Christmas in Spain is a truly magical experience, and our journey along the Costa del Sol only heightened its charm. As we embarked on our final stop, the coastal highway unveiled a breathtaking panorama of sun-kissed beaches and picturesque communities, each exuding its own unique allure. Among them, Marbella stood out as a beacon of elegance and sophistication, its upscale ambiance adding a touch of luxury to our holiday adventure. Navigating the winding roads, we savored the coastal vistas and relished in the festive spirit that permeated every corner of this enchanting region.
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Marbella
It was still too cool to immerse ourselves fully in the blue, blue Mediterranean waves under the Sierra Blanca Mountains. However, that didn’t stop the kids who made a beeline to the waters’ edge to play wave tag. We sat on lounge chairs, listening to the surf until the growl in our stomachs could no longer be ignored.
Meals for the next three days consisted of an array of exceptional pastas, seafood and local rice dishes.
Andalusian Cuisine
In hindsight, I think, this trip made me appreciate Spanish cuisine more than any of the three previous holidays to Spain. The food was simple; relying on the imported spices brought across that narrow strait of water that seemed to reflect upon just about everything this area has to offer. Most of them included olive oil, saffron and/ or chickpeas; staples in Andalusian cuisine.
Marbella ended up being the perfect conclusion to our phenomenal Southern Spain adventure. Great weather, amazing food, and more than a few amazing memories to reflect on during the cold, dark winter days we’re sure to encounter back home in Germany.
Where we Stayed
Senator Marbella Hotel was pretty convenient to the beach. The view from the balcony was beautiful, could even see to the ocean. Spa pools, hot and cold, were nice.
It was the only hotel I have had to pay for at check-in. I wouldn’t have minded had it not seemed like we were planning to run out in the middle of the night. The safe in the room was not free, WI-Fi only in the lobby, which I knew but was still pretty inconvenient, spa hours for children was too short. Only accessible for 90 minutes which was not convenient to our plans. There was a deposit for spa towels.
Laundry Services
We used the laundry services which were outsourced. We were not told until I asked about it. And it would not be returned until after checkout. So our plans were delayed almost three hours. The staff was not friendly, with the exception the day we checked out. I was actually lectured to by one of the staff at the front desk. She was very kind. I wished I asked her name.
Marguerita
But my biggest problem was Marguerita. The drink and the girl who served it. She tried to kill me.
I love margaritas, so I ordered one. The bartender said it was strong– she didn’t say to was lethal. Within an hour the room was spinning and I spent the majority of the evening draped over the commode.
My husband had to get directions to a pharmacy to settle my stomach. Let’s just say, all of my memories of the Costa del Sol are not good ones And we can joke about it now– a couple years later. He jokes that he didn’t think he’d see “that” until we were both old and grey. It and I were a mess.
It was too windy for the crossing from Europe to Africa. So our trip to Morocco would have to wait for another day. The current could have been better for passenger travel. My kids squealed like stuck pigs when I informed them that the sightseeing portion of our trip was officially complete. We were heading to the beach instead.
The Costa del Sol or Sun Coast was our final destination. After less than an hour’s drive along A-7, a coastal highway linking some of the prettiest, touristy beach communities together, we arrived in the beautiful, if not upscale, city of Marbella.
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