Weekend Breaks

Posh and Becks having dinner in a restaurant in Marbella. Emma ‘Baby Spice’ Bunton browsing the boutiques in Porto Banus. These are common sights in the Costa del Sol. This, after all, is a slice of the world that has long been loved by the rich and famous. Administration Team Manager Mary says, “In July friends of mine saw David and Victoria having dinner in Silks, a restaurant right on the beach. You see a lot of famous people in Marbella.”

When you’re not clocking up celebrity sightings in this elite Spanish niche, Mary
recommends soaking up the sun on Torremolinos. “La Carihuela and Montemar are very
nice. They have lovely promenades and there are lots of good fish restaurants and little
places to have a drink. One of my favourite restaurants is Casa Juan in La Carihuela, it’s
got every sort of fish you can think of and grilled, fried, whatever. They do a really good paella, too.” When you’re not lounging on the sands or sipping sangria in the shade, she recommends a trip to Ronda. “It’s a monument city about an hour and a half from Torremolinos and it’s full of really interesting history.”

Come night time, Benalmadena Marina should feature highly on your hitlist. “It’s got lots of lovely restaurants and plenty of
bars where you can have a drink. Hotel Torrequabrada is a really good night out. Go and see a flamenco show in the hotel’s Fortuna nightclub, then go on to the casino afterwards.”

The bright lights of Benidorm probably beam into the mind’s eye at the mere mention of the Costa Blanca. A Great British Favourite, it’s loved for its long sandy beaches and loud and lively nightspots. But don’t forget nearby Alicante, too. Quite often the city’s overlooked, seen as little more than an airport hub, but according to Adminstration Executive Jo, it’s worth a daytrip. She says, “The old part of town is all cobbled backstreets, wrought iron balconies and window shutters.” What’s more, Alicante’s great if you don’t fancy the happy-hour hullabaloo of Benidorm. “For something a little quieter the marina down in Alicante is ideal – lots of ultra-trendy bars and cafés that service the yachting set.” That said, if it’s beaches, clubs and good British grub you’re after, there’s simply no beating Benidorm.

“Its beaches are really well kept. The busier stretch is called Levante and this is where
most holidaymakers head for. But if you go further along it connects into Poniente beach. It’s a lot quieter here and this is where the locals tend to head.” And what about nights out? “There’s a square in the centre of Benidorm where you’ll find loads of disco bars and pubs like Beachcombers and Red Dog.” And in terms of food, you’ll find all your favourites from home with plenty more besides. She says, “Down Benidorm way you can have a full English fry up for breakfast, a ploughman’s for lunch and a Sunday roast for dinner. There are loads and loads of British style pubs and restaurants. For a more Spanish feel, head to the old town. It’s an absolute world away. It’s all tapas bars and fish restaurants down little whitewashed side streets.”

Think ice-white sand. Sparkling blue waters. And lashings of eye-squinting
sunshine. Thinking of the Caribbean? Well don’t. Because this actually what you’ll find in Tunisia. Resort Team Manager Sarah says, “The beaches around Sousse and Madhia are gorgeous. During the summer when the sun’s shining you could be in the Caribbean.” Beach lounging aside, the food in this part of the world is really something, and deliciously cheap, too. She says, “The restaurants are fantastic. You’d be hard pushed to find a bad restaurant here, especially around Sousse and Port El Kantaoui. In Sousse, try Bonapartes or Unastoria where you’ll find everything from traditional couscous to steaks, fish dishes and pasta.

”When you’re ready for a little retail therapy, forget air-conditioned shopping malls and get stuck into the souks. Sarah says, “Tunisia is shoe and handbag heaven. We have what you call medinas, old walled cities, where you can go and haggle to your heart’s content. “You don’t have to be brave to do it, just go in there and offer a third of the price to start off with. They’ll usually end up meeting you somewhere in the middle.” When you’re not busy hunting for handbags down spice-scented alleyways, tick off some of Tunisia’s most impressive sights.

Sarah recommends Sidi Bou Said. She says, “It’s a really special little town right up in the hills, all cobbled streets and whitewashed buildings that look like little sugar cubes. All the doors and windows are painted a light blue colour to ward off
evil spirits. It’s just lovely.”