‘I could’ve stayed at the Spanish hotel for a month – even though one thing let me down’

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Lisa Clark stayed at the Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol, Malaga, Spain and was very impressed with the attentiveness of the staff and how large her spacious apartment was

VIBE

Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol, Malaga, Spain accommodation is in apartments, not standard hotel rooms, ideally designed for groups and in particular multi-generational family holidays.
The resort is divided into districts and my open-plan two-bed suite was within ‘Santa Cruz’. Comprising a full kitchen, two bathrooms, a dining room, with outside dining on the terrace complete with mini spa
pool, I could happily have spent a month here.

This spacious apartment could easily sleep six people without it feeling crowded, although I was very happy to have it all to myself. I even had a glimpse of the sea through the palm fronds. Just two minutes’ walk from the main pools and Safari restaurant, the location couldn’t have been better. Also nearby was a little grocery shop-cum-boutique, plus a Guest Services centre.

The newest accommodation, just up the hill in ‘Santa Barbara’, is more minimalistic, with chic white interiors and modern glass plunge pools on the balconies. Views from here looking out to sea are stunning. A dinky blue and white motorised train chugs around the entire resort, for those who want to avoid walking up and down hills.

Down by the main lounge, where there is entertainment most evenings, there’s a well- equipped gym and a spa treatment room. My two-hour relaxation package (€130) with the excellent Celia was outstanding – a full body massage, then an Indian head massage followed by reflexology left me feeling so chilled out I had to have a nap by the pool.

To entertain children of all ages there are several kids’ clubs on-site. Nearby is a biopark with wild animals in their natural habitat, plus go-kart racing and a water park.

STYLE

My apartment was elegant with the exterior in pale yellow stucco with terracotta tiles. Inside were soft neutral tones with artistic touches – Moorish fretwork around the enormous spa bath, crisp white bed linen with brocade cushions, comfortable wicker chairs on the terrace, and artwork on the walls. A lot of thought has gone into the decor and it shows. The gardens are beautifully laid out and maintained, with lush lawns, tropical planting, mature palm trees and plenty of my favourite bird of paradise plants.

FOOD & DRINK

The main restaurant, Safari, offered drinks and snacks throughout the day plus breakfast, lunch and dinner. At breakfast there was a choice of a full English or buffet, lunch options included delicious salads, club sandwiches and light bites, while dinner choices were plentiful – pastas, steak, paella… you could eat there for a week and have something different every time.

Friendly staff remembered our choice of drinks and service was impeccable. Staying on-site means you are a captive market but I thought the prices were very reasonable. The resort’s grocery shop opened late every day and meant guests didn’t have to dine out for every meal. As the resort is not all-inclusive having both a kitchen and little supermarket nearby was a great added extra.

Alternatively, onsite delivery service Flying Pizza will whiz food to your apartment in double-quick time so you can eat there, or have it as a picnic by the pool.

WHILE YOU ARE THERE

Wyndham Grand is right on the beach at Malaga, although I have to say the beach was disappointing. There’s a busy highway between the hotel and the seafront, so access is via underground tunnels. Brownish sand and a rocky shoreline meant the beach wasn’t busy during our stay, although the little bar there seemed to do good business.

Further along the coast were better beach conditions but with several pools and bars in the resort, I didn’t feel I needed to venture far.

A DAY OUT

Historic hilltop city Ronda is about an hour and a half away. Dramatically spanning a huge gorge, it’s popular with tourists. On the day we visited, the annual fun run was taking place (it did NOT look fun!) from the bottom of the gorge up to the Old Town.

The deep gorge (El Tajo) separates the city’s circa 15th-century new town from its old, which dates from Moorish times. Make your way to Puente Nuevo, a stone bridge across the gorge, with a lookout offering stunning views. Side streets are clustered with tapas bars while the main street has shops offering jewellery and vibrant pottery.

Mijas Pueblo, about 40 minutes from the resort, is a whitewashed Andalusian gem, crowded with charming squares, tapas bars and shops. With colourful flowerpots adorning most walls there’s no shortage of photo opportunities here. It’s also known for its donkey taxis – well cared-for animals transport tourists in a little cart around the town. An easy clifftop walk offers views across to the coast and, on a clear day, a glimpse of Gibraltar.

After exploring, tuck in upstairs at The Snug, an authentic bar offering excellent wines and tapas.

Book the holiday

• easyJet flies to Malaga, Spain, from Belfast International, Birmingham, Bristol, Gatwick, Glasgow, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester and Southend from £37.99 one-way. easyJet.com
• Rooms at the Wyndham Grand Costa del Sol hotel in Malaga start at around £201 a night on a room-only, staying in a Premium Plus One Bedroom Suite with a Hot Tub via promo code SUMMER24. wyndhamgrandcostadelsol.com
• More info at spain.info