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luxury-golf

Luxury Accommodation in Sotogrande at Hotel Almenara Golf

For those seeking luxury golf holidays, the Costa del Sol offers several luxury regions. One of the most popular areas to stay is Sotogrande. This upscale development features residential real estate, beautiful beaches, challenging golf courses, and luxury hotels. One of the most luxurious hotels in Sotogrande is Hotel Almenara Golf Resort.

Golf at Almenara

A trip to the Costa del Sol would be incomplete without access to a great golf course, and the Almenara resort sits in the middle of the Almenara Golf Course. This course, which is made of three nine-hole courses, allows players to design their own combination of 18 holes, giving guests a chance to play a different course every day of their trip. All combinations of two nines are rated at par 72. The landscape is beautiful and two gorgeous lakes add both beauty and challenge to the Dave Thomas designed course.

Almenara is also home to the Sotogrande Golf Academy. This is the only high-performance center in the entire region, and it features Astar swing video analysis to help even the most experienced players perfect their swings. The academy has 90 practice fields, three short holes, a chipping and bunker area, putting greens, and illuminated driving range for players who wish to practice at night. If you are traveling with younger players, they will enjoy the Children’s Golf School, and private and group lessons are available for players of all ages.

Facilities and Amenities

While golf is your primary reason for visiting the Costa del Sol, it is not the only thing you will do while you are there. A concierge will make sure you are able to enjoy all of the activities of Sotogrande that you wish to participate in, including whale watching and deep sea fishing. The on-site El Cucurucho Beach Club is open only to resort guests and club members. It sits on the coastline and gives visitors a view of Gibraltar and the Sotogrande Water Sports Marina. Hammocks and recliners sit on the beach for those who wish to relax. A snack bar provides food and drinks to beachgoers, and several heated pools allow those who wish to swim in fresh water a chance to cool off.

Spa

The Sotogrande Health Experience is an all includes health and beauty spa. Only guests of Hotel Almenara can indulge in this experience. The spa, Elysium, offers sensory delights like full body massages, a hydrothermal room, fitness center, and a variety of beauty treatments. Facials and other skin treatment programs are popular among guests, and the entire facility calms the senses with its steamy atmosphere and the warm ambiance of the carefully filtered natural lighting.

Accommodations

The 148 rooms of Hotel Almenara are spacious and beautiful. The décor, which is designed to blend in with the natural beauty of Sotogrande, gives the facility a local touch. Each room has a golf course view, and many also overlook the sea, meaning every guest will be amazed the moment he looks out his hotel window. Hotel Almenara is truly a luxurious place to stay on your next Costa del Sol golf holiday.

Web Design

Looking for Local Web Design: Costa del Sol

Whether your organization is small or large, it is no secret that you need an online presence. You may be getting ready to launch your very first Web site; or, you may have had a site for years that you need to redesign. Whatever your Web design needs, the question exists of whether to seek the services of an agency that you’ll need to work with remotely, or whether to work with a local web design agency on the Costa del Sol. Admittedly there are advantages and disadvantages to both options, but here we will make the case for working with a local vendor.

Price Matters

One of the reasons a firm would choose to work with a Web design agency outside of Costa del Sol is if said Web design agency boasts a world-renown reputation and a prestigious clientele. However, seeking services from a high-profile agency will likely fetch you a big-ticket price tag as well. On the other hand, a local agency will be more likely to work within your budget. It is easier to negotiate pricing, timelines and more with an agency in Costa del Sol than it is with a Web designer that is far away. Local Web design firms understand the local economy and work within its framework, giving your business a more appropriate level of pricing and service.

Face-to-face Contact

Your new or redesigned Web site is a labour of love. Let’s face it, when it’s all said and done, that site will serve as the face of your organization on the Web. The process whereby that “face” is put together involves many decisions on your part. By hiring a Costa del Sol firm to do your Web design, you’ll not only have easier access to your designers, but they will have easier access to you. Remote contact over the telephone and computer along with time zone differences can really draw out the Web design process. Being able to schedule in-person meetings on a regular basis ramps up the productivity of such a collaborative effort.

Vetting the Candidates

Fortunately, there are a few very high quality options for web design on the Costa del Sol. Different agencies have different strengths and areas of expertise. Depending on what it is you are looking to get done, you’ll have different considerations to take into account. Ask to see several examples of the firm’s work. Request references and call the references to ask about the firms work, integrity, work habits, etc.

