Marbella Area

Marbella is one of the most exclusive regions in all of southern Spain. Stringing along the sun-splashed Costa del Sol and creeping up into the dusty Andalusian sierras, it's awash with Blue Flag beaches and yacht-filled marinas, handsome pueblo blancos (white villages) and bustling promenades. On top of that, a luxury villa in the Marbella area promises all the bells and whistles, from a private pool perched on the hillsides overlooking the Med to relaxing hammams and saunas to stylish interiors infused with elegant Moorish design features.

All eyes are on the Golden Mile. Despite the name, it's not just one mile but almost five, reaching from the glitzy harbour of Puerto Banus all the way to the Puerto Deportivo de Marbella. The whole stretch is a series of gorgeous golden beaches like Playa Casablanca and Playa de la Fontanilla, knitted together by the palm-sprouting Paseo Maritimo walking strip. It's got some of Spain's most sought-after real estate, with opulent villas creeping right up to meet the shoreline in a flurry of glistening infinity pools and sweeping sun terraces.

But you don't have to be in the thick of the action to enjoy what the Marbella area offers. Head north, and you'll enter the foothills of the Sierra de las Nieves. The roads wind and wiggle over bluffs and past deep canyons clad in pine forests. The air is a touch cooler, and the urban sprawl all but disappears. It is the province of the white villages, where pretty hamlets like Ojén and Istán cling to the peaks with their cobbled plazas and wine bars. A luxury villa rental in these parts of Marbella promises a serene escape, with loads of room and fantastic views.

You'll also have the whole Costa del Sol at your feet when you choose the Marbella area for your luxury villa holiday. It follows the Spanish Mediterranean east and then north from the town itself, passing bumping family resorts like Fuengirola, artsy white villages like Nerja, and the one-time home of Pablo Picasso at Malaga.