The best beach hotels in Europe

In the 1950s, Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe acquired a small fishing village nestled between the sea and the mountains and decided to transform it into an estate. Since it opened in 1954, the Marbella Club has become a sanctuary for aristocrats, actors, musicians, artists, heads of state, athletes, and celebrities seeking something more than just a vacation destination. Over the years the Marbella Club has managed to keep its original spirit alive as it has gracefully expanded to become one of the most iconic luxury resorts in the Mediterranean.

The hotel is set on the beachfront along Marbella’s iconic “Golden Mile,” a prime spot between the Old Town and Puerto Banús. The majestic Sierra Blanca mountains rise as a natural backdrop, guarding this Mediterranean paradise where the climate is always pleasant, with mild temperatures and over 320 days of sunshine each year. There are 115 rooms and suites as well as 15 villas, where traditional Andalusian architecture blends with splendid gardens and pathways leading to the sea. Two heated outdoor pools, a beach club, a Thalasso wellness centre, a golf course, 10 tennis courts, an equestrian centre, a kids club, and eight dining concepts complete this paradise, located just five minutes from Marbella’s old town and Puerto Banús. María Casbas

Price: Rooms from around £400 per night.