“Fantastic holiday, will definitely be back!”
This is one of the many comments left in our visitors book, year after year we have families and couples alike returning to Duquesa and it is not just for the summer holiday period, it seems Duquesa has enough to offer even in the low season, so what makes the place so special that once you have visited here you are drawn to return?
Puerto Duquesa is not a huge place, far from it, you could probably walk from one end to the other in 10 minutes however it is packed with a variety of bars and restaurants most of which overlook the Marina. There is definitely something tranquil and calming about sitting at one of the bars on an afternoon, sipping a glass of wine whilst watching the boats dance on the water, it is almost mesmerising, with the sun shining down there is a definitely a good feel about the place.
Although not a “typical” Spanish resort with a mixture of Irish bars, Italian, Chinese and Mexican Restaurants, to name a few, the neighbouring town of Sabinillas has retained more of a Spanish appeal with its tapas bars and fresh fish restaurants so for those wanting to sample a bit of culture and tradition that “fantastic prawn pil pil” is only a 10 minute stroll along the promenade.
The complexes of Marina Real and Marina Duquesa which sit either side of the port have been designed to attract the holiday makers, Portal doors from Marina Real lead directly on to the Marina and the 4 swimming pools of Marina Duquesa ensure that you can enjoy a poolside day without fighting over the sun loungers! Both complexes have gates which lead directly to the beach so perfect for those preferring the sand, sea and perhaps a drop of sangria!
If you are arriving from the UK it is a refreshing change to be able to take the children out on an evening, all the restaurants cater for the youngsters and with the variety of restaurants available in such a small place there is something even for the pickiest of eaters without having to go far! Young children will love Duquesa, being able to strut their stuff in a music bar or dance away to the husky tunes of one of the local singers will be a night out to remember, and whilst we are on the subject of children lets not forget feeding the fish!! The Marina is packed with brown mullet which just have to be fed with a small baguette bought from the local supermarket!
What about the teenagers! Unlike the resorts further up the coast there is not an abundance of nightclubs here, there are no flashing lights and deep drum beats to quicken the heart whilst passing by, the worst thing you may hear is the squawking tunes of a couple of bad singers on the Karaoke! There is one nightclub if you fancy dancing the night away and with the sports bars and music bars there seem to be enough to keep the youngsters entertained.
The ambience of the place is one of friendly banter, a quick pint in a bar often leads to another as you get chatting with the bar staff or happen to hear a familiar accent. If you have a love of golf you are already well on the way to being best mates! As the amount of golf courses in the area increases so do the local competitions. Many bars have local leagues so if you want to find out the best courses to play you need go no further than the nearest bar stool!
In a world where people spend so much time commuting, stressed in traffic jams or just being busy with day to day life, Duquesa is perfect for taking some time out. Once you arrive there is no need to hire a car, everything is in walking distance so you can put your life on hold for a week or so and re-charge those batteries.
So it seems Duquesa does have something to offer and it seems that friendships are born here and people return year in and year out to catch up with the friends they made on their first trip here. As they pack up their suitcases it seems that a little piece of Duquesa is taken home with them.