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Earlier this week (20^th October 2011) Costa del Sol was named by the Post Office as the best value-for-money destination for families in 2011, and it’s easy to see why. The survey looked at 10 common purchases across 12 popular destinations before ascertaining that despite a 15% price rise throughout Spain that Costa del Sol was still the cheapest European destination.

So aside from the price, what is it that makes Costa del Sol such a tourist hot-spot with Brits? Not to overuse a cliché but this area of Spain really does offer something for everyone; from sandy beaches and an active nightlife to historic castles and old cobbled towns, the Costa del Sol has it all. There are so many activities and sights to take in within Costa del Sol that it wouldn’t be practical to list them all, so here is a collection of activities you may like.  Read more »

Just five month after the Volvo World Match Play Championchip at Finca Cortesin, big time golf returns to the Costa del Sol this month with the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama. For the second successive season, Andalucía will host the final European Tour event of the year to be held on European soil with the staging of the Andalucía Valderrama Masters from October 27 to 30. The prestigious Club de Golf Valderrama will be play host to the tournament, which will feature a field of top class players competing for a 3 million Euro prize purse.

The world-famous Valderrama course has hosted 16 Volvo Masters events, the first two editions of the American Express-World Golf Championship and The 1997 Ryder Cup, when the late, great Seve Ballesteros led the European Team to glory on home soil. The club is haven for dozens of species of wild animals and birds and is populated by over 2.000 cork trees, 500 olive trees and 3.000 Halipi pines. The course record is 62, held by German Bernhard Langer, the first time in 1994 and again in 2002. Under the revised par 71 layout, a new course record of 66 was set by Angel Cabrera and equalled by David Howell.  Read more »

Tennis legends Bjorn Born and Yevgeny Kafelnikov will compete on the famous clay courts of the Hotel Puente Romano during The Marbella Masters 2011 taking place at the Puente Romano Tennis Club 25th-27th August. 11 time Grand Slam Champion Bjørn Borg and former World Number 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov will be joined by Wimbledon Champion Pat Cash and former top 15 players Younes El-Alanoui and Ronald Agenor. Iranian tennis trickster, Mansour Bahrami will also return to the Masters this year. City Councilor of Sports angel Mora says “It is an honour for our city to host the 2011 Marbella Masters. It is a world-class sporting event that Marbella is proud to host, it will attract some tennis’ best ever players.”

The club is particularly excited to welcome back Bjorn Borg to the hotel. Bjorn is very familiar with the clay courts of Hotel Puente Romano as he managed the club after it first opened in 1979. Talking ahead of the tournament in August, Bjorn said: “I am really looking forward to returning to Puente Romano Tennis Club where l have so many friends and great memories.”  Read more »

The regional government, the Junta de Andalucia has announced that the Costa del Sol will host 5 major sporting events in 2011. The start of the cycling event “Vuelta a Andalucia” will take place on February 20^th , starting from Benahavis. Also in cycling, stages of the national tour “Vuelta Ciclista a España” will be hosted at the end of August and the Desafio del Buda cycling competition will take place in the Axarquia region.

In March, the Andalucia Golf Open will be held at the Malaga Golf Parador.

In April, Marbella will once again play host to the Andalucia Tennis Experience. It has also been announced that there are 11 planned events in total for Andalucia in 2011, which the Junta hopes will promote the region internationally. Read more »

Puente Romano is the setting for the first ever Marbella Masters Tennis Tournament from 17^th to 19^th September. Tennis greats such as Sergi Bruguera, Richard Krajicek and Pat Cash will be playing and the tournament will last 4 nights and is expected to attract about 15,000 fans. There will also be exhibition matches from Martina Hingis and Mansour Bahrami.

Since the tennis club was founded by the famous Swedish tennis player, Bjorn Borg in 1979 many famous tennis legends have graced its courts. There have been many prestigious international tournaments with such legendary stars such as Boris Becker and John McEnroe to name but a few, and the Central court has the capacity to seat more than 2,500 fans.

The Hotel Puente Romano Tennis Club has 10 tennis courts (8 clay, 2 hard). Pros provide lessons and tips for the beginner to the more advanced player. Special hands-on instruction is also available for the junior player.

If you’re a tennis fan, this is an unmissable event! Read more »