I had a fixed budget for a week of 5 star luxury on the Costa Del Sol, I’ve been to Los Monteros before a lot over the years, a home away from home. The Costa del Sol is one of the easiest destinations to get to from the UK where wall to wall sunshine is usually guaranteed and you can easily disappear and reemerge refreshed and rejuvenated, exactly what I like from a few days away.
Los Monteros is a glamorous old school luxury property that has hosted the likes of Sean Connery, Antonio Banderas, and King of Spain Juan Carlos in the past. The hotel has gone through some tough times, has been closed for some time but has been revitalised with a €50 million dollar refurbishment I have been eager to re experience. La Cabane the exclusive beach club now owned by Dolce and Gabbana is a reason to go on it’s own, with daily entry costing up to $450 euros per bed, and in high demand throughout the summer season the beach club once owned by Los Monteros, (now a completely separate business) the Los Monteros hotel concierge hold a block of priority reservations for guests for an amazing rate of just €100 per bed per day.
The other option was El Fuerte another 5 star property with great credentials, a Clarins Spa, outdoor daily yoga classes, beach front dining at Soleo where the food looks spectacular, a beautiful modern refurbishment through the vision of Chilean interior designer Jaime Beriestain. A striking interior featuring bold red and white signature stripes on loungers and restaurant interiors and umbrellas, reminding me of a fabulous property in Marrakesh El Fenn where the interiors are worthy of note. I never stayed at El Fuerte but the pictures look incredible and the reviews are pretty good too, described as a serene haven for grown ups. Sounds like my kind of place.
This property is actually on the beach in the centre of Marbella and walking distance from Marbella old town, Los Monteros a 10 minute uber away a place I know well and love to meander, shop, eat in the evening, so this was appealing to me. I have already snooped about Puerto Banus Market, and Estepona Market in the Marina, both open on Saturday mornings and places I cannot wait to return, for me two of the best Spanish markets I have ever been to for very high quality designer dupes from the African continent.
Which to choose, I scrolled through countless reviews on Trip advisor but nothing pointed me towards one over the other. It’s always been a problem for me not knowing the profile and tastes of an individual reviewer, what else they like. For my budget I could get 9 days at El Fuerte and explore the unknown or for the same price get 7 days bed and breakfast and experience somewhere I have loved with the private Beach Club La Cabane, think Puente Romano or The Marbella Club exclusive boutique luxury accessibility.
With both trips planned in different windows on my laptop I selected Kimpton
Los Monteros but actually booked El Fuerte. And because it was through a travel site the mistake wasn’t rectifiable, clearly stated in the terms and conditions no changes, no refunds.
It’s an easy mistake to make. It made me laugh how one click can change your destiny entirely. I wasn’t disappointed I just thought it was meant to be.