Spanish holidays provide best value for Britons

The UK Post Office’s annual Holiday Money Report, which compares the cost of eight essential purchases, including a restaurant meal, toiletries and drinks, in 40 different destinations, highlights Spain as the most cost-effective short-haul option for Britons.

The average total cost of the eight items was less than £38 in Spain, compared with more than £60 in Turkey, nearly £70 in Egypt, and more than £110 in Barbados.

Of the 40 destinations to feature in the survey, only Sri Lanka – where the eight items cost around £28 on average – provides better value for British travellers.

Click here to see the full report

Get Booked for Summer 2012 Now!

Below are the three rental sites we use - click on any image for full details:

Spain Holiday


Owners Direct

Home Away Holiday rentals

Cool Deals

How would you like to get massive discounts on your spending in Spain?

We've come across this great website called Cool Deals which gets great discounted offers from companies along the Costa del Sol and offers them for a limited period to their subscribers.

These are just some of their recent offers:

Over 50% off a fantastic dining experience for two at this beautiful waterfront Banus restaurant, normally over 78€ and now only 39€, that is less than 20€ each!

An amazing 71% off a Full Day's Introduction to Paragliding Course. Normally 99€ now only 29€!

An amazing 50% off a luxury day trip on board a yacht, from Gibraltar to Ceuta including nibbles, cava and soft drinks. Normally 116 € (£100) now only 58 € (£50)!

50% off IPL Permanent Hair Removal, Underarm down to 20€ from 40€ and Bikini Line down to 25€ from 50€, what a smooth Cooldeal!

Visit their site and if you like what you see, then subscribe to get notification of their latest deals - Visit Cood Deals Website

Our Latest Revews

"Everything we hoped for and more!
We have stayed in the area several times before in another apartment so we are very familiar with the local amenitites and attractions. The apartment did not disappoint and was beautifully presented, spacious and luxurious. I stayed here with 2 other couples of varying ages and all were very comfortable throughout our stay. There is a lovely pool area which has a large main pool and a kids pool. All of the gardens are beautifully manicured.and the complex is secure and the parking very convenient.

I would recommend this to couples and families. There is lots of really useful information in the apartment which the owner has provided so if you haven't been to the area before there a plenty of recommendations."
Wolfy, Cheshire.

"We have spent several happy summer holidays in Los Altos de Lunymar and this apartment is one of the best we have visited. The rooms inside are very spacious and there was plenty of room for us and our son Bailey. The apartment was immaculately clean with lovely towels provided for us to use inside the apartment. The terrace is huge and perfect for sunbathing in the daytime and barbecuing at night. The large outdoor dining set meant that we felt comfortable inviting our friends round for dinner, knowing that we wouldn't be crammed around a tiny table meant for two as in other apartments we have rented. The kitchen had all the equipment we needed and there was enough work surface for us to easily set up the equipment we needed for Bailey's feeds as well.

Outside, we all enjoyed spending time in the pool and the gardens. It was very useful for us to have a children's pool available.

The owner was very approachable and happily answered all our questions prior to our visit. It's a great area to visit for families and we particularly enjoyed our day out at Selwo wildlife park. We also had a lovely meal out at Laguna Village on our last night.

I can highly recommend a family visit to the Costa del Sol and in particular to this apartment in Estepona"
Abi and family Shropshire

"My family stayed at Los Altos de Lunymar from 20 – 29 December 2010. Our sons are aged 22 and 19 and the location was perfect for us as they found plenty to keep them amused in the surrounding area. This time of year was very quiet so we were able to easily get into local restaurants and the weather was wonderful with only two rainy days but Christmas and Boxing Day the temps were up to 26C. The local people are very friendly and communication is not a problem as simple English is understood by a lot of the populace.

The apartment was the perfect size for us with both boys having separate rooms, with plenty of space to avoid you feeling as if you were cramped.

