What could be more idyllic than staying in the middle of an orange grove in the wilds of Andalusia? Cortijo Los Mimbrales, in Huelva is just that – a series of converted farmhands’ cottages ensconced in the heart of a working farm of 300,000 orange trees spread over a thousand hectares.  For a quintessentially Andalusian country life experience, you’d be pushed to find a finer place… Report Louise Cook Edwards,  Photography Gary Edwards

Managing to be both simple and sophisticated at the same time, Cortijo Los Mimbrales is one of the most genuinely friendly places you could imagine in southern Spain, with relaxed, warm and obliging staff, a chilled out, yet formal ambience, with impossibly picturesque settings in which to relax at every turn.

Picture a row of pastel painted cottages, shaded by oaks and olives, fruit trees groaning with lemons, quince and pomegranates, charming patios populated with hibiscus and potted aspidistra, rustic terrace tables and chairs and tinkling fountains, and the scent of jazmin wafting on the late summer breeze, Cortijo Los Mimbrales has a “villagey” feeling, and the feeling of a real working community is palpable.

Not only have the simple workers residences been lovingly converted into stylish hotel rooms and villas, but many of the staff in the hotel are descendants of the original workers, rigorously trained for the challenges of a customer oriented business, so the sense of community is very real, and everyone seems to be sprinkled with the magical stardust of collective pride.

Understated Style
The rooms are designed in tasteful classical Andalusian style, the kind of décor you would expect to find in many a home in Seville  – with countrified prints, warm earthy colours, florals and stripes, cosy fireplaces, old photographs adorning the walls, Spanish art posters, low lighting harmonious, homely bathrooms with classy toiletries. Beds have fine linens and mosquito nets. The overall effect is more like a weekend in the country with friends – but with all the privacy and creature comforts expected in a boutique hotel. All 36 rooms have terraces, giving on to wistful patios, and there are myriad quiet corners in which to kick back and relax with a good book.  There are also four two-bedroom casitas with private gardens, and two one-bedroom houses for home-from-home comfort and privacy.  Guests staying in houses have kitchens that are cleaned daily by staff as part of the service – giving you the chance to cook and entertain without the clearing up.

When it comes to the communal areas, Cortijo Los Mimbrales is simply sensational, in a tastefully understated way.  The main pool is more of a giant water feature – a stunning Arab style alberca, tiled in mozaics, and surrounded by languid, hedged gardens protected by mature swaying palms. Just 10 kilometres from one of Spain’s most popular beach resorts, Matalascañas, basking on a wooden sunbed on the cool, refreshing lawn of the alberca, shaded by cipreses, willows and palms, you will feel a million miles away from the crowds. The other pool is more ordinary, but useful in the height of the summer when there are more guests to accommodate.

Just beyond reception, in the central area of the cortijo, is a spacious and inviting lounge.  The walls are adorned with evocative oil paintings, etchings and all things Andalusian while plenty of squashy sofas invite you to settle in and stay a while and enjoy the moment with an aperitivo, a game of cards, an after dinner drink or cosying up with a book.

The Taste of Andalusia
The restaurant, La Cantina, offers the same leisurely pace and formal friendliness – coupled with a creative cuisine that brings out the best of the Andalusian flavours and seasonal local produce, such delights as a fresh salad of watercress, salmon, anchovies and oranges – duck with raspberry sauce, local prawns, and the finest Andalusian ham.

The restaurant is a maze of patios, doors and terraces, with each quirky area providing the ideal setting for a leisurely dinner with friends and family, a romantic dinner a deux, or it can be transformed into a fairytale setting for a wedding or special corporate event – with the indoor Salon El Lince offering another delightful option.

Wake up to Heaven
Breakfast is another highlight at Cortijo Los Mimbrales.  Many hotels would do well to serve a breakfast as tasty and wholesome.  Starting with jugs brimming over with the freshest orange juice, you can rest assured that these oranges have not traveled far, and were possibly even plucked off a tree hours earlier…  Friendly faces will bring you excellent coffee – and even very good tea – something of a rarity in Spain – while the buffet is bursting with rustic bread and pastries, fresh fruit, excellent jamón serrano and freshly pulped tomatoes to spread on your bread with a drizzle of olive oil.  You will also be offered toast and homemade strawberry jam, or the deliciously zingy house marmalade.  With the morning sun breaking through the trees and warming your back, you will probably be greeted by the contented house cat “Mari Pili” with a plaintive “miaow” as she stretches and invites you to kick back and relax in her beautiful domain.

Once caught in the spell of Cortijo Los Mimbrales, you probably won’t want to go far… why would you?  In such harmonious surroundings, just strolling around the grounds, chilling by the pool, watching the world go by from your terrace or having a candlelit supper are such enjoyable experiences that the outside world can wait.  You can always jump on a bike and go for a ride through the orange groves and lose yourself in the Andalusian countryside.

But if you do wish to explore the area, Cortijo Mimbrales is well placed for walking, bird watching, searching for the Iberian lynx and enjoying the spectacularly unspoiled nature around Coto Doñana, just a five-minute drive from the hotel. The spectacular beaches of Matalascañas are but ten minutes away, while the area also lends itself to golf, horse riding and hiking.

CLICK HERE for feature about Doñana National Park on marbellas.com

Cortijo Los Mimbrales, Ctra. del Rocío a Matalascañas, km 30,5, Almonte Huelva

Tel: 959 442 237.

www.cortijomimbrales.com

Madrid, Marbella, Mallorca, Matalscañas… Matalascañas? This is one Spanish resort that is absolutely not on the international tourist trail, which makes a change… says Louise Cook Edwards. Photography Gary Edwards / Gran Hotel del Coto

Matalscañas sits on the Atlantic, on a far South-westerly point on the peninsula. One of Andalacía’s favourite summer vacation destinations, it could not be more different from Marbella.  Think simple chiringuitos, an unadorned paseo maritimo with just a few kioskos selling sweets and ice-cream, no shops, and no signs in English, German or Russian… No Matalascañas is a die-hard Spanish resort, offering no concessions to fussy foreigners demanding English beer or German Bratwurst, and how refreshing is that… ?

Even more refreshing is the absolutely spectacular beach – of the finest, white sand, stretching from the town of Matalscañas as far as the eye can see as it borders the protected nature reserve Coto Doñana for some 40 kms.

Location, Location, Location!

For the best possible view and access to this magnificent beach, there is only one place, the Gran Hotel del Coto that enjoys, indisputably, the best location in this bustling beach resort.

The hotel sits within 10,000 square metres of mature gardens, and is set at the end of the town’s promenade, overlooking the endless beach, and the dramatic stretch of protected Sand Dunes which make up the southerly part of the Doñana park, one of Europe’s most important nature reserves, and home to thousands of birds, resident and migrating, and more than a handful of endangered creatures, including the Iberian Lynx and the Imperial Eagle.

Stay in the town of Matalascañas, for a resort experience, but to feel the power of nature, then Gran Hotel del Coto is the only establishment to offer such a privileged location, and that all important feeling of space which makes such a difference to the relaxation factor on a vacation.

Even in August, the Gran Hotel del Coto can accommodate a full complement of guests in its 400 plus rooms without you feeling crowded out.  With several pools to cool off in (and yes, the temperature is a little lower in Huelva than the Costa del Sol) and plenty of palms to take a siesta under in the gracious gardens, you can make the hotel your own without disturbing anyone.

Entertainment

Children  – and adults too – can be entertained with games and water gymnastics, play ping-pong under a fresh sea breeze, book a game of tennis, or simply chill out with a book in the cool marble-floored lounges and bars.

You cannot visit this hotel without heading down to the amazing, iconic beach.  Take a walk or even a bike ride not long after sunrise, and catch the fishermen filleting their catch and feeding the scraps to the grateful seagulls swooping over the waves. This is a beach that invites you to walk for miles, to paddle in the warm water’s edge and play in the gentlest of waves.  And even if it is August and a sea of umbrellas borders the water, this is a beach that can effortlessly absorb the crowds like so many grains of sand.

