Winter weekend Marbella

Another 5 star rating! Marbella in the winter - WOW! The weather was beautiful. Really warm, and sunny too! I spoke to some people who lived there and they said that rarely do they need to put on more than a sweater, and shorts are the norm until beginning of November! I stayed just outside Marbella old town. Nice little area fairly quiet but with shops and restaurants nearby, and there is a promenade now that runs from Marbella through to Puerto Banus. The Puerto Banus end is still in finishing stages, but at this time of year it was lovely and quiet, a lot of the restaurants etc. were closed but there were more than enough open, and we didn't have to contend with people beckoning you into their establishment or fighting through the crowds either.

The golf is great here, plenty of courses to choose from, and it starts to get dark around 5pm - so you can still play all day - and there are a number of hotels with spa facilities - so it makes for the perfect weekend away for couples. There are activities nearby where you can do mountain biking, horse riding or you can just relax in the sun with a good book! A lot of the hotels have great rates at this time of year - so it proves to be good value for money too. I stayed at The Guadalpin Marbella and the rooms were spacious - the family suites are two bedrooms, two bathrooms with a kitchenette and living area, double deck terrace with a jacuzzi (heated) - so it is worth upgrading to this! - the service good standard and friendly. I also went to visit the Westin La Quinta, The Guadalpin Puerto Banus and The Park Plaza hotel and suites - all very good accommodations with different values to offer.

I found getting around by taxi is easy - they are plentiful and prompt! The bus service is regular - but you can't beat a stroll by the sea!

Overall - if the misery of cold days and the onset of Christmas shopping is getting you down - I would certainly recommend the short hop to the Costa del Sol for some peaceful sunny relaxation!