Latest news with #LaHacienda
Times
10-05-2025
- Times
The luxury hotel blazing a trail to a new, smarter Costa del Sol
Tell a Spaniard that you are going to Sotogrande, and they will probably ask 'which course?'. But, if there's one thing I have discovered over the past few days, it's that there's more to this quiet corner of southern Spain than golf.I am on the Costa del Sol but not in Marbella, Estepona, Malaga, Torremolinos or anywhere that bears any resemblance to the overcrowded Spanish beach resorts we all know and love. Instead, I am halfway between Sotogrande and Gibraltar, in a town called San Roque, at the new Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol. This is an area favoured by golfers, polo players and, in summer, the who's who of Spanish high society. I'm here to see the quieter side of the Costa del Sol, an area that has smartened up, ditching the package-holiday image for glamour. This part is neither glitzy and showy nor cheap and cheerful, but reminds me of a time before I'd ever heard the word overtourism. And it is this lesser-known corner of the Costa del Sol that the luxury hotel group Fairmont has chosen for its new flagship resort in Spain. I am technically not in the province of Malaga, the heart of the Costa del Sol, but Cadiz, on the border of the less visited Costa de la Luz ('Coast of the Light'). And it is the light that strikes me as I step into the hotel's grand lobby with its double-height ceiling and panoramic windows showcasing some quite spectacular views of the Mediterranean. The light, and the silence. After checking in, I stroll down to the hotel's soon-to-open beach club, and find myself all but alone, bar a couple of dog walkers spotting dolphins and soaking up the of views, I am staying in a gloriously sun-drenched Deluxe Sea View room. At 52 sq m (excluding the private terrace), it is the size of most suites but is the smallest room category at Fairmont La Hacienda. There's a tub and a rainfall shower with lush bath amenities by Le Labo, a seating area, a second outdoor seating area and a huge bed. Throughout the hotel, matt Campaspero limestone floors, walls and bathrooms, combined with natural materials such as wood, jute, linen and rattan, create a dreamlike, almost airbrushed vibe. Most of the 153 rooms overlook the neighbouring La Hacienda Links golf resort, the hotel's three swimming pools and the sea. The higher up you get, the better the panorama, which stretches all the way to Morocco on a clear day. There are also 47 villas, some of which can be broken down into individual suites, with three to nine bedrooms, alongside private pools, kitchens, dining areas, an abundance of outdoor space and the sound of the rolling waves. 'People are excited about the new hotel because there's nothing like this around here,' says María Gómez Martos, a host at Fairmont La Hacienda's superb Dalmar restaurant (more on this later), a local from the area. 'There's nothing else this beautiful.' For lunch I feast on oysters and perfectly tender grilled octopus at the poolside Umbra restaurant as the sunlight peeps through the bamboo roof and dances on the tables (mains from £21). That afternoon, I head to the gym, a light-filled space with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the sea. Afterwards a therapist from the spa deftly works on my muscles as I snore on a plush padded massage table. The next day, I want to see more of the local area. I travel 45 minutes inland to Alcala de los Gazules, a white hilltop village with more than two centuries of history. I meet up with Juan Pedro Romero, a historian who shows me a secret camomile-scented garden in the ruins of a 16th-century monastery and the 12th-century fortress that sits atop the city (Alcala, with its 5,000 inhabitants, was granted city status in 1876). We visit Encarna Fernández Luna at the 200-year-old bakery Horno de Luna, which has been run by five generations of matriarchs (@hornodeluna). She tells me that her recipe for aniseed-flavoured mollete flatbread originated with the Moors and was handed down by her great-grandmother. Later, I devour plates of tapas and assorted grilled meats at El Campanero (mains from £13; @restaurante_campanero).While other parts of Spain have been grappling with headline-grabbing overtourism protests, Romero insists that you won't find any 'tourists go home' graffiti in Alcala. 'People here want to show off their city,' he says. 'I love my home town and it's an honour when people come here so I can share it with them.' Ellie McDonald, a young woman from the Scottish Highlands who moved to Alcala last year and runs a relocation and translation service for people moving to Spain, agrees. 'I have the best time here and everyone is so friendly,' she says. 'I've lived all over Spain, but this village is my home.' • Discover our full guide to Spain Later, I meet up with Thomas Shield, a Londoner based in Florida-esque Sotogrande, with its mansions, palm trees, golf, polo and yacht clubs. Shield's company, The Jolly Mile, rents and sells Moke cars ( He also organises experiences for Fairmont La Hacienda's guests, as I discover when he whizzes me up to another white village, the breathtakingly beautiful Castellar de la Frontera, in an open-top electric says Sotogrande is less ostentatious than other spots on the Costa. 'It used to be all golfers and retired people, but the pandemic changed that. Lots of young professionals left the big cities and are still here,' he says. 