And if you wish to venture into the dunes, there are designated walking areas, bumpy jeep safaris or camel rides available, for a quirkier, more memorable experience.

Rooms with a View

To get the full glory of the experience, it is imperative to look out over the sea, and preferably the dunes too, so specify this when you make a reservation.

One of the greatest features of this hotel, is the high impact décor of the corridors on each floor.  With full length photographs of the animals and nature to be found close by in Doñana, printed close-up, and in glorious detail, you feel like you could touch the animals or feel their breath, so vivid are the depictions.  The fixed gaze of the lynx at the end of the corridor is particularly high impact. But don’t gawp for too long; a guest might emerge from their room  – the doors are seamlessly covered by the images too – and catch you staring!

Food in Abundance

Many of the guests at the Gran Hotel del Coto opt for full or half-board – which is great value, and saves you the effort of making decisions about where to have lunch or dinner.  The buffet is plentiful and varied – with abundant quantities of fresh fruit and a good salad bar.  Cooked dishes are Spanish classics –with fresh fish, chicken and steaks cooked before your eyes.

La Rocina, what appears to be quite a simple café in the gardens turns out to be quite a good little restaurant with very correct service and some excellent creative Andalusian specialities. Here you can try the famous Matalscañas Clams, sophisticated fish dishes (such as salmon en croute with a prawn cream on a pea-soup),  the freshest king prawns, great gazpacho, and superbly presented huevos rotos, with the finest jámon de jabugo. The hotel would do well to smarten up the furniture and improve the signage as this is one understated eaterie, and tends to be used more for coffees and drinks than the serious business of eating.

The hotel has wi-fi zones, a little shop, a spacious bar, gym and hair salon, so there is little reason to venture away from the grounds, except to visit El Parque Doñana (see link below) or to revel in the delights of the spectacular beach.  With rooms from 81 euros/night depending on the season, and lovely friendly staff, this 4 star establishment is a classic among Spanish resort hotels.

www.granhoteldelcoto.com

Reservations: Tel: 959440017

Click HERE for Doñana National Park feature on marbellas.com

Searching for Lynx in 1,100 square kilometres of unbridled nature may be like finding a needle in a haystack, but the divine Doñana National Park in Huelva offers a host of other memorable back-to-nature experiences too.

Report, Louise Cook Edwards. Photography, Gary Edwards.

Pine woods, marshlands, lagoons, scrub land, sweeping sand dunes… El Coto Doñana is a microcosm that pays major homage to many of God’s creatures  – great and small. From endless flocks of migrating birds, hundreds of thousands of them, to scattered Wild Boar, Badgers and Deer, Doñana is, importantly, home to several of the planet’s most endangered species, including the Iberian Lynx, and the Spanish Imperial Eagle.

Young Black Kite

The world has Don José Antonio Valverde to thank for the existence of Doñana – and hopefully through the good work of the wardens and scientists that keep this extraordinary ecosystem in check, the survival of literally hundreds of species living in, and passing through the reserve. Back in the ’60s, Valverde, a scientist, convinced the Spanish authorities that Doñana was an exceptional natural environment in which many species could thrive, and that it ought to be preserved.
Despite attempts to develop tracts of her incomparably valuable land, and the ravaging of several natural disasters, Doñana National Park has been miraculously maintained – expanding, in fact, over its 40 years of existence. At 100,000 hectares, it is one of Spain’s key nature reserves, taking in areas of three provinces, Huelva, Cádiz and Sevilla. Arguably one of the most important natural habitats in Europe, Doñana was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1994.

