Although the Costa del Sol has been a fashionable destination since time immemorial for the nobility and moneyed class of Europe it was not until the 1960’s that Málaga began to develop a tourism offer that was consciously designed to meet the specific demands of travellers from the upper income brackets.

Although the Costa del Sol has been a fashionable destination since time immemorial for the nobility and moneyed class of Europe it was not until the 1960’s that Málaga began to develop a tourism offer that was consciously designed to meet the specific demands of travellers from the upper income brackets.

Today on the Costa del Sol there is a long list of imposing mansions and palaces belonging to those magnates who chose to establish their summer residences here, but there are also more than six thousand five-star and grand luxury hotel accommodations, to which number might be added upscale apartment hotels and opulent rental residences intended for the most select clientele. These are types of lodging especially planned for the most financially solvent clients, who realise that at this destination they can find the supplementary offer that best fits their refined tastes.

These top-flight hotel establishments, which are mainly found along the western fringe of the Málaga coast, have become the bulwark of luxury tourism, and its growth has encouraged chains and groups that are well known in the industry to undertake initiatives for creating new complexes in this province. In most cases, these are compounds located in extraordinary settings that offer their guests personalised attention and preferential treatment while providing the most exclusive services and facilities.

It is thus only to be expected that in these luxurious resorts there is everything from spas to famous-name boutiques, private golf courses and signature restaurants where the gastronomy will delight even the most refined palate. Ostentatious suites that may exceed two hundred square metres, meeting rooms cared for down to the slightest detail, additional child-care, chauffeur or personal trainer services, advice for contracting for anything from attending some kind of show to going on an excursion, or arrangements to rent a yacht or a luxury car are only a few of the options offered to clients in the province of Málaga’s select hotels, which are accustomed to welcoming the cream of international society to their facilities.

Establishments of this type are located in various localities on the Costa del Sol but the greatest number of them are concentrated in Marbella, which is why over time Marbella has become synonymous with luxury.

Since luxury tourism and conformity are concepts as opposed as night and day, the Costa del Sol has not stinted its efforts over the last half century to craft a product capable of satisfying its affluent travellers’ most exacting demands. A good example of this trend is the beach clubs that have sprung up on the western coast, especially in the municipality of Marbella. They have become genuine beachfront social centres, usually with swimming pools, relaxation facilities and areas where one can sunbathe and enjoy an aperitif in total harmony with the natural surroundings.