Padel is one of the most popular sports in Marbella and Spain. Discover the best clubs to practice it in Marbella, trainers and how to find people to play.
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[post_content] => We’re very lucky to have wonderful restaurants in Marbella and eating out is an amazing experience during your vacation. However, we know that people with allergies and intolerances find it more difficult to find a great restaurant which caters to their dietary requirements and gives them an amazing experience. But worry not, there are more and more restaurants which are responding to the increase in allergies and intolerances and providing amazing
Did you know that 1 in 100 people in the world have celiac disease according to the Celiac Disease Foundation? This means that eating even a small amount of gluten damages the small intestine and can cause a whole host of long-term health effects. So, it’s vital that they feel safe eating in a restaurant which has gluten free options and allergens clearly marked on the menu. There are many more people who are intolerant to gluten and prefer to avoid it where possible. To help you enjoy eating out on your next holiday, we’re sharing 10 restaurants in Marbella with good gluten free choices and a high level of understanding about celiac disease.
Celicioso is the best-known and only 100% gluten free café, restaurant and bakery in Marbella. It opened its doors in 2012, in the Puente Romano complex, and was an immediate hit. It started just as a bakery, but quickly grew into a restaurant and café, famed for healthy, organic and nutritious food, which those with and without gluten intolerance love. It is dedicated to being sustainable and reducing its carbon footprint too.
Open from 9am to 9.30pm, for breakfast, lunch and early dinner, they also offer delivery and have their own gluten free eco beer. Their gluten free cupcakes are legendary, and they have vegan cupcakes available too. They also have an amazing selection of cakes and pastries. Other very popular items are their pancakes, egg dishes, pastas, burgers and nachos.
Check out Celicioso's menu on their website.
Breathe is an elegant, fashionable bar and restaurant in Nueva Andalucia, which has a restaurant and garden area, an artisan café and bakery and a rooftop cocktail bar. It has been designed to offer a place to relax, dine, meet, socialize, enjoy a cocktail and be inspired by quality food made with care.
Their menu is clearly labelled with allergens, to avoid any difficulty or confusion, but there is no dedicated gluten free menu. There are lots of gluten free options, such as spicy guacamole with platano chips, BBQ-grilled asparagus, tuna tartare, wagyu kebab, pumpkin risotto, panang curry, green chilli sea bass, amazing steaks and a range of gluten free sides. They also have a great sushi menu.
Check out Breathe’s menu on their website.
This is a Mediterranean and Italian restaurant which prides itself on offering a menu which showcases the freshest ingredients and best techniques in a friendly and welcoming environment. They have lots of events and live music nights to keep you entertained.
They are proud of their vegan, vegetarian and gluten free menu options and their staff are very knowledgeable about gluten free food in general. The menu is clearly labelled with allergens, with lots of gluten free options, as well as alterations and substitutions to make dishes suitable. Their great selection of Italian pizzas are all available as gluten free, and their gluten free desserts are very highly rated.
Manuka is committed to healthy, local and sustainable food, with a wide range of amazing plant-based dishes. You can find them in La Cañada, Plaza del Mar and Marina Banus shopping centers, as well as on the Avenida Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, with a central location opening soon. They opened their first location in 2016 with a passion to nourish the body and respect the planet.
This doesn’t have a dedicated gluten free menu, but there are some stand out dishes which make it a firm favorite. The team also has a good awareness of allergies and dietary requirements. The star dishes include their gluten free quinoa pancakes, cheat-day quesadillas, chicken tacos, poke bowls, ramen, green curry and fantastic salads.
This Italian, family run restaurant has been in Marbella for 40 years and is located in Nueva Andalucia. Italian food is typically a nightmare for celiacs, but this restaurant offers gluten free pizza and pasta, as well as delicious salads and risottos. People enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and friendly, well-informed staff, who are helpful and careful with all dietary requirements.
Located on Avenida Antonio Belon, this popular and busy burger joint has been delighting customers since 2016. They have an extensive, creative selection of burgers, including excellent vegetarian burgers. They offer gluten free burger buns and bun less burgers with a salad, so celiac customers don’t have to miss out. Their fries and sweet potato fries are gluten free, as are their nachos, which can be paired with a gluten free beer. They even offer a gluten free chocolate brownie too.
This is a lovely bar and restaurant on the paseo in Marbella, with a great terrace overlooking the beach and the sea. It’s open all day from 9am to midnight, 7 days a week and has a varied menu, which caters to dietary requirements, including celiac. They mark gluten free options clearly on the menu and the staff have a good understanding of the issues with contamination and safe foods for celiacs. Dishes which are suitable for celiacs include the Iberian meat board, prawns, Spanish omelette and paella.
This cool beach restaurant and bar is located on the beachfront of the Golden Mile and is open from 9.30am to 7pm seven days a week. They offer food and great cocktails by the sea, and good music too. Their brunch menu of delicious pancakes, syrniki and waffles are dairy free, gluten free and sugar free!
They have a range of excellent rice, fish and meat dishes and quite a few gluten free desserts too.
Check out Aua Playa’s menu on their website.
This bakery, cafe and shop offers a wide range of gluten free products, alongside traditional artisan breads, pastries and cakes. Located in San Pedro Alcántara, it has just been refurbished, and you can eat in, or take away their delicious treats. They have a dedicated gluten free bakery to avoid any risk of contamination and are famed for their delicious artisan breads, pastries and cakes. With 10 years of experience and a real passion and dedication to gluten free bakery, it’s a wonderful spot to try.
This restaurant right on Marbella’s seafront promenade has a great selection of gluten free dishes. The cuisine is a mix of traditional Italian and international dishes and it ranks very highly on TripAdvisor. The owner is friendly and knowledgeable about gluten allergies and the GF pizzas and pastas and gluten free beers, make it a very popular option, in an amazing location.
We hope our list of gluten free restaurants in Marbella will help you to navigate eating out on your next vacation. As the majority of restaurants are not dedicated to be gluten free, ringing ahead, or popping in to talk to the team before your visit is recommended, to make sure you are confident that they fully understand celiac and there is no hidden gluten in stocks and sauces.
