Marbella has much to offer the visitor with its endless beaches, numerous golf courses, leisure ports, and many varied restaurants and shops. Due to its geographical location Marbella enjoys a special micro climate with no harsh winters or uncomfortably hot summers. The sun shines on average for 320 days per year and there are less than 50 rainy days. The hills and mountains surrounding Marbella contain many quaint Andalucian villages and a visit to the town of Ronda would be well worthwhile.
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Golf:
Many of the finest golf courses on the Costa del Sol are located just a short drive from our apartment. These include Los Monteros, Santa Maria, Los Naranjos, Aloha, and La Quinta to name just a few. About one hour's drive away is the famous Valderama Golf course which hosted the Ryder Cup. There are Mountain and Links courses, driving ranges, practice areas, putting greens and superb club houses with all the facilities you would expect for five star golfing. |
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Shopping:
Marbella Shopping & Cinema centres, La Canada.
La Canada shopping & Cinema centre Marbella Costa del Sol
La Canada shopping and leisure centre is the largest in the Costa del Sol with over 150 shops in two levels. The fabulous shopping centre is located 5 minutes drive from the apartment. It is situated at the north side of the road N 340 in Marbella. You can find practically everything you looking for and has all the services you expect on a shopping centre.
They have a huge supermarket Alcampo who sells everything, food, electric equipment, music, furniture, clothes, shoes and much more with unbeatable prices.
The Centre has more than 50 fashion and shoes shops. The most popular are Zara, H & M, Mango, Massimo Dutti, S`Fera, Punto Roma, Benetton, Often, Ms Selfridge, Evans, Stradivarius, Woman’s Secret, Top shop, Adolfo Dominguez, Springfield, Promod, Naf Naf, Top man, Dorothy Perkins, Soho Fashion, Pull And Bear, Cortefiel, Wallace, Mister Jeans, Oysho, Chicco, Mayoral and Imagnarium.
You don’t have to go hungry in La Canada. On 4 different restaurants area you can choose between McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Entrecote, Pasta City and 20 more like tapas, Italian, pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants to eat and drink. For leisure the chopping centre can offer you a fantastic Multiplex Cinema with 8 Screens and a Mega Bowl Bowling with 20 lane bowling alley, pool table, bar and restaurant.
For the body, you have the huge new health and fitness gym Oxigeno.
The quality of shopping in Spain depends very much on which part of the country you are in. The busy commercial centres of Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga will not be so different to shopping at home with large, busy department stores offering all manner of goods. The shops in the big cities will also be well used to tourists and many will be able to speak English, French, German and a few other languages. If you decide to go shopping in areas a bit more off the beaten track don't expect many to speak your native language and expect big variations in prices. Shopping in Spain can be quite a pleasurable pursuit if you have plenty of time and don't mind mixing it up with a bit of meandering in the coffee shops or bars for drinks and tapas.
Opening Hours: Although the opening hours can vary considerably between regions, shops generally open at 10am and close at 2pm for siesta, reopening between 5pm to 8pm (in many cases till 9). A lot of the big stores including the hypermarkets and department stores will stay open all day. Most stores are closed on Sunday and on fiesta days (which there are a lot of).
Hypermarkets:
Hypermarkets are very popular and are present in most of the larger towns. They are usually located on the outskirts and can normally be found by following the signs for the local centro commercial. The biggest are Eroski and Hipercor (part El Corte Ingles). El Corte Ingles is absolutely huge in Spain and really do sell just about everything. You can even buy flight tickets from their web site (http://www.elcorteingles.es).
Markets: Open air markets are usually open in the mornings from 0900 until 1400 and sell a wide variety of products including: vegetables, flowers, clothes, shoes, linen, pottery, arts and crafts from local artists, domestic goods, carpets and jewellery.
There is normally a market in Marbella every Monday from 09.00 am – 15.00 pm and one in Fuegerolia every Tuesday from 09.00 am – 15.00 pmMaking payments.