The Estepona marina is a lovely place to walk around with its abundance of restaurants and the Sunday market is a fun atmosphere. The local road network is great, it only took us well under an hour to get down to Gibraltar and the drive down to Tarifa is spectacular. This area of Spain has some wonderful picturesque scenery.
Thank you Jules and Andy
Kevin Davies, South Africa

"First of all thanks for letting us stay in your apartment, our family had a great time.
The apartment was exactly as it was described, which makes a welcome change and we were pleasantly surprised at how nice it was.

We have two young teenage children and wanted somewhere a little bit away from the crowds but within easy access of everywhere and this place was perfect. We stayed there in early July, just before most schools broke up and so I was worried it might be too quiet. It was great as there was another family with kids of a similar age and they all kept each other entertained.

The apartment was perfect for our needs. It was clean, spacious and well equipped. You can tell the owners also stayed there as the quality of the furniture and kitchen equipment was excellent. The balcony was ideal for eating "al fresco" during our occasional lazy days by the pool and the whole complex was quiet and relaxing.

The beaches and restaurants etc are within easy reach as there is a major road that runs along the Golden Mile straight through to the airport. Don't worry though, this apartment is about 5 minutes away and so we didn't get any road noise to interrupt our well earned mid afternoon snooze. The owners were also very helpful... and patient as I had a few questions to ask before booking....sorry!

All in all we had a fantastic holiday and the kids did too. Thanks"
Brigid, Cheshire, Uk

"Dear Jules,

We are back now in our own home and we have greatly enjoyed your beautiful apartment.
We also had much sun and it is a particular delight. The contact with Louise (local agent) went fine. The only thing we missed was a coffeemaker.

This is worth repeating. Thanks and see you next time.

Regards"

Wim Elligens and family - Netherlands.

Benahavis - another 'must see' place!

A place you really shouldn't miss is Benahavis for a variety of reasons, but two in particular: it's a Pueblo Blanco (White Town) set in the mountains, yet it's only 7km from the coast, which makes it very accessible as it's less than a 20 minute drive from our apartment and also, it's famously known as ‘El Rincon de Gastronomía’ (Gastronomic Corner), the dining room of the Costa del Sol.

Above all it's a very picturesque place, with its charming Moorish town centre, full of cobbled streets, quaint white-washed houses and lined with bars, restaurants, craft and antique shops and art galleries.

Situated on the Southern face of the Serrania de Ronda mountain range, Benahavis is the most mountainous village on the western Costa del Sol, yet just a short drive from the main coast road and even nowadays remains unspoilt by passing traffic. There's just one road in and out, which follows the path of the Guadalmina River as it meanders to the coast through a spectacular gorge which is a popular spot for rock climbers. Benahavís is an original Moorish stronghold and the village is overlooked by its very own ancient Moorish castle perched high on the mountain of the same name, ‘(Castillo) Monte Mayor.

For nature watchers, the bird life in the mountains is exotic and plentiful, with eagles, hawks, kingfishers, bee-catchers and a vast variety of African birds which need only cover a short distance from the African coast. There are several Natural Interest Monuments and historic locations that are worth taking the time to see too.

But Benahavís has made its name not just for its rich historic value, but also for the village restaurants which have made it famous. This is Andalucian cooking at its best, using local ingredients such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic, baby lamb and suckling pig to name just a few, together with the wild herbs which grow in the mountains. Benahavis has a first-class reputation as a gastronomic centre, with 20 restaurants and tapas bars offering an excellent standard of dining. Visitors staying there in June can experience 'Gastronomic Day', where restaurants set up stalls in the village and offer samples.

So no matter what your idea of a good holiday is, Benahavis is a place not to missed.

Cableski Marbella

Another fantastic day out for all the family is at Cable Ski Marbella, which is actually at Guadalmina, about a 10 minute drive from the apartment.

