Mark Tolner recommends Marbella

The Costa del Sol is a region in the south of Spain, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the Mediterranean coastline of the Malaga province and the eastern edge of the Cadiz province. The name translates as Sunshine Coast in English. Formerly made up only of a series of small, quiet fishing settlements, the region has been completely transformed during the latter part of the 20th century into a tourist destination of world renown, with continuous development of luxury villas and resorts running along the length of the coastline.

Although packed with visitors and only slightly less popular than Torremolinos, Marbella is still the chicest resort along the Costa del Sol, with some of the region's best upscale resorts coexisting with more affordable hotels. An Andalusian port at the foot of the Sierra Blanca, traces of Marbella's past survive in its palatial town hall, medieval ruins, and ancient Moorish walls. The biggest attractions in Marbella, however, are El Fuerte and La Fontanilla, the two main beaches. There are other, more secluded beaches, but you need your own transportation to get there.

Marbella is an important beach resort of the Costa del Sol. The town is famous for being a playground for the famous and super-rich. Marbella is internationally recognised as a favourite destination for extremely wealthy tourists from Northern Europe, in particular the UK, France and Germany and also to wealthy Arabs. The area around Marbella is particularly popular with those who like Golf.

Marbella is the choice of the rich and famous. The resort is large and stylish, with around 28km of beaches. Set against the stunning backdrop of the La Concha mountain Marbella is a mixture of old and new, with stylish apartments lining the seafront while typical Andalusian houses are to be found along the picturesque alleys of Marbella's Old Town.

Mention the name Marbella and it usually conjures up images of plush hotels, casinos, multi-million dollar yachts and Ferraris.

But today Marbella is not exclusively for the jet-set. Being only 30 minutes drive to the west of Malaga airport and with the recent increase in airlines providing cheap flights, the resort is within very easy reach for most people and has become a popular destination for hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers each year.