Marbella Advice please

Sergio

Hi folks

I am booked to get married next year in a hotel near Estepona on the costa del sol.We are having trouble trying to decide where to stay with our guests for the time we are over there.
We originally were planning on everybody staying in Estepona itself but after visiting there last week we werent impressed as it didnt have much night life there.
We also drove upto fuengirola and checked out hotels there and even though there was alot more happening there with regards pubs,restaurants and overall entertainment etc it was quite a distance from estepona
for us to travel plus it looked like it might be abit too busy and abit rough there if you my drift.
We were talking about marbella and puerto banus today but heard it was very expensive there for food,drink etc

Can somebody offer some advice on marbella as we are confused at the moment about where to go and are under presure as our guests are anxious to book accomodation.

Thanks in advance.

magneticimpulse

Colinboy wrote: »

Hi folks

I am booked to get married next year in a hotel near Estepona on the costa del sol.We are having trouble trying to decide where to stay with our guests for the time we are over there.
We originally were planning on everybody staying in Estepona itself but after visiting there last week we werent impressed as it didnt have much night life there.
We also drove upto fuengirola and checked out hotels there and even though there was alot more happening there with regards pubs,restaurants and overall entertainment etc it was quite a distance from estepona
for us to travel plus it looked like it might be abit too busy and abit rough there if you my drift.
We were talking about marbella and puerto banus today but heard it was very expensive there for food,drink etc

Can somebody offer some advice on marbella as we are confused at the moment about where to go and are under presure as our guests are anxious to book accomodation.

Thanks in advance.

No idea on where to book as its a place ive never been.

But how long will your guests stay there? Will there be many guests? What age group will they be? Can you all just make your own entertainment with that many people anyway? I mean if there is lots of you it could be difficult for all of you to get into pubs or restaurants altogether. Maybe 8 people maximum could get on a table if you all wanted to eat together on a night out.

How much would taxi's be?? It could be a case that a taxi would be really cheap to the next town or in and out of town??

These are just a few questions you might ask yourself to help you book. Tripadvisor.com might help?

I just know my family were meant to attend a foreign wedding and the couple booked a villa. It turned out crazy price to stay there and in the end nobody could afford it. So the couple had to get married in Ireland and they lost their deposit on the Villa. So its important to consider that people have to get flights, clothes, spending money for food and drinks, taxi's, wedding gifts....so im sure they would appreciate any cheapest hotel. If the weather is nice, nobody will be in the hotel very long and will spend the day by the beach or pool side (or pub). Few beers/spirits from the local supermarket will turn any place into a good spot if your away with that many people.

Sergio

magneticimpulse wrote: »

No idea on where to book as its a place ive never been.

But how long will your guests stay there? Will there be many guests? What age group will they be? Can you all just make your own entertainment with that many people anyway? I mean if there is lots of you it could be difficult for all of you to get into pubs or restaurants altogether. Maybe 8 people maximum could get on a table if you all wanted to eat together on a night out.

How much would taxi's be?? It could be a case that a taxi would be really cheap to the next town or in and out of town??

These are just a few questions you might ask yourself to help you book. Tripadvisor.com might help?

I just know my family were meant to attend a foreign wedding and the couple booked a villa. It turned out crazy price to stay there and in the end nobody could afford it. So the couple had to get married in Ireland and they lost their deposit on the Villa. So its important to consider that people have to get flights, clothes, spending money for food and drinks, taxi's, wedding gifts....so im sure they would appreciate any cheapest hotel. If the weather is nice, nobody will be in the hotel very long and will spend the day by the beach or pool side (or pub). Few beers/spirits from the local supermarket will turn any place into a good spot if your away with that many people.