When working with a local Web design agency, it is supremely important to work with people you can see yourself building a relationship with. Chances are you’ll be in constant contact with your Web design team for a period of time ranging from a few weeks to several months. Make sure to interview each agency you consider in person and weed out those with representatives you don’t think you’ll get along with.

Most importantly, trust your instincts and choose a Costa del Sol Web design agency you think you can trust.

The Perfect Golf Holiday

The Perfect Golf Holiday Awaits in Spain’s Andalucia Province

When it comes to golf holidays in Spain then the Andalucia region offers everything that a golfer could want. The most popular area of Spain’s most southern province is the Costa del Sol, but there are many other areas to appeal to the avid golfer, including Cadiz, Almeria, and Huelva. One of the reasons south Spain is popular among golfers is because the region has the perfect temperature and weather almost year-round, so whether you are visiting in the winter or summer, you will enjoy your trip. Be sure to check the most popular golf courses in the destination of your choice.

Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is, perhaps, the most popular destination for those taking a holiday in southern Spain. The area is meant for vacationers, with luxurious resorts, perfect beaches, and, of course, award-winning golf courses. Thousands of people flock to this region every year to play popular courses like La Quinta, Monte Mayor, Almenara, and Valderrama. The courses on the Costa del Sol regularly host prestigious tournaments, including the Volvo World Match Play Championship in 2009 at the Finca Cortesin Golf Course, one of the region’s newest courses. On the Costa del Sol, vacationers will also find plenty of non-golf amusements, including a thriving nightlife, luxury shopping, and tourist activities.

Cadiz

Cadiz is located in the western section of Andalucia. While sometimes considered part of the Costa del Sol, the prestigious courses in this area are cause to consider it a destination all its own. In Cadiz, golfers will find the famous Valderrama Golf Course, where history was made when Europe won the 1997 Ryder-Cup. Prestigious tournaments are regularly held at this resort. Cadiz also has the Montecastillo, La Canada, and Novo Sancti Petri golf courses.

Huelva

Travel further west from Cadiz and you will come to Huelva, which sits on the border of Portugal and Spain. There are four courses between the border and the city of Huelva that golfers can experience. One of these is Bellavista, an 18-hole course designed by Mendez Quipo de Llano and Luis Recasens. It has a clubhouse and beautiful tennis and swimming facilities for guests to enjoy. Huelva is also home to Isla Canela, a quiet course surrounded by olive, eucalyptus, and orange trees, that was designed by Juan Catarineu. Those who are interested in beating the crowds that flock to the Costa del Sol will appreciate the relative solitude of the courses of Huelva.

Almeria

On the other end of Andalucia, golfers will find Almeria, an area known for its beautiful palm trees. This region is becoming more popular with golfers on holiday as it adds more golf courses to its prestigious lineup. Three courses sit near the city of Almeria, including Playa Serena, La Envia, and Almerimar. The city of Mojocar has four golf courses, including Desert Springs, Marina, Cortijo Grande, and The Valle del Este. Each of these courses offers a unique play, and all but Cortijo Grande are 18 hole courses. Golfers who have experienced the Costa del Sol several times will appreciate the different flair found in this eastern destination.

Finding Spiritual Wellbeing

Finding Physical and Spiritual Wellbeing via Yoga Therapy in Marbella

The stereotypical yoga session that most of us envision is that of an individual who twists into impossible positions while chanting nonsensically or espousing Buddhistic Philosophies. Indeed, it is a ritual that can seem bizarre and foreign to onlookers. What most do not understand is that there is a reason and a rhyme to every aspect of the yogistic lifestyle and many who embark on the path of understanding this will reap many numerous emotional and physiological benefits.

For those who are interested in pursuing yoga classes, Marbella in Southern Spain is a great place to start. Marbella, alongside San Pedro or Calahonda can offer spiritual retreats with breathtaking backdrops that can induce the peaceful and harmonious mindset one needs to get the most out of their yoga experience.

Marbella also has the best yogis in the business, who are drawn to the lovely Mediterranean coasts because of the spiritual energy the wondrous waters exude. There are very few people who visit the Costa del Sol who return home unchanged after indulging a class or two that is offered by trained yoga instructors.

In other words, when one is seeking yoga therapy Marbella has a lot to offer the neophyte.

Most people who sign up for Yoga courses in Marbella are surprised by what they obtain from the experienced. The usual agenda is to relax, unwind and obtain a mind melting massage. They soon learn that Yoga is a gift that continues to give should one adopt a daily routine once they leave Marbella behind.

