Holiday in Mijas

Mijas Costa is a 12 kilometre coastline between Fuengirola and Marbella East. It continues to be a popular choice because of its excellent value for money properties. There are several ‘villages’ that have developed over the years each having a good range of facilities and amenities. These include La Cala, Miraflores, Riviera del Sol and Calahonda. Lets see why holiday in Mijas Costa is so good!

Mijas Costa is a modern resort, much of which has been constructed in the last twenty years. What it’s lacking in culture and historical buildings, it more than makes up in an infrastructure designed to cater for holidaymakers. And if you want to soak up some of the local Andalusian culture, you can hop on a bus or grab a rental car and visit the nearby resorts of Marbella, Fuengirola and Mijas Pueblo.

Lazy beach holiday lovers will appreciate holiday in Mijas. You have both the beach and excellent amenities on your doorstep.

Consider taking a look at the holiday properties in this area!

Mijas Costa area guide

The popular resort of Calahonda is situated around halfway between Marbella and Fuengirola. It’s a very popular resort for both British holidaymakers and expat residents. The beach here is a mix of sand and pebbles. The sprawling resort starts beachside and reaches across the highway and up into the rolling hills behind. Just along from Calahonda, towards Marbella, you can walk to the pretty Cabopino beach and harbour, with its popular beach restaurants, bars and cafes. Heading towards Fuengirola, you come to Calypso, a small urbanisation of villas and apartments. There is a little supermarket, bars and restaurants and a sunday market, held in the little roadside commercial centre.

The next resort is that of Riviera del Sol-Miraflores. Two urbanisations practically rolled into one. Miraflores is home to the Miraflores Golf and Bowling Club. There is also a beach and country club, which offers lots of activities for non-members. The area has lots of bars and restaurants to choose from, and of course the beach is on your doorstep.

Next stop along Mijas Costa is the charming residential neighbourhood of El Chaparral. Built around El Chaparral Golf, the quiet, leafy urbanisation is a lot less commercial than its neighbours.

Holiday in Mijas is an excellent all-round destination. It enjoys a village feel, with excellent amenities, a long stretch of golden sandy beach and heaps of restaurants, bars and beach cafes to choose from. There is a popular children’s park in La Cala, with a little cafe where parents can sit back and relax, while children play. During the summer months, the park often organises fun activities such as face painting, games and bouncy castles. There is a large market every Saturday in the fairground and throughout July and August there is a beachside market and during a week in August, a Medieval Market is held in the main square with food, music, artisan stalls and children’s activities.

Check out the holiday properties available in this area!

Golf on your holiday in Mijas

Golf is a big feature of life for the inhabitants of Mijas Costa. The Costa del Sol is renowned for being one of the best golfing regions in Europe, and Mijas Costa boasts four world-class courses within a short radius, including Tamisa Golf and La Siesta Golf Course. The climate and beautiful landscape make golfing a pleasure even for beginners, with the ever-inviting 19th hole at the clubhouse the perfect way to wrap up a round.

Along the coast, the endless beaches each have their own character, from the rockier, more deserted beaches to the east of the region to the more popular, softer and wider affairs that are located in La Cala and Riviera del Sol. Along the promenades of these resorts wafts the memorable aroma of grilled fish, freshly caught that morning and delivered to your plates with the minimum of fuss and expense, and the maximum taste. The ubiquitous Irish bars and British cafés serve up every comfort from home you can imagine.

Mijas Costa is one of the most popular holiday destinations in Spain. If you are looking for a quiet holiday, you might find it a bit crowded during the peak months of July and August. Holiday in Mijas is an ideal family destination, with lots to do and within easy reach.

You will need to hire a car if you want to get out and explore. However, it is not essential if you just want to enjoy a lazy week in the sun.

Finally, if you think that holiday in Mijas is for you, go ahead and check our catalog of holiday properties in this area!

28th July 201827th July 2018

Renting a villa in Estepona

Why rent a villa in Estepona?

Estepona, for its size (only Marbella is larger on the Costa del Sol), attracts relatively few tourists. While some may cite its distance from Málaga airport as a contributing factor for this, Estepona is only 11km west of San Pedro, and en route to Gibraltar, Sotogrande and Algeciras.
Nonetheless, as soon as you actually enter Estepona proper, any doubts about its appeal are immediately banished. Fronting a wide, sweeping beach that stretches the length of the town, Estepona’s charming boulevards, beautiful plazas and inescapably Spanish atmosphere act as a breath of fresh air. Estepona has an authenticity to it that many other resorts struggle to match.