Fully trained instructors are there to help people of all ages and abilities, to waterski, wakeboard or kneeboard while they are pulled along the lake on a cable system . The cable speed can be adjusted according to age and ability and trips last approximately one minute. Even if everyone doesn't want to take part, it's still a great day out as there is a restaurant and a pool on the premises to accomodate little ones not old enough to ski. So you can go and be involved as much as you want or just chill and watch the more adventurous do their thing.

This review is taken from Marbella Family Fun website:

"We have been going to Cable Ski Marbella every year for the last eight years and absolutely love it. At this facility you can ski, kneeboard or wakeboard. Two people can go on a kneeboard, which is really fun and I can´t wait to start this summer with my 5 year old son.

The ride lasts a couple of minutes and there are probably about 10 people that go on one after the other. Kind of like a snow ski lift. When you fall you simply swim out of the way and wait for a boat to pick you up for the next round.

It´s best to buy a packet of 5 or 10 rounds, and if you don´t use them up the same day you can come back and use them another day. All the equipment is provided including life jackets.

Cable Ski Marbella is a great place to have birthday parties too as they can set up a bouncy castle, provide food from their restaurant and the kids have a great time on the playground next to a grassy area that overlooks the lake, which is huge. This is particularly nice in case you go with kids who don´t or can´t cable ski and they can just hang out and play in this area.

I definitely recommend Cable Ski Marbella as a great family outing and a sporty day out. You really feel good at the end of the day."

The Local Area

We think the location of our apartment is ideal for access to all that you would want on a holiday, but of course we're a bit biased! See what previous guests have said about staying in this particular bit of the Costa Del Sol:

"The apartment was centrally positioned for exploring the area from Malaga to Gibraltar. Lots of good restaurants and quaint little towns to visit such as Benahavis about 15 minutes away"
Tom and Caroline, Aberdeen, Scotland

"The position is a great base from which to explore Puerto Banus, Marbella, Estepona and if you are really adventurous, Gibraltar. There are many restaurants, spas and of course lovely beaches close by; perfect for a romantic sunset stroll"
Raf & Sabine, Arundel, UK

"Shops, restaurants and beach are close at hand and many lovely coastal towns to explore. Car hire, parking etc. was easy and convenient. Transfer from Malaga airport is well under an hour. Day trips to Gibraltar, Seville and many lovely mountain towns and villages with glorious scenery are all possible"
Geoff & Rosalie, Shropshire, UK

"We arrived at the airport and car hire was easy, as were the directions and so got to the apartment an hour and 30 Min's after landing. There were a number of very good restaurants nearby, but as the week went on we went further afield and it was still good quality and suitable for families. The beach was near again but we found a quick drive to Estepona and you had a great beach and more shops etc if you did not want to stay and cook all day. We also did a day trip to Gibraltar and it's only just over half an hour away and a great day out, with very cheap duty free"
Chris & Family, Barnards Castle, UK

"We loved the close beaches and also the Laguna Village Beach"
The Mason Family, Laperche, France.

"My family stayed at Los Altos de Lunymar from 20 – 29 December 2010. Our sons are aged 22 and 19 and the location was perfect for us as they found plenty to keep them amused in the surrounding area. This time of year was very quiet so we were able to easily get into local restaurants and the weather was wonderful with only two rainy days but Christmas and Boxing Day the temps were up to 26C. The local people are very friendly and communication is not a problem as simple English is understood by a lot of the populace... The Estepona marina is a lovely place to walk around with its abundance of restaurants and the Sunday market is a fun atmosphere. The local road network is great, it only took us under an hour to get down to Gibraltar and the drive down to Tarifa is spectacular. This area of Spain has some wonderful picturesque scenery"
Kevin Davies, Senior Financial Manager, South Africa

"It's a great area to visit for families and we particularly enjoyed our day out at Selwo wildlife park. We also had a lovely meal out at Laguna Village on our last night. I can highly recommend a family visit to the Costa del Sol and in particular to this apartment in Estepona."
Abi & Family, Shropshire, UK