If you stay in one of our luxury villa rentals in Marbella, we can also organize a private chef to come to your vacation rental property and cook up a gluten free feast.
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[post_content] => The weather is getting colder, the nights are drawing in and the countdown is on to Christmas. Where are you spending yours?
If you’re not sure where to spend Christmas and you’d rather have a Christmas holiday abroad, we’ve got you! There are loads of fantastic places to go, where you can experience the magic of Christmas like never before. In this article, we’re counting down the Top Ten places for a Xmas holiday, to help you find your perfect place.
1. Marbella, Spain
Marbella is a wonderful place to spend Christmas, with lots to do and see, plenty of Christmas spirit, plus bright sunny weather. It’s super easy to get here from Europe, with many airlines offering regular flights. This is the ideal short haul destination for a Christmas holiday in the sun.
Although you can’t expect the temperatures that you’d get in more tropical climes, the thermometer rarely dips below 10⁰C, even at night, and you can expect blue skies and daytime temperatures in the low to mid 20s. These pleasant temperatures make it so much fun to visit Christmas markets, see the Christmas lights, tour the traditional nativity scenes and make a visit to see Santa in his many grottos.
We recommend seeing the beautiful lights in Marbella’s picturesque Old Town and following the tour of the beautifully crafted nativity scenes in the churches, chapels and squares. You definitely need to take a day trip to Malaga for one of the very best sound and light shows around and try the delicious Christmas treats – roscón de reyes, turron and polvorones.
There are many restaurants to enjoy delicious food, with options for the traditional turkey dinner, as well as Michelin star taster menus, Spanish feasts and every cuisine under the sun. The Spanish celebrate their big Christmas meals on the 24th of December and the 5th of January, but as it’s such an international destination, there are special Christmas menus from every part of the globe on offer here.
Marbella is a fantastic shopping destination too, and there are lots of events and special festive activities taking place between the end of November and the 6th of January, so Christmas in Marbella just keeps giving! Walk on the beach by day and feel festive under the sparkling Christmas lights by night – the perfect combination, just a short flight away. Check out our guide to things to do and places to go at Christmas on the Costa del Sol and start planning your trip.
2. Dominican Republic
If you want to spend your Christmas in an island paradise with tropical weather, then the Dominican Republic rates very highly on the list! It’s the epitome of a warm Christmas destination, where you can lounge on the beach, while enjoying Christmas traditions Caribbean style. This includes the beautifully decorated charamicos, hand carved wooden decorations hung with beautiful ornaments, just like a Christmas tree. Feast on traditional foods including roast pork, stuffed banana leaves filled with savory treats and lots of yummy desserts. They celebrate Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day with the family, as they do in Marbella, and they also share the tradition of giving gifts to the children on the 6th of January, rather than the 25th of December. Enjoy fireworks on the beach, traditional dancing on the streets, Dominican Christmas carols and dance the night away at the legendary Christmas parties known as Parrandas Navideñas.
3. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is a very popular warm Christmas destination, with really hot weather, blue skies and amazing activities and experiences to enjoy throughout the festive season. Temperatures can hit 40⁰C and as a country with a large Christian population, this is a big holiday and there’s plenty of Christmas spirit in the air. Some of the highlights include; carols by candlelight at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a festival of lights, live music and lots of Christmas markets. You can enjoy a gourmet experience at one of the many wine estates, enjoy outdoor cinema and spend your xmas holidays in the sun. Why not combine it with a big game safari too? Now that’s Christmas with a difference!
4. Phuket, Thailand
Thailand’s many islands and white sand beaches are a draw to tourists year-round and December is a great time to visit, as the weather is glorious. Phuket is one of the largest islands and offers lots to do and see for tourists, as part of Xmas holidays in the sun. You can expect balmy temperatures and low humidity (for Thailand) and the water is really warm and crystal clear for diving, snorkeling or simply lounging. Although the locals don’t celebrate Christmas, the tourist areas are decorated and there are lots of events and parties going on.
You will find hotels and tourist restaurants offering international Christmas favorites, or you can stick to the delicious Thai food. There’s even a Christmas Market at Phuket Boat Lagoon. Recommendations - explore the Old Town, visit the Sunday market, marvel at the view from the Karon Viewpoint and visit some of the beautiful Buddhist temples.
5. Marrakesh, Morocco
Marrakesh is a magical and enchanting place all year round, and is a place where you can escape from the endless carols and commercialism of a western Christmas and dive into a vibrant culture. The temperature in Marrakech in December averages around 20⁰C, perfect for exploring and sightseeing and visiting all the amazing landmarks in the city. There’s no need to worry about things being closed on the holidays, as this is just a normal day, and so nothing's standing in your way to explore the medina, the souk and the beautiful gardens. After a busy day seeing the sights, relax in a Hammam, and have an alternative Christmas meal in one of the city's amazing rooftop restaurants.
Did you know that you could combine a Christmas holiday in Marbella, with a visit to Morocco? It’s so close that you can easily do a day trip to the northernmost city of Tangier, and enjoy a Spanish Christmas and a Moroccan Christmas too!
6. The Maldives
The Maldives is an island paradise, and if you want to spend Christmas holidays in the sun, it’s a great option. It’s lovely and warm, with temperatures between 27⁰C and 30⁰C, even at night, and mainly dry weather. The many beautiful hotels hold lavish gala dinners over the festive period, with amazing food and entertainment and they usually arrange a visit from Santa for the little ones. Once you’ve ticked the Christmas celebration boxes, then the crystal-clear waters await you and you can enjoy water sports, diving, boat trips, or simply lounge on the beach sipping a cocktail. Bliss!
7. Canary Islands, Spain
The Spanish Canary Island group is a great place to spend Christmas, with lots of festive cheer and temperatures between 19⁰C and 26⁰C during the day, with warm evenings too. Christmas is a big celebration in the Canary Islands, kicking off with the Christmas lights turning on at the end of November and lasting all the way through to the 6th of January.
Just like Marbella, you’ll find nativity scenes, lights and beautiful decorations, with a Spanish flair of course. There are also cultural activities on Lanzarote, with live, traditional music throughout December, open air Christmas concerts on Tenerife, and delicious traditional sweets called “trucha”, which must be tried. There are lots of Christmas markets and events too!
