Just back from fab holiday at Casares del Sol apartment. The apartment had everything you may want and more, very tidy, modern and inviting. The swimming pool just like the photos, crystal clear blue water and plenty of room to swim. Sunbeds for relaxing, and great policy that sunbeds can not be saved so stops the 'towels on sunbeds' problem and everyone gets a chance to relax by the pool. The gardens are lovely with large areas of grass, palm trees and plenty of room to wander or play games. And all this private to the apartments so secure for relaxing and for families with children.

A short wander across the road to a bar and restaurant with fab terrace looking over golf course, coastline and Gibratar beyond. And here there is a 9 hole Casares Golf course, gym and spa with hairdressers and treatments to pamper your inner self.

Not surprising that many of the faces that we met around the Casares del Sol apartments are holiday makers that have been visiting for several years, they love the area and the relaxing, non touristy atmosphere of this area on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain.

Where to eat out when you go on your Casares del Sol Holiday?

There are alot of choices and where you go depends on:

• * How far afield you want to go? Within walking distance, a short drive or further afield.
• * What sort of food you would like to eat?

Within a short walk you have a few choices:

• D'Antonellas restaurant is a 2 minutes walk and has Spanish/ international foods which is good quality and a reasonable price.
• Giovannis is a 3 minutes walk and has 'classy' pasta and pizzas, again very good quality and reasonable price, but being 'classy' means its more than the average pizza house.
• La Choza is slightley further with an 8 minutes walk and spanish foods. Reasonable quality.
• Chiringuito is about 6 minutes walk to the beach, with seafood and fish plus meats on the menu.
• Beach Bar Casares - 200 yards along the beach and only open in summer months. Serving seafoods and fish mostly.

A short drive away into the nearest town of Sabinillas. Eating out in Sabinillas gives you a huge choice of foods and restaurants, from Indian foods to Chinese to Spanish, Indonesian, International. With many seafood and fish restaurants.
Enjoy your time on Costa del Sol at Casares del Sol Holiday Apartment.

'Finca Cortesin is a sparkling addition to Spain's enviable collection of world-class courses' according to David Brice of Golf International, Inc..

Finca Cortesin Golf Resort is the proud host to The Volvo World Match Play Championship and David Brice considers that Finca Cortesin is now worthy of Ryder Cup consideration because Finca Cortesin offers a very serious challenge together with handsome good looks. With stunning design, Finca Cortesin demands the attention of every visitor to the Costa del Sol. With some 100 cunningly placed bunkers, combined with an intriguing abundance of risk-reward possibilities, this is a strategists dream that simply calls out to be played more than once.

As well as a top Golf course, Finca Cortesin has a plush boutique hotel deserves a sixth star for reaching new levels of pure luxury. In a world where five stars has always been the top hotel ranking, this is one that could easily and unapologetically, be awarded a sixth.

Located in Casares in the Costa del Sol, Casares on Costa del Sol golf course is a haven in southern Spain.

Petanque is a game played all over the world and often associated with the beach. And many will know the game as boule. On first impressions it seems a simple game, as do many sports on first impressions, but skill is needed to win. Although its an ideal sport for all age groups whether they have played before or not.

Petanque is played on a rectangular area called a piste with boules to throw. Although many people play the game on any area of the beach or grassland. Casares beach has a petanque piste, part way between Casares beach car park and Sabinillas, and any one can play here. And there is another piste at Casares del Sol apartment in PM4 gardens.

Its often thought of as a game in Mediterranean countries, France in particular, but is played all over the world and many UK villages have their own teams.

Right next to Casares del Sol is Don Giovannis Restaurant just inside Finca Cortesin Estate, upmarket Italian food.

We walked up the road to the restaurant from Casares del Sol apartment one evening in August this year, just a 10 minute walk but its a shame there isn't a pavement as its very dark coming home later along the road. We weren't sure what sort of food or what price range it would be or whether we would be sitting alone in the restaurant. We shouldn't have worried on any of these points.

It was a glorious evening and we sat outside in the lovely courtyard with olive trees and fairy lights. There were about 10 tables of which there were about 6 being used so the atmosphere was great. The menu was Italian as you may guess from the name, with some more unusual Italian dishes, as well as classic pizzas and garlic bread.

Service was good and meal lovely, prices fine although portions not over generous. Recommend going to this restuarant and its lovely to be able to walk to eat at night and not worry about having a drink or two!

Yes I know I've posted about Casares Beach before, but for me, no holiday is complete unless you are close to a beach. The fresh sea air, sand through your toes and swish of the sea. I never feel like I've had a proper summer holiday if I cant spend time at the beach. So just 10 minutes walk down the hill from Casares del Sol Apartment or 10 minutes in the car and you have the beach to enjoy.

Check out Casares Beach Video  by clicking here and enjoy the music of Spain!

Casares beach (sometimes called Casares Costa beach) stretches for over 3 miles, a vast area of sandy beach, gentle slopeing sands so safe for bathing and rakes daily during the summer period. 

