Never mind the Glamour, Marbella is still a Family Resort

Marbella may be attracting Hollywood film stars, First Ladies and football aces, but it is also very much a family resort with more attractions and amenities than one could possibly manage in a typical two-week holiday. If you were thinking of buying a luxury family holiday home at the Costa del Sol, Marbella is the place for you.

The town and its surroundings have great attractions to offer – all are located within a short driving distance, although there’s also excellent public transport in place to take you to the aqua parks, zoos, amusement parks etc. by bus or train.

Sphere Mania is a fantastic place to take the family. Located on the wonderful Magna Marbella Golf course at Benalmadena, Sphere Mania allows Mum and kids to have a whale of a time, while Dad plays golf. The spheres offer a mini-adventure in a perfectly safe environment. Hurtling downhill at speeds of up to 27mph, the spheres and their occupants are seemingly engaged in a race to get to the finish line.
 
For little 7-year-old sphere travellers at least one meter tall there are Aqua Spheres to take them on a thrilling ride of a life-time – strict height restrictions mean there are two types of spheres. Adults and taller children aged 12 and older and reaching a minimum height of at least 1.4 metres travel in a Harness Sphere.

Various adventure companies offer families keen on a daily adrenalin rush activities like trekking, mountain biking, skiing and 4 x 4 tours as well as more hazardous leisure pursuits for families with older children such as sky diving, canyoning, rock climbing, caving, kayaking, hot air ballooning, dog sledging, quad biking, surfing and scuba diving or paragliding.

If your children are old enough to spend their holidays without Mum and Dad, Marbella offers some fantastic summer camps. While you are enjoying a stay at Marbella’s Beach Clubs or spas, your kids can thrown themselves into a fun-packed summer program, where they can learn Spanish or art, drama and music or a variety of sports, including swimming and playing football. Marbella offers families day camps as well as overnight camps for children of all ages.

For little sports fanatics there are camps like Bel Air Tennis & Padel Camp, a multi-sport camp for children aged 4 to 14, or the Manolo Santanas Racquets Club for children aged 5 to 13. Footie fans aged 3 to 14 will have a fantastic time at Atletico Las Chapas, a football summer camp that also offers swimming, tennis and mini golf.

Budding artists will love a stay at the Calpe Summer School which offers children a chance to learn through creative activities. If your kids are still toddlers, the Latina Baby School takes children aged 1 to 6 on weekdays from July to September.

Parents have a multitude of adventure activities to look forward to as well – how about scaling La Concha, one of Marbella’s most recognisable landmarks?

The hike takes several hours to reach La Concha’s summit, which lies 1,200 meters above sea level. The adventure starts at Istan, by hotel Altos de Istan, where hikers take a trail that’s adjacent to the water treatment facility. The trail is quite difficult and is more suited to children aged 13 and over; every family member should have a relatively good fitness level. Take the Juanar-side trail, if your children are younger, as it is easier to manage.

La Concha is part of the Sierra Blanca mountain range and overlooks the Sierra Blanca urbanisation, one of Marbella’s most prestigious and exclusive addresses. If you’ve got a spare EUR 16 million, how about purchasing a palatial 9-bed house designed in a 19th century African-colonial style that boasts some amazing panoramic views from its elevated position high above Marbella’s town centre and Golden Mile?
 
If your budget doesn’t stretch quite that far, you might be more interested in a luxury 2-bed ground floor flat – a positive bargain at an asking price of EUR 595,000.

With Spanish house prices at their lowest for the past decade, luxurious Marbella holiday homes are more affordable than ever.