They say that money can’t buy happiness, but after my amazing week in Marbella, where money was no object, I’m not so sure!
I took on the task of seeing how the rich and famous live (hard life, but someone’s gotta do it). To do so, we booked the very best villa, hit the designer shops, dined in Michelin starred restaurants and visited the most exclusive beach clubs. The experience really blew my mind and I now understand what true luxury really is.
Of course, you can have a great holiday at a fraction of the price, but the excess was rather wonderful!
Villa Imare, the ultimate Paradise in the Costa del Sol
Step 1 for any luxury holiday is to secure one of the very best and most opulent villas. We chose the spectacular Villa Imare Waterfront as our base. This is available to rent through Vacation Marbella from 1,000€ per night in the low season, up to around €5,000 per night in the high season.
Now that might seem a lot, but it’s a magnificent place to stay! The location is unbeatable, right on the beach, with stunning, uninterrupted sea views and direct access onto the sand. It can sleep 10 guests, in 5 beautiful ensuite bedrooms, with amazing views of the Mediterranean. You can even bring your furry friends (as long as they are 10 kg or less).
Every aspect of this luxury villa was breathtaking. From the stunning outdoor area with infinity pool, comfortable loungers and chill out areas, to the spacious interiors and amazing kitchen – everything was a treat. Floating in the indoor pool, steaming in the sauna, relaxing in the rooftop jacuzzi with a glass of champagne and totally disconnecting felt like such a privilege. We even practiced our swing on the putting green, overlooking the sea – what an experience!
When money is no problem, I could see why guests would choose this level of comfort, privacy and luxury.
A week enjoying the luxury of Marbella
It was hard to leave our sanctuary, but I had to get out and experience what kind of luxury experiences Marbella had to offer, to complement this extraordinary villa. Vacation Marbella had arranged a private chauffeur for the week and so I slipped into the air conditioned interior and took a ride to the iconic Puerto Banus marina for a spot of retail therapy.
Boutiques from the most exclusive brands
Puerto Banus is the perfect destination for someone who likes their designer brands, as there are over 100 of them in a very small area. Browse and buy in such paragons of fashion as Bulgari, Carolina Herrera, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, Armani, Gucci, Hermes, Boss, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and many, many more!
You can shop until you drop on the water’s edge, surrounded by luxury yachts and cars, and take a break in one of the many wonderful bars and restaurants.
I popped into Louis Vuitton to invest in a classic Neverfull bag, with their iconic monogram design, perfect for shopping, a day trip with friends, or even a trip to the beach. At €1,550 it was a treat, but these bags never go out of fashion!
Delighted with my purchase, my friend and I treated ourselves to a bottle of champagne overlooking the water at the famous Sinatra Bar. The perfect place to watch the world go by.
Haute cuisine restaurants
If fine dining is more your thing, then Marbella has you covered! We asked Vacation Marbella to make us reservations in the best restaurants in town, and were amazed to find that it has 5 restaurants with Michelin stars, including one with 2 stars!
The team booked us in to sample the delights of Messina, Back, Nintai and the two star Skina, and we were in heaven. These were some of the best meals you could imagine. Every dish is beautiful, delicious and a feast for all the senses. This was truly luxurious dining!
We loved the Tasting Menu with Wine Pairing at Messina. This 10 course culinary extravaganza was all delicious, but standout dishes included Scallops with a Seaweed broth, Spanish Shrimps in a Thai-style soup, Sea Bass and Duck, both presented three ways. The Sommelier was an expert at pairing these dishes perfectly with wonderful wines. This was a gastronomic experience we won’t forget, and we felt it was well worth the €265 per person, including wine pairing.
Exclusive beach clubs
Life’s a beach in Marbella, so we couldn’t leave without trying out a few of the legendary beach clubs that it’s famous for. These really are the height of luxury and money-no-object living.
We partied around the huge saltwater pool in Ocean Club, experienced one of Nikki Beach’s Amazing Sundays and saw some fantastic DJs at Playa Padre. Hanging out with Marbella’s beautiful people, sipping cocktails, soaking up the sun and dancing by the pool is pretty special, and a must do luxury experience if you’re in Marbella.
Every aspect of my holiday was extra special, and you can see why celebrities, entrepreneurs and high-society choose Marbella for their getaway. Living like a millionaire comes highly recommended!
All images by Vacation Marbella