8. New York City, USA
While definitely not a warm weather destination for Christmas, New York is such a special place at this time of year, that we couldn’t leave it off the list! Wrap up warm and take a Christmas walking tour to make sure you don’t miss any of the festive favorites, such as the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, the Bryant Park Christmas Market and of course the Empire State Building. The ultimate department store Macy’s is as pretty as a picture and is a great place to see Santa before the big day. We’d also advise a visit to The Santa Clauses Winter Wonderland at Pier 15. For the most outrageously decorated houses, head to Dyker Heights Brooklyn – these homeowners really go all out! There are also Christmas markets and skating rinks a plenty and it’s the perfect place for some retail therapy, on Fifth Avenue and beyond.
9. Sydney, Australia
Sydney is a great city to enjoy Christmas in, because it’s summer there, yet Christmas traditions are strong. You’ll find some great Christmas markets, festivals, and festive events a plenty throughout December. Check out the massive tree in Martin Place and the Canopy of Light in Pitt Street Mall and head to the Queen Victoria Building for High Tea with Santa. There are lots of live music events and carol concerts around the city throughout December. Because of the beautiful weather you can go true Ozzie style and opt for a barbie on the beach, or perhaps a picnic in the park. The restaurants are epic and there’s loads of culture and shopping to be enjoyed too.
10. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is an amazing city, which really embraces Christmas and looks pretty as a picture, even though culturally it’s not a big deal in Japan. Temperatures are cool but not cold – 12-7⁰C and the city artfully blends Western Christmas traditions with Japanese culture, to make it a unique place to spend the holidays. The lights in Tokyo for Christmas are epic, on the streets and in the stores, and will take your breath away. The Tokyo Christmas Market is a great place to get in some last-minute shopping and take part in activities and workshops. Enjoy live music, by going to one of the Christmas concerts or choir performances. Why not join the masses and have KFC on Christmas Eve? A peculiar Japanese tradition for the festive period, but finger licking good! Tokyo’s Disneyland is amazing at Christmas and there are even holiday themed tea ceremonies to try. We’d definitely recommend a cruise on Tokyo Bay and a visit to one of the outdoor skating rinks as well.
Why spend the Christmas holidays in Marbella?
These 10 destinations are all amazing places for a Christmas holiday, each offering a very different kind of Christmas. But for us (no surprise here I’m sure), Marbella and the Costa del Sol as a whole really are hard to beat! That’s because it blends many of the aspects of what makes Christmas great, and so you can have the best of all worlds.
Being a Catholic country, Christmas is a serious holiday, and celebrated by everyone, rather than simply put on for the tourists. Yet, it’s less commercial and more authentic than in a big city.
The weather strikes just the right balance for us Brits and Northern Europeans to feel festive. It’s cool enough in the evening to feel Christmassy when you’re strolling around the pretty streets, lit with twinkling lights, yet the days are usually mild and sunny and you can still enjoy lunch al fresco by the beach.
There are lots of events and activities for the whole family, up and down the coast and Malaga has one of the best Christmas light and sound shows that we’ve seen anywhere. And what’s more, you could even combine a Christmas in Marbella with one day on the ski slopes of Sierra Nevada and one day in Morocco. How’s that for a mix of experiences?
The shopping in Marbella is great, the restaurants in Marbella are amazing, and you will be able to find whatever food you want to make it feel like Christmas to you. All this, and it’s just a few hours from the UK and most of Europe and flights are very reasonable.
We hope you’ll join us for Christmas this year. Contact us and let us find you a beautiful vacation rental in Marbella to be your home from home at this special time of year and help you plan the dream Christmas holiday in the sun for your family.
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[post_content] => The history of golf goes back to 1552, when the first golf course in the world opened in St Andrews, Scotland. Since then, it has grown into one of the world’s best loved sports, and thousands of courses have been created by talented golf course architects.
Marbella, and the Costa del Sol in general, is a golfers’ paradise. While we didn’t get our first course in Andalucia until the 1920s, there’s a reason why this is known as the Costa del Golf!
This area boasts more than 70 golf courses, designed and built between 1925 and the present day. We’ve been lucky to have some of the very best designers produce courses here, and our courses are consistently featured in the lists of top golf courses in Europe.
Probably the best known and one of the most prolific golf course architect to shape Marbella and the Costa del Sol’s golf scene is Robert Trent Jones Sr. He is behind nine fantastic courses on the Costa del Sol, including; Real Sotogrande, Real Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, Marbella Golf & Country Club and the most famous and highly esteemed – Valderrama.
Other talented designers that have created the incredible array of golf courses on the Costa del Sol include; Seve Ballesteros, José María Cañizares, Cabell Robinson, Javier Arana, Antonio García Garrido, Gary Player, Juan Ligués Creus, Dave Thomas, Juan Carlos Martínez, Mariano Benítez, Manuel Piñero and Enrique Canales Busquets.
History of golf culture on the Costa del Sol
Golf arrived in Spain way back in 1891, but the first course in Andalucia didn’t open until 1925, in Malaga. But once it started, there was no stopping the development of golf in Andalucia, and despite that slow start, it now has more golf clubs than any other autonomous communities in Spain – a whopping 92 in total.
The first golf course in Marbella itself is Guadalmina Golf Club, which opened its doors in 1959. This was designed by Javier Arana, widely held to be one of the best Spanish golf course designers of all time. He also designed Rio Real, which opened in 1965. German golf architect Bernard von Limburger designed Atalaya Golf, which opened in 1968 and Robert Trent Jones Las Brisas followed in 1969.
Once established as a golfing hotspot, the sport started to attract off-peak tourists, to help make Marbella a truly year-round destination and many more golf courses followed. There are now over 70 golf courses and it is known as much for its golf as for its beaches.
The Top 5 Golf Course Architects in Marbella
With so many notable names involved in designing and creating golf courses in Marbella, we have decided to pick our top 5. These are the people we feel have most impacted the golf scene in Marbella and who have designed some of our favorite courses.
Robert Trent Jones
We have to start with the legendary Robert Trent Jones, who cut his teeth building Real Sotogrande in 1964, his first course in Europe. This is still rated as the second-best golf course in Spain, by Top 100 Golf Courses, just behind his most revered design at Valderrama Golf Club.