They find the stresses of everyday living mitigated and their body healing. People who suffer from chronic illnesses like asthma or allergies may soon realize that the conditions have mitigated or been eradicated altogether. These individuals soon learn that asanas are not merely studied as a means to perfect stances and obtain bragging rights, but are used to actually unleash the body’s inherent healing properties.

In regards to the yoga instructors in Marbella, they really try to hit home the point of using yoga as a tool for change that can enrich the body and the soul. They also teach that our thoughts as well as our actions can lead us to a path of unhappiness, depression, anger, and dissatisfaction as mankind continues to pursue the things that we are taught will bring us fulfillment, like wealth and prestige.

The yoga teachers in Marbella emphasize that true happiness cannot be obtained by how much wealth we accumulate or the fame we achieve. History has shown us that even great kings and presidents have had the world at their fingertips but have not been able to obtain inner peace.

More than just a catch phrase, inner peace is a state that one obtains when they finally realize what is truly important. These seekers also learn that the power is within them to affect positive emotional and physical changes in their own lives.

To get the best out of yoga therapy Marbella vacationers must look at the all around benefits that yoga can give. Its not just about stress reduction or relieving tension - it’s about a life’s mission to discover the truth about what man can do to heal himself and for the enlightened to guide the way for others who want to get the most out of life.

Manilva Golf

Visit These Manilva Golf Courses in South western Costa del Sol

When most people think of golf holidays, the Costa del Sol and the cities of Marbella and Malaga are the first option that comes to mind. However, the Costa del Sol offers a variety of regions to consider. Since the region houses close to 70 golf courses, serious golfers know that venturing beyond the bounds of the two main cities is the best way to find a great game of golf. On your next Costa del Sol golf holiday, consider visiting these golf courses in and around Manilva.

Sotogrande’s Almenara Course

In Sotogrande you will find the beautiful Almenara course. This course has plenty of water features, with huge lakes scattered throughout the holes. If you are new to the game, you will appreciate the Almenara School of Excellence, which offers video swing analysis and a variety of practice facilities for golfers of all ability levels. The 18 hole par 72 golf course has a restaurant and bar as well as a pro shop for golfers to enjoy.

Manilva’s Own La Duquesa Course

To enjoy fine golf within Manilva, consider visiting La Duquesa, an 18-hole par 70 Robert Trent Jones golf course. You will have to drive straight to play this course well, and it is definitely a challenging one. The last nine holes are played on an incline, adding to the challenge of this course. It sits nestled in the vineyards of Manilva, so golfers are treated to lovely views of the natural vegetation of the region. At the highest point on the course, players can see all the way to North Africa on a clear day. The La Duquesa Golf Resort has a spa, tennis courts, restaurant and bar facility, gym, and pro shop. Consider planning an entire day at La Duquesa in order to experience everything the resort offers.

La Reserva in Sotogrande

Sotogrande offers another excellent course to those who wish to stay near Manilva, and that is the La Reserva course. This course is known for its beautiful clubhouse and spa facility. La Reserva is an 18-hole par 72 course designed by Cabell Robinson that was opened in late 2003. Even though it is relatively new, it is already gaining a reputation for its challenge and beauty. Many of the holes are multi-leveled, making the play challenging. The greens are well guarded as well, adding to the appeal of this modern course.

San Roque

The Spanish Open and other PGA tours are often held at San Roque. This Dave Thomas course is an 18-hole par 72 golf course that is often rated among the top ten on the continent. The bunkers and fairways were recently redesigned by Seve Ballesteros to give the course a modern flair. It has a driving range, spa, pool, and luxurious clubhouse for golfers to enjoy when they visit.

If you think that a vacation on the Costa del Sol means you must stay in Malaga or Marbella, you are mistaken. There are numerous award-winning courses in the western section of the region. Base your stay in Manilva, and you will find a variety of exciting courses to play.

Hen Party Spain

Sexy Times: A Lady’s Perspective on her Hen Party in Costa del Sol

When I first started thinking about throwing a bachelorette, aka hen party Costa del Sol was not a first thought. However, when I asked my maid of honor about my options, she mentioned Puerto Banus, which is located in the famed Spanish resort area. The idea of visiting Spain did intrigue me as I had always wanted to take a trip there.

She gave me a few brochures on the marina and what I read intrigued me enough to make an appointment with a travel agent.

After talking with him, I knew immediately that when it came to my hen party Costa del Sol would be my destination of choice.