Credit cards are widely accepted in Spain. Cheques are not. Please bear in mind that when paying by credit card, photo I.D. is required. The currency is the euro although everywhere you go you will find people still talking in pesetas and then trying to convert to euros. When you withdraw money from the bank try not to let them give you 500 euro notes as most shops refuse to accept them. Visitors can claim back the IVA (VAT) added to all purchases except food, drink, motor vehicles, and medicines. |
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Malaga Airport Information:
Malaga International Airport (AGP) is located South West of Malaga city centre. It services the Costa del Sol, with easy access to the E-15 (toll road) & N-340 motorways. With in excess of 12,500,000 passengers passing through the airport in 2004 Malaga is one of Spain's busiest destinations. Due to ever increasing demand, plans have been laid for further expansion, the airport has finally been given the go-ahead to begin a €730 million (£483 million) expansion plan designed to double its capacity by 2010.
Car Parking: There is car parking for over 1300 cars at Malaga International Airport (AGP) on site, with many private car parking facilities offsite within a few kilometers e.g. Cheap Malaga Airport Parking +34 952 24 36 23 also parking for passenger coaches & car hire companies is also provided onsite with drop off facilities for most of the Major car hire companies. |
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Public Transport
Train: There is a train service operating between the airport & Malaga city, as well as to Fuengirola. There are plans to extent this service in the future to Marbella and beyond. The service typically starts early & finishes late running every 30 minutes. The train station is situated next to the cargo terminal; opposite passenger terminal follow the signs over the footbridge to the train station. Look out for this sign above the station;
To Fuengirola: First train 06.13 then at 43 and 13 minutes pas the hour. Last train 22.43 journey time 30 minutes.
Buses: Buses to Malaga (Number 19) run every 30 minutes between 7.00am & 12.00midnight. The Bus stop is outside the arrivals area through the sliding doors turn right about 30 meters. The cost is roughly 1€ per person & there is a pickup from both terminals. This is an urban route & will pick up passengers along the way, so be prepared if you have a lot of luggage. It is also possible to catch a bus to Marbella & although frequent, timetables vary depending on the season; the cost is around 4.00€.
Taxi: Taxis are available outside of both terminal 1 and 2. There is a queuing system in operation and prices are as follows Fuengirola 36 €,La Cala de Mijas 43€, Calahonda 46€, Marbella 57€ and Puerto Banus 65€.
Car Hire: There are many car hire companies operating from Malaga International Airport (AGP) and many inside the arrival terminal.
Information & Help Desks: There are a number of information desks at Malaga airport. The main reception can be contacted on +34 952 048 484, with alternative numbers for arrivals +34 952 048 838 & departures +34 952 048 804. The lost luggage department can be contacted on +34 952 136203.
Airport Facilities: Malaga airport has many facilities including a Pharmacy, many food outlets including Burger King (visitors Area), Hugo Boss and Lacoste shops cafes and restaurants, Magazine shops and duty free outlet; although it has to be said the choice is better in the departures lounge than in the visitor's area.
Disabled Facilities: Malaga International Airport (AGP) is fully equipped with ramps & disabled toilets. Wheelchairs are available on request.
For further information on Malaga Airport, please click on www.malaga-airport-guide.com |
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Restaurants:
Marbella is one of Spain's most popular tourist destinations and the mind-boggling number of restaurants and hotels in Marbella reflect the area's popularity.
Among the restaurants of Puerto Banus and Marbella you will find the perfect atmosphere for your event and enjoy fabulous culinary experiences.
Every type of world cuisine is represented here: French, Italian, Basque, Chinese, Lebanese, ... and of course several fashionable restaurants of Spanish haute cuisine.
To view a list of restaurants please click on the following: www.marbellamarbella.com/restaurants
Tourist Tip
Whilst most restaurant menus are in Spanish and English (at least), attempting few words in Spanish will endear you well among locals. When using a credit card you will be asked for photo identification. Driving licenses with photo, national identification card or a passport are all acceptable. |
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+353 (0) 86 2381022