SPAIN & PORTUGAL costa del sol destinations

tretching for 100 miles along trends – with varying degrees historic cities and natural beauty of Sthe coast of Malaga province, of success. An average of 320 inland Andalucia more accessible, the Costa del Sol has been days of sunshine a year is not An improved road making it more attractive as a attracting British holidaymakers enough to draw visitors back network has made year-round destination.” for more than half a century. again and again. You might think we would be Yet it seems the demand is ’s historic w tired of it by now, but tourist there. Thomas Cook offered cities more accessible At the eastern end of the Costa numbers were higher than ever in holidays to the Costa del Sol del Sol, on the border with 2015 – a record that is set to be from 1950 until 2012. Now, after Granada province, the pretty broken again this year. a four-year break, it has decided resort of Nerja remains low-key The Costa del Sol – along with to bring the destination back for for self-catering accommodation even though it has been well other destinations perceived next summer. Chris Mottershead, to be registered, which gives established for four decades – Costa del as ‘safe’ in mainland Spain, the managing director for Thomas hotels a fairer chance to compete. making it a good choice outside Balearics and the Canary Islands Cook UK & Ireland, says: “During Neil Hesketh of Spanish high season. – has of course seen a huge our break from operating Approach, a marketing company Although a favourite for increase in interest as a result of charter flights to Costa del Sol based on the Costa del Sol, says: families, it also attracts older the unstable situation in other we received strong customer “The Costa del Sol has seen people looking for a quieter kind countries. According to Abta, demand for the destination, an upgrading of its product in of holiday and is very popular bookings to Spain are up by 26% which has resulted in the recent years – there is now a with Germans and Scandinavians Take a fresh look at this Spanish for this summer. reintroduction for summer 2017.” better quality of accommodation as well as British visitors. coastline with Annie Bennett’s The Costa del Sol has been Hotels are raising their game, and new attractions in line with Nerja is a good base resort-by-resort guide striving continually to keep up and an important development contemporary tastes. An improved for exploring by car, with sell to date with developing this year is the legal requirement road network has made the whitewashed villages and low chap e ll FAST FACT miche /

m Norwegian has o c . added routes to Malaga and from Manchester, graphy o t

o with one-way

ph fares from £35

PICTURE: 03

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far left: mountains a short drive away. w MALAGA Nerja There is more self-catering The capital of the province accommodation than hotels, Some add Malaga has undergone an astounding centre: with a lot of smaller three and renaissance since the Picasso Gran Hotel four-star options. Older hotels on to a Costa del Sol Museum opened in the city in Miramar, Malaga are being remodelled, such as beach holiday; others 2003. This was followed by the Riu Monica, which relaunched visit for a city break several more art venues including above: ASK THE this season as adult-only with a the Carmen Thyssen Museum and The Alcazaba EXPERT stylish contemporary look. the Pompidou Centre, which have fortification, created a cultural scene that is Malaga attracting visitors year-round. Some add Malaga on to a Chris Chaplow, Costa del Sol beach holiday; founder of others visit for a city break in specialist site its own right, which is made Andalucia.com easier by the vast range of flights “Tourists are available from UK airports. now making There are lots of new shorter, more gastrobars, restaurants and frequent visits. shops in the pleasant city centre, In line with this, much of which is pedestrianised. apartment and The Muelle Uno waterside villa rentals development has opened up the have increased port area, which is an increasingly as people popular cruise stop – with the become more advantage that passengers familiar with can walk off the ship straight particular areas. into the city centre. While beach The five-star Gran Hotel holidays are Miramar, in a palatial art nouveau still the biggest building overlooking the attraction and Mediterranean, is set to open in the Costa del Sol autumn 2016 and will be Malaga’s is popular for first truly luxurious hotel. out-of-season golf breaks, w AND there are now far BENALMADENA more specialist In recent years, Torremolinos has options, relied a lot on the Spanish market including and cheap deals for seniors to activities, courses, fill its ageing hotel stock, while shopping and neighbouring Benalmadena visits for medical has remained popular with purposes.”