In 1968, he designed Marbella’s third golf course – Las Brisas, in Nueva Andalucia. Jones is also responsible for Los Naranjos in the golf valley of Nueva Andalucia and Marbella Golf.
In total, he designed nine golf courses on the Costa del Sol, and is listed number 9 in the list of best golf course architects. He has certainly left his mark on the Costa del Golf!
Cabell B. Robinson
American golf course architect Cabell B. Robinson studied landscape architecture in California and worked with Robert Trent Jones in Spain from 1970. He was involved with many of his early projects before striking out on his own.
He is known as one of the most prolific golf course designers, alongside his mentor.
He lives on the Costa del Sol and has created some fantastic golf courses here, including La Cala Resort, La Reserva de Sotogrande, Santana Golf & Country Club, Valle Romano and Finca Cortesín.
Severiano Ballesteros
Seve Ballesteros was an incredible Spanish golfer, who became a very important golf course architect and left behind two wonderful golf courses in the Malaga province, with one located close to Marbella, in the golfing hotspot on Benahavis.
His design for Los Arqueros Golf includes 18 challenging holes, which blend into the beautiful countryside around it and offers some spectacular views. This course is not for the faint hearted, with narrow fairways and water obstacles a plenty.
Dave Thomas
Welsh golfer, turned golf course architect, Dave Thomas had significant success as a professional player, before an injury forced him to think about the next chapter in his career. He designed over 100 courses during his long career, including more than 20 in Europe.
On the Costa del Sol, he has created quite the legacy, designing the Almenara Golf Club, the La Hacienda Links Golf Resort and San Roque (Old Course) in the Sotogrande area. In Marbella, Dave Thomas designed and built the exceptional Marbella Club Golf Resort Course in 1999. This par 72 course is praised for its excellent fairways, and roughs and welcoming greens.
Antonio García Garrido
This Spanish architect really left his mark on Marbella having designed the Flamingos Golf Club, the first nine holes of Santa Maria Golf & Country Club and the Doña Julia Golf Club in the Casares area of the Western Costa del Sol.
We love golf here at Vacation Marbella and have created our list of top 10 Marbella golf courses to help you to have the best golf holiday. You can also book golf green fees on our website and contact us for golf recommendations and of course holiday rentals in the city.
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Padel tennis is one of the most popular sports in Spain. It’s an exciting cross between squash and tennis, played doubles-style in a glass-sided court. It’s a fast-paced game, and pretty easy to pick up, plus it’s very sociable. Joining a padel club in Marbella is a great way to keep fit and meet new people. Today we’re giving you a low-down of the best padel clubs in Marbella, as well as its history and evolution.
Enjoy Padel in Marbella
Although Padel was originally invented in Mexico, Marbella remains the birthplace of the modern style of Padel we know today. Not surprisingly there are loads of fantastic clubs to play in and they are great communities to be a part of. Where better to play padel than where it was developed and became one of the fastest growing sports in the world?
In this article, we will share our favorite padel clubs in Marbella, where you can enjoy this wonderful, fast-paced sport. However, this really is just the tip of the iceberg!
The Royal Padel Club Marbella
Real Club Pádel Marbella is a fantastic place to play padel in Marbella, work out at the gym and hang out with family and friends. With six panoramic glass paddle tennis courts, with WPT approved grass, and latest technology LED lighting. They also boast a dedicated Padel school where you can learn one of the most popular growing sports in Spain and improve your skills with some of the best coaches and trainers. And that’s not all…. This is a sports center with indoor and outdoor gym facilities, a kindergarten, boxing and martial arts classes for kids, a restaurant, salon, barber shop and restaurant. Highly recommended for all the family.
Manolo Santana Racquets Club Tennis, Padel & Fitness
Founded in 1997 by the famous tennis player, Manolo Santana, this legendary Racquets Club is steeped in the history of the sport and remains one of the Marbella’s most renowned tennis clubs. Manolo Santana Racquets Club also has four Padel courts and a gym and fitness center. They offer private lessons, there’s a padel tennis school, you can hire a court for matches, or join their mix-in sessions where you can play and make new friends too. Is there a better place to enjoy Padel than one of Marbella’s historic clubs? Sadly, Manolo is no longer with us, but his legacy remains strong in this fantastic club.
Puente Romano Tennis Club
Puente Romano is one of Marbella’s most glamorous hotels, famous for its wonderful restaurants and bars. But you may not know that it also offers one of the most important tennis and padel clubs in Europe. The Puente Romano Tennis Club includes 10 tennis courts, a gym, sauna and Turkish bath and a restaurant. It also has four padel courts and boasts an academy where kids and adults can learn to play Padel. All their coaches are licensed and highly experienced and they have coaches to suit all levels and types of players. This club has held many prestigious tournaments, including the World Padel Tour, ATP, WTA, Fed Cup and Davis Cup tournaments. You can play there too and enjoy the luxurious facilities.
Royal Tennis Club Marbella
The Royal Tennis Club Marbella offers expert training and the opportunity to play on two premium visitor’s Padel courts with excellent lighting, so even if you want to play at night or after work, you can enjoy a match at the club. You can also enroll in group and private training sessions with experienced coaches for either adults or children to develop your padel skills. There are also tennis courts, a gym, swimming pool, table tennis tables and you can even play billiards – something for everyone!
Nueva Alcantara Club
This is a fantastic padel club very close to Marbella, in San Pedro de Alcantara. It offers 16 courts, a fine dining restaurant, two snack bars, luxury changing rooms, a hair salon and more. They recently held the Andalucia Championship and offer lessons for kids and adults, plus padel tennis camps during school holidays. We’d definitely say the Nueva Alcántara Club is worth a short trip out of Marbella for!
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to pick up your racquet and discover one of Spain’s most popular and accessible sports at one of these top picks to begin your padel journey.
Find people to play padel with in Marbella
On holiday in Marbella and want to play padel, but don’t have anyone to play with? No problem! Most of the padel clubs in Marbella run regular mix-in events. These events are usually open to all and allow anyone to come along and play with others, plus share a few drinks after the matches.
