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| Welcome to Personal Touch Villas |
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The Costa Del Sol is in the South of
Spain and offers a great variety of attractions for example, Golf Courses
of World-wide renown, Pleasure Boat Harbors, Casinos, Excellent Restaurants,
Cozy Cafés and Typical Spanish Bars, Sport Centers of all kinds with an
international atmosphere. All this is backed up by an unique climate, where
the temperatures and gentle breezes together with the brilliant blue sky
and plentiful days of sunshine, making this area a paradise on the shores
of the Mediterranean.
This region is the healthiest part of the world according to the World Health
Organization and maintains an average year round temperature of 24°C. The
area has numerous beaches and regular local markets, History and Culture
is combined with luxury beach resort and fantastic amenities. |
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Torremolinos
This
is where it all began: what was once a tiny fishing village
has become one of the largest - and most popular - of all the
Costa del Sol holiday resorts. And it's not hard to see why.
For sheer choice of hotels, bars, discos and beaches, good old
'Torrie' is quite simply hard to beat.
The
Aqua park near the Palacio de Congresos has Europe's largest
water-slide, wave machines, the Cresta Run water mountain- plus
penty more besides. The fascinating Crocodile Park just outside
Torremolinos is one of the area's most popular attractions.
To the east of the town are two main beaches of Playamar and
Bajondillo. there are parasols and sun loungers 'a go-go' to
rent here - not to mention every kind of caf'e and restaurant
imaginable.Beach volleyball and soccer are also on the agenda
in high season, with water sports on offer at the neighboring
Benalmadena marina. There are plenty of beach front caf''es
(called Chiringuitos) selling fried fish, snacks and refreshments,
which is just as well as the walk back from the main beach into
the town centre is uphill all the way. The number one street
for shopping is Calle San Miguel where you can find any manner
of goods. There are bars in abundance proclaiming their heritage
to one nationality of another; Irish, English, Dutch,German
you name it Torremolinos is likely to have it. The busy nightclubs
pump out the latest music and stay open until dawn or even later.
Make no mistakes Torremolinos is about having fun. |
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Benalmadena
Benalmadena is an Andalucian mountain village, which perches
on top of a rocky outcrop of the coastal range in Malaga Province.
From here it commands the Mediterranean shore between Torremolinos
and Fuengirola, the modern municipality which bears its name
forming one of the most important focal points of the Costa
del Sol. The mountains that form a backdrop protect the whole
area from any encroachment of northern European weather.This
picturesque village and its coastline are eminently suitable
for tourism, with a population of over 60,000 people at the
height of the season. Make no mistake though; this is still
the heart of tourist country with crowded beaches, an abundance
of British bars and resturants to cater for most tastes. The
new Puerto Marina is the place to go for young "party goers".
Popular with locals and tourists alike the place has a distinctly
international feel to it. The area is crammed with a variety
of nightclubs and bars playing the latest music and staying
open until sunrise. |
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Benalmadena
Costa
The
coastal region is where most of the facities for sun and sand
tourism are concentrated: hotels, a casino, golf courses, a
pleasure harbour etc. Worthy of note for its originality is
Bil-Bil Castle, on the sea front, a curious structure built
in Neoarabic style in 1934, now used for cultural purposes by
the local council Historical notes. Benalmadena Costa has 9km
of shoreline with beautiful beaches and tiny coves and a fully
equipped marina for over 1,000 vessels.The marina is surrounded
by apartments and offers sports such as diving and sailing.
Just to the west of Malaga and Torremolinos,Benalmadena Costa
is one of the Costa del Sol's most buzzing family resort areas
with plenty of beaches and attractions plus an abundance of
bars and resturants that would keep most visitors going a lifetime.