Animal “Big Brother”
With just 250 Iberian Lynx left on the planet, 75 of which are living in the shrub lands of Doñana, prevention of their extinction is high on the list of priorities of the Doñana authorities.  Every measure has been taken to protect the feisty feline, which, although top of the local food chain, still has problems securing adequate supplies, owing to a dwindling supply of Rabbits – a Lynx’s favourite meal. The authorities have created areas in which to cosset Rabbits, which end up as Lynx fodder, and at the Centro de Visitantes El Acebuche, within the Parque National extension of Doñana, visitors can watch a “Big Brother” style onscreen display of the lynx’s life as seen in “real time”.

Little Egret

Visitors are not allowed anywhere near the actual place in which the Lynx are being reared in captivity – before reintroduction into their actual habitat close by – but an on-screen sighting can still make you feel close to “the wild” and make you even more determined to prowl Doñana in search of a close encounter with a Lynx…

What to Do in Doñana?

With upwards of 400,000 visitors a year, losing yourself in Doñana is not an option – tours of the area are strictly controlled. There are clearly designated walking and mountain-biking routes, horse-riding excursions, and even camel rides over the dunes… But with a lot of ground to cover – literally – most nature lovers choose to discover Doñana on wheels. Jeep and minibus tours are only available through authorized companies, such as Discovering Doñana and Doñana Reservas, whose green minibuses and zippier Landrovers can be seen bumping over the marshes from the early hours, and again in the afternoons before sundown – the best times to snatch a fleeting glimpse of the elusive Lynx or doe-eyed Deer as they forage and hunt in the dewy still of the morning or the languid, golden dusk.

Jose Antonio with telescope

Complete with knowledgeable guides, the tours take from 3-30 people, depending on how interested they are in getting up, close and personal with the marvels of Doñana’s exceptional fauna… telescopes strong enough to reach the moon.

Up Close & Personal in Doñana
The thought of experiencing hundreds of acres of totally unspoiled countryside is a privilege, and one that is best handled at your own pace, choosing your own route and with the facility to stop the jeep and tiptoe outside to grab a photo of a particularly timid and reticent creature, if you are lucky, a lynx, or a booted eagle… For this reason, a private tour in a 4 x4, at 50€ per person is a small price to pay to take you that little bit closer to nature.

Clockwise from top left: Squacco Heron, young Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill and Wild Boar.

The other advantage of a private tour is having the guide all to yourself, especially true for bird watchers, who can bombard the guide with questions. Discovering Doñana can provide serious nature lovers and bird watchers with seasoned authorities on all things Doñana, such as the amazing José Antonio Sánchez – whose hawk like approach to bird watching will ensure you don’t miss a trick.

Camouflaged Little Owl

Under José Antonio’s expert guidance, the whole spectacle of Doñana came to life from the moment we entered the Park at 8am.  Passing the horses grazing on the vast marshes behind El Rocio, as we reached the border of the Coto Doñana, José Antonio pointed out the weary night herons returning to the shelter of the bushes after their nocturnal wanderings.
Heading straight into the territory of the Iberian Lynx, José Antonio knew at exactly what pace to drive the jeep, or when to still the engine, in the hope of observing the King of the Doñana food chain in action… On this occasion, we were not lucky enough to spot the lynx prowling for prey, but we did see a duo of deer enjoying a breakfast of dew-drenched grass, a fresh Badger trail, and wild boar snuffling in the undergrowth as well as warren-loads of Rabbits, but sadly no Lynx in hot pursuit.

Pink Flamingo

Winged Wonders
With some 300 species of birds living in, or passing through Doñana on their migratory route to and from Africa, feathers reign supreme in southern Europe’s natural wonderland. With everything from Pink Flamingos and Spoonbills busying themselves in the lagoon, little Owls nesting in perfect camouflage, to the rare and endangered Spanish Imperial Eagle, Doñana is heaven for creatures of the feathered variety. In just one brief visit – an idyllic five hour route on dirt tracks through the wild olive groves, shrub land and marshes – we witnessed some 25 different species of bird – including many predators and scavengers such as the Black Kite, Booted Eagle, Kestrel, Griffon Vulture, Jackdaws and Ravens and Montague Harrier.

Young Purple Gallinule/ Swamp Hen

Great White Egret

Thanks to José Antonio’s expert knowledge of every tree, bush and blade of grass, we also spotted the Squacco Heron, Purple Swamp Hen, Sandpipers, Wheatears, Greenshanks, Crested Larks, Wood Pigeons, Magpies, Cattle Egrets, Ducks, Ibis and a Roller – creating a flying rainbow of colours and forms.
As many varieties of bird, including Ducks and Geese bed down for the winter in Doñana, the array of birds nesting in Doñana reaches a peak in Spring when many species return from Africa to breed, raining down in Doñana and delighting onlookers with their courtship rituals.
Visita Doñana provide excellent binoculars and telescopes strong enough to clearly view bird markings at several kilometres, you will be able to see all creatures great and small, simply going about their lives undisturbed.
Doñana is patrolled by 100 wardens who scour the National Park in jeeps, checking up on the animals’ welfare, and making sure visitors stick to designated paths and don’t disturb the flora or fauna. The Juan Valverde visitors’ centre, is close to a lagoon where flamingos can be observed in all their glory. At the nearby Parque Natural, to the west of the National Park, you will find the Centro del Visitante El Acebuche, where Lynx can be viewed on screen in real time.  You can also take several walks on wooden walkways taking in more idyllic views, and observe a plethora of natural wonders.

A Beach without End
Doñana is the back garden of Matalascañas, a popular beach resort in Huelva. Busy, but conserving an old-fashioned charm, and refreshingly free of foreign influences, at 30 kilometres long, the beach of Matalscañas is possibly the most spectacular, unspoiled sandy beach in Spain. The northerly entrance to Doñana is through the mythical village of El Rocío, famous for the annual pilgrimages to the Virgin del Rocío when a million devotees travel across Spain, many by horse & carriage, and descend on the village to pay homage to the diminutive effigy. El Rocío itself is like a set from the Wild West, with dusty, sandy streets to cushion the wheels and hooves of the pilgrims – and many tourists who flock to the fascinating town.

With Discovering Doñana and Doñana Reservas, three grades of tour are possible:

Group visits

Max 30 people
4 hours
26€ per person
children under 7 years, 13€.
Special Visits

Max 14 people
4 hours
35€ pp
children 20€

Guided Tour

From 3-14 people
5 hours
totally tailored to your needs
5 hours – 50€ pp
8 hours – 85€ pp

Doñana Reservas

www.donanareservas.com
Tel: 959442474

Discovering Doñana

Offers excellent insight into the area, particularly for birdwatchers and wildlife experts.

www.discoveringdonana.com

info@discoveringdonana.com

Office : +34 959 442 466

Mobile : +34 620 964 369

Aires Africanos

www.airesafricanos.com

Parque Dunar de Doñana for guided camel rides through the dunes of Matalscañas.

Tel: 959 448 577

Where to Stay
El Cortijo de los Mimbrales
An idyllic slice of Andalucian life is on offer at this charming, cortijo-style hotel in the midst of 300,000 orange trees.
www.cortijomimbrales.com

Gran Hotel del Coto
A classic Spanish family hotel on the beachfront of Matalscañas.  Stunning views across the dunes, and unspoiled beaches as far as the eye can see.
www.granhoteldelcoto.com

A breathtaking view awaits you as you take the twists and turns up hill to the attractive new Hotel Hermitage Casares. Commanding a magnificent bird’s eye view across wooded countryside to the Mediterranean, the Rock of Gibraltar and the exotic outline of Morocco’s Atlas mountains beyond it is the kind of view even us complacent residents find enthralling – reminding us of the beauty of the region, and one which out-of-towners will find simply monumental.

