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The holidays are over and with it we have packed up the decorations as well as completed those gift exchanges! One word that keeps penetrating our thoughts as we try unsuccessfully to ignore … escape!
Why not? Embrace the thought and plan that last minute escape for just you and your valentine!
But where? We want someplace different, preferably in Europe.
Welcome to Marbella!
Marbella is to Spain what St. Tropez is to France; a coastal playground for the rich and famous. Exactly the kind of place you don’t want to visit with kids. It’s one of the most luxurious resort towns in the world with bars, restaurants and ultra-exclusive nightclubs. A perfect place to celebrate with your sweetheart those many years you have been together – its your time, your escape together!
Picturesquely located on Spain’s glorious Costa del Sol, where Andalusia meets the Mediterranean Sea, Marbella stands out for its unique combination of adventure, entertainment, spectacular shopping, 5-star dining and fashionable beach life. Popular among jet-setters from all over the world, the city has already established itself as the swankiest Spanish resort, offering both the ultimate in glitz and glamour, as well a taste of quintessential Andalusia.
Top Things to Do
Old Town - picturesque maze of narrow streets that comprise the city’s Casco Antiguo revolves around a delightful Castilian renaissance square – Plaza de los Naranjos. Here, a number of pavement cafes and restaurants litter the romantic enclosure, serving traditional food and beverages under the shade of orange trees! Indulge in Andalusian delicacies and perhaps you will be entertained with a local artist through his paintings or be serenaded.
Soak Up the Glitz and Glamour of Puerto Banus. The most fashionable marina in Spain lies only 6 km southwest of Marbella and offers everything from sandy beaches and high-end shopping to exclusive restaurants and amazing nightlife. Stroll by designer boutiques such as Gucci, Dior, Chopard ,Dolce & Gabbana; spectacular million-dollar yachts moored in the harbor.
Marbella and the surrounding area are packed with a variety of themed parks, from zoos and waterparks to fabulous fairgrounds that entertain visitors of all ages. The closest to Marbella center, however, is the Funny Beach, an enjoyable amusement park with go-karts, electric cars, video games and many exciting children’s rides. Due to its convenient location on the beach, the park also offers a nice chiringuito where you can have a snack and a cold drink, as well as a pretty good range of water sports such as water skiing and banana rides.
If you’re looking for more water fun, Marbella’s Costa Water Park offers two stunning locations, one in Marbella and the other in Puerto Banus. Both parks are floating in the sea and provide an excellent variety of water activities.
Moreover, Benalmadena – the pretty coastal town between Fuengirola and Torremolinos, is home to a wonderful range of themed parks such as the Tivoli World, the delightful Butterfly Park or the Sea Life Centre.
Other notable attractions around Marbella include the beautiful Bioparc Fuengirola (30km from Marbella); Torremolinos Aqualand (47 km from Marbella), the Parque Acuatico Mijas and the amazing Selwo Safari Park (near Estepona), which is also the largest and most beautiful safari park in the entire Spain.
Golf - The pleasant year-round climate along with the abundance of high-quality golf courses and resorts that dot its breathtaking landscapes make from Marbella one of Europe’s premier golf destinations. Marbella's Golf Valley is home to more than 15 top-quality golf clubs, most of them with courses designed by the finest artists in the field. Some of the most prestigious include La Quinta Golf & Country Club, Los Naranjos Golf Club or the legendary El Paraiso, but there are also some excellent newcomers that will please any golf enthusiast out there, from the experienced to the aspiring player.
Beaches - With so many exciting activities on offer, it’s sometimes easy to forget that Marbella is actually a beach destination. The elegant town is blessed with over 16 miles of glorious coastline divided into 24 fine sandy beaches, most of them packed with excellent leisure and water sports facilities. The most popular include la Fontanilla Beach, El Faro and Venus – in the city center; Cabopino and Las Chapas – to the east of Marbella; as well as the beaches of San Pedro Alcántara and Puerto Banus, both of them awarded with the European blue flag.
So as I put away the shovel from the blizzard we recently experienced here in the New York area – out with the swimsuit and plan a valentine visit to Marbella! Just checked the 10 day forecast and sunny in the high 60's low 70's is a perfect destination to spend a week! Hope you will join hubby and I as we escape tour special valentine hide-a-way celebration!
Happy Travels!
February 5, 2023