In fact its nightlife has achieved legend status amongst Costa
del Soll die-hards - particularly in the area now developing
around the new Puerto Marina. Take your pick for some 9kms of
clean beaches at Benalmadena - ranging from the naturally sandy,
to shingle and manmade- all situated to the west of the new
marina. Most are well equipped with all the facilities you need
for a relaxing stay in the sun including sun loungers, beach
showers and a whole host of places to eat and drinkOn Fridays
the local market provides a good opportunity to buy cheap provisions
and local handicrafts. The British-managed Bodega de Ole in
Plaza Ole is a laid-back establishment in Spanish style. Relax
on its shady terrace with a glass of fine wine or Spanish beer.
The Music Bar has an excellent DJ and up-to-date music.. |
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Arroyo
de la Miel.
Arroyo de la Miel, whose name means "river of honey"
is the populated area between the mountains and the coast in
the region of Benalmadena. This is where most of the area's
population and businesses are located and it has a wide range
of attractions including a sports complex, bilingual library
and the world famous theme park Tivoli World. It is also where
the cable car to the mountain peak starts from. Arroyo offers
a wide selection of caf'e bars, restaurants, supermarkets, banks
and a health clinic. Arroyo de la Miel is only 15 minutes by
train from Malaga International Airport or a 10 minute journey
by taxi. The train from here runs from Malaga centre to Fuengirola
via the airport. It stops at Arroyo on the hour and half hour.
Fuengirola is just 7 minutes away and Torremolinos only 5 minutes
away by train. There is a regular bus service to Benalmadena
Pueblo, Mijas, Fuengirola, Malaga and Marbella. |
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Mijas
At
first sight Mijas is the Andaluz pueblo blanco par excellence
- it's ancient white-washed houses xlinging to the hillside
surrounded by some of the best coastal views in Spain. In fact
its beauty- and easy access from the coast- has made it a 'mini
resort' in its own right with some 90% of the population now
of foreign origin. Since the sixties many artists and other
crafts people have made their home here and the town now boasts
a wide range of bars, cafe's and restaurants for the visitors
coming here on a day trip basis- as well as those staying in
villas nearby.
There is a thriving arts and crafts movement
in Mijas, particularlly linen and wicker items and the locally
made bread and honey is definitely worth trying. Still on a
culinary note, the traditional local fare includes gazpachuelo
(an egg soup) and for those with a sweeter tooth, there are
the typical cakes made with almonds, called bunuelos and homazos.
One of the most interesting buildings in Mijas is the hermitage
of El Puerto which can be spied, just about everywhere in the
village, appropriately enough, halfway up a mountain! Keep looking
and you may just catch a glimpse of a hand glider wafting over
the peak. Mijas is also well positioned for some of the area's
championship golf courses-including Los Lagos and Los Olivos-
and the panoramic views really are superb! |
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Marbella
Marbella
is a stylish, cosmopolitan resort that has long attracted the
rich and famous, alongside thousands of ordinary holidaymakers
seduced by its beautiful landscaping and un-spoilt hidden corners.
Along with the long sandy beach its main focus is the Old Town
(the Casco Antiguo) where the bougainvillaea floods the whitewashed
buildings in dazzling colour. Check out the Plaza de Los Naranjos
for some Old Marbella atmosphere- home to the 16th century town
hall and a handy tourist information office, not to mention
bars and bistros. Avda Ricardo de Soviano, with its designer
boutiques meanwhile, is the epicentre of modern Marbella. One
of the prettiest places is the fabled 'Orange Square', which
is located just off the main street in the older district and
also home to the 16th century town hall, and tourist office
where you can pick up a detailed map and any additional information.
The plaza is lined with stately buildings, small shops, art
galleries, bars and bistros and is a hub of activity day and
night. Depending on the time of year, of course, the colours
here are truly dramatic and vibrant with the trees and exotic
plants set against a backdrop of dazzling white buildings and
a deep blue sky. You can take your pick from more than 26km
of clean, well maintained beaches as well as water sports such
as Jet-skiing in Marbella and sailing at Puerto Banus. For an
action-packed time, visit Funny Beach - there's as much going
on out of the water as on it, here, including jet-skis, water-slides,
go-karting, paintball shooting and giant Scalextric. Just off
Marbella's promenade is a large family beach with lots of activities.
