Review: Hotel Los Castaños — Boutique hotel in Andalucía, Spain

Nestled among the rolling hills of the Serranía de Ronda, this charming Moroccan themed hotel is the perfect place to relax.

Hotel Los Castaños is located in Cartajima, a traditional white village (or "pueblo blanco"), just a short drive from the historic town of Ronda. Cartajima is also convenient for visits to the romantic cities of Andalucía - Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz and Jerez.

Located in the heart of the village next to the church and the Town Hall, the hotel is convenient to shops, restaurants and bars in the area.

The Moroccan theme of the hotel is charming and attractive, and all rooms are extremely comfortable. Owners Di and John are always unobtrusively on hand with tourism assistance... read full review.

Estepona - Quiet Gem on the Costa del Sol in Spain

Estepona is a wonderful little town - relatively unspoiled by tourism - and located on the Costa del Sol, about 30 minutes from Marbella, and only a short drive to Gibraltar. Unlike the busy towns of Marbella and Fuengirola, Estepona is relatively quiet - and the centre of town is still very traditionally Spanish. The winding narrow streets are lined with older houses, with balconies decorated with bright geraniums, and the sound of pet birds singing in their cages makes a lovely sound as you stroll along.

Relax in the Plaza de las Flores - a beautiful town square lined with flowers and several excellent cafes and bars. There's a coffee bar on virtually every corner of town and you will never go short on somewhere different to eat dinner, or have a light snack, or "tapas". On the beach you will find the famous beach "chiringuitos" serving excellent sea food and other dishes, or just an ice cold drink when you need one.

The outskirts are developing, however, and there are many huge apartment blocks sprouting up, but luckily this doesn't luckily interfere with the atmosphere and attractions of the town itself. New supermarkets and shopping centres have also been built on the outskirts, giving more shopping options for both residents and holidaymakers including the famous Carrefour and the ubiquitous McDonalds!

Running alongside the town is a beautiful Blue Flag beach, which is surprisingly quiet even in the summer months, lined by a stunning flower-strewn promenade. Estepona's beaches are in actual fact 21 kms long in total! Walk along the promenade from town to the end of the beach (a comfortable stroll), and you will find first the lighthouse, and then the Port of Estepona. The port is a traditional working fishing port, but there is also the addition of a modern marina, with lovely yachts, and a selection of fine restaurants serving international and Spanish cuisine and also a Yacht Club. Definitely the place to "hang out" in the evenings, with bars and nightclubs to entertain all ages.

For history buffs, there are interesting museums to visit including the archaeological museum, the Ethnic museum and also the museum at the bull ring. Quite a few interesting historical ruins in the town too. Selwo Aventura, close to Estepona, is the only Adventure, Animal and Nature Park in Europe - enjoy a safari drive in the warm Spanish sunshine. 200 species of animals can be viewed, and photographed. The town retains its original bull ring which hosts not only bull fighting, but also international music concerts.

Golfers will be happy with the selection of courses, including Atalaya Golf & Country Club, El Paraiso Golf Club (designed by Gary Player), Estepona Golf, Los Almendros and Golf SotoSerena.

Plenty of attractions close by too… you can easily visit Ronda, a fascinating mountain top city, or Ojen, a beautiful traditional white village, both reasonably close by, or pop down the coast to Marbella one way, or Gibraltar in the other direction, for shopping.

Accommodation:

In town, you will find small hotels and hostals to accommodate you in comfort, or you could go for the larger and more luxurious resort hotels on the outskirts of town. There are many wonderful holiday apartments on offer in the town - either along the beachfront, or above the marina, giving options to suit all.

Transport-wise, the town has an efficient bus service and many taxis, but you might find that you need a hire car to travel further afield.

Language: As for language, many workers in restaurants and shops do speak a certain amount of English, but it would be good to have your Spanish phrase book handy.

All in all, Estepona is the ideal destination for families, couples, golfers and the young. While retaining its traditional Spanish features, it offers everything one could want for the perfect holiday, and gives you a chance to relax without the crazy crowds!

About the Author:

Anne Sewell is involved in web based accommodation reservations and advertising in Fuengirola, Spain. Visit All Spain Accommodation

Ronda, Spain - Magical Mountain Top City in Andalucia, Southern Spain by Anne Sewell

When visiting Andalucia, I would highly recommend making the trip to Ronda. The winding roads up the mountainside can be a little daunting, but what a view all the way to the top!

Ronda is one of the oldest cities in Spain, having origins in the Neolithic age. Wonderful cave paintings were discovered, including the famous Pileta's Cave, depicting paintings from the Paleolithic age.

Its mountain top location made it an ideal location to build a city - very easy to defend. The first builders were the Romans, and many examples of their architecture can still be viewed in the city today.

The Moors then made their mark, and built the walls, gates and arches of the city, which are still very much intact. You can stroll alongside the walls, enjoying the fabulous views… or visit the Arab Baths, still in an excellent state of repair. State protected because of historic interest in 1931, these baths were built at the end of the 13th century or start of the 14th century.

Another fascinating building to visit is the Casa del Rey Moro - or House of the Moorish King - which appears to be from the 18th Century. The house itself is in a dilapidated condition, but the first floor has been restored, and contains the tourist office. Well worth a visit to the gardens of the house, which were constructed by the great French Landscaper Forestier in 1912. The house also has a mine which you can visit, which consists of a wide zigzagging staircase carved into the rock, covered by a fascinating system of stacked vaults. Visit the Sala del Manantial (Room of the Spring) from which slaves brought water to the King.

The hub of Ronda is the "New Bridge", that divides the city, over a deep gorge - El Tajo, with houses literally hanging on the edges of the cliffs. Right next door is the lovely Alameda del Tajo Park - perfect for a restful stroll after your busy sightseeing, and also the Blas Infante viewpoint where you can stand on a balcony over... a huge drop!

Famous people love this city - close to the Alameda del Tajo Park, you can visit the Paseo de Orson Wells - the famous actor loved Ronda and is, in fact, buried there. Ernest Hemingway was also very fond of the city and the Paseo de Hemingway has been named for him. He visited Spain during the Spanish Civil War, to report for the North American Newspaper Alliance.

The Plaza de Toros, or Bullring, of Ronda, is the oldest in Spain and was officially inaugurated in 1785 by the two bullfighters, Pedro Romero and Pepe Hillo. It is possible to visit the bullring, its museum and the surrounding buildings and paddocks. Outside the entrance to the bullring are statues to two famous bullfighters of Ronda, Cayetano Ordonez and Antonio Ordonez.

Strolling the streets of Ronda is like taking a step back in time - narrow streets with attractive buildings, tapas bars and restaurants - and wonderful shops. You will also come across interesting museums, like the Museo del Bandelero… lots of beautiful churches and lovely plazas and sidewalk cafes to rest and catch your breath.

It is difficult to mention all the wonderful attractions of this city in one article, but this is definitely a must-visit part of your Spanish tour! One little warning - try and stay a minimum of 3 days, otherwise you'll miss out on a lot of the attractions. Wear good comfortable walking shoes, and if visiting in summer, always carry a bottle of water.. it gets hot in Ronda!

About the author:

Anne Sewell is involved in internet tourism, and is also an enthusiastic amateur photographer. Photos and more details about Ronda can be viewed on All Spain Accommodation.