'I'm still a Londoner but can't see myself living anywhere else.' Back at Fairmont La Hacienda, I'm ready for dinner. Dalmar by Benito Gómez, a Catalan of Andalusian descent whose Bardal restaurant in Ronda has been awarded two Michelin stars, is an upmarket affair with zero stuffiness. His dishes are playful and flavour-packed; like the red tuna from the Strait of Gibraltar punched up with wasabi from Montseny outside Barcelona, or local mushrooms cooked in rich Catalan fricando meat stew (mains from £25). • Best hotels on the Costa Brava Leaving Fairmont La Hacienda, I have not set foot in a golf buggy (other than the one the attentive, ever-present hotel staff use to ferry guests around the resort). Nor have I seen any fake tan or mega-yachts. If you're looking to unwind in beautiful natural surroundings, eat well, connect with the local culture and, yes, maybe play some golf, this new side of the Costa de Sol might surprise you. This article contains affiliate links, which can earn us revenue Isabelle Kliger was a guest of Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol, which has B&B doubles from £500 in July ( Fly to Gibraltar A Spanish classic reimagined, Kimpton Los Monteros Marbella marks the revival of one of the Costa del Sol's most distinguished hotels. First opened in 1962, Los Monteros was a luxury trailblazer, the first hotel in Spain to receive a Michelin star, for its El Corzo restaurant. It has now been fully renovated, blending a contemporary design with the historic grandeur of the building. Top-notch dining and wellness experiences include a Dolce & Gabbana beach club and Jara restaurant by the chef José Carlos García, all within an exclusive Marbella enclave. Many of the resort's 195 elegant rooms and suites have private terraces and sea views, while the Mediterranean is 500m Room-only doubles from £285 ( Fly to Malaga Looking to sleep better, eat better or get a handle on those love handles? ZEM Wellness Clinic Altea's year-round seven or 14-day programmes focusing on issues such as weight loss or longevity are just the tonic. But it's not all lasers and white coats. Guests staying in one of the 95 rooms and suites get to eat a healthy, delicious Mediterranean diet and enjoy the 40,000 sq m of facilities surrounded by lush gardens, the mountains and the sea. Whatever you do, just don't confuse it with Spain's other well-known wellness destination — SHA — which is also in the idyllic seaside town of Altea, just north of Alicante. Details Seven nights' full board from £11,570pp in May ( Fly to Alicante • More great hotels in southern Spain Barcelona's hottest opening of the year has no fewer than six eating and drinking venues — including Lora, an all-day dining grill, L'Anxova Divina tapas bar and Cosmico, a waterfront rooftop pool bar and club opening this summer — as well as three swimming pools, a spa, an 800 sq m ballroom and 471 rooms and suites. While it's a bit of a trek from central Barcelona, the exuberant energy, colourful design and proximity to the beach and the Port Forum festival area (which hosts the summer music festival Primavera Sound) are setting SLS up as the place to see and be seen this summer. Details Room-only doubles from £180 ( Fly to Barcelona Deep in Seville's ancient Jewish quarter, a 15th-century palace has been converted into a 14-room luxury boutique hotel. The painstaking restoration uncovered plenty of artefacts — some dating back to Roman times — all preserved within the medieval walls. Expect Venetian doors, 17th-century Mudejar-style ceramic tiles and a private art collection worthy of a museum, alongside a leafy garden for alfresco breakfasts, a quiet rooftop and a picturesque plunge pool. Every room is different in this building that feels more like a stately home than a hotel. Details B&B doubles from £275 ( Fly to Seville The trendy Brach hotel brand has expanded out of Paris, opening its first international outpost in Madrid. And not just anywhere in Madrid. It's on Gran Via, the Spanish capital's main thoroughfare, so you won't find a more central location than this. Brach's French identity is ever present in this chic, 57-room boutique property, which includes a patisserie and flamboyant interiors by the designer Philippe Starck. But Brach is Spanish too, from the bellota ham and padron peppers served in the Mediterranean restaurant to the eye-popping views of Madrid's rooftops from the sun-drenched terrace. Details Room-only doubles from £410 ( Fly to Madrid In July OKU Andalusia will open in a secluded spot on Spain's southern shore, between Sotogrande and San Roque, and close to the Los Alcornocales nature reserve. Marking the debut of OKU Hotels' family-friendly concept, this property is packed with fun details for the littlest travellers, from special wellness and dining experiences to a spectacular kids' club complete with an adventure playground, a wet splash zone, shallow pool and more. Meanwhile, OKU's signature bohemian flair is on display in the 255 guest rooms, the private four-bedroom villa, the beach club and its poolside DJ sessions. Details B&B doubles from £210 ( Fly to Malaga
ITV News
08-05-2025
- General
- ITV News
The best pizza ovens and BBQs for under £100 this summer
If you're looking to elevate your outdoor cooking game this summer without breaking the bank, then look no further! Discover the ultimate al fresco dining experience with our expert guide to the best BBQs and pizza ovens available right now... and they're all under £100! Whether you're dreaming of sizzling sausages, perfectly charred burgers, or authentic, crispy homemade pizzas, we've scoured the market to bring you top-rated, budget-friendly options to make sure you're covered this summer season. Advertisement. We earn commission from some links on this page. When you click on a link, our affiliate partner sets cookies - you can opt out here. Our full disclosure notice is here. Prices correct at time of publication. Pizza Ovens Lidded Pizza Topping Station £24.99, Lakeland £99.99, Robert Dyas La Hacienda BBQ Pizza Oven £84.99, Amazon Pizza Stone £15, ProCook £16, ProCook BBQ Drum Charcoal BBQ With Cover & Utensils £50, Argos 25pc BBQ Tool Set with Aluminium Case £34.99, VonHaus £100, B&Q £19.99, Amazon Kettle Charcoal BBQ £99.99, VonHaus