Playa del Duque near Puerto Banus offers a quieter beachside
experience. |
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Puerto
Banus
Puerto
Banus is the ultimate playground for the international jet set
where the gleaming yachts are some of the largest and most luxurious
you'll see anywhere. Literally teeming with nightlife, eating
and designer shopping opportunities. Puerto Banus is located
just west of Marbella, before you reach the small town of San
Pedro de Alcantara. Built by Don Jose Banus in 1970, it was
the Costa del Sol's first pleasure harbour, and its impact has
been so great that it is no longer simply a marina, having become
a residential area for high-class tourism. The harbour is not
only a berthing place for some of the world's most spectacular
yachts and sailing ships, it is also home to some of Marbella's
premier tourist establishments, including the Casino. The Nightlife
in Puerto Banus is excellent, with your choice of cafe's piano
bars,restaurants and disco's, while during the day this is a
window shopper's dream with several of the worlds renowned fashion
houses featured here, in addition to small , interesting shops
and boutiques. The beach is at the north of the town and is
called Playa Lavante. It is long and wide and very clean.There
are over 100 restaurants, beautiful shops, designer boutiques
as well as a casino, night-clubs and a 7 screen cinema complex
all in Puerto Banus. |
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Fuengirola
Lively, popular and always buzzing- the resort of Fuengirola
has come a long way from its days as a simple Spanish fishing
villaga. Today it's a fascinating mix of local Spanish residents
and inrtnational visitors, many of whom have made their permanent
home in the urbanization housing complexes that stretch up into
the hills. Lying to the east of Marbella it is a bustling little
town during the height of the tourist season. The town is full
of bars and nightclubs, offering something for most tastes.
The castle has become the town's symbol; situated outside the
town on a hill it commands an impressive view over Fuengirola
and the sea. Although the castle may be the town's symbol it
is probably better known for its beaches.
Fuengirola's amazing
beach is overlooked by one of the longest promenades in the
Mediterranean and takes just a little over 2hrs to walk from
one end to the other. From the walkways gently swaying palm
trees it's only a short stroll to one of the resort's oldest
areas, the Santa Fe quarter where fishermen once worked and
lived. Today this is an attractive alternative to Fuengirola's
modern face, a maze of white washed buildings and narrow streets,
where the restaurants are some of the best in town. Try some
of those surrounding the Plaza de la Constitucion or the Calle
Moncayo and soak in the atmosphere. There's literally tons of
watery fun on offer at the spectacular Parque Aquatico Mijas
waterpark- easy to reach from Fuengirola bus station via a 10
minute shuttle bus service. Open daily from May-September. Parklandia
at Puerto Deportivo, Paseo Maritimo means you can stay on dry
land while the kids take their pick from countless swings, slides,
frames. There's even a bouncy castle and mini-karting. There
are excellent views from Fuengirola's castle, perched high on
a hill to the west side of town. |
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Malaga
The capital of the Costa del Sol enjoys one of the finest climates to
be found anywhere in Europe. Malaga is the major coastal city of Andalucia
and is a genuine and typical Andaluz city with a gritty individualism
untouched by tourism and the passage of time. The Moors occupied the city
until the mid fifteenth century, after which it grew to become one of
the foremost merchant centers in the entire Iberian Peninsula. This illustrious
past has left its imprint on the historic center, particularly around
La Alcazaba, a fortress that dates back to 1065 and is now a fascinating
archaeological museum. Malaga's old town is charming, with narrow streets
that still have a Moorish air, Baroque facades and little squares, and
the hidden corners that preserve a nineteenth century air. There is plenty
to see in both the old part of the city and in its more populated neighborhoods,
next to the port or the beach at El Palo. Garden lovers won't be disappointed
in Malaga either. In the center of the city is the beautiful Alameda Gardens,
and just outside on the way to Antequera one finds the extensive Jardines
de la Concepción. Málaga airport is of course one of the major airports
in Spain due to the number of tourist arrivals on charter flights from
Northern Europe using Malaga airport as a gateway to the Costa del Sol.
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