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Our self catering luxury holiday apartment is close to Marbella and the famous Puerto Banus (playground for the rich and famous) with abundance of restaurants and bars to suit every taste.Marbella has great beaches, a great climate and wonderful food, nightlife and entertainment - but also historical remains dating from Roman times, and more modern attractions, such as the Museum of Contemporary Spanish Engravings. Stretching for over 3 kms along the coast and 2 kms inland, Estepona town is primarily a developed fishing village, much less commercialised and more authentic than neighbouring resorts. With many of its traditional elements intact, it has a less polished atmosphere; older folk chat outside their front doors in the evening, eyeing the passers-by as they have done for years. The buildings appear more ramshackle than in other Costa del Sol resorts, with modern apartments next to plainly time-worn establishments. However, it is by no means behind the times; there is a pleasant, modern seaside promenade and harbour area, and the needs of tourists are well provided for. Estepona has a fine beach with a 'Blue Flag' rating. The main beach is generally wide with coarse sand and some pebbly sections; it is backed by a lovely palm tree lined promenade with a few eateries. There is also a great Sunday morning souvenir market in its friendly port. Jet-skiing and parasailing are quite popular in summer. The central streets claim the best shopping area, with small local shops selling handicrafts, leather goods, ceramics etc. Entertainments include beach and water-based activities, tennis, horse-riding, golf and deep-sea fishing. You can also explore the old town and visit historic sites including Los Remedios church and the clock tower, Torre del Reloj (which has organised tours every Thurs, departing from the tourist office). The bullring, just outside town, has 4 small museums as well (local history, archaeology, palaeontology and bullfighting) The Costa del Sol can truly be described as the perfect haven for the golfer - a golfers paradise. There are numerous courses to choose from; many are internationally famous for the tournaments they have held, (including the Ryder Cup). You can play golf here for more than 320 days a year, without getting wet. Golf courses There are about 30 golf courses on the Costa del Sol. Many golf courses demand official handicap - 28 for men and 36 for women. Green card players can always play at, for instance, the Estepona Golf Pay as You Play course, as well as several others. Some further information can be found from the Andalusian Golf Federation. Local activities in and around Estepona, Costa del Sol - Malaga The Costa del Sol is still the most exciting and varied holiday destination to go to. On the West side of this complex lies Estepona, a familiar little town full of spirit which will bring you the relaxing holiday you would expect. Fishing boats can be viewed from the beach under the moonlight. With one of the best acclaimed beaches and seafront, old town terraces and famous tapas bars in every single corner asure a pleasant time under the Andalucia sun. On the other hand on the East side you can find Marbella and Puerto Banus, glamour, luxury, night life and shopping, making this town perfect for all the ages. Morocco is situated in the South of the Costa del Sol, only a few Km far away from our coast crossing the Mediterranean sea. Around the complex you have a choice of international and local restaurants, bars, pubs, night-clubs, shops, casinos, boutiques, spas and stores. A perfect place to be for a relaxed holiday. You also have the chance to choose a sporting past-time on the Coast. Horse riding, diving, adventures parks, etc...... Safari Park This safari park is just around the corner. A great pleasure and learning experience for the whole family. www.selwo.es Las Flamingos Golf Club One of the best courses on the coast, with a beautiful scenery and a 5-star hotel lies at a 4 minute drive. http://www.fga.org Nikki Beach One of the many exclusive beach clubs on the coast. Our beaches offer something for everybody, from a simple ´chiringuito´ with delicious fish to exclusive beach clubs where champagne flows all day and night. www.nikkibeach.com Tikitano Restaurant www.tikitano.net Laguna Village Included the rounded Puro Beach, delicatessen shop and several trendy shops and restaurants. www.laguna-village.com Cities, Towns and Villages Benahavis Benahavis was originally a 'white village', only about 8 kilometers from Dominion Beach. Famous for its restaurants, it is also the most mountainous village on the western Costa del Sol. Monuments of interest are Montemayor Castle and a former 16th century palace Casares Casares is a picturesque mountain village, about 35 km from Dominion Beach. One of the 'white villages, Casares has a wealth of sites of interest, as well as routes to walk