Most peoples first sighting of the beach is from the car park just off Casares roundabout, easy parking if you want to drive to the beach with all your gear, sunshade, balls, towels etc...... Next to the car park is one of the beach bars, chiringuitos, for drinks, snacks, meals or loungers and parasols. Go in either direction along the beach from here and in 5 minutes you will reach another beach bar.

Along this stretch of beach there are showers during peak times, volleyball and boute (petanque court).

We first tried to eat at Roman Oasis in Manilva last April but arrived to a closed sign. But on seeing an advert for the restuarant again in July we tried again, this time successfully. It seems Roman Oasis is only open during the summer months May till October. And once inside its not surprising, because the whole dining area is set outside although some is undercover.

Straight forward to find although tucked away from the main drag. From Casares del Sol apartment go along the A7 towards Sabinillas, turn off the A7 at Lidl in Sabinillas untill the road goes under the toll road flyover - park on the road you have arrived. Going into the Roman Oasis is a bit like stepping into another world, a delightful and unusual setting to eat under the stars with its colonial setting and chintzy table clothes. 

The menu is buffet style with a fabulous spread starting with soup, onto cold buffet with seafood and meats, then hot barbeque and roast meats. And, of course, you can have seconds or more.

Dessert is extra and a striking part of the dessert menu is the reverse with 100+ different ports to choose from including one at 175euros per glass! But the meal it self is well priced for a lovely night out.

As the sun light fades so the fairy lights light up the trees, building and area in the hidden part of the Costa del Sol. Say hello to the parrots, bilingual, who will talk back in english or spanish. A lovely evening.

Going to the gym whilst on holiday is a key part of their total holiday, whether to keep up their normal exercise or to have an 'exercise purge' whilst away from their normal everyday distractions.

Their are several options near the Casares del Sol Apartment. For a proper gym there are 3 gyms within 2 km, Finca Cortesin  Spa with gym just 500m away with an ice room to use after a work out. Or 1 km to Duchessa Hotel and Spa with hydro therapy pools afterwards. Or 2 km to Albayatt Spa with hydrotherapy pool.

Of course you don't have to walk around much on a Costa del Sol holiday before you come across a public gym. The Spanish Government has put a lot of money into prevention and correction of teh huge obesity problem in Spain, particularly in the under 20 year olds. And public gyms have been built in many towns, including the small white towns in teh hills to encourage Spanish people to take more exercise.

Here is a typical public gym on Sabinillas sea front, with 8 or 10 pieces of gym equipment to use free of charge. It always seems a shame that whenever we have walked by, these gyms are not used by more, but maybe thats because we've walked past at the wrong time of day!

Where to have your holiday whether in Spain or any other country, depends on what you are looking for? Close to the mountains, close to cities, close to night life, close to beach whether remote or urban. Everyone has their person view which may change during the year and from year to year.

Many people choose Spain firstly because of guaranteed sun and hot weather. Most people think of Spain holiday rentals as the built up areas of Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca which developed rapidly in the 1970's. But step away from these areas on the Costa del Sol to find some holiday rental gems in Spain.

Mountains and hills creep close to the beach areas across much of the Costa del Sol, so many villages and towns have part in the mountains and part at the beach side, such as Casares in the hills and Casares Costa by the beach. 

Casares del Sol Apartments at Casares Costa have the beach just 700m infront and mountains in the background. The view walking along the beach is sometimes surreal with mountains so close to the beach. So for a quieter area of the Costa del Sol which is still easily accessible and close to many of teh main facilities many people want on holiday, days out to Marbella, Puerto Banus, Gibraltar, Morocco, Wild life park, water park etc. but yet quiet and relaxing..........Casares del Sol could be your perfect Spain holiday rentals.

What is a villa? What is an apartment?
The definition of a villa varies from 'a larger than average up market house' to a 'single story dwelling' to a 'house rented to holiday makers'. Whilst an apartment is a 'set of rooms making up one dwelling' or ' a suite of rooms on a building housing several other sets of rooms'.Both terms are freely used for the holiday market - and given these definitions the Casares del Sol properties could be called apartments or villas. 

Casares del Sol are mostly 2 bedroom apartments with some 3 bedroom apartments. Bedrooms seperate to living areas is a big bonus with holiday accomodation, you don't have to pack away a pull out bed every morning or make up te bed every night. As well as the bedrooms there is an open plan living cum dining room, a good sized galley kitchen and seperate utility area with washing machine, plus a family bathroom, ensuite bathroom and, of course, a terrace. 

Many terraces in Southern Spain are built facing west because the Spanish prefer to be shielded from the heat of the day. And many Casares del Sol apartments have west facing terraces, but some are south facing to catch the late morning, afternoon and early evening sun. The terraces are a good size for dining alfresco or lounging in the sun.

An added bonus at the Casares villa apartments is the surroundings, spacious gardens totally surrounding the apartments, well looked after and well planted gardens with neatly cut lawns and trees to provide shady areas so you can enjoy your holiday outside and inside. Plus spacious sun bathing terrace surrounding the lgenerously sized swimming pool which is cleaned daily and crystal clear.  

One of the big problems with being in a hot country, is the cars getting roasting hot. At Casares villa apartments there is underground parking for a cool car plus stairs or lift to the apartment. All in all, a lovely holiday destination to stay in at Casares villa apartments.