The week before last, I jetted off to Estepona to review the esteemed collection of Elba Hotels, all of which can be found in Spain. The Elba Hotel in Estepona is a 5* beach hotel and my goodness, it was pure Mediterranean luxury from the moment we arrived until the moment we sad our reluctant goodbyes.
We arrived very late one night, so quickly checked in and followed the bellboy up to our room. Much to our delight, we discovered that we were booked in to a very posh suite (probably around the size of Carrie Bradshaw’s New York apartment, minus the kitchen – but then, she didn’t use her kitchen anyway), the interiors of which were grand but homely. The dark wood, the plush sofa, the matching plaid arm chairs and the enormous bed dressed in white linen made for a very comfortable stay indeed, while the marbled tiled bathroom and dressing room was pure indulgence as far as at-home pampering goes. There was a fabulous jacuzzi bath, an amazing overhead shower and spacious “his and hers” sinks. Perfect for keeping his mess away from mine. As we walked round the apartment, we discovered a bottle of chilled Champagne and fresh fruit which had been left for our arrival – greatly appreciated after a ghastly day of airport food. We enjoyed our treats before falling between the crisp sheets for a peaceful night’s rest.
When I woke, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I jumped out of bed and ran to the French doors, sweeping aside the drapes with a flourish to find that there was a balcony the size of our apartment beyond the doors. My chin hit the floor, I shouted at Mr Man to get up and I ran out on to the balcony – it left me gobsmacked. I ran to the other end of the balcony (yes, I could actually do short sprints across it) and peered over the side. The view was incredible – the Elba Estepona pool was in all its glory, with the sparkling ocean acting as the most beautiful backdrop.
Mr Man and I got dressed in a hurry and made our way through the hotel for breakfast. We walked through an enormous front reception area with angled roof and huge floral display and went downstairs, where we found a dining room bursting with every type of breakfast you could hope for. There were cereals and fruits and yoghurts. There were pastries and crepes and breads, from croissants and pain au chocolat to seeded toast and continental rolls. There were hams and cheeses, bacon and eggs, omelettes. There was fresh tea, fresh coffee, fresh juice – even Champagne! Whatever your breakfast wish, it was Elba Estepona’s command – they obviously believe in eating breakfast like a king.
With bellies as big as our eyes, we worked off breakfast by sunbathing by the pool. We moved once or twice to turn our baking bodies, or to visit the poolside bar for a Fanta Lemon, but, mostly, we enjoyed the rare luxury of doing absolutely nothing for a day. It was heaven.
That evening, I took a bubble bath (the jacuzzi jets were far too powerful for me!) and finally took some time to read The Great Gatsby before we went down to eat in the a la carte restaurant. We ate traditional Spanish cuisine and drank delicious wine. Then it was back upstairs to our huge bed for another night of sweet dreams.
Read more about the Elba Estepona on The Daydreamer tomorrow.
