jerseyfinn
TUG Member
We just return from two wonderful July weeks at Playa so I thought I'd post an update that owners and folks pondering a visit to Playa might find useful.
The resort itself looks great. It's pretty much full during this, the platinum season. It'll be packed in August which is when Spanish owners especially come down for their holiday weeks of fun in the sun. Despite the crowds, the resort does not feel packed because people spread out between the 3 pools and the beach. The kiddie pool with the water slide is a big hit as is the adjacent sports pool which caters to the competitive crowd. Anco, the resort GM hits a home run with the pools. The landscaping gets lusher with each year. The beach looks great and some of the plants there are finally beginning to show some life.
As usual, houskeeping has the place looking spic and span and the associates are doing a great job. The market place is stocked with lots of beach shoes and other items as well as packets of that delicious jamon negra and other assorted smoked salamis ( with beer and wine to wash it down ). Solera seems to be doing good business. We had a great dinner there one night. The chirnguito continues to do its lunchtime thing. The 5th building is scheduled to open in spring 2009 as the resort nears its final stages of completion with the last 2 buildings ( no construction yet ).
There's less Brits on resort this summer, a sign of the weakening £ and the economic clouds gathering over Europe. Not as many Americans either, but the resort is full because other folks are taking up the slack. No real problems here at the resort. The only unfinished business is the indeterminate future of the resort's chiringuito while the federal govenment and regional governments continue to muddle through the DEP's cloudy edict to remove all chiringuitos from public beaches ( a rule overlooked/ignored for 25 years ). Things have been further complicated when public officials in Estepona are recently arrested for corruption. Nothing new here as they join their Marbella counterparts who were arrested last year. One of the officials arrested is the lady in charge of oversight of chiringuitos . . . this should further slow/muddle any clear government policy. Marriott is watching the situation closely.
For guests coming to Playa this year, we also reccomend dinner at Capannina, an Italian restaurnt a 10 minute walk astride the pedestrian bridge by A340. Great food and ambiance without having to drive or take a taxi. Likewise the Vela Azul, the chiringuito next to the resort cooks a decent steak and grilled gambas among other dishes. The French owner speaks little English, but he's a cordial host and his chiringuito offers great views of the Med. This trip my wife and I finally realize that Vela Azul is also a good place to venture over to for a late afternoon drink as he's got a nice terrace which falls into shade and overlooks the Med. He's also got a slushie machine which comes in handy on a hot day.
I've added about 20 new images of Playa and environs on my web site that folks who are interested in the Costa del Sol resorts might want to look at. The new images are at the top of the queue until I reorganize the gallery in a couple of weeks.
In any case, we had a great time, and we're sure that anyone heading to the Playa Andalulza or the Marbella resorts will also have a great visit.
barry
The resort itself looks great. It's pretty much full during this, the platinum season. It'll be packed in August which is when Spanish owners especially come down for their holiday weeks of fun in the sun. Despite the crowds, the resort does not feel packed because people spread out between the 3 pools and the beach. The kiddie pool with the water slide is a big hit as is the adjacent sports pool which caters to the competitive crowd. Anco, the resort GM hits a home run with the pools. The landscaping gets lusher with each year. The beach looks great and some of the plants there are finally beginning to show some life.
As usual, houskeeping has the place looking spic and span and the associates are doing a great job. The market place is stocked with lots of beach shoes and other items as well as packets of that delicious jamon negra and other assorted smoked salamis ( with beer and wine to wash it down ). Solera seems to be doing good business. We had a great dinner there one night. The chirnguito continues to do its lunchtime thing. The 5th building is scheduled to open in spring 2009 as the resort nears its final stages of completion with the last 2 buildings ( no construction yet ).
There's less Brits on resort this summer, a sign of the weakening £ and the economic clouds gathering over Europe. Not as many Americans either, but the resort is full because other folks are taking up the slack. No real problems here at the resort. The only unfinished business is the indeterminate future of the resort's chiringuito while the federal govenment and regional governments continue to muddle through the DEP's cloudy edict to remove all chiringuitos from public beaches ( a rule overlooked/ignored for 25 years ). Things have been further complicated when public officials in Estepona are recently arrested for corruption. Nothing new here as they join their Marbella counterparts who were arrested last year. One of the officials arrested is the lady in charge of oversight of chiringuitos . . . this should further slