Andalusia is a region in the south of Spain, which includes such picturesque cities as: Seville, Malaga, Ronda, Cordoba and Granada. Direct connections from several larger cities in Poland make it easier to reach this sunny region. This is a real attraction for all year-round sun lovers. In just 4 hours of flight you can travel to the sunniest, even "African" edge of Europe.
Costa del Sol, a paradise for golfers
Costa del Sol, also called Costa del Golf by golf lovers, offers beautiful, sunny mornings and days for almost 12 months. The temperature very rarely drops below 20 degrees Celsius. Why Costa del Golf? Because nowhere in the world are there so many golf courses in such a small area!
This piece of beautiful Andalusia, only on the coast, between Malaga and Gibraltar, offers enthusiasts of green sports over 50 top-class and very diverse golf courses. So from Marbella, the furthest ones are within 1 hour's drive. And most of them can be reached in just a few or a dozen or so minutes. Andalusia is a true paradise for golfers.
CARTER® has direct contacts to the best golf courses and preferential rates, which in packages with luxury hotels is a real treat for golf fans and their families, who can indulge in thousands of attractions that await guests of this wonderful corner of Spain, which is Andalusia .
Andalusia and luxury hotels
I landed in Malaga in the evening. Spain welcomed me with a gentle touch of the warm seaside wind. The driver was waiting for me at the airport. We went to the new BMW 7 Series Hotel Puente Romano, the journey took about 40 minutes. This is a beautiful, luxurious hotel located in Marbella, right by the sea. It offers guests accommodation in very comfortable, spacious rooms and suites in a beautiful, lush garden. The hotel's architecture refers to typical Andalusian buildings.
Andalusia also means delicious cuisine! Extensive dining options, including a restaurant by the famous chef Dani Garcia, awarded two Michelin stars, will provide wonderful culinary experiences and entertainment. The hotel also has fantastic tennis facilities with several courts and one main one, where major international tournaments with the participation of the first ranking rackets are played.
From Puente Romano, in a few minutes we can walk to its sister hotel and the icon of the Spanish coast - a fantastic Marbella Beach Club. These luxury resorts are under one ownership, so guests can enjoy the amenities of both hotels. They are separated from the beautiful, sandy beach only by a walking promenade. Their location is also an advantage.
Puerto Banus – the crazy district of Marbella
We can reach the city center in 5 minutes, and in the opposite direction, just fifteen minutes away, there is the famous Puerto Banus, the crazy district of Marbella. Yachts worth tens of millions of euros are moored in the port. In the parking lots, Bentley and RR limousines sit next to Aston Martin, Ferrari and Bugatti cars. On the first line of the shore you will find boutiques of such brands as: Gucci, Chloe, Louis Vuitton, Roberto Cavalli, Jimmy Choo, Dior, Carolina Herrera, Dolce & Gabbana, and that's not all!
Next to it there are restaurants serving delicious Mediterranean cuisine and more. A dozen or so bars. Some people love Puerto Banus, others just need one visit. However, you need to go there, see it and spend a few hours, preferably in the evening or at night. Lovers of slightly more melodic tones will, with a bit of luck, come across a concert of Julio Iglesias, who is adored in Spain, or the biggest disco and pop stars of the 80s and 90s.
Andalusia and the charming town of Marbella
About 8 kilometers east of Puerto Banus is the center of Marbella. Walking slightly uphill from the sea, crossing the main communication artery, lined with lots of boutiques and shops, drugstores and restaurants, we will reach the old part of the city. It is crossed by dozens of narrow streets intended only for pedestrians. It is an extremely architecturally charming and romantic district. The white walls of typical Andalusian buildings contrast beautifully with lush vegetation and colorful flowers placed on the sidewalks by residents and restaurateurs. Every now and then we come across a hidden square full of cafes and multi-colored shop windows selling souvenirs, clothes, jewelry and shoes.
A walk, especially in the evening, along the old part of Marbella leaves wonderful impressions. Beautiful, joyful and clean. Smiling people around, wrapped in the subtle scent of ubiquitous flowers, enjoy the warmth of the evening. Others carefully look for treasures in hundreds of shop windows. We, sitting in a cafe on a comfortable wicker chair, drinking a refreshing, fruit-filled, chilled sangria, can fully relax and simply enjoy life.
A walk along the Andalusian coast
After this relaxing evening, I recommend crossing the main thoroughfare and heading in the opposite direction towards the shoreline. There is something for everyone on Marbella's main pedestrian street. A wide selection of restaurants, some on the beach, serve fresh seafood. Dance clubs and bars where we can spend fascinating hours until dawn. Lots of shops and cafes. All accompanied by the sound and smell of the sea. A great place for shopping, a party, but also for a simple, relaxing walk or jog. Of course, a beautiful sandy beach at your fingertips is another great advantage!
Boutique Hotel Cortesin
After the beach and shopping madness, I decide to spend the next three days in one of the most luxurious hotels on the Spanish coast, namely in Finca Cortesin. The hotel is located west of Marbella, in a beautiful setting, on a hill overlooking the sea. It is surrounded by a championship golf course, one of the best I have ever played. It is located about 5 minutes by car from the sea, which is a huge advantage.
Silence, relaxation, birds singing. It's a great place to relax. I feel like in heaven there! Wonderful views, beautiful gardens, four large swimming pools, comfortable sun loungers and impeccable service. I could devote an entire chapter to the kitchen. The hotel is simply divine. A mirror of the splendor and wealth of the real Andalusia from many years ago. However, surprisingly, it is relatively new. It was built on the model of traditional, rich noble estates, called "finca" in Andalusia. The rooms are spacious, high, and elegantly and very comfortably furnished. They offer beautiful views from their balconies, some also have private swimming pools.
I consider this stay to be very successful and worth recommending to the most demanding travelers. Besides, some of you have already visited there through us and we know that you liked it too. It is with unconcealed pain that I leave Finca Cortesin. I was there not for the first time and certainly not for the last time…
Costa del Sol is not only Marbella, and Andalusia is not only Costa del Sol!
I decided to rent a car for the next three days. I headed towards Seville. About 50 kilometers from the capital of Andalusia, the extremely romantic, boutique hotel Hacienda San Rafael is located. This beautiful, historic estate is in the hands of one family and managed by two charismatic brothers. The hacienda offers guests wonderful, idyllic landscapes, peace and quiet. A dozen or so charming rooms and several spacious and very comfortable traditional cottages, the so-called casitas, with swimming pools, its own garden and a private dining area. Absolutely everything there is tailored to the customer's taste. A delicious breakfast will be prepared especially for you at any time indicated. And it doesn't matter whether it's 6 a.m. or 14 p.m. True idyll and relaxation in a fresh, healthy environment, among beautiful nature.
However, if that wasn't enough for anyone, Seville is at your fingertips. Full of monuments, restaurants, bars and shops. When visiting it during the Feria de Abril festival, you can notice ladies in characteristic dresses full of ruffles on the streets, especially in the old part of the city. These are dancers of flamenco, which is very popular in the region. There are also couples riding through the streets.
Car rental and the comfort of visiting Andalusian towns
After two days spent comfortably at Hacienda San Rafael, I headed back to Marbella. I chose a lovely road through the mountains, towards the historic city of Ronda. It is beautifully situated on both sides of the Guadalevín River gorge and consists of two districts: Ciudad, the Arab part, and Mercadillo, the newer part, created after the Reconquista. It is worth stopping there for a few hours to walk the streets of the old town, eat a tasty lunch, and take photos on the wonderful, monumental Puente Nuevo bridge, built in 1793.
The further road from Ronda to Marbella is also extremely charming, but after only 30 minutes I enter the expressway, heading for the airport in Marbella.
I have had the opportunity to taste everything I have described many times, and I can sum it up with one statement. I am in love with Andalusia and the Costa del Sol! This feeling did not come immediately, it was born during many visits. Marbella is a wonderful city that is the gateway to Andalusia, worthy of repeated visits. Thanks to convenient air connections, it is no longer a trip to the other end of the world, but a trip like from Warsaw to Gdańsk or Sopot for a weekend. We can also spend a beautiful, sunny long weekend in Marbella.
Think next time: Sopot or Marbella? Krakow or Marbella? Bieszczady, Masuria or Marbella? Or maybe you don't have to choose at all? All these places have two things in common - one is their attractiveness, the other is their accessibility to us. However, everything divides them! So don't think too long :)
If you are bored with the traditional style of traveling, we encourage you to try it private helicopter rental and admiring the views from a bird's eye view!
Author: Marek Mazur
