People & Places
The best resorts in Spain
Looking for a property in one of the best resorts in Spain? Jo-ann Hodgson picks five with real ‘best of’ appeal
San Roque, Cadiz
Location:
Situated in the south of Spain, as part of the province of Cádiz, San Roque is located a short way inland of the Bay of Gibraltar.
Accessibility:
The San Roque area is around a 15-minute drive from Gibraltar airport.
Attractions and facilities:
One of San Roque's major attractions is its 18-hole golf club. Other local golf courses include famous names such as Valderrama, Real Club de Sotogrande, Almenara, Alcaidesa and La Canada. San Roque and the surrounding area has many local beaches offering various
water-based activities. Alcaidesa beach offers catamaran sailing, a windsurfing school; Sotogrande beach a sailing school equipped with a wide range of catamarans and dinghies as well a whale and dolphin watching; and La Linea and Tarifa are also famous for wind surfing and kite boarding. As well as The Resident, an English language newspaper serving the San Roque area, International schools are also plentiful for those looking to emigrate. There are several major supermarkets with a full range of international foods with one even specialising in British foodstuffs. However, traditional Spanish markets still thrive for those who wish to haggle.
Yearly Temperatures (oC):
Jan: 13; Feb: 13; Mar: 14; Apr: 16; May: 18; Jun: 21; Jul: 23; Aug: 24; Sept: 22; Oct: 19; Nov: 16; Dec: 13
Property Prices:
Two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments in Vista Hermosa in Alcaidesa, La Linea, Cadiz, are now available from 261,000 euros (£178,000)
Professional's opinion:
Brennon Nicholas, director of Andalucian Dream Homes:
"There are many great investment opportunities in the area with the progression of 'urban sprawl' coming down from Malaga to the coast. However, there is still a Spanish feel to the place and that's what I like about it. There is none of the fish and chip shops and English bars you get in many areas of the country, although it's only a matter of time before some pop up. The area has charm and Spanish is still spoken. The area encompasses only 127 miles from Malaga to Gibraltar, so it's not a huge piece of the country but it is very fragmented with many different pockets and demographics. The resort has lots to offer, including excellent beaches, gold courses, horse riding and even international schools. In my opinion, San Roque is now where the 'smart money' is."
La Manga
Location:
La Manga is situated in Mar Menor on the east coast of Spain and within the region of Murcia.
Accessibility:
25 kilometres from Murcia airport or 120 kilometres from Alicante airport.
Attractions and facilities:
Within the resort are a choice of three championship golf courses, including the new golf academy and flood-lit driving ranges, the International Tennis Centre with 28 courts and a choice of surfaces and spa facilities at the La Manga Club including gym, sauna and jacuzzis. Free attractions in the surrounding area include a salt water lake which is on the border of the La Manga Resort, the ancient Port of Cartagena, situated 25 kilometres from the resort and boasting renowned archaeological museums, a ruined Roman theatre and a modernist town hall with many monuments. Murcia, the capital city of the region, 70 kilometres from La Manga, is also a tourist hotspot surrounded by stunning scenery, Murcia is home to Episcopol Palace, several churches and museums and a casino.
Yearly Temperatures (oC):
Jan: 11; Feb: 11; Mar: 13; Apr: 15; May: 18; Jun: 21; Jul: 24; Aug: 25; Sept: 23; Oct: 19; Nov: 15; Dec: 12
Property prices:
Prices start at a little over £100,000 to about £150,000 for a two-bedroom apartment.
Professional's opinion:
Dan Johnson, director of The Move Channel
"The number one resort, in my opinion, would definitely be La Manga. It's got everything – a fantastic year-round climate, some of the best golf in Murcia, a choice of either the therapeutic salt waters of Mar Menor or the beaches of the Mediterranean, plenty of nightlife and even some decent shopping. As it's a strip of land with limited supply and few building permits currently being granted, there's a good investment case, while getting there is easy with a choice of three airports – Murcia, San Javier or Alicante."
Estepona, Costa del Sol
Location:
Estepona is the Costa del Sol's most westerly resort and lies at the foot of the Sierra Bermeja mountains
Accessibility:
75 kilometres from Malaga airport.
Attractions and facilities:
Estepona is well-known for its 18th century Church of Los Remedios in the Plaza de San Francisco, which was once a Franciscan monastery, and bull ring that, on the outskirts of the town, houses four museums. Ronda, famous for its gorge, is another popular tourist destination in the area, as is the village of Manilva with its Roman sulphur baths. The area is also home to a safari park, Selwo Aventura, which boasts animals such as tigers, lions, elephants and camels and there are many world class Costa del Sol golf courses around the resort, some of which have five-star hotels and sports facilities attached.
Yearly Temperatures (oC):
Jan: 12; Feb: 13; Mar: 15; Apr: 16; May: 19; Jun: 23; Jul: 25; Aug: 25; Sept: 24; Oct: 20; Nov: 16; Dec: 13
Property prices:
A two-bedroom apartment in Estepona will cost you around 180,000 euros
Professional's opinion:
Sandie Jones, Customer Operations Manager, Lighthouse Property
"The old agricultural and fishing town of Estepona was one of the first resorts on this coast to attract tourists, yet it is considered to have best retained its Spanish character of all the towns west of Malaga. Although it has all the trappings of tourism, with plenty of hotels, restaurants, shops and leisure facilities, the town retains its local character and its bustling historic quarter sees its 37,000 inhabitants clamber up and down steep cobbled streets to the many tapas bars and cafés serving traditional Spanish delicacies. Estepona has embraced modernity with style, as seen in its marina, a place to marvel at expensive boats, eat great fish and see in the early hours at the clubs and bars which come alive after midnight, as much with displays of local Sevillana dancing as anything you'd see in a British nightclub.