Manolo Santana Club arranges several mix-ins a week, with something for all abilities. There’s a beginners mix-in on Wednesday at 11am, for higher levels there are events in the evenings on Thursdays and Fridays with food afterwards and there’s one for all abilities with a BBQ on Sundays at 12. Manolo Santana Club has Mix-In Paddle Tennis Matches.
We’d recommend that once you’ve settled in to your holiday rental in Marbella, you pop down to your nearest padel club and ask about their mix-in options as soon as you arrive. It’s a great way to meet people and get active during your holiday.
Learn padel in Marbella
As you’ve seen in our list of padel clubs in Marbella, they all offer private lessons and also padel tennis schools for kids and adults which run throughout the year. So if you’re within easy reach of a padel club, you can get lessons during your visit.
There’s also Beyond Padel Academy, based at the Villa Padierna Raquet Club. Experienced and passionate coaches David Cano and Guillermo Vizcay promise to supercharge your padel skills, no matter your level.
There are also private padel teachers that can come to the padel courts in your development, or villa, to give you and the family private lessons, without having to travel.
Padel championships in Marbella and beyond
The International Padel Federation organizes World Padel Championships around the world. There are tournaments in Italy, Hungary and Qatar scheduled this year and you can check out their tournament calendar to find out what’s going on near to you!
If you’re on holiday in Marbella in July, you should head to Malaga for one of the best padel tournaments of the year, the Málaga Premier Padel tournament. Taking place from the 6th to the 14th of July, it will feature some of the best players in the world competing to improve their FIP ranking and for glory! Tickets are €16 for the main matches and just 7.50€ for the qualifiers.
You’ll also find regular tournaments and matches at all of the padel clubs in Marbella, so pop in and ask whether there’s anything happening during your stay.
History of Padel
Padel tennis originated in Mexico and was started by Enrique Corcuera in 1969, when he decided to adapt his personal squash court in Acapulco, creating a new sport called Platform Tennis which involves two players on a smaller court, for a fast-paced, dynamic game.
One of Enrique’s Spanish friends, Alfonso Hohenlohe-Langenburg (the founder of the Marbella Club Hotel) fell in love with the sport and decided to bring it back to his home country, establishing the first two Padel courts in Spain at the Marbella Tennis Club in 1974. He adapted Enrique’s original concept to create a more competitive sport, and over the following 25 years, began to spread this new sport across the country, until over 500 Padel clubs had opened across the Spanish territory in the early 2000s.
The evolution of Padel in Spain… and in the world
Spain has continued to be enamored with the sport, and it is one of the country’s fastest-growing sports activities. By 2005, there were over 1000 Padel Clubs across the country, and the largest Padel Associations decided to establish an international championship that launched the Padel Pro Tour, a championship that lasted until 2012.
The World Padel Series was founded in 2013 to firmly establish padel on the map, and professional worldwide championships replaced the Padel Pro Tour to join elite players around the world, to create an unstoppable momentum. Nowadays, the World Padel Series hosts around 15 to 20 tournaments a year and a Master Series at the end of the season, and the sport is starting to take off in other countries as well.
In 2022, according to padel.fyi there were more than 25 million active padel players in 110 countries and 40,000 padel courts globally. It is continuing to grow in popularity because it’s easy to learn, fun to play and really social.
Join the fun on your next holiday in Marbella
If you’d like to make padel part of your next holiday to Marbella, contact us today. Give us your requirements and your dates and we’ll come up with a shortlist of holiday rental properties in Marbella, which are close to a padel club, or have padel courts within the community. Some of our villas even boast their very own padel tennis courts for you and the family to enjoy! It’s a great thing to incorporate into your holiday plans!
When you book your holiday rental in Marbella, feel free to reach out to us for recommendations of the nearest clubs to where you’re staying. Many developments also have padel courts which are free to use for guests, so let us know if that’s a priority for you, and we can share a shortlist of holiday rentals in Marbella with padel courts for you.
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[post_content] => We’re very lucky to have wonderful restaurants in Marbella and eating out is an amazing experience during your vacation. However, we know that people with allergies and intolerances find it more difficult to find a great restaurant which caters to their dietary requirements and gives them an amazing experience. But worry not, there are more and more restaurants which are responding to the increase in allergies and intolerances and providing amazing
Did you know that 1 in 100 people in the world have celiac disease according to the Celiac Disease Foundation? This means that eating even a small amount of gluten damages the small intestine and can cause a whole host of long-term health effects. So, it’s vital that they feel safe eating in a restaurant which has gluten free options and allergens clearly marked on the menu. There are many more people who are intolerant to gluten and prefer to avoid it where possible. To help you enjoy eating out on your next holiday, we’re sharing 10 restaurants in Marbella with good gluten free choices and a high level of understanding about celiac disease.
Celicioso is the best-known and only 100% gluten free café, restaurant and bakery in Marbella. It opened its doors in 2012, in the Puente Romano complex, and was an immediate hit. It started just as a bakery, but quickly grew into a restaurant and café, famed for healthy, organic and nutritious food, which those with and without gluten intolerance love. It is dedicated to being sustainable and reducing its carbon footprint too.
Open from 9am to 9.30pm, for breakfast, lunch and early dinner, they also offer delivery and have their own gluten free eco beer. Their gluten free cupcakes are legendary, and they have vegan cupcakes available too. They also have an amazing selection of cakes and pastries. Other very popular items are their pancakes, egg dishes, pastas, burgers and nachos.
Check out Celicioso's menu on their website.
Breathe is an elegant, fashionable bar and restaurant in Nueva Andalucia, which has a restaurant and garden area, an artisan café and bakery and a rooftop cocktail bar. It has been designed to offer a place to relax, dine, meet, socialize, enjoy a cocktail and be inspired by quality food made with care.
Their menu is clearly labelled with allergens, to avoid any difficulty or confusion, but there is no dedicated gluten free menu. There are lots of gluten free options, such as spicy guacamole with platano chips, BBQ-grilled asparagus, tuna tartare, wagyu kebab, pumpkin risotto, panang curry, green chilli sea bass, amazing steaks and a range of gluten free sides. They also have a great sushi menu.