Luxury In Nature
Located just twelve kilometres from the coastline, and an easy twenty-minute ride from the heart of Marbella – Hotel Hermitage manages to seem more remote than it really is. With the simple soundtrack of birdsong, here you find a Hermitage of a modern variety, combining unbridled nature and rustic charm with all the style and service expected of a modern, boutique hotel establishment. Opened in November 2009, the first of three such establishments born out of a new concept offering luxury in nature. Surrounded by several official rambling routes, from the Hotel Hermitage Casares you can take a hike into the hills, go adventuring on a mountain bike, or hire a horse for a trot out into the campo… the village of Casares is one of the legendary White Villages, a less exploited version at that…

5-Star Service, 3-Star Price Tag
Respecting the environment, the hotel has been designed around existing trees, has an ample swimming pool and plenty of places of natural beauty in which to kick back,  relax and reflect. With its elegant rustic salons, simply oozing style, an attractive restaurant with panoramic views to the Med, a bijou bodega, and adjacent meeting room – for business coaching or company incentives, Hotel Hermitage offers a range of hotel facilities way beyond those expected of a 3-star establishment.

The 15 rooms and suites are all individually styled to high specifications, with comfortable quality furniture, well-appointed bathrooms, sumptuous beds with luxurious monogrammed linens. What with flat-screen TVs, branded bathrobes, toiletries and slippers, well-stocked mini-bar and built in safe in every room, the Hotel Hermitage is offering exceptional added value.

Five of the suites – which take their names from local trees, such as the Olivo, Alcornoque and Pinsapo – have their own romantic fireplace, while several lead out into a private garden.  All the rooms have their own terrace, ranging from cosy and petite to glamorous and grand.  Sit back with a good novel and enjoy a chilled fino and a few slivers of jamón, or a full-blown dinner for two, it is all just a call to room service away…

The Fine Food Factor

The Celima restaurant at Hotel Hermitage is already attracting attention from the Coast’s foodies…  The  establishment has secured the services of Rod Williams , a top executive chef from Manchester (UK),  whose impressive career has seen him head up the kitchens for eight years in Spain including Sotogrande where he ran his own restaurant. The new menu has a tantalizing mix of  Mediterranean, Asian and North Africa recepies. Rod’s repertoire of dishes based on the freshest local Mediterranean produce, including fruits, vegetables and herbs from the hotel’s own kitchen garden, and local game specialities. Gourmet evenings,  wine tastings and special seasonal menus are sure to be a key attraction of this chic, country hideaway.  A superb three-course lunch menu is available every day, Monday to Friday for just approx 15€ per head, including VAT.

Complete with a cosy lounge bar with an open fireplace for the winter months, a TV room, and all the latest travellers’ must-haves including complimentary wi-fi, and parking and 24- hour room service,the Hotel Hermitage Casares is already winning over clients with its personalized, bespoke approach.

Introductory welcome offers include a double room, a complimentary bottle of cava and breakfast for two for just 85 euros, VAT included.

Hotel Hermitage Casares, Paraje de la Celima s/n, Ctra de Casares MA8300, km 10, Casares, Spain.

For reservations Tel: 952 895639 www.hotelhermitage.es

PRICES CORRECT AT TIME OF PUBLISHING – However we recommend you please check with the hotel before booking.

We all have our fair share of hotel obsessed friends and acquaintances- those
conspicuous consumers of designer hotel havens and bijou boutique establishments.
They are the kind of travellers that would simply rather not holiday than be
caught staying anywhere except at the chicest of hotels around the world. In
modern day hotel etiquette, the trend for quirky decor and impressive gadgetry
knows no bounds. If it is not hi-tech, wi-fi, bespoke or personalised, it is
simply not worth a visit.

The recent refurbishment of the Kempinski Hotel Bahía Estepona has
given discerning travellers plenty of food for thought. A privileged
beach front establishment, the Kempinski’s new rooms and suites offer
high speed ADSL lines, telescopes in every room, bed-heads with inbuilt phone
chargers, and great flatscreen TVs. An elegant gadget lovers paradise, with
swaying palms brushing the secluded terraces and enviable Mediterranean views,
here you can switch on, or off, as the mood takes you. (See www.marbella.com/hotels

for a fuller description of everything this forward thinking establishment offers,
including its delightful organic fruit and vegetable garden).

