Casares del Sol Holiday in Costa del Sol, Spain

Estepona is just a few minutes drive from Casares del Sol apartments, along the A7. Estepona has sports, beach, nature and food - something for most people - map of Estepona here.

Stroll along the long esplanade next to the beach, this stretches the length of the town from the marina to Carrefour Estepona - maybe a mile. The marina has recently been upgraded and but not as glitzy as Puerto Banus further along the coast and not as accessible to view the boats. Walk from the marina through the fishermans units where you may see sardines drying in the sun onto the esplanade that runs alongside Avenue de Espana. You will meet runners and walkers along the esplanade and further along an outside multi gym, as seen on most of the seaside town sea fronts - Spains effort to get their obesity problem under control.

If you like shopping, visit the Estepona steet market held in Avenida Juan Carlos every Wednesday morning or the big Sunday Estepona market at the marina. You can buy cheap gifts, leather goods, jewellery, arts, crafts, whatever takes your fancey. Or sit and watch the buzz around the market., have cafe con leche by the quayside and people watch.

The marina is one of the favourite spots for lunch, with a huge range of local and international cuisine to choose from. Local dishes include local fresh fish and paella.

Or wander into the old part of Estepona with old churches and streets.

Enjoy some pampering whilst you are on holiday - several places to go but here I'll mention the Albyatt Country Club Spa, address CN 340, Km 149,2, Avda. de Costa Galera 34, Estepona, Spain. Just 5 minutes from Casares del Sol apartments, turn up the A7 towards Estapona, turn left at Christian roundabout.

A mediterranean style resort. Lovely clean spa. Well equipped with thermal dynamic multi water jet circuit, swimming pools inside and out, steam rooms and sauna, Roman bath and Japanese foot bath. There are also Asian themed rooms for an extensive range of health and beauty treatments, many holistic treatments such as chocolate therapy, wine therapy, volcanic stone massages.

If you are looking for a workout, there is a Fitness centre and aerobic room. The Albyat offers various individual treatments or pampering packages, some particularly good deals can be bought online.

On a sunny day you can spend a pleasant afternoon at the Roman baths in the Hediona valley, just behind Manilva. Just off the Rio Manilva road and hidden away down a rough track under the toll road bridge and not 'fancy' in any way. But on a warm day you will find lots of people enjoying the baths.

The water is high in sulphur, particularly during the summer months, making it cloudy, milky in colour. The river starts in the Sierra Utrera and enters the sea at Casares beach.

The roman baths are a lovely quiet spot, but can be busy at the weekends. People smear the sulphur rich mud all over their bodies, dry off in the sun then dip into the underground cvern baths built by the Romans, and very cool even on a hot day.

The baths are in the municipaity of Casares although technically closer to Manilva. One of the things to do in Costa del Sol - simple, cheap and fun.

Puerto Banus is not far from the Casares del Sol apartment area - between Estapona and Marbella and approx 30 minutes drive. Puerto Banus, also known as 'The Port', is renowned as the home of the rich and famous - Ferraris, Bentleys, Lotus are easily seen driving around. It is a very pleasant day out if you like looking at smart boats or smart shops or sitting watching the bustling marina world go by. Drive straight into the port, parking in one of the well signed car parks near the centre. We always go to the marina area and walk up and down the jettys looking at the fabulous boats, names, where they are licenced, and watch the whole industry that revolves around the boat world. Cafees and bars surround the marina, so a great place to sit and watch teh world go by -  but the prices can be steep.

Then the shops, Puerto Banus designer shops galore, 5000euro bags in the windows such as Dolce and Gabbana, D & G, Chloe, Hermes, Jimmy Choe and lots more. There are also more modest shops including El Corte Ingles department store and across the road from here is the thriving market square opposite.