in the hills. The cemetery is definitely worth a visit. The official website is in Spanish only. Istan Another white village, Istan is known as "the Spring of the Costa del Sol". Of particular interest, therefore, are the fountains, both old (Fuente y Lavadero El Chorro) and new (Fuente La Esfera), the lake, and the Moorish irrigation channels. Again, the official website is in Spanish only. Istan is about 30 km from Dominion Beach. Ronda Ronda is one of the oldest Spanish cities. Its origin, according to archaeological findings in the old city, belongs to the Neolithic age. Ronda's bullring, due to its history and architecture, is recognized as one of the oldest in Spain, and its character and beauty make it one of the most monumental existing bullrings. There is also the nearby Sierra de Las Nieves nature park. Ronda is about 60 km from Dominion Beach. Gibraltar Gibraltar is about 60 km from Dominion Beach. The Rock is imposing but small. It measures less than six square kilometres in total and is a British self-governing colony. It is inhabited by around 30,000 people made up of Gibraltarians, British, Moroccans, Indians and Spanish. There is also a colony of the famous apes, the only ones in Europe to run free in a semi-wild state. The Upper Rock can be reached by car but the road is narrow and winding. It is probably wiser to take one of the Rock tours organised by taxi or coach or to take the cable car. Included in most tours are the Upper Rock Nature Reserve (which gives magnificent views of North Africa and the meeting of the Atlantic and Mediterranean), St Michael's Cave, the Apes Den, the historic Siege Tunnels and Europa Point. Malaga About 80 km from Dominion Beach, Malaga is a city rich in history. It is located in the Spanish region of Andalucia and the capital city of the province of Malaga. It was the home of Pablo Picasso, the internationally famous artist who was born here in 1881. There is a Picasso Museum in the city with 12 halls of exhibition galleries. Today there is another famous son of the city: the actor, Antonio Banderas. The city was founded by the Phoenicians and Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors have lived there over the years. There is thus a rich and varied historical past, which can be seen in the monuments and historical buildings throughout the city. There is a wonderful 16 century renaissance and baroque style cathedral, a Roman theatre and the Alcazaba Moorish castle and the Gibralfaro fortress. There is also a very good hop on hop off tourist bus service around the city which leaves regularly from the bus station, with a multilingual commentary through headphones. The complete tour would take about and hour and a half, if you didn't get off at all. It's easy to spot, since it is the only red double decker bus with an open roof. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours, so you can stop off along the way and carry on the tour later. There are 12 stops, starting at the Main Bus Station. Nerja Nerja, located about 135 km from Dominion Beach, has the largest natural caves in Europe. There are also historical sites, notably the Balcon de Europa ('Balcony of Europe') and El Salvador church, and some spectacular and largely undeveloped beaches and coves. Jerez Justifiably famous for its sherry, Jerez, about 150 km from Dominion Beach, is also the principal cradle of the Andalusian horse. A tour of one of the many bodegas is not to be missed, and the "How the Andalusian Horses Dance" show of the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre is stunning. Granada The city of Granada lies at the confluence of the Darro and Genil rivers, at the feet of Sierra Nevada. Underneath the Alhambra which is visited every year by more than two million people, is a city filled with monuments and historical buildings. Nonetheless, Granada is also a young and modern capital, with a large student population. Granada is about 210 km from Dominion Beach. Costa del Sol The densely populated coast of Andalusia, stretching from Almeria to Tarifa, is Europe’s all-year-round favoured holiday destination, known as the Costa del Sol. It consists of a string of fine sandy beaches, where the average water temperature is 64ºF (18ºC), and picturesque towns have abundant tourist amenities, resorts and high-rise hotels. Attractions include zoos, bullfights, water parks, casinos and amusement parks. Marbella is the Costa del Sol's quality resort - the restaurants and bars are more stylish (and expensive). The old town is hidden away and retains some of its medieval charm and has some good clothes shops and restaurants. The exclusive Puerto Banus, six miles (10km) to the west, is where you will find the casino and the seriously large yachts. Those visitors who drive just a few miles inland to the villages in the hills around Ronda will discover a Spain completely untouched by tourism, with village markets and tapas bars to be explored. |