla Blanca Beach which is near the Don Carlos Beach Club – head down the hill, over the N340 road and go over two roundabouts and turn left where the Don Carlos is signposted right.

 Cabopino Beach – head back to Malaga and take to turn off to Cabopino and then head down the hill and turn where signposted “Andy’s Beach bar”. Las Dunas, further down the beach, for those who like it nude!

 The Don Carlos Marriott has a good Beach restaurant around the swimming pool where lunch is about €12-13.

 Nikki Beach – this is based on the beach at Elviria next to the Don Carlos Marriott. Very cool and sophisticated environment, with a DJ playing from 2.00pm. However, not cheap!! Worth checking out the website before you go.

DIRECTIONS

MALAGA AIRPORT TO EL ROMERAL

On arriving in Malaga Airport, after the baggage claim area, the car hire area can be found on the floor below. Follow the directions for 'Car Hire'.

On leaving the airport:

 Follow the signs for E15 to Cadiz and Algerciras for approximately 1 mile.

 Follow exit for CN340 road/ E15 motorway (the same road with two names -do not follow signs for Torremolinos)

 Continue along CN340/E15 pasing under a cable car and downhill.

 At this point the motorway splits and you need to get into the right hand lane and continue towards Fuengirola "N340 Costa Road - Fuengirola". Do not head towards Marbella on the toll road ("Pleaje Toll") as this will take you too far beyond Marbella.

 Continue on N340 (coast road) and you will pass through Riviera Del Sol, Calahonda, Puerta Cabopino and Las Chapas.

 After the exit for Las Chapas, you will see the Don Carlos Hotel on the left. Shortly after, you will need to take the exit for Elviria.

 On leaving the N340, you will approach a roundabout with a parade of shops on your right. Go straight across this roundabout onto Avenida de Espana.

 At the next roundabout, you need to take the second exit heading up the hill, which is sign posted La Mairena.

 Continue up the hill on the same road for the next 5 kms or so (and start to enjoy the views!). Take care as the road, in parts, is quite windy and steep.

 As you approach the top of the hill, you will enter a small square.

 You will see the Kudu bar on the left hand side of the square. You need to take the road off to the immediate right over several speed bumps. The apartment is now only a few hundred metres away.

 Continue along this road and you will see a sign “Collegio Ecos” on the wall on the left hand side. Keep going through and down this road, which narrows and turns to the right. Just as the road turns, you will see a block of apartments on the right.

 This is El Romeral. You have arrived!

 If the security barrier is down, use the bleeper.

 The apartment is number 13 and is in the middle block.

 Park up and then take the steps down and along to number 13. MARBELLA  From the apartment, drive back to the CN340 (coast road).

 At Elviria, follow signs for Marbella Centro. Continue along the coast road for approximately 10 km.

 Exit CN340 following signs for Marbella Centro.

 As you enter Marbella town, you will pass under the famous "MARBELLA" bridge.

 Entering Marbella from this direction, the Old Town is to the right and the beach is to the left of the main road. Continue along the main road to enter the "Golden Mile".

CABOPINO  From the apartment, drive back to the CN340 (coast road).

 At Elviria, follow signs for Malaga. In this direction on the CN340, Las Chapas is the next exit with the Cabopino exit shortly after.

 As you drive up the slip road, take the first exit at the roundabout and drive down the slight hill. The port and restaurants are on the right.

PUERTA BANUS  Follow the Marbella directions but do not exit at the signs for Marbella Centro.

 Continue on the CN340 through a tunnel. Exit at the signs for Nueva Andalucia / Puerta Banus

 At the roundabout, turn left and pass under the CN340 to the next roundabout. Continue straight across towards the beach front. At the next roundabout, turn right and continue along to park under Plaza de Antonio Banderas.

RHONDA A marvellous old medieval town located in the mountains on the way to Seville. Takes about 60 minutes to get there up windy mountain roads, but well worth the trip. Consider an overnight stay!

 Head towards Marbella on the CN340 and keep on going past Puerta Banus.

 At the traffic lights before San Pedro, you will see a sign on the right to Rhonda.

 Follow this road and keep going up and over! Rhonda is a 30 minute journey along this road.

OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST

 Malaga - 40 minutes form the apartment. Worth visiting the cathedral, castle/fort, Picasso museum and of course to shop!

 Granada - 1 hour drive beyond Malaga. Worth visiting the Alhambra Palace complex

 Seville -2 hour drive inland. Beautiful historical town with spectacular cathedral. Avoid in peak season as can be too hot.

 Cordoba – beautiful town 2 hours inland with Jewish Quarter and large mosque/cathedral. Restaurant Cabello Rojo opposite the entrance to the mosque is particularly recommended!

 Gibraltar - 1 hour via the coastal road towards Cadiz. Monkeys, M&S and Duty Free heaven!