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British visitors looking for w budget holidays. Although it has been popular Change is under way, with British tourists for nearly however. The dynamic new half a century, Fuengirola has mayor in Torremolinos has managed to retain a genuine instigated measures including Spanish feel – in some of the pedestrianisation of the centre town, at least – and offers and a range of cultural activities. accommodation types to suit The resort’s image as a everyone. gay‑friendly destination is Los Boliches at the eastern also getting a boost with new end is quieter with a substantial investment and promotion, community of British and while a massive shopping and Scandinavian residents. leisure complex has just been Fuengirola also benefits given the green light next to the from a direct train link – via above: Torremolinos town centre. Benalmadena and Torremolinos – A decade or so ago, to Malaga airport. Benalmadena and Torremolinos The zoo consistently ranks as weathered very well despite its area of midmarket hotels and started landscaping the old one of the best family attractions fame as the bus excursion to apartments with a substantial coastal motorway, taking on the Costa del Sol, while the “the market in the mountains” of resident British population. advantage of the opening of the new La Galería gourmet market, 1960s package tours. There is a range of easily inland bypass, and the result is a in the heart of the town, is a sign It is still a magical place to accessible golf courses, while pleasant dual carriageway with of the resort’s modernisation. wander around the lanes and a new four-mile boardwalk gardens and fountains that will take in views back towards the promenade, which will soon surprise many who remember w coast. Mijas Costa, the eight- be extended to , is the busy coastal strip of the The white village of Mijas in mile coastal strip between always busy with walkers and 1980s and ’90s. the hills above Fuengirola has Marbella and Fuengirola, is an runners, as the Costa del Sol

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Right: Mijas

far right: Marbella Golf Country Club

is increasingly seen as a year-round indeed, after Barcelona and Madrid, sample outdoor fitness destination. Marbella has the highest luxury goods product The authentic Spanish sales in Spain. w MARBELLA AND The Puente Romano, between PUERTO BANUS chic of Marbella’s old Marbella and Puerto Banus, is one of Prestige Holidays These resorts have bounced back town, with its boutique the most iconic high-end hotels but offers a week with from recession and political scandals, hotels, adds to its appeal is certainly not taking its position breakfast at the becoming more popular than ever with for granted. It added a Six Senses Puente Romano, holidaymakers looking for a bit of glitz. spa last year and is also now one of departing The filming of the popular series the top gastronomic hotels in Spain. September 27 The Only Way is Essex in Marbella and younger end of the market either. Dani García’s two-Michelin-starred from Gatwick Puerto Banus has put them right back The well-kept, authentic Spanish restaurant and his less formal yet with easyJet, in the spotlight with the already strong chic of Marbella’s old town, where superb Bibo are just two of the options from £1,334. UK market, with upmarket beach clubs there is a cluster of boutique hotels, on the glamorous plaza at the heart prestigeholidays. along the coast proving particularly adds to the appeal, and premium of the hotel. Guests have access to co.uk successful – and not just with the brands are once again opening stores; the Marbella Club and El Higueral golf courses a short drive way. A week at the Kempinski w AND BENAHAVIS Hotel Bahía with While Estepona is an established Classic Collection family resort, it is still very much Holidays costs a characterful town, with flowers from £1,699, tumbling from brightly painted pots flying from along lanes of whitewashed houses. Gatwick to The strip between Estepona and with Marbella, including the coastal area of Monarch on Benahavis, is now known as the New June 20, with Golden Mile, a trend started by the breakfast. stylish Kempinski Hotel Bahía. classic-collection. Several hotels have changed hands co.uk and have been revamped in the past couple of years. They include the Jet2holidays five-star Healthouse Las Dunas, which offers half-board focuses on weight-loss programmes packages at and is indicative of the increasing Iberostar Costa trend for upmarket health-orientated del Sol from holidays. The Iberostar Costa del Sol £459, including opened in March after a €2 million flights from refurbishment on El Saladillo beach on Leeds Bradford the Benahavis coast, with a fresh new left: look that includes the chic Sea Soul departing Kempinski October 13. Hotel Bahía, restaurant and a beach club that would jet2holidays.com Estepona not look out of place in Ibiza.

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