Whether you intend to shop till you drop or party all night, Puerto Banus has something for everyone. This glitzy, glam resort is situated just 3km west of Marbella, and some of the highlights of Puerto Banus include:

1. Shopping Puerto Banus
If you are a shopaholic, Puerto Banus offers you some of the best designer outlets in Spain, and Versace, Hermes, Louis Vuitton and DKNY are all represented in the Marina area. Take a stroll around the Cristamar Shopping Centre situated at the east end of the Marina or visit El Corte Ingles or the Marina Shopping centre just behind the port. Also enjoy the weekly market near the bullring in Puerto Banus/Nueva Andalucia.

2. Dancing Puerto Banus
If you enjoy bopping the night away, you won´t be disappointed with the amazing range of nightlife in Puerto Banus. Visit Dreamers Nightclub, Tibu Banus, or the incredible Olivia Valere on the Golden Mile to experience some of the best nightlife in Europe. Whatever your choice in music or club, you will find it here in Puerto Banus. From salsa to sevillanas, and from disco to dance, you are spoilt for choice in this lively marina. Some of the clubs don´t open until past midnight in Puerto Banus, and don´t close until 8am, so you can party late into the night. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants to keep you entertained until the clubs get lively.

3. Beach Clubs Puerto Banus
You can enjoy a range of water sports, relax by the pool or sip cocktails by the sea at one of the fabulous beach clubs in Puerto Banus. Visit the incredible Ocean Club, Buddha Beach, or take a trip down the road to Nikki Beach, which is situated at Elviria in front of the Don Carlos Hotel. Laguna Village in Estepona is also well worth a visit, and you can make the most of the incredible setting by hiring a luxury sun lounger by the pool overlooking the Med. Terra Sana and La Pappardella, also have restaurants in Laguna Beach and the shops include: Elle Morgan, Escada and Royal House.

4. Eat Puerto Banus
Wherever you look in Puerto Banus you will find a wealth of fabulous restaurants. Whether you want to eat 5 star or you have a strict budget, there are restaurants, bars and cafés to suit all tastes and pockets. At the top end of the scale, try the superb Polo House on the Golden Mile.  Owned by James Hewitt, (yes that one), the Polo House offers customers a superb and contemporary menu in a delightful setting. The menu changes regularly, but firm favourites with our group have included: slow roasted pork belly with crackling and plum sauce, herb crusted rack of new season lamb, fresh lobster thermidor, and John Dory with an open morel mushroom ravioli. Leave some room for the divine desserts if you can, and make sure you try the soufflé of the day and the glazed lemon tart. If you want to try one of the more established restaurants in Puerto Banus, my favourite is the Red Pepper right on the front line of the Marina next to Sinatra´s Bar. Here you can sample exquisite fresh seafood, including the most incredible lobster that you will ever taste. The Red Pepper is quite simply a king among fish restaurants. If you want to take the kids somewhere for a treat, walk another 500 metres along the waterfront to Picasso´s Restaurant, with its fantastic range of pizzas and home-made pastas. Picasso´s is inexpensive and fun for all the family. TGI´s is also situated on the second line, along with Burger King and Lineker´s Bar where you can order food all day. Eating in Puerto Banus can be as expensive or as cheap as you want to make it, so don´t imagine it will cost you an arm and a leg.

5. Boats Puerto Banus
You can enjoy a gentle sail down to Marbella on a boat which leaves Puerto Banus every 30 minutes in the summer. This trip will only cost you a few euros, but if you are looking to charter a boat for a day or longer, you are looking at big bucks. Sailboat charter and speed boat charter can be booked from the Marina, or you can go out fishing for a day. The most common fish caught on fishing trips on the Costa del Sol are tuna, swordfish and small shark, and even inexperienced fishermen can learn the ropes from the skipper on board. If you prefer a little more luxury, charter a yacht or a sea cruiser directly from the Marina and enjoy trips along the Costa del Sol and beyond.

6. Beaches Puerto Banus
Two of the best beaches in and around Puerto Banus are either side of the Marina. If you don´t want to travel to Marbella, which is only about 3km away, make the most of the beautiful sandy beaches close by. If you are a watersports fan, you can enjoy paragliding, kitesurfing, windsurfing and water skiing on both beaches, and even book a few lesson scuba diving and explore the local coastline. You will also find plenty of beach bars along the way, selling fresh fish and seafood including the local favourite ´boquerones´ and ´Fritura Malagueña´. Boquerones, for the uninitiated are a cross between whitebait and a sardine and are either fried or served cold and marinated in olive oil, garlic and lemon juice. If you want to share a bigger plate of fish, the ´Fritura Malagueña´ is a wonderful plate of fried squid, boquerones, rosada, sole, hake and monkfish, often served with lemon and mayonnaise. Delicious!

7. Accomodation Puerto Banus
Puerto Banus offers visitors a fantastic range of accommodation from 2 star hotels to 5 star luxury. You may want to stay in an inclusive hotel with food and drinks included, or plump for a more upmarket hotel such as the Guadalpin Banus Hotel just west of Marbella town centre. Our friends have always enjoyed the PYR Hotel which is literally 400 metres from the Marina at Puerto Banus, and is neither too cheap nor too expensive. The best thing to do, in my mind, if you are travelling with a large family or a group of friends is to hire a luxury villa in Marbella or Puerto Banus, and have the freedom to come and go as you please, with a private pool and every mod con imaginable.

8. Sports Puerto Banus
If you are the energetic type, make the most of the nearby Manolo Santana Tennis club, situated on the Golden Mile between Puerto Banus and Marbella, or take a trip down to Sotogrande to watch the polo. Golfers are spoilt for choice on the Costa del Sol, and some of the best golf courses in Spain are situated in and around Nueva Andalucia, Puerto Banus and Marbella. If you are a footie fan, you may even find the time, in season, to take a trip down to Malaga to watch C.F Malaga, who are now in the upper tier of Spanish football and play such famous clubs as Barcelona and Real Madrid.  Motorbike racing is also a major sport in Spain so if you are staying in Puerto Banus and you fancy a trip to Jerez, look up the dates for the next Moto GP. Marbella also has its own rugby club, so if you fancy cheering the boys on, they normally play on Saturdays at 1pm at the Los Monteros Sports Ground just 5km east of Puerto Banus.

Puerto Banus may have been made famous by the rich celebrities who started to flock to its shores in the 1960s, but it will always have a special place in my heart for its great bars, restaurants, beaches and nightlife. This little piece of paradise on the Costa del Sol has continued to evolve over the years, and Puerto Banus offers fun for all the family. Situated right on the Mediterranean, you can relax and soak up the sun or dance the night away under the stars. Puerto Banus has it all.

For more information about Puerto Banus, and to find out about local events and festivities contact:
Municipal Tourist Office, Acceso Principal A Poniente, Puerto Banus, 29660, Marbella, Malaga.
Telephone: (0034) 952818570.