Thanks for the reply.I totally agree with what you are saying and have done my homework.We are all very easy going people who just want somewhere with a bit of craic and ceoil as we say here in Ireland.
There will about 70-80 people coming over for the wedding but its not a case that we want eveybody to do everything together every night.People can do their own thing its just to have a good variety of places to go for people would be great for our guests and ourselves because like you said they are paying enough already to come to spain for the wedding!;)

magneticimpulse

Colinboy wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.I totally agree with what you are saying and have done my homework.We are all very easy going people who just want somewhere with a bit of craic and ceoil as we say here in Ireland.
There will about 70-80 people coming over for the wedding but its not a case that we want eveybody to do everything together every night.People can do their own thing its just to have a good variety of places to go for people would be great for our guests and ourselves because like you said they are paying enough already to come to spain for the wedding!;)

Will you honestly get that amount of people out, 70 - 80 sounds like a huge amount of guests to all get time off work, book flights and find hotels to stay in around the same date.

Have you actually calculated how much the flights will cost?? Like pre book 25 seats with Ryanair at one time. I just know from my family's wedding that fell through, they had done alot of research...and about how much THEY were willing to spend. But they didnt think realistic about the guest costs and they lost about 3000euro deposit on the villa. Id hate for that to happen to anyone else.

Would you not just let your guests decide where they want to stay?? I know with the family wedding, we were going to book a cheap b&b in a local town and rent a car so we could actually get to the wedding party.

If your not expecting to do everything together. Id just leave it up to the guests, they can easily rent cars!!

Sergio

magneticimpulse wrote: »

Will you honestly get that amount of people out, 70 - 80 sounds like a huge amount of guests to all get time off work, book flights and find hotels to stay in around the same date.

Have you actually calculated how much the flights will cost?? Like pre book 25 seats with Ryanair at one time. I just know from my family's wedding that fell through, they had done alot of research...and about how much THEY were willing to spend. But they didnt think realistic about the guest costs and they lost about 3000euro deposit on the villa. Id hate for that to happen to anyone else.

Would you not just let your guests decide where they want to stay?? I know with the family wedding, we were going to book a cheap b&b in a local town and rent a car so we could actually get to the wedding party.

If your not expecting to do everything together. Id just leave it up to the guests, they can easily rent cars!!

Yes we will definitely get a minimum of 70 for the wedding travelling over.About 40 have already booked flights with aerlingus to malaga so its all systems go and hotel is already booked.
We have decided to stay up in fuengirola as its very lively and plenty of bars restaurants and affordable accomodation for all.

ConnectDJs

I don't know if you have checked out Mijas Costa. Defo my fav place along that coast. A bit more travelling but worth it.

Sergio

ConnectDJs wrote: »

I don't know if you have checked out Mijas Costa. Defo my fav place along that coast. A bit more travelling but worth it.

Where abouts is Mijas Costa?Is it near fuengirola?

I know that area pretty well was only out there last week,i was up in mijas village itself but not mijas costa?

kestrel6939

Marbella and Puerto Banus can be expensive to eat out but like the rest of the world places are suffering and there are plenty of more reasonably priced places. You just need to look at bit. In Puerto Banus I would look at the PYR and H10 Andalucia Plaza. In Marbella centre - Fuerte hotels (x2), Princesa Playa and for cheap and cheerful the Marbella Inn.
If you do decide on Fuengirola then maybe you could lay on one coach for guests to get back at the end of the evening with the option of them paying for taxis if they want to leave earlier. Just a though.

Sergio

kestrel6939 wrote: »

Marbella and Puerto Banus can be expensive to eat out but like the rest of the world places are suffering and there are plenty of more reasonably priced places. You just need to look at bit. In Puerto Banus I would look at the PYR and H10 Andalucia Plaza. In Marbella centre - Fuerte hotels (x2), Princesa Playa and for cheap and cheerful the Marbella Inn.
If you do decide on Fuengirola then maybe you could lay on one coach for guests to get back at the end of the evening with the option of them paying for taxis if they want to leave earlier. Just a though.

We have decided on fuengirola and are putting on a bus the day of the wedding to get people back up there aswell after the reception.
Marbella i have heard is just too expensive from what ive heard so we,l avoid it for now.;)
Thanks for the advices peeps!