Check out Breathe’s menu on their website.
This is a Mediterranean and Italian restaurant which prides itself on offering a menu which showcases the freshest ingredients and best techniques in a friendly and welcoming environment. They have lots of events and live music nights to keep you entertained.
They are proud of their vegan, vegetarian and gluten free menu options and their staff are very knowledgeable about gluten free food in general. The menu is clearly labelled with allergens, with lots of gluten free options, as well as alterations and substitutions to make dishes suitable. Their great selection of Italian pizzas are all available as gluten free, and their gluten free desserts are very highly rated.
Manuka is committed to healthy, local and sustainable food, with a wide range of amazing plant-based dishes. You can find them in La Cañada, Plaza del Mar and Marina Banus shopping centers, as well as on the Avenida Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, with a central location opening soon. They opened their first location in 2016 with a passion to nourish the body and respect the planet.
This doesn’t have a dedicated gluten free menu, but there are some stand out dishes which make it a firm favorite. The team also has a good awareness of allergies and dietary requirements. The star dishes include their gluten free quinoa pancakes, cheat-day quesadillas, chicken tacos, poke bowls, ramen, green curry and fantastic salads.
This Italian, family run restaurant has been in Marbella for 40 years and is located in Nueva Andalucia. Italian food is typically a nightmare for celiacs, but this restaurant offers gluten free pizza and pasta, as well as delicious salads and risottos. People enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and friendly, well-informed staff, who are helpful and careful with all dietary requirements.
Located on Avenida Antonio Belon, this popular and busy burger joint has been delighting customers since 2016. They have an extensive, creative selection of burgers, including excellent vegetarian burgers. They offer gluten free burger buns and bun less burgers with a salad, so celiac customers don’t have to miss out. Their fries and sweet potato fries are gluten free, as are their nachos, which can be paired with a gluten free beer. They even offer a gluten free chocolate brownie too.
This is a lovely bar and restaurant on the paseo in Marbella, with a great terrace overlooking the beach and the sea. It’s open all day from 9am to midnight, 7 days a week and has a varied menu, which caters to dietary requirements, including celiac. They mark gluten free options clearly on the menu and the staff have a good understanding of the issues with contamination and safe foods for celiacs. Dishes which are suitable for celiacs include the Iberian meat board, prawns, Spanish omelette and paella.
This cool beach restaurant and bar is located on the beachfront of the Golden Mile and is open from 9.30am to 7pm seven days a week. They offer food and great cocktails by the sea, and good music too. Their brunch menu of delicious pancakes, syrniki and waffles are dairy free, gluten free and sugar free!
They have a range of excellent rice, fish and meat dishes and quite a few gluten free desserts too.
Check out Aua Playa’s menu on their website.
This bakery, cafe and shop offers a wide range of gluten free products, alongside traditional artisan breads, pastries and cakes. Located in San Pedro Alcántara, it has just been refurbished, and you can eat in, or take away their delicious treats. They have a dedicated gluten free bakery to avoid any risk of contamination and are famed for their delicious artisan breads, pastries and cakes. With 10 years of experience and a real passion and dedication to gluten free bakery, it’s a wonderful spot to try.
This restaurant right on Marbella’s seafront promenade has a great selection of gluten free dishes. The cuisine is a mix of traditional Italian and international dishes and it ranks very highly on TripAdvisor. The owner is friendly and knowledgeable about gluten allergies and the GF pizzas and pastas and gluten free beers, make it a very popular option, in an amazing location.
We hope our list of gluten free restaurants in Marbella will help you to navigate eating out on your next vacation. As the majority of restaurants are not dedicated to be gluten free, ringing ahead, or popping in to talk to the team before your visit is recommended, to make sure you are confident that they fully understand celiac and there is no hidden gluten in stocks and sauces.
If you stay in one of our luxury villa rentals in Marbella, we can also organize a private chef to come to your vacation rental property and cook up a gluten free feast.
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[post_content] => The weather is getting colder, the nights are drawing in and the countdown is on to Christmas. Where are you spending yours?
If you’re not sure where to spend Christmas and you’d rather have a Christmas holiday abroad, we’ve got you! There are loads of fantastic places to go, where you can experience the magic of Christmas like never before. In this article, we’re counting down the Top Ten places for a Xmas holiday, to help you find your perfect place.
1. Marbella, Spain
Marbella is a wonderful place to spend Christmas, with lots to do and see, plenty of Christmas spirit, plus bright sunny weather. It’s super easy to get here from Europe, with many airlines offering regular flights. This is the ideal short haul destination for a Christmas holiday in the sun.
Although you can’t expect the temperatures that you’d get in more tropical climes, the thermometer rarely dips below 10⁰C, even at night, and you can expect blue skies and daytime temperatures in the low to mid 20s. These pleasant temperatures make it so much fun to visit Christmas markets, see the Christmas lights, tour the traditional nativity scenes and make a visit to see Santa in his many grottos.
We recommend seeing the beautiful lights in Marbella’s picturesque Old Town and following the tour of the beautifully crafted nativity scenes in the churches, chapels and squares. You definitely need to take a day trip to Malaga for one of the very best sound and light shows around and try the delicious Christmas treats – roscón de reyes, turron and polvorones.
There are many restaurants to enjoy delicious food, with options for the traditional turkey dinner, as well as Michelin star taster menus, Spanish feasts and every cuisine under the sun. The Spanish celebrate their big Christmas meals on the 24th of December and the 5th of January, but as it’s such an international destination, there are special Christmas menus from every part of the globe on offer here.
Marbella is a fantastic shopping destination too, and there are lots of events and special festive activities taking place between the end of November and the 6th of January, so Christmas in Marbella just keeps giving! Walk on the beach by day and feel festive under the sparkling Christmas lights by night – the perfect combination, just a short flight away. Check out our guide to things to do and places to go at Christmas on the Costa del Sol and start planning your trip.