Life is Suite

But let’s get back to the wonders of the Prestige floor. We are not
talking about simple hotel rooms here – this is pure hotel paradise. Here
you will discover the ultimate in personalized, designer hotel accommodation
with the Presidential, Imperial and Royal Suites. Opened in June, the
spectacular suites, which simply ooze extravagance, cater for the most discerning
clientele imaginable from around the globe.

For 25,000€ a night, the privileged occupants of the Imperial Suite will
be whisked to the hotel by helicopter, and once ensconced in the unique,
740 sq metre haven of designer desirability, will enjoy, among myriad luxuries,
the services of a privately assigned butler and the use of any top class car
requested including Ferraris, Lambourghinis and Bentleys throughout their stay.

Sky Walking

Towering above the opulent two tiered Imperial Suite, at the top of an exquisite,
ornate staircase, is the aptly named Sky Bar – a modern crystal palace offering
a unique bird’s eye view to Gibraltar and Africa beyond while enjoying a stock
of the finest champagnes and licquors money can buy. Chic, but barely there,
the glass walls and ceiling are vaguely reminiscent of the London Eye, offering
a similarly surreal time capsule ambience – a glass case in which to capture
the moment and distill the experience with the minimum of distractions except
for the wonders of the exuberant nature and ancient Arab watch tower below.
Unspeakably romantic, this is the pinnacle of all possible proposal venues,
and would suit Daniel Craig perfectly for 007’s next steamy love scene.

The Prestige floor houses a private art gallery, displays of Blancpain watches, and levels of security befitting the kings, presidents and celebrities that may very well find themselves enjoying a stay here.

A luxury that not every hotel connoisseur can afford, in summer, the Prestige
floor Suites are offered to those staying a minimum of 10 unforgettable
nights. For further information please visit www.kempinski-spain.com

Tel: 95280 9500.

Staying there is an experience not to be forgotten with staff on hand to cater
to your every need and an exciting mix of things to do – when you’re
not chilling out around the pool, or devouring a tasty lunch on a shady terrace.
If you fancy a day trip to any places in the area, the helpful staff will arrange
everything for you. Choose from a bustling city like Sevilla, Cordoba or Granada
or head off along the coast to the unspoiled shores of the Costa del la Luz.

Get Physical
Guests feeling energetic and ready to explore can either hop on a bike or take
a stroll along the specially developed Via Verde de la Sierra. An almost flat
terrain, that stretches for 36km, it runs from the town of Puerto Serrano,
through the towns and villages of Montellano, Coripe, Olvera and Pruna. Refreshments
are available for those feeling the heat as they cycle or walk at 5 stations
along the route.

Take Control
For those who want to take stock of their life and take some positive steps
into action, coaching specialist, Liz Saint is on hand to offer impartial,
supportive
input. Molino have even been using her to successfully coach their heads of
department on improving their working life.

Get Spotting
At Molino you’re surrounded by wildlife aplenty, with the larger birds
often spotted being Griffon Vultures, but over the last few days, a pair of
Short-toed eagles have been seen clearly from the breakfast terrace. So keep
your eyes peeled
for them as you sit back and relax at Molino.

Molino del Santo SL, BDA Estación, s/n, 29370, Benaojan, Malaga, Spain.
Tel: +34 952 167 151 / +34 952 167 327.
www.molinodelsanto.com

Starting with the location, it is one of the most inviting of all the 5-star
deluxe hotels in the area, with exquisite gardens, a beautiful beach, and breathtaking
views across the bay to Gibraltar and northern Africa. Set in 45,000
sq metres of lush tropical gardens, complete with three lagoon style swimming
pools and gushing waterfalls, there are many quiet spots in which to stroll,
sunbathe or simply relax in the sun or shade.

