Driving Whilst on Holiday on the Costa del Sol: 12 Key Tips

Stop SignIf you are planning to visit the Costa del Sol for your next holiday – or any other area of Spain – there is a good chance that you will want to hire a vehicle to give you a little more freedom and really take advantage of some of the beautiful scenery our country has to offer.

You’ve probably heard some horror stories about driving in Spain and might have been put off by it but I assure you it is not that bad! If you are careful and respect speed limits and road signs, you won’t have a problem. The following tips and guidelines will give you a brief overview of the more important points you need to be aware of when driving in Spain.

1)      First and foremost, we drive on the right in Spain!!!! Seems like a trivial point as most people are aware of this; however, you’d be amazed at how many accidents are caused by tourists who “forget” when turning out of a petrol station or similar and end up heading the wrong way – please just be careful and alert at all times, an advice from lawyers for wrecks and accidents. (more…)

“Mamma Mia” – Your Chance to Sing & Dance the Night Away to Abba Classics

Bjorn again show in Marbella

Bjorn Again Show in Marbella

Are you an Abba Fan? If you are, then we’ve got good news for you as the international sell-out show, Bjorn Again, will be performing exclusively in Marbella next Wednesday the 18th August.

This fantastic evening of entertainment for the whole family will take place at the Marbella Bullring. During the show you will be able to sing and dance to classics from Abba and Mamma Mia (Show): Waterloo, Super Trouper, Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia….. all your favourite songs will be performed live!

Although the Bjorn Again show is the highlight of the evening, the fun doesn’t stop there; supporting acts include Ruth Lorenzo, the Spanish finalist from the X Factor as well as Becky Tate, finalist of our local Wow Factor.

Tickets start at €20 for kids and €30 for adults and can be purchased at an El Corte Inglés store or online at www.ticketmaster.es . Doors open at 8pm.

Fun on the Cards this Week: it’s “Feria” Time!

feriaIf you are lucky enough to be on holiday on the Costa del Sol this week, then you are in for a real treat! This week we have two “Ferias” (local festivities): one in Benalmadena Pueblo and the other in Málaga.

Have you ever had the chance to experience the magic of a local “feria”? If not, you can’t miss out this time! It’s the perfect opportunity to experience some traditional Spanish culture as well as have a blast of a time!

For a “full on” first time Feria experience, I recommend you join the festivities in Málaga; it’s regarded as one of the best in Andalucia – second only to the famous Seville Fair in April – and you are guaranteed a great day out. Don’t be fooled by the photo; you will get a chance to jump on all the rides at the Fun fair which takes place in the evening but the real Feria atmosphere is lived during the daytime in the centre of the city. Bars, music, flamenco dancers, beautiful “señoritas” and “señoritos” dressed in traditional costumes, great food and drink……just a taste of what you can expect!

If you are feeling really adventurous – once you’ve made your way through the streets of the old town and experienced the true essence of the Feria – you can head for Málaga’s famous Bullring and enjoy a true taste of the Spanish fiesta by watching a Bull fight; it wont be any old bull fight, as the Malaga Fair attracts some of the best fighters in Spain! (more…)

“It’s a Celebration” – Kool & the Gang Live in Concert in Marbella

Kool and the Gang Concert in Marbella

Kool & the Gang

Where? At the Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella

When? This Friday the 6th August; doors open at 8pm

The legendary 70’s Band known for their mix of R&B, Disco, Soul and Funky music will get the crowd moving with classic tracks like Celebration, Get Down on It, Ladies Night and Jungle Boogie.

You get the real deal at this concert as the band is made up of all the original members; they’ve been delighting their fans for over 40 years!

So what are you waiting for? Get down to one of the El Corte Inglés centres or online at www.ticketmaster.es and get your tickets before they sell out! Prices start at €30.

Get ready to Boogie the night away!

New Packages for Your Costa del Sol Golf Holiday

Golf Packages on the Costa del Sol

Torrequebrada Golf

Are you are planning a golf holiday on the Costa del Sol this winter? Then our new “Flexi-Golf” packages might be just what you are looking for.

The word “Flexi” says it all: You get to choose where you play from a selection of some of the most popular courses on the Coast – Rio Real, Santa Clara, Marbella Golf, La Cala, Santa Maria…..to name but a few.

You won’t have to worry about a thing as packages include accommodation with full buffet breakfast, green fees, buggies, car hire, and the services of our dedicated golf desk. Just book your flights and we’ll take care of the rest!

