Marbella Accommodation

How do you choose your Marbella accommodation? It is not an easy question to answer as a lot depends on one's budget, proximity to friends or family if visiting any, activities that one may need, access to a vehicle....

There are so many ways you can spend your holiday and equally as many places to stay in, whether you are looking to book a Marbella hotel, rent a villa in Marbella, stay in a San Pedro apartment or townhouse, or even camping in a Marbella campsite. So how do you choose?

Our best advice on choosing a Marbella accommodation is to decide first of all what kind of vacation you would like to have in Spain. Do you simply want to relax in a full service Marbella hotel on the beach with all the amenities, i.e. restaurants, kids clubs, concierge? Or do you want to be active and don´t care to spend much time in an apartment or hotel room?

Hotel - Villa - Apartment/Townhouse - Campsite

Your decision on a Marbella accommodation also depends on the length of your stay. If you are staying only a short while (3-7 days), then the easiest option is to find a Marbella hotel, because most Marbella villa or apartment rentals require a minimum of one week stay.

If you are planning on staying in Marbella for a week or more, then it may be wise to investigate renting a Marbella villa, apartment, or townhouse. It would be most economical to share the cost of a Marbella villa if you are traveling with another family or two.

There are hundreds of villas for rent in Marbella and splitting the cost will be worthwhile and most cost efficient. There are numerous websites catering to Marbella villa rentals many of which have plenty of photos, easy booking forms, and are not difficult to navigate. The Marbella villa rental market is a big business on the coast, so you are sure to find something.

The most expensive time to book your Marbella accommodation will be during high season (July and August), so try to avoid these months if at all possible. As Marbella weather is extremely mild with an extended summer you will find that May, June, September and October are still great months to visit Marbella and you still have a chance to swim and enjoy warm weather.

Often times these off-peak months are the best times to visit as the Marbella weather will be milder (July and August can be real scorchers), prices come down everywhere from plane tickets to restaurants, there are fewer tourists around so service tends to be better and you will probably find a good Marbella accommodation at a better price.

WHERE IS THE BEST AREA IN MARBELLA?

Marbella, as well as many other surrounding cities on the Costa del Sol, has one main road dividing the city so you need to decide if you want to stay on the beach side or the mountain side of this road.

If you prefer golfing, then you can look to the mountain side of the road. If you are looking for a beach vacation, then you must ask your Marbella accommodation if they are within walking distance of the beach. Be specific as some hotels may claim to be within walking distance, yet it may turn out to be a hike for some or an unpleasant walk crossing through a major highway.

If you are not familiar with the Marbella town layout and cannot decide where is the best place to rent a Marbella villa or apartment, our personal suggestion is to stay in the Puerto Banus or San Pedro Alcantara area.

Puerto Banus is Marbella´s hot spot marina where you go to see and be seen. If you have not visited Puerto Banus, then you have not visited Marbella. This marina not only is the parking lot for some of Europe´s largest and most expensive yachts, but it also includes a boardwalk with plenty of restaurants and boutiques.

Renting a Marbella villa or apartment in the Puerto Banus area is an exclusive opportunity, so the prices are highest in this zone where you have high-end shopping, fabulous restaurants, and nightlife all within walking distance.

Personally, we find the pomp and glamour of the Puerto Banus area a little overwhelming for a young family and prefer the quieter zone of San Pedro Alcantara, which is two minutes from Puerto Banus and still in good proximity to all of Marbella´s attractions.

There are plenty of shops, restaurants and activities in San Pedro Alcantara, if not more than in the Puerto Banus area, all within short walking distance away. Prices of a San Pedro Alcantara villa or apartment rental may even be slightly lower than in other parts of Marbella, so it is worth investigating this area.

The only downside to staying in San Pedro is that the San Pedro Alcantara beaches are not very nice. The water and the beach itself are clean, but the sand is quite rocky, however San Pedro Alcantara has a pleasant boardwalk along the water. The Nueva Alcantara Tennis and Padel Club is in San Pedro Alcantara on the beach side, which is very cozy and offers a tennis and padel camp for children, if you are looking for a bit of sport during your holiday.

I WANT A VILLA ON THE BEACH

If you are looking for a beautiful Marbella villa right on an amazing beach, you will need a big budget and most likely have to look along the Golden Mile starting from Puerto Banus to Marbella center and continue as far as Cabopino.

The best Marbella beaches are found here along the eastern part of Marbella more or less near the Don Carlos Hotel. The advantage of Marbella accommodation in this area (El Rosario, Las Chapas, or Elviria) is that here you will find the nicest and cleanest beaches. The downside is that there is not a large infrastructure in this area where you can simply walk to a supermarket or restaurant. You will definitely need a car to move around. If you are used to a big city with lots of traffic, then this may not bother you so much.

I WANT AN ACTIVE HOLIDAY

If you are an active family and are looking for Marbella accommodation that offers sports, then the easiest thing to do is stay in a Marbella hotel along the beach. Most Marbella beach hotels offer their own water sports facilities, pools, and tennis courts during the warm months of June - October.

If you have decided to stay in a Marbella villa or apartment that is further away from the beach then you can still enjoy water sport activities as many beaches also offer water sport equipment for rent in the summer, you will just most likely need to bring a car and lug your beach gear.

CAN I CAMP IN MARBELLA?

Yes, there are lots of campsites in Marbella and along other parts of the Costa del Sol. Some offer just plots of land, while others offer full service cabins or tents with lots of facilities on site. The same suggestions we offer for Marbella accommodation also apply for campsites. Ask which side of the road the campsite is on and if you can walk to the beach…if that´s important to you. If you want a nice beach, then remember to stay on the east side of Marbella or go all the way west to Tarifa (1 hour from Marbella).

MARBELLA ACCOMMODATION

Hotel

Gran Hotel Guadalpin Banus (5 star) - Family grade: 9.0
Kempinski Hotel Bahia Estepona (5 star)
Don Carlos Leisure Resort and Spa (5 star)
Hotel Puente Romano (5 star)
The Westin La Quinta Guest Resort & Spa (5 star)
Marriott Marbella Beach Resort (5 star)

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Hotel Fuerte Marbella (4 star)- Family grade:
Gran Hotel Benahavis (4 star)- Family grade:
AGH Estepona (4 star)- Family grade:
Selenza Estepona Thalasso & Spa (4 star)- Family grade:
Atalaya Park Golf Hotel & Resort (4 star)- Family grade:
Hotel Guadalmina Spa & Golf Resort (4 star)- Family grade:
Hotel H10 Andalucia Plaza (4 star)- Family grade:

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PYR Marbella Hotel Apartment (3 star)- Family grade:
Pinomar Playa Hotel (3 star)- Family grade:
Hotel Lorcrimar (3 star...soon to be 5 star!)- Family grade:
Vime Campnario de Calahonda (3 star)- Family grade:
Sol Principe (3 star)- Family grade: