Could a trip to balmy Andalusia be the stress-free solution we all need this winter?
Strolling through the floral-lined streets of Marbella’s Casco Antiguo (the old town), on a sunny September day, life seems very pleasant indeed.
Bougainvillea and jacaranda decorate the pretty streets, while the fragrant orange trees are so abundant they’ve been given their own square in Plaza de los Naranjos.
Perched above the city, I’m a guest of Club Med at the recently opened Magna Marbella family resort, the French company’s first foray into Spain for 20 years, at a location where it was once based. Now operating more than 70 resorts around the world, Club Med’s all-inclusive model of tourism has come a long way since its origins on the Spanish island of Majorca in 1950, when accommodation was a collection of tents.
The very finest Spanish cuisine, sourced largely from Andalusia, is spectacularly showcased on platters of meats, cheeses, fruits and vegetables, all accompanied by fine wines.
Being a Club Med and all-inclusive debutant, I’m struck by the focus on wellbeing. Activities available to guests range from archery to tennis, or flying trapeze to yoga. I settle with swimming – in both the lagoon and Zen Zone pools – and a massage.
The Zen Zone is located at the highest point of the resort’s 12 acres of terraced gardens. From here, on clear days, you can see both Gibraltar and Morocco across the blue, milky ocean that is the Alboran Sea, the westernmost part of the Mediterranean.
The historic centre of Marbella is a 20-minute walk from the resort. Here, I visit the Church Of Our Lady Of The Incarnation, the Cristo Del Amor Bridge, and its surrounding park, containing the modernist architecture of the Fernando Alcala Central Library.
Further afield, Mijas is a town worthy of a visit regardless of the season, with her streets of whitewashed houses, so common in southern Spain, glowing against the bright blue sky.
With the Rock of Gibraltar and North Africa as the backdrop, hundreds of families gather to share food and drink in this charming, mountainside town, with many of the women dazzling in bright flamenco dresses of every colour.
A famous son of Andalusia is Pablo Picasso, who was born in Malaga. The Mijas Contemporary Art Museum (cacmijas.info) displays many of his works, along with several pieces by Salvador Dali.
Back at Club Med Magna Marbella, I return to the vast array of culinary options on offer and am rewarded by the best paella I’ve ever had. The richness of the flavours, combined with the salt of the shellfish, is extraordinary.
Club Med has certainly travelled far and wide over its 70-year history to date and shows no signs of slowing down. Now owned by the Chinese conglomerate Fosun Group, the company has managed to retain its French identity, while branching out into the Chinese market with numerous resorts planned or already open inside China.
A strong message remains, however, perhaps best served up through Club Med’s own philosophy: “The purpose of life is to be happy, the time to be happy is now and the place to be happy is here”.
How to plan your trip
Club Med (clubmed.co.uk; 03453 676 767) offers a seven-night all-inclusive stay at Club Med Magna Marbella, Andalusia, Spain from £1,145 (was £1,317) per person, including transfers and return flights from London Gatwick with Vueling. Price based on the week November 5-12, 2022.