ConnectDJs

Colinboy wrote: »

Where abouts is Mijas Costa?Is it near fuengirola?

I know that area pretty well was only out there last week,i was up in mijas village itself but not mijas costa?

I am pretty sure it's past there away from Malaga. Certainly one of the nicest places on that coast.

neris

Are you looking for somewhere to go with a small group after? Mijas costa is located between Marbella & Fuengirola. Its an area from the coast up to Mijas in the Mountains. The main towns are La Cala and Calahonda. Neither are huge built up resorts. La Cala is an old town and Calahonda is a younger more residential kind of area with a good choice of bars andc restaurants. They would be a 45min-1 hour drive from Estepona back towards Malaga. There isnt really any large hotel in La Cala close to the town. In Calahonda there are a few hotels and both towns have loads of villas, apartments and houses for rent.

Spanish Eyes

Wishing you all the best, and I hope everything goes well for your wedding.

I think you may have been a bit hasty in rejecting Estepona. When is your wedding? If it is any time between May and September that place is rocking. There are so many bars and nightclubs around the port area, and the centre of the town has lots of nightlife, until all hours, that is what the Spanish do!

I think if you have based your opinion of Estepona on a November trip, well of course it is going to be quiet, it is the winter there. I take your point that Fuengirola is busy all year round, but in Winter it is the snowbirds mostly (retired British) that go there.

I just think it is a big journey from Fuen to Estepona there and back. But I am honestly not criticizing you. It is for you to decide what is best for you and your guests.

Please let us know how things go for you, and all the best.

Sergio

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

Wishing you all the best, and I hope everything goes well for your wedding.

I think you may have been a bit hasty in rejecting Estepona. When is your wedding? If it is any time between May and September that place is rocking. There are so many bars and nightclubs around the port area, and the centre of the town has lots of nightlife, until all hours, that is what the Spanish do!

I think if you have based your opinion of Estepona on a November trip, well of course it is going to be quiet, it is the winter there. I take your point that Fuengirola is busy all year round, but in Winter it is the snowbirds mostly (retired British) that go there.

I just think it is a big journey from Fuen to Estepona there and back. But I am honestly not criticizing you. It is for you to decide what is best for you and your guests.

Please let us know how things go for you, and all the best.

Hi again and no bother i know you are not criticizing.We were in Estepona the end of October and it was very quiet around the port area and town itself but i know it would be probably busier in the summer months.
You be glad to hear that we have decided to relocate near Estepona to the port of Duquesa which a beautiful little area near Estepona which you prob know well.We have starting booking apts there already this week.
We had to return to spain last weekend as we had to organise a few things with a new wedding planner after we had to fire the original planner(dont ask!)Anyway everything is back on track now thank god.

Is there good night life in the port of estepona itself,i know theres an Irish bar called O'Donoghues but is there any late night clubs or disco bars?
Fuengirola is a bit of a dive and is actually abit too noisy and rough to be honest.
The wedding is on the 20th of may next yr by the way.

Spanish Eyes

Yes I know Duquesa, lovely spot and so close to where your wedding will be. Mainly Golfers go there, but there is something for everyone.

Some of your guests might like to visit Gibraltar - not far from there. Honestly it is just the novelty of seeing Marks and Sp in the Med! Otherwise an awful kip to be honest.

I think you will find lots of nightlife, and plenty of late bars nightclubs in Estepona. They may be not quite as busy as High Summer, but sure there will be enough of you to have the craic yourselves!

Just remember that the town itself is mainly Spanish with plenty of bars and restaurants, the Spanish eat late, about midnight, and then party till all hours!! I actually like the old town best. The Spanish bar hop all the time and eat tapas for soakage!! The Port area with the nightclubs is at least a ten minute walk from the town centre, but it does have the nightclubs open till god knows what time.

Enjoy.

http://www.andalucia.com/estepona/nightlife.htm

cailinoBAC

I'm not a big fan of Duquesa, but if you're in the area you should go visit Casares, beautiful white village up in the hills., if you're looking for somewhere nice for photos...