2. Dominican Republic
If you want to spend your Christmas in an island paradise with tropical weather, then the Dominican Republic rates very highly on the list! It’s the epitome of a warm Christmas destination, where you can lounge on the beach, while enjoying Christmas traditions Caribbean style. This includes the beautifully decorated charamicos, hand carved wooden decorations hung with beautiful ornaments, just like a Christmas tree. Feast on traditional foods including roast pork, stuffed banana leaves filled with savory treats and lots of yummy desserts. They celebrate Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day with the family, as they do in Marbella, and they also share the tradition of giving gifts to the children on the 6th of January, rather than the 25th of December. Enjoy fireworks on the beach, traditional dancing on the streets, Dominican Christmas carols and dance the night away at the legendary Christmas parties known as Parrandas Navideñas.
3. Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town is a very popular warm Christmas destination, with really hot weather, blue skies and amazing activities and experiences to enjoy throughout the festive season. Temperatures can hit 40⁰C and as a country with a large Christian population, this is a big holiday and there’s plenty of Christmas spirit in the air. Some of the highlights include; carols by candlelight at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, a festival of lights, live music and lots of Christmas markets. You can enjoy a gourmet experience at one of the many wine estates, enjoy outdoor cinema and spend your xmas holidays in the sun. Why not combine it with a big game safari too? Now that’s Christmas with a difference!
4. Phuket, Thailand
Thailand’s many islands and white sand beaches are a draw to tourists year-round and December is a great time to visit, as the weather is glorious. Phuket is one of the largest islands and offers lots to do and see for tourists, as part of Xmas holidays in the sun. You can expect balmy temperatures and low humidity (for Thailand) and the water is really warm and crystal clear for diving, snorkeling or simply lounging. Although the locals don’t celebrate Christmas, the tourist areas are decorated and there are lots of events and parties going on.
You will find hotels and tourist restaurants offering international Christmas favorites, or you can stick to the delicious Thai food. There’s even a Christmas Market at Phuket Boat Lagoon. Recommendations - explore the Old Town, visit the Sunday market, marvel at the view from the Karon Viewpoint and visit some of the beautiful Buddhist temples.
5. Marrakesh, Morocco
Marrakesh is a magical and enchanting place all year round, and is a place where you can escape from the endless carols and commercialism of a western Christmas and dive into a vibrant culture. The temperature in Marrakech in December averages around 20⁰C, perfect for exploring and sightseeing and visiting all the amazing landmarks in the city. There’s no need to worry about things being closed on the holidays, as this is just a normal day, and so nothing's standing in your way to explore the medina, the souk and the beautiful gardens. After a busy day seeing the sights, relax in a Hammam, and have an alternative Christmas meal in one of the city's amazing rooftop restaurants.
Did you know that you could combine a Christmas holiday in Marbella, with a visit to Morocco? It’s so close that you can easily do a day trip to the northernmost city of Tangier, and enjoy a Spanish Christmas and a Moroccan Christmas too!
6. The Maldives
The Maldives is an island paradise, and if you want to spend Christmas holidays in the sun, it’s a great option. It’s lovely and warm, with temperatures between 27⁰C and 30⁰C, even at night, and mainly dry weather. The many beautiful hotels hold lavish gala dinners over the festive period, with amazing food and entertainment and they usually arrange a visit from Santa for the little ones. Once you’ve ticked the Christmas celebration boxes, then the crystal-clear waters await you and you can enjoy water sports, diving, boat trips, or simply lounge on the beach sipping a cocktail. Bliss!
7. Canary Islands, Spain
The Spanish Canary Island group is a great place to spend Christmas, with lots of festive cheer and temperatures between 19⁰C and 26⁰C during the day, with warm evenings too. Christmas is a big celebration in the Canary Islands, kicking off with the Christmas lights turning on at the end of November and lasting all the way through to the 6th of January.
Just like Marbella, you’ll find nativity scenes, lights and beautiful decorations, with a Spanish flair of course. There are also cultural activities on Lanzarote, with live, traditional music throughout December, open air Christmas concerts on Tenerife, and delicious traditional sweets called “trucha”, which must be tried. There are lots of Christmas markets and events too!
8. New York City, USA
While definitely not a warm weather destination for Christmas, New York is such a special place at this time of year, that we couldn’t leave it off the list! Wrap up warm and take a Christmas walking tour to make sure you don’t miss any of the festive favorites, such as the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, the Bryant Park Christmas Market and of course the Empire State Building. The ultimate department store Macy’s is as pretty as a picture and is a great place to see Santa before the big day. We’d also advise a visit to The Santa Clauses Winter Wonderland at Pier 15. For the most outrageously decorated houses, head to Dyker Heights Brooklyn – these homeowners really go all out! There are also Christmas markets and skating rinks a plenty and it’s the perfect place for some retail therapy, on Fifth Avenue and beyond.
9. Sydney, Australia
Sydney is a great city to enjoy Christmas in, because it’s summer there, yet Christmas traditions are strong. You’ll find some great Christmas markets, festivals, and festive events a plenty throughout December. Check out the massive tree in Martin Place and the Canopy of Light in Pitt Street Mall and head to the Queen Victoria Building for High Tea with Santa. There are lots of live music events and carol concerts around the city throughout December. Because of the beautiful weather you can go true Ozzie style and opt for a barbie on the beach, or perhaps a picnic in the park. The restaurants are epic and there’s loads of culture and shopping to be enjoyed too.
10. Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is an amazing city, which really embraces Christmas and looks pretty as a picture, even though culturally it’s not a big deal in Japan. Temperatures are cool but not cold – 12-7⁰C and the city artfully blends Western Christmas traditions with Japanese culture, to make it a unique place to spend the holidays. The lights in Tokyo for Christmas are epic, on the streets and in the stores, and will take your breath away. The Tokyo Christmas Market is a great place to get in some last-minute shopping and take part in activities and workshops. Enjoy live music, by going to one of the Christmas concerts or choir performances. Why not join the masses and have KFC on Christmas Eve? A peculiar Japanese tradition for the festive period, but finger licking good! Tokyo’s Disneyland is amazing at Christmas and there are even holiday themed tea ceremonies to try. We’d definitely recommend a cruise on Tokyo Bay and a visit to one of the outdoor skating rinks as well.
Why spend the Christmas holidays in Marbella?