The town is a former fishing village that has grown organically over centuries, rather than rapidly over decades. As a result, it has a settled air to it; a laid-back sense of contentment, a thriving business hub, a fully-functioning industrial network and an important fishing harbour.

Find a holiday villa of your dream here!

Estepona – perfect place for families

estepona streets — Charming Estepona old town streets

While the approach to Estepona from the east is all dramatic twisty roads, large and luxurious hotels and sumptuous beach clubs, the town then appears to retreat from view. With the brilliantly swift toll road doing a great job at diverting the traffic around the rear of the town, the coastal road also gives Estepona a bit of a wide berth.

Either side of Estepona there are to be found some of the Costa del Sol’s finest hotels. Behind Estepona there is one of the coast’s tallest and most striking mountains – a crimson red, perfectly conical mound of rock that glimmers in the sunlight at the heart of the Sierra Bermeja and really draws the eye. Even if you turn your attentions toward Estepona as you drive past, the distant silhouette of Gibraltar in one direction, or the awe-inspiring sweep of the northern Costa del Sol in the other, instantly grabs the eye.

Estepona is also a home for one of the most exclusive villas on Costa del Sol. Check out the holiday properties available here and find the best villa in Estepona for you!

Nightlife and eating out in Estepona

Plató 68 is the superclub that everyone talks about when in Estepona. Indeed, such is its reputation that thousands of Banús-based revellers eschew the excesses of the Port for one night at least during their stay, and head down to Estepona to see how the Spanish do ‘hedonistic’. Thriving, thumping and open until dawn, this club is not for the faint-hearted.

Elsewhere, Estepona boasts a good number of additional late night clubs and bars. Residents here rarely feel the need to travel to Marbella or Puerto Banús for their evening entertainment. It is a testament to the impressive variety on offer in the heart of Estepona. While most establishments are quite Spanish, there are a couple of inviting Irish and English-style bars to enjoy. They are complete with snooker tables, karaoke nights and all the trappings of home.

Amazing views you can have from a villa in Estepona

Eating out in Estepona is highly affordable and immensely enjoyable. The town has some of the region’s finest fish and seafood restaurants down at the pleasant harbour. It is also a great spot for an evening stroll and a quiet drink with friends. In the main plaza, there are patrons of the numerous bodegas, tapas bars and cafés that ring the square. They converge into one happy and peaceful mass each weekend, lending the town a jovial charm.

And for something altogether different, a trip out of town up to the Sierra Bermeja at sunset is a magical and memorable occasion. It is best enjoyed with a loved one, a good camera, and an even better bottle of wine. Just be careful on the drive down, though!

In order to book your villa in Estepona, just take a choose one from our catalog of holiday properties and get in touch with us!

27th July 2018

Magnificent villa in Costabella

Costabella

This magnificent villa is located in Costabella, east of Marbella. Costabella is a beachside area located a couple of kilometers east from Marbella, just below el Rosario and in between Elviria and los Monteros. The area is known for its splendid beaches. It offers two great beach restaurants, Las Flores beach restaurant being probably the best known. Going closer to the beach the plots get smaller and streets get narrower. This gives the area a very intimate feel and a vibrant social community thrives in Costabella. The upper side has some very luxurious houses and the streets are wider there.

The restaurants on the beach are excellent, el Rinconcito, Copacabana and las Flores (in between Costabella and las Chapas playa) are widely recognised as good quality/price restaurants. The area of Costabella itself has a Opencor supermarket next to the Nacional 340 road. There you can also find some commercial locals with tourist shops, cafeterias and a luxurious bakery, pan de lux who offer the best bread from Luxembourg.

Costabella is a perfect area for young families as well because of its proximity to several top notch international colleges. The English International College in Ricmar is just on the other side of the N340 and so is the Alborán college. Both schools have exceptional track records and top of the bill facilities.

Sports facilities can be found in el Rosario where the el Casco tennis club is located. This tennis club has several clay courts and some hard courts. The Santa Clara golf course is just a five minute drive and the Rio Real and Santa Maria golf courses are no more than ten minutes away. A great family activity is nearby funny beach, they have karting, paragliding and more activities.

Magnificent modern villa in Costabella

When your everyday life is in the public eye, you want a completely private escape from the world. A place to relax away from the pressure, and the cameras, and the demands.

The property is newly-built to the highest standards, designed by top Marbella architect Jose Carlos Moya. It also stands out with its modern sophistication and simple elegance. It offers 6 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms .

The property encompasses smart home system and all the modern technology, including solar hot water and underfloor heating, heat recovery system, high efficiency heat pumps, VR air conditioning and automated control of every room, Sonos wireless sound system.

Situated in Marbella’s exclusive area of Costabella, this is certainly an architectural masterpiece and true work of art.

views bedroom — One of the bedrooms with spectacular views

The interior design features only top quality materials, first quality aluminium doors and windows, marble, oak wardrobes, natural oak floors through the whole house, top quality tiles and LED lighting.

Ground floor: The front door leads into the double-height spacious entrance hall, leading to an extensive living room with dining area and also a large open-plan kitchen, fully equipped with modern appliances. Kitchen leads on to a small hallway with separate side door to the driveway. On the beach side, from both the kitchen and the living room, big sliding doors with electric security blinds open up to a decked terrace and the heated swimming pool. A path from the pool area leads through the sand dunes directly to the beach. The beautifully landscaped private dune is offering complete privacy to the relaxing and dining areas on the terrace.

On the entrance level there is also a guest bedroom with fitted and walk-in wardrobe, and a bathroom with shower, toilet, and basin.

Pefect villa for a holiday with friends or family

This villa in Costabella built with complete comfort and relaxation in mind, a place with breath-taking views and modern spaces with one of Spain’s most exclusive post-codes.
First floor: Upstairs, on the first floor, there is the master bedroom, with two sets of wardrobes, and master bathroom with shower, wide double basin, toilet, and access to the terrace. There are further two bedrooms and one shared bathroom with shower, toilet and basin. Each of these bedrooms has direct access to the terrace facing the sea and offering amazing views to the beach.

kitchen views — Fully equipped kitchen with great sea views

It offers stylish contemporary living, houghtfully designed to squeeze every last drop of ‘wow’ from its privileged position for this villa in Costabella.
Solarium: On the rooftop, there is a fabulous open terrace with fitness equipment, a pergola, and great 360 degree views.

Basement floor: On the lower floor level, there are two further double bedrooms with natural light. There are also fitted wardrobes, a bathroom with basin, shower and toilet. The lower level also features a SPA with Jacuzzi bath, steam bath, sauna and showers; storage rooms and utility room.

This exclusive villa in Costabella has some of the best views imaginable.

Each floor has the elevator and oak staircase with glass railings

This is a super contemporary state of the art villa in Costabella. It has a minimalistic but stylish interior design and lots of light. Your first impression will be one of size and space, as no photograph can do it justice.

If you liked the villa, you will find more photos and the availability here!

You can aslo take a look at our catalog and find more holiday properties in this area!

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Health care in Spain

It’s necesarry to consider the important things about health care in Spain before making the big move to the Costa del Sol.

Health care in Spain for property owners

When you purchase a property for sale in Marbella or on the Costa del Sol and are going to be living in Spain permanently or as an expatriate coming to live in Spain from another European Member state, you are generally free from hospital and medical care expenses.

Once you present your European Health Card (EHC), you will then a general practitioner will attend you at your local health centre. With your EHC, you can obtain similar health care to that of a Spanish citizen.

Health Care centres

One of the best things about living in Marbella is for sure the health care in Spain. The National Health Service of Spain has an big network of hospitals and health centres situated all over the country.

Foreigners in Spain get free public health care in Spain as long as they contribute to the social security system. Any person who signs up to pay social security automatically becomes a member of the public health care system. They will receive a social security card (tarjeta de la seguridad social) which you have to present to your doctor upon every visit.

In addition family members also get to health care in Spain by extension. Furthermore, Spain has agreements in place with certain countries, such as the UK which permits foreign pensioners to obtain free admittance to public health care without having to participate in employment.

Take a look at the list of the properties available in Marbella.

hospital costa del sol — Costa del Sol Hospital, the biggest hospital on Malaga west coast.

Private health care in Spain

Care at private clinics and hospitals in Spain are either paid directly or, more often than not through a private insurance company.

The major benefit of taking out private health insurance in Spain is to avoid the long wait times to see a doctor with the public health care system. One of the main benefits of Private health care in Spain is also the fact it offers a much quicker service to patients, in addition to private rooms, express mailing of test results. One of the most popular private medical insurance carriers is Sanitas.

Medical covering

Generally, you get cover for any medical treatment if you are using the state health care program. You can’t just go and make an appointment with a specialist though, you will always need to see your GP first who will then authorise your specialist treatment.

If you have private insurance this process is generally a lot quicker.

Dentistry is not included in your Spanish health care. Even private insurance might not cover this so make sure you check before you make a dentist appointment!

Basic dentistry include such as check ups and maintenance. However, if you need any treatment, you will have to take the bill yourself.

health care spain — Health care system in Spain

Health care system in Spain

The health care system in Spain is considered to be very good, with modern and well-equipped hospitals. There are several differences in the policies of the Spanish and British health care systems. But it is fair to say in general they are pretty comparable.

However, if you are planning on living in Spain keep in mind most of the medical staff don’t speak English. Although it is possible to request a voluntary translation service when you set your appointment with the doctor.

If you feel convinced, take a look at our list of properties in the area!

15th July 2018

Activities on the Costa del Sol

Go to the ports!

Visit the famous Puerto Banus in Marbella first thing to do among the activities on the Costa del Sol.

The Costa del Sol ports include Malaga, Benalmadena, Cabopino, Puerto Banus, Estepona Sotogrande and Duquesa. There are trips on catamarans, speed boats and sail boats. There is even a glass bottom boat trip from the modern port of Malaga. The Costa del Sol really does have something to keep everyone entertained.

Take a look at the list of the properties available in Marbella

Active sport

The Ascari race track near Marbella

For adults looking for something more exciting among the activities on the Costa del Sol then you can try rock climbing, hiking, quad biking or you can even drive a Lotus or F1 car at Ascari Race Resort in Ronda. For those who are lucky enough to own property in Marbella there are a lot of gyms including outdoor gym groups specialising in bootcamps on the beach and by the river.

Wonderful green parks

There are a lot of beautifully maintained public parks in and around Malaga and Marbella. Two that spring to mind are Parque de la Paloma in Benalmadena and Parque de la Batería in Torremolinos. Parque de la Paloma has a boating lake and lots of grassy hills to lie on. It boasts the odd statue for children to play with dotted about and a children’s play area as well as wild rabbits, hens, peacocks and guinea pigs. There is a tower offering views along the Torremolinos coastline. There’s a boating lake, and a huge children’s play area including trampolines and flumes.

park marbella — Parque de la Constitución in Marbella

Water Activities on the Costa del Sol

When the children finish school for the summer it’s a sign that the summer is in full swing on the Costa del Sol. If you own a property in Marbella there are lots of activities to choose from to make your summer fun. Water based activities are extremely popular in these hot summer months when you need to cool off.

Castles

There is a of castles around the Costa del Sol. The Gibralfaro in Malaga overlooks the east side of the city and awards walkers amazing views by day or night. There is also a large castle in Fuengirola called Castillo de Sohail. You can visit the castle or hire it for special events such as weddings. There is a tiny castle in Benalmadena called Colomares Castle that has a fairy castle type of appearance. This area has a lot of history and there are a lot of castles and old towers to visit within a short drive of each other.

Family activities

For families there are so many unusual and diverse activities on the Costa del Sol that have been set up for the tourism industry. The Crocodile Park near Marbella is a wonderful day out for both adults and children. You can sleep in a Massai hut in Selwo Aventura Park close to the tigers and bears. You could visit Fuengirola zoo at night in the summer. Be daring and visit the Crocodile Park in Torremolinos. Why not go down to Benalmadena’s Puerto Marina to the Sealife centre to view the underwater delights from many parts of the world and then cool off with a drink in The Ice Bar. Benalmadena also boasts Tivoli World amusement park. It’s also where you can find the Selwo Marina park with dolphins, sealions and penguins. And there is also a cable car up the mountain where you can enjoy a falconry show or just enjoy the views of the coast which are just simply stunning.

What to do when it is raining

If you are a family who wants to get out of the sun for a bit of a break, there are a lot of indoor play centres. Most are not as big as the ones you might come across in the UK but they all offer a good opportunity for parents to grab a coffee while the kids wear themselves out jumping and climbing in safe and colourful areas. If you have some adventurous children you might like to take a look at Aventura Amazonia in Marbella. They have a treetop assault course with harnesses and zip lines to explore.

Beach activities on the Costa del Sol

Many beaches are becoming more and moreequipped with fun activities. It’s not uncommon to see canoes but now there are also banana boat rides, jet skis, kite surfing, motor boat hire. There is a wonderful parque Fluvial on the beach in Fuengirola. The park offers a basketball court, table tennis area, pedalo swans and a bike track with bike hire service.

In order to make your holiday even more better, we offer a great catalog of holiday properties in Marbella!

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Kids in Marbella

If you want to know what you can do with kids in Marbella you have come to the right place! We ourselves have children and we had the opportunity to discover many interesting places where you can go with children. We will gladly share the information and our experience.

Marbella and the entire Costa del Sol can offer you sun, sand, delicious food and excellent weather almost every day of the year. Costa del Sol boasts a long summer period. This is why there are so many water parks here, street cafes and various outdoor activities along the entire coast are organized. That’s why there are always things to do for kids in Marbella.

Feel free to take a look at the holiday properties available in this area

Water and amusement parks

During the warm season from June to September, you can take your children to amusement parks. These include Aqualand in Torremolinos, or the Bahia Water Park in Algeciras. If you still do not want to “wet your feet,” then you can always take your children to the Animal Park of Selwo Aventura. Like roller coasters and fun attractions? Then we recommend you to visit the Amusement Park Magic Island in Seville, this is the largest park in Andalusia.

If the list of all these ideas listed above is not suitable for you, because after all, a visit to each of these places can take a whole day, then you can have fun with your children playing mini golf in Fuengirola, or visit the Zoo in Fuengirola, also known as Fuengirola Bioparc. Smaller enjoy watching fish in the Sea Life Aquarium in the port of Benalmadena.

kids in marbella — Kids activities in Marbella

Beaches and restaurants

For those of you who do not want to go far from Marbella, then your children will be happy to go on a one-day hike to the Jolly Beach. There you can go karts, jump on trampolines, enjoy a trip in small boats and play arcade games. During these summer months, you can have a delicious lunch at the Koko Beach Restaurant, located nearby, and continue your day with water skiing or riding a banana tied to a boat. Or you can just take some bread and feed the fish in Puerto Banus, where you can stroll, watching people, viewing exclusive yachts, going to fashion boutiques or watching a new film in Gran Cinema.

If you are looking for something to do with small kids in Marbella, here there are many interesting activities for you. One of the favorite activities for most people is simply to take a picnic basket and spend your day on the beach. In the summer, people like water parks. There kids can splash in a mini pool or ride on a hill in specially designated places, far from adult children.

Babies in Marbella can attend some children’s clubs and play centers, such as the Children’s Kingdom in Estepona or Galaxia in San Pedro. Both of these children’s play centers offer fun hills, rooms with balls and other fun entertainment. And while kids will have a great time in a safe environment, parents will be able to enjoy delicious food nearby and socialize with other parents. The indoor game rooms are ideal for spending time with children in Marbella. Here, babies can easily get rid of their excessive energy.

What to do on a rainy day with kids in Marbella

When the weather on the street does not please us, the Costa del Sol immediately becomes a different place. With that people are reluctant to go to places in the open air. But do not get depressed! There are still many interesting activities for children. In addition to gaming centers located in buildings, children also like to watch cartoons and new movies from Disney’s studio in theaters.

In May 2015, Marbella also opened a new Springboard Center for people who want to feel the power of superman.

Andalusia boasts magnificent nature and beautiful views, here you have mountains and sea. You can find a fun adventure of a wide range of different activities. One of our favorite activities is having canoe ride in the Benahavis region, just a 15-minute drive from Marbella. For lovers of mountain scenery, we recommend hiking as one of our local attractions – La Concha mountain.

If you prefer relaxing at sea, then you can go water skiing, fishing, scuba diving, kite surfing, etc. Smaller kids in Marbella may want to take a yacht trip in the Gibraltar Strait, watch dolphins and whales. Everything from horseback riding, to eco-tourism, Andalucia and Costa del Sol is an amazing world for your entire family.

Go ahead and take a look at the holiday properties available in this area.