Jávea
Location:
Situated 80 kilometres north east of Alicante, Jávea is at the tip of the triangle-shaped land-mass jutting out of the Spain's east coast.
Accessibility:
Situated midway between Valencia and Alicante airports, about an hour's drive from each using the toll motorways.
Attractions and facilities:
Jávea is divided into three distinct sections: the old town, set back from the coast and retaining the charm of 'real' Spain with its tapas bars, central church and many of the locals still speaking the local language 'Valenciano'; the port with its mix of fishing vessels, luxury yachts and sea-front bars and cafes and Arenal Beach, a crescent-shaped sandy beach with a promenade lined with bars, cafés, restaurants, gift shops and ice-cream parlours. Another major attraction in the area is the mountain, known as 'the Montgo', which provides a dramatic backdrop to the town. With the summit 750 metres above sea level it is popular with hikers, mountain bikers, rock-climbers and sightseers alike.
Yearly Temperatures (oC):
Jan: 11; Feb: 12; Mar: 14; Apr: 15; May: 19; Jun: 22; Jul: 25; Aug: 26; Sept: 23; Oct: 19; Nov: 15; Dec: 12
Property prices:
£80,000 will buy a one-bedroom apartment on a new development with large communal gardens near Jávea port; £120,000 a new two-bedroom apartment near the beach. Townhouses close to Arenal beach start at around £170,000 and small villas cost from £200,000.
Professional's opinion:
Sandie Jones, Customer Operations Manager, Lighthouse Property
"Jávea has long been a popular, fairly upmarket resort for both Spanish and foreign holidaymakers and property-hunters. Hence the town, home to around 20,000 permanent inhabitants, has expanded across the surrounding hillsides over the past decade with the
emergence of luxurious villas, many of which are owned by British people and rented out on a regular basis as there is a lot of interest in rental properties in Javéa, particularly in summer. The town has managed to avoid high-rise development, however, and remains a pretty, beachside location with lots of local life and activities. Summer in Jávea is a busy time. It's extremely hot, there's almost no rain, and the tourist crowds descend on the beach by day and to its clubs by night. Come September, the crowds leave en masse and the town returns to being a relatively quiet and typically Spanish town, with religious processions at Easter and fiestas at the beginning of July and the end of August. New development is now limited in Jávea so prices remain reasonably high for the area."
Marjal Beach
Location:
Marjal Beach is situated in Guardamar del Segura in Costa Blanca, just down the coast from Alicante.
Accessibility:
Guardamar del Segura is 24 kilometres from Alicante Airport and 38 kilometres from Murcia San Javier airport.
Attractions and facilities:
Guardamar del Segura has extensive sports facilities, the most important being the Las Rabosas Sports Centre and the Municipal Sports Centre, with its Olympic swimming-pool, three football pitches, basketball courts, five-a-side soccer pitches and tennis courts. The municipal Marina de las Dunas is also a tourist hotspot. Located at the mouth of the River Segura, it has 494 moorings and all the services and facilities of a world-class marina. It also offers two kilometres of the new navigable river course for small boats. Marjal Beach Resort is also close to five golf courses, 15 kilometres of beaches, shopping centres and activities at the restored mouth of the river Segura also include fishing and camel rides.
Yearly Temperatures (oC):
Jan: 11; Feb: 12; Mar: 14; Apr: 15; May: 19; Jun: 22; Jul: 25; Aug: 26; Sept: 23; Oct: 19; Nov: 15; Dec: 12
Property prices:
Prices start from £65,000.
Professional's opinion: James Byrne, Managing Director, Mortgage Direct
"My experiences with Marjal have been nothing but positive. I went to Spain last year with the intention of buying a new property as an investment and holiday home and visited a number of agents/developers. I have always worked strongly on a recommendation basis in business and will only recommend people or companies I would do business with myself. I visited Marjal Beach and was astounded by the quality of the development. It is one of the most outstanding developments on the Costa Blanca and would have been my first choice but was just over the budget I had set for a property in Spain."
Best of the rest:
Murcia
Professional's opinion:
James Dearsley, European sales manger, Atlas International:
"In 2007 we predict that Murcia will be the most popular destination among the 70,000 British people each year who explore the possibility of acquiring a residence in Spain.
This is mainly due to the relatively low levels of urbanisation, climate, good communication, and by being the golfing capital of Europe. Murcia is great both for investment and permanent living. It is an investment hotspot simply because of the growth of the area, including the development of the airport along with the championship golf courses. It is equally appealing for permanent living because roads and infrastructure are improving rapidly, giving it all together better accessibility. Plans are currently underway for construction of almost 90,000 new homes in Murcia, which will increase the population in the region by 200,000–250,000. Over the next decade, we predict that the region's population will grow by 35 per cent."
San Sebastian
Professional's opinion:
Dan Johnson, director of The Move Channel
"San Sebastian would be our surprise choice. It's a fantastic old city with a huge amount of heritage, fine architecture and fantastic countryside in the surrounding area. The shores offer some of Spain's best surfing, with breakers to rival the South West coast of France (which is only a short drive along the coast). The weather is not its strongest point, but if it does get a bit stormy in winter, you can always stay indoors and feast on some of Europe's finest cuisine."
Relleu, Costa Blanca
Professional's opinion:
Rafael Izquierdo, Head of Marketing, Selectia:
"There are many great resorts in Spain in which to buy property. The Costa Blanca in particular has a lot to offer potential Spanish property investors. It's an extremely accessible and popular tourist destination, with three
airports in close proximity, great weather and beautiful clean beaches. If you head inland you can be by the mountains within 15 minutes where there are some very traditional Spanish villages that make great holiday home locations, such as Relleu. Relleu is something of a hidden gem, and as such is a top location to invest in Spain at present."
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