Maybe its the direct flight from Manchester airport, or maybe it runs deeper than that, but when you are from the North West of England there are two summer holiday destinations that particularly call out – *The Algarve* and *Marbs*. This year, to keep with the cliche, I have been to both….
The Costa de Sol can get a bad rep – some of it is thoroughly well deserved – but there is more to this part of the world than TOWIE and Torremolinos.
From a distance, Puerto Banus looks quite classy
For me Marbs has some key ingredients for a great European summer holiday that can’t be underestimated:
1. Sunshine – basically guaranteed sunshine. 30 degrees on a tap. Walking on the beach has never burned my feat so much
2. Food – the gastro mountain village of Benahavis is brimming with quirky restaurants and art. One of the best I visited was Amanhavis – (because er…they make their own houmous and even print your name on the menu!)
3. Sea – I love a coastline and the sea is just gorgeous – whether you are into banana boating or catamaran cruises.
4. Straightforward – short hop flight, safe (unless you’re on the lash with 25 cocktail fish bowls and then you’re on your own) and you can even get a British newspaper to read on the beach
Singing Spaniards in Benahavis
A boat to ourselves
We stayed at the Marriot Vacation Club (you don’t have to be a member)- where there was loads to do, including loads of pools, a great gym and a short walk out to the beach where you could get a massage for 15 euros – BLISS.
How's London 