Room to Relax

Although a large property with 132 rooms and 15 luxurious suites, the design
is such that guests enjoy high levels of privacy, and rooms do not skimp on
either space or facilities. All rooms and suites have been extensively
refurbished in the last year, and feature warm, elegant decor and superb equipment
including Dolby Surround Sound and hi-speed internet connection. Ample
terraces, coupled with windows through to the marble bathrooms mean that in
the rooms, the outside is invited in- giving guests a true experience of the
exuberant nature of the surroundings. The new suites on the Prestige
floor, are simply out of this world. This opulent area is entered with a special
card, opening up a world of privilege including a VIP lounge, reception, library,
bar, music and buffet to the guests. Some of the services offered to guests
of these super luxury suites are unprecedented in Spain.

Good Taste Guaranteed

With four restaurants, varying in both menu and ambience again, there is little
need to venture outside… You can experience everything from romantic Italian
cuisine, simple salads and snacks, themed buffets, to creative Spanish signature
dishes from chef Jordi Bataller.

And a visit to the hotel’s own organic garden is a must. Providing
around 70% of all the hotel’s fresh produce, Sven Gevers, the hotel’s
young, dynamic General Manager, is extremely proud of this, and a host of other “green” innovations,
such as solar panels, that give the hotel a sense of luxury with a conscience.
And with a “one on one” staff to guest ratio, the standards of
service on offer are among the highest in Europe.

Wellbeing is Served

To complete the experience of relaxation, the Eminence
Med Spa provides the last word in natural, holistic therapies and treatments.
Utilising the organically produced Eminence skincare range, as well as naturopathic
and homeopathic remedies, the spa offers a superb range of treatments and lifestyle
advice to give clients a balanced, lasting healthy glow. Add to this watersports,
tennis, heated indoor pool, fitness rooms and the Rasul arabian style bath,
the Kempinski has all the necessary ingredients for restoring your wellbeing
and providing a stay to remember.

Add to this, the newly formed Kempinski Kids Club, offering supervised play,
games, safe shaded swimming pool and visits to the organic vegetable garden; a
selection of well-appointed meeting rooms, and the proximity to a wide range
of leisure facilities such as luxury shopping, golf courses and horse-riding
stables, and it is easy to see why a large number of guests at the Kempinski
Spain return time and time again.

Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona, Ctra de Cadiz, km 259,
Playa El Padrón,
29680 Estepona. Tel: 952809500.
www.kempinski-spain.com

Vasari Resort

Puerto Banús is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the
whole of Spain attracting some 20 million visitors a year to enjoy the delights
of the excessive marina complete with its oversized yachts, dozens of buzzing
restaurants and bars and its glamorous designer stores. Surprisingly, the jet-set
port does not have many hotels, which is why the nearby Vasari Resort
Hotel has been so well received.

Just five minutes away from the action, Vasari Vacation Resort is a welcome
haven of calm and order, offering exclusive accommodation as
an apart-hotel, or long-term lets by the month.

The swish complex rivals any luxury development in Marbella, and indeed is
typical of the smart residential urbanizations nestling in privileged areas
of the coast, with its spectacular gardens complete with pools and waterfalls.   

A Homely Hotel
The 57 luxury apartments – of one, two and three bedrooms – have been built
by the Vasari Group, who are known for only the finest quality  properties.
Designed with traditional Andalusian architecture in mind, and rich earthy
terracotta hues, architect Manuel Burgos has created a development characterized
by charm and style. With apartments ranging in size from 85 -200 sq metres,
and furnished in an elegant contemporary classic manner, Vasari Resort Hotel
can accommodate everyone from the business traveller to a family on holiday. 

With fully-equipped kitchens, laundry room, hot  and cold air-conditioning,
free Wifi, satellite TV  and parking facilities, the apartments also enjoy
spacious covered terraces from which to enjoy views of the gardens and water
features.  

The resort also offers business centre facilities, a pool bar, beauty salon
and gym, and golf booking service too.

For further information on their rates and special offers, visit www.vasariresort.com  or
Tel: 00 34 95290 7806