SPAIN’S sun-drenched Costa del Sol has long been the playground for the rich and famous, including Eva Longoria, Cristiano Ronaldo and Hugh Grant.
And if you’re yearning for a taste of the high life, mixed with sandy beaches and traditional Spanish charm, head to METT Hotel & Beach Resort Marbella — I promise you’ll be treated like a superstar.
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Sprawling out on the comfiest sun lounger, sipping on a cool drink — brought by the most attentive waiter — in a private cabana certainly feels like the high life.
From the moment my mum Anne and I were picked up at Malaga Airport, all the stresses of everyday life melted away.
The hotel sits between the region’s twin jewels — Estepona and Marbella — and we were warmly welcomed by concierges, smartly dressed in nautical stripes, who took care of our luggage and ushered us into the hotel’s main lobby.
Sun poured into the large, high-ceilinged atrium, where we were encouraged to take a seat next to the room’s centrepiece — a humongous olive tree — before being offered a choice of cocktail and a face towel.
Our jaws were on the floor when we saw our fabulous room, and the rest of the stunning complex.
The interior design is typically Andalusian, with whitewashed walls contrasting with decorative pops of blue.
The focal point is a huge 52-metre swimming pool and it’s around this dazzling aquamarine centrepiece that the 249 rooms and suites lie.
Some come with private garden and pool and the deluxe suites overlook the seafront.
Every room has a plush king-sized bed, so sinkable you may never get up, balcony and all the desired amenities, including a steamer and Nespresso machine.
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The bathrooms, which feature huge blue-tiled showers, are stocked with beautiful complimentary toiletries.
The carefully thought-out details create the ultimate relaxed vibe – which is exactly what Dubai-based Sunset Hospitality Group’s cool lifestyle hotel brand METT Social Living, is all about.
Donning our complimentary sunhats and beach bags after a quick change, we headed off to laze around that glorious pool.
We’d had a very early start, so it wasn’t long before I was perusing the menu of the aptly-named pool and beach bar Azure — which serves up the most delicious snacks, with a fantastic wine, sangria and cocktail menu to match.
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We feasted on succulent chicken thigh skewers glazed in spicy soy and punchy prawn and mango tacos while relishing the super chilled atmosphere and the resident DJ’s funky tunes.
There are three eateries onsite with each offering distinctly different gastronomic experiences. And next year will see the opening of a fourth — a beachfront Greek restaurant named Ammos.
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On our first evening, we dined at Isola Ristorante, which serves up Italian-inspired dishes — including Pinsa ‘cloud-like’ pizzas.
Mum and I shared the crispiest lemon-soaked calamari and the softest burrata, right, complimented with the sweetest tomatoes.
Next, I opted for a tantalising ‘chicken in devil’s sauce’, while mum tucked into baked sea bream, both delicious. The following morning waking from the most peaceful sleep, we were itching to get out and explore.
But first, more food. And the breakfast on offer is quite honestly the best I’ve ever had.
The endless buffet includes fresh fruits, cereals, freshly baked bread and pastries, meats, smoked fish, meats and cheeses, vegetables and salads.
My eyes widened in disbelief — and delight — as I passed the mountains of cakes, desserts and cookies on offer, as I ‘reluctantly’ tossed a gooey brownie and red velvet muffin to add to my already full plate. They were mini versions and it would be rude not to!
There’s also vast a la carte options, with our favourites being the green Spanish tortilla omelette and eggs benedict.
The large pots of strong black coffee that are plonked on your table as soon as you sit down, hit the spot just right.
Feeling stuffed and in need of some serious movement, we enjoyed a brisk walk along the breathtaking promenade, lined with flowers and palm trees, which goes all the way to Estepona, around eight miles away.
On clear days, you can see Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco. What a glorious sight.
The following day, we took the same route, but this time on electric bikes we hired from the hotel — what a fab idea, especially for 5 euros an hour.
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Golfers will be happy to hear the property is just minutes away from the popular Guadalmina course.
METT does a golf package and has agreements with more than 15 other courses in the area. The hotel also boasts a fitness suite and a spa will open next year.
Always a fan of mooching around a European market, mum had our next day planned. Just a short drive away — a return taxi fare costs around 20 euros — is Estepona, with its maze of cobbled streets, tapas bars, colourful murals, and houses adorned with colourful flower pots.
We strolled along the seafront of La Rada Beach until we reached the bustling port, filled with stalls offering items that would belong in an elegant boutique back home.
And if shopping isn’t your thing, its bars and restaurants are the perfect spot for people and yacht watching.
We ended up in the town’s Plaza de las Flores, a beautiful tiled square which, as the name suggests, is covered in hundreds of blooms. The scent is glorious.
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And as we sat under the shade of one of the many orange trees, we couldn’t believe our luck when a jazz saxophonist started playing.
Dinner that evening was at METT’s El Bar De Lola where we ate authentic tapas dishes, including cold cuts and cheese, and pan con tomate, with the calming sound of the lapping waves just yards away.
With our Spanish break nearing an end, we spent our last day soaking up the rays.
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As I admired the sparkling blue Mediterranean before me, I glanced over at mum, sunning herself in our private pool.
Her eyes were closed but the gleeful smile on her bronzed face said it all, ‘this is the life’.
For a few days at least we’ve lived the life of the jet set who holiday in this Spanish gem and thanks to METT we can now see why.
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