There were many reasons for my decision, the chief among them being:

1. Party Planning – many of the hotels, lounges and bars offered fantastic specials designed for hen party Costa del Sol partygoers. They also had themed celebrations which held a special appeal, especially when most offered a server that promised to be deliciously hunky! All I had to do was sit back and let planners take care of the tedious details.
2. Dinner Cruises – Five star cuisine and a wonderful view of the marina could be had on any of the luxurious yachts that Puerto Banus offered at its rather extensive marina. After dinner, me and the girls were able to stroll down the boardwalk and indulge in another past time that we ladies greatly enjoy, namely:
3. Wonderful Shopping – which could be had at the numerous water front stores and boutiques in the area! We were able to locate some amazing deals in Marbella, which was but a few miles away from the Puerto Banus marina.
4. Resort spas – After a day of shopping (and/or a night of reveling) me and my hen party Costa del Sol wedding entourage were able to enjoy a long day of pampering and massages at a Marbella resort. All I can say is that tensions and cares definitely melt away when you visit the halls of one of these fine establishments. Well worth the money and then some!
5. Fine dining – cafés, bistros and eateries boasted the best coffee and food in Spain and were delivered and presented with such panache me and the girls were totally spoiled!
6. Dancing and clubbing – Outside of my private hen party Costa del Sol offered me and my gal pals some fantastic places for shaking a tail feather. I was also surprised that many of the discotheques had music from all around the world. Needless to say, the girls and I tripped the light fantastic every evening!

The Puerto Banus/Marbella packages offered by the travel agent were cost effective and included fare for the wedding party which was a huge selling point. There are plenty of travel packages to choose from as well, so you can find one that fits within your projected party budget.

For any woman who is wondering where to host her hen party Costa del Sol is the place to go. With a lovely marina, a nearby resort, fantastic food, shopping and glorious night life, you and your wedding group will have the time of your lives!

Marbella Golf Courses

Catch These Marbella Courses on Your Next Costa del Sol Holiday

For those who are looking for Spanish golf holidays, the Costa del Sol is the premier destination, and within this large region, Marbella and the surrounding areas are perhaps the most popular choice. Marbella has all of the amenities that will make a golf holiday truly memorable, including a great nightlife, excellent shopping destinations, fine dining options, and, of course, excellent and challenging golf courses.

Many of the golf courses around Marbella are short nine-hole courses. Playing one of these allows you to save time to enjoy the amenities and views of more courses on your holiday. If your travels bring you to Marbella, be sure to visit these exciting short courses.

Play All Night Long at La Dama de Noche

La Dama de Noche means “Lady of the Night,” and this is an appropriate name for this unique course. The fully lit course is open twenty-four hours a day, and the specially designed floodlights do not cast a shadow, meaning golfing the course at night is almost the same as golfing during the day. The course has no roughs, making it a fast and comfortable game. The nine-hole course was designed by D. Ramon Iruretagoyena and is rated at par 36.

Play Close to the Center of Town at Monte Paraiso

The Monte Paraiso Golf Club is another short nine hole course, and it is just minutes away from the center of Marbella, making it an ideal course for those who are basing their trip out of the region’s center. As with most the Costa del Sol golf courses, Monte Paraiso offers stunning mountain and sea views. This par 27 course is designed to appeal to golfers of varying ability levels, making it a great location for those who are traveling with beginning players.

Natural Beauty and a Lake Add to the Appeal of Greenlife Golf

Greenlife Golf is a course that sits in the Elviria Hills overlooking Marbella. This course winds around an artificial lake and is decorated with lush natural trees, plants, and flowers. This resort is known for an exceptionally friendly staff. The par 27 course is accompanied by a clubhouse that includes a sauna, gym, and famous El Lago restaurant. It is also equipped with a driving range and practice area where you can warm up your skills before you hit the greens.

Beginners Will Fall in Love with El Soto de Marbella

El Soto de Marbella is another nine-hole, par 27 course in the area. This course was designed with beginning golfers in mind, but the fact that Manuel Piñero is the designer means that there is a challenge here for the more experienced golfer as well. El Soto also has a luxurious clubhouse complete with a spa that has a sauna, Turkish bath, Jacuzzi, and fitness center. This is a great place to unwind after a challenging game.

Each of these courses offers golfers the chance to enjoy a short game of golf in an ideal Mediterranean climate. Whether you are trying to squeeze in several courses in one day, have a few hours to waste before dinner, or simply want to leave yourself some time to enjoy the beaches of the Costa del Sol, these courses will give you that extra time you need on your next Spanish golf holiday.