These 10 destinations are all amazing places for a Christmas holiday, each offering a very different kind of Christmas. But for us (no surprise here I’m sure), Marbella and the Costa del Sol as a whole really are hard to beat! That’s because it blends many of the aspects of what makes Christmas great, and so you can have the best of all worlds.
Being a Catholic country, Christmas is a serious holiday, and celebrated by everyone, rather than simply put on for the tourists. Yet, it’s less commercial and more authentic than in a big city.
The weather strikes just the right balance for us Brits and Northern Europeans to feel festive. It’s cool enough in the evening to feel Christmassy when you’re strolling around the pretty streets, lit with twinkling lights, yet the days are usually mild and sunny and you can still enjoy lunch al fresco by the beach.
There are lots of events and activities for the whole family, up and down the coast and Malaga has one of the best Christmas light and sound shows that we’ve seen anywhere. And what’s more, you could even combine a Christmas in Marbella with one day on the ski slopes of Sierra Nevada and one day in Morocco. How’s that for a mix of experiences?
The shopping in Marbella is great, the restaurants in Marbella are amazing, and you will be able to find whatever food you want to make it feel like Christmas to you. All this, and it’s just a few hours from the UK and most of Europe and flights are very reasonable.
We hope you’ll join us for Christmas this year. Contact us and let us find you a beautiful vacation rental in Marbella to be your home from home at this special time of year and help you plan the dream Christmas holiday in the sun for your family.
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[post_content] => The history of golf goes back to 1552, when the first golf course in the world opened in St Andrews, Scotland. Since then, it has grown into one of the world’s best loved sports, and thousands of courses have been created by talented golf course architects.
Marbella, and the Costa del Sol in general, is a golfers’ paradise. While we didn’t get our first course in Andalucia until the 1920s, there’s a reason why this is known as the Costa del Golf!
This area boasts more than 70 golf courses, designed and built between 1925 and the present day. We’ve been lucky to have some of the very best designers produce courses here, and our courses are consistently featured in the lists of top golf courses in Europe.
Probably the best known and one of the most prolific golf course architect to shape Marbella and the Costa del Sol’s golf scene is Robert Trent Jones Sr. He is behind nine fantastic courses on the Costa del Sol, including; Real Sotogrande, Real Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, Marbella Golf & Country Club and the most famous and highly esteemed – Valderrama.
Other talented designers that have created the incredible array of golf courses on the Costa del Sol include; Seve Ballesteros, José María Cañizares, Cabell Robinson, Javier Arana, Antonio García Garrido, Gary Player, Juan Ligués Creus, Dave Thomas, Juan Carlos Martínez, Mariano Benítez, Manuel Piñero and Enrique Canales Busquets.
History of golf culture on the Costa del Sol
Golf arrived in Spain way back in 1891, but the first course in Andalucia didn’t open until 1925, in Malaga. But once it started, there was no stopping the development of golf in Andalucia, and despite that slow start, it now has more golf clubs than any other autonomous communities in Spain – a whopping 92 in total.
The first golf course in Marbella itself is Guadalmina Golf Club, which opened its doors in 1959. This was designed by Javier Arana, widely held to be one of the best Spanish golf course designers of all time. He also designed Rio Real, which opened in 1965. German golf architect Bernard von Limburger designed Atalaya Golf, which opened in 1968 and Robert Trent Jones Las Brisas followed in 1969.
Once established as a golfing hotspot, the sport started to attract off-peak tourists, to help make Marbella a truly year-round destination and many more golf courses followed. There are now over 70 golf courses and it is known as much for its golf as for its beaches.
The Top 5 Golf Course Architects in Marbella
With so many notable names involved in designing and creating golf courses in Marbella, we have decided to pick our top 5. These are the people we feel have most impacted the golf scene in Marbella and who have designed some of our favorite courses.
Robert Trent Jones
We have to start with the legendary Robert Trent Jones, who cut his teeth building Real Sotogrande in 1964, his first course in Europe. This is still rated as the second-best golf course in Spain, by Top 100 Golf Courses, just behind his most revered design at Valderrama Golf Club.
In 1968, he designed Marbella’s third golf course – Las Brisas, in Nueva Andalucia. Jones is also responsible for Los Naranjos in the golf valley of Nueva Andalucia and Marbella Golf.
In total, he designed nine golf courses on the Costa del Sol, and is listed number 9 in the list of best golf course architects. He has certainly left his mark on the Costa del Golf!
Cabell B. Robinson
American golf course architect Cabell B. Robinson studied landscape architecture in California and worked with Robert Trent Jones in Spain from 1970. He was involved with many of his early projects before striking out on his own.
He is known as one of the most prolific golf course designers, alongside his mentor.
He lives on the Costa del Sol and has created some fantastic golf courses here, including La Cala Resort, La Reserva de Sotogrande, Santana Golf & Country Club, Valle Romano and Finca Cortesín.
Severiano Ballesteros
Seve Ballesteros was an incredible Spanish golfer, who became a very important golf course architect and left behind two wonderful golf courses in the Malaga province, with one located close to Marbella, in the golfing hotspot on Benahavis.
His design for Los Arqueros Golf includes 18 challenging holes, which blend into the beautiful countryside around it and offers some spectacular views. This course is not for the faint hearted, with narrow fairways and water obstacles a plenty.
Dave Thomas
Welsh golfer, turned golf course architect, Dave Thomas had significant success as a professional player, before an injury forced him to think about the next chapter in his career. He designed over 100 courses during his long career, including more than 20 in Europe.
On the Costa del Sol, he has created quite the legacy, designing the Almenara Golf Club, the La Hacienda Links Golf Resort and San Roque (Old Course) in the Sotogrande area. In Marbella, Dave Thomas designed and built the exceptional Marbella Club Golf Resort Course in 1999. This par 72 course is praised for its excellent fairways, and roughs and welcoming greens.
Antonio García Garrido
This Spanish architect really left his mark on Marbella having designed the Flamingos Golf Club, the first nine holes of Santa Maria Golf & Country Club and the Doña Julia Golf Club in the Casares area of the Western Costa del Sol.
We love golf here at Vacation Marbella and have created our list of top 10 Marbella golf courses to help you to have the best golf holiday. You can also book golf green fees on our website and contact us for golf recommendations and of course holiday rentals in the city.
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