Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol

With Michelin-starred chef Benito Gómez running point at Dalmar – a celebration of Andalusian cuisine – you know you’re in for a real treat. He’s not lauded as one of Spain’s best chefs for naught. His menu is a feast for the senses, with fresh seafood plated up in refreshingly laid-back surroundings – think elevated but not pretentious.

El Faro de la Hacienda is an all-day dining spot that handles light breakfasts – hello hot-from-the-oven pastries – just as well as it does lively evening meals, complete with a side of music and dancing. The fare and the atmosphere are both unequivocally Spanish – hearty and warm. Umbra, then, has got your poolside afternoons sorted. Think fire-roasted sardines, seasonal salads, and an al fresco terrace that eyes the sea. But they might have saved the best view for the Vista Lounge, where you can gaze across the water to the Rock of Gibraltar.

The vibe is seaside sanctuary – and they’ve nailed it. You could lose an entire day here just flitting around the thermal circuit, with its sensory shower, sauna, cold plunge, steam bath, bio-sauna, and salt inhalation lounge. Once you’ve cleared out the cobwebs and opened your airways, hit the hydrotherapy circuit – which boasts a hydromassage pool, volcano pool, and jet pool – for supercharged relaxation.

The menu of treatments is a delight – from restorative rituals and detoxes to indulgent beauty therapies. And if you just need a deep breath of crisp, morning air, how about easing into the day with a zen yoga session?

Lovers of the great outdoors: this one’s for you. Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales is practically on the doorstep, so the hiking trails here are second to none. Perfect if you’re all about getting back to nature – or just need a bit of peace and quiet. Trek along winding rivers through valleys and past waterfalls. We’re all about ditching your phone and being in the moment but this is definitely a spot where you’ll need to snap a few shots for the ‘gram.

If you’re less about hiking through the wilderness and more about wandering through picturesque local streets, check out the likes of Alcalá de los Gazules – a picture-perfect whitewashed village that’s bursting with Andalusian charm. And let’s not forget the deep blue sea stretching towards the horizon. Pack your binoculars and see if you can spot dolphins, flying fish, and more. Better yet, book a guided boat tour and get a front row seat to the varied marine life.

The setting. The hotel cascades down a rugged hillside towards a dreamy stretch of beach that runs for four kilometres along the coast. And Parque Natural de Los Alcornocales is just beyond the threshold.

That you can spot the Rock of Gibraltar from the terrace. Better yet, on a clear day you might spy Morocco across the sea. Now that’s a view and a half.

The heated infinity pool. Angled towards the sea of course, for a lazy day like no other.