jerseyfinn
TUG Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
- Messages
- 760
- Reaction score
- 90
- Points
- 388
- Location
- Sedona AZ
- Resorts Owned
- MMB MVO
Just returned from a 2 week Playa Andaluza visit.
It's peak season and the resort is at 100% capacity. Yet you don't feel the presence of people as they spread out at the different pools or the beach. The resort of course looks great. They've given the resort a landscaping "hair cut" as last year's rains had some of the trees/shrubs grow by a few feet. The apartments are themselves in great shape as all guests here receive daily bed-making and a mid-week tidy. This policy really helps to allow housekeeping to stay on top of things and preserve the hard goods and appearance of the apartments.
Because all new construction is on hold, the GM manages to get some funds from Marriott to take the two remaining undevloped tracts and to add some lounge chair seating near the kiddie pools while also developing a more extensive play area for the younger kids. A raquet ball court is also added along with a mini-golf course which along with the already-exisiting infrastructure greatly expands recreational alternatives on the resort.
Summer car rental rates were sky high again, so we arrange a limo to/from the airport via resort concierge. We don't mind being "stranded" at the resort like Gilligans Island as we're beach people to the core and we can always grab a taxi to Marbella, Puerto Banus, or Estepona and the dining opportunities around us. As to dining, we do several lunches/dinners at the Vela Azul, the chiringuito next to the resort directly on the beach. The French guy there ( who speaks halting English, but is a gracious host ) has changed the decor and his place becomes our "hang out" space as he's put out two sails to act as a shade tarp in front of his place and between this and the shade and open windows inside of his place, you've got a great way to have a drink or a snack in the shade while enjoying both a breeze and the view. Our other favorite restaurant is La Cappanina, an Italian restaurant where the chef often serves you at the table and the food is delicious ( & a little pricey given the USD to Euro exchange rate ). But hey we're on vacation. We also discover a good Chinese restaurant up the road which also delivers at the resort. Concierge can advise on this and more.
So we rack up yet another surperlative Playa visit. I have added a few new photos from this most recent trip. All of the new stuff is on the first page.
Otherwise, all is well at Playa and everything here looks great. One unresolved issue remains the fate of the resort chiringuito ( beach grill ) as the provincial government has yet to act on a decision made 3 years ago by the central government to remove all chiringuitos from Spain's beaches. The recession puts all of these plans on hold so all chiringuito owners remain in limbo . . . which is good news for tourists who are hungry or like to stroll ont he beach and stop for a snack or a drink.
Also had friends who stay up at Marbella who mention that the beach up at Marbella resort has been gnawed at by some storms and that there is some sort of controversay between the resort and the local government over who is responsibile for beach replenishment. I do not have any other details than this and as I say, this is second hand info heard from reliable friends who share their experiences from up the beach. Perhaps some other Marbella owners can clarify what's going on ( we also own there, but have not heard anything in the newletters ). Playa's beach is status quo -- beautiful waters, wide beach, and lots of rocks at water's edge which makes for interesting wading walks as people try to navigate the waves and rocks.
Hope you enjoy the photos ( also some new photos of the Vela Azul restaurant in a sub gallery )
Barry
It's peak season and the resort is at 100% capacity. Yet you don't feel the presence of people as they spread out at the different pools or the beach. The resort of course looks great. They've given the resort a landscaping "hair cut" as last year's rains had some of the trees/shrubs grow by a few feet. The apartments are themselves in great shape as all guests here receive daily bed-making and a mid-week tidy. This policy really helps to allow housekeeping to stay on top of things and preserve the hard goods and appearance of the apartments.
Because all new construction is on hold, the GM manages to get some funds from Marriott to take the two remaining undevloped tracts and to add some lounge chair seating near the kiddie pools while also developing a more extensive play area for the younger kids. A raquet ball court is also added along with a mini-golf course which along with the already-exisiting infrastructure greatly expands recreational alternatives on the resort.
Summer car rental rates were sky high again, so we arrange a limo to/from the airport via resort concierge. We don't mind being "stranded" at the resort like Gilligans Island as we're beach people to the core and we can always grab a taxi to Marbella, Puerto Banus, or Estepona and the dining opportunities around us. As to dining, we do several lunches/dinners at the Vela Azul, the chiringuito next to the resort directly on the beach. The French guy there ( who speaks halting English, but is a gracious host ) has changed the decor and his place becomes our "hang out" space as he's put out two sails to act as a shade tarp in front of his place and between this and the shade and open windows inside of his place, you've got a great way to have a drink or a snack in the shade while enjoying both a breeze and the view. Our other favorite restaurant is La Cappanina, an Italian restaurant where the chef often serves you at the table and the food is delicious ( & a little pricey given the USD to Euro exchange rate ). But hey we're on vacation. We also discover a good Chinese restaurant up the road which also delivers at the resort. Concierge can advise on this and more.
So we rack up yet another surperlative Playa visit. I have added a few new photos from this most recent trip. All of the new stuff is on the first page.
Otherwise, all is well at Playa and everything here looks great. One unresolved issue remains the fate of the resort chiringuito ( beach grill ) as the provincial government has yet to act on a decision made 3 years ago by the central government to remove all chiringuitos from Spain's beaches. The recession puts all of these plans on hold so all chiringuito owners remain in limbo . . . which is good news for tourists who are hungry or like to stroll ont he beach and stop for a snack or a drink.
Also had friends who stay up at Marbella who mention that the beach up at Marbella resort has been gnawed at by some storms and that there is some sort of controversay between the resort and the local government over who is responsibile for beach replenishment. I do not have any other details than this and as I say, this is second hand info heard from reliable friends who share their experiences from up the beach. Perhaps some other Marbella owners can clarify what's going on ( we also own there, but have not heard anything in the newletters ). Playa's beach is status quo -- beautiful waters, wide beach, and lots of rocks at water's edge which makes for interesting wading walks as people try to navigate the waves and rocks.
Hope you enjoy the photos ( also some new photos of the Vela Azul restaurant in a sub gallery )
Barry