Packages start from €229 per person for a three night break and two rounds of golf or if you prefer, you can get our golf services team to prepare a “Tailor-Made” Package for you. If you’d like more information, please click here for our Costa del Sol Golf Package Brochure.

Great Expectation as the Obama Family Choose to Spend their Holiday on the Costa del Sol

Michelle & Sacha Obama

After several days of speculation, it has now been confirmed that President Obama´s wife, Michelle, and their youngest daughter Sasha will be spending four days holiday on the Costa del Sol – to be more precise, they will be staying at the exclusive Villa Padierna Hotel, operated by Ritz Carlton Hotel Group. Although the press has been talking about  how the town of Marbella is proud to have such a distinguished guest, the people of the small village of Benahavis are up in arms as the hotel is actually located in their municipality, not in Marbella!

Nevertheless, this unexpected visit will have a profound effect on Costa del Sol tourism in general. We are used to having famous people visit our beautiful stretch of Coast; however, this trip is special due to extensive media coverage it is receiving. I read in the paper this morning that it is already having a positive effect on bookings, specially from the US market! Great news all round!

Let’s just hope that President Obama  can make last minutes changes to his agenda and join his wife and daughter at the Villa Padierna for his 49th Birthday celebrations. That will really be the icing on the cake!!

Travelling to the Irish Open with Turespaña

Annemie from our Golf & Leisure desk packed her bags and jetted off to Ireland today as she will be joining the Turespaña (Spanish Tourism Board) stand at the Irish Open at the weekend.

The event takes place at the Killarney Golf Club, Killarney, County Kerry this weekend (29th July – 1st August) with many of the top names in European Golf taking part. If you’re planning on heading to Killarney to watch the golf, please stop by the Turespaña stand and say Hi to Annemie….. She’s got some great offers for Golf Holidays on the Costa del Sol this winter!

A Tribute to Grease – Live at the Moonlight Bar

grease show at sunset beach club

A Tribute to Grease

Our on-site entertainment team have been working hard for weeks preparing their new show; A tribute to Grease. Last week was the premiere and from what we’ve heard the Rocio and her team have done a great job; the show was packed! If you missed the show last week, don’t panic; the show will be on every Friday evening over the summer at our Moonlight Bar here at Sunset Beach Club. Join Danny, Sandy and the rest of the T-Birds and Pink Ladies for an evening of great music and dancing! The show starts at 10:30 pm and entrance is free. Just make sure you get there early so you get a good seat!

Oktoberfest, Costa del Sol Style!

Beer festival in fuengirola

Poster for the Festival

From the 22nd July to the 1st August, you can enjoy a slightly different experience during your holidays by visiting the Beer Festival in Fuengirola’s Sohail Castle.

The festival is in its 3rd year now and is basically the Costa del Sol’s version of the Oktoberfest! You’ll have the chance to sample a great selection of wheat beers and tuck in to some typical German dishes; sausages, roast pork, german burgers and sauerkraut, will all be on the menu. Children’s entertainment and live performances throughout the week also help to make this event a fun day out for the whole family.

Just a few stats to give you an idea of the popularity of the event: last year over 100,000 people made their way to the Sohail Castle for the event and managed to drink approximately 30,000 litres of beer!!!

If you would like to visit the festival, just head on down to Fuengirola as from Thursday the 22nd July. Doors – or should I say drawbridge, remember it is in a castle – open at 19:00hrs from Monday to Friday and at 12:00hrs on weekends. Access is free but I am afraid the beer isn’t!!!!

The “Virgen del Carmen” Procession in Los Boliches: Amazing!

Virgen del Carmen

The Virgen del Carmen being carried by the Fishermen in Los Boliches

On Friday evening, I decided to follow the advice I gave on my blog post about the Virgen del Carmen Celebrations and took my family to see the processions in Los Boliches, Fuengirola.

Unlike some of the other towns, the procession in Los Boliches is well known for starting late in the evening; it actually goes on until well after midnight. As we arrived early – well early by Spanish standards – we decided to stop off in one of the “chiringuitos” on the beach and enjoy a little “pescaito frito”; calamares, boquerones, prawns and a couple of cold beers!

We were now ready to go and see the “Stella Maris”. I have been to other “Virgen del Carmen” processions in other towns, but this was my first time in Los Boliches; I couldn’t believe the amount of people that turned up to the promenade to watch…. We are talking thousands! The procession started in the church and made its way down to the paseo maritimo (promenade) where thousands of families watched and cheered as the local fishermen carried the “Virgen” into the sea and onto one of the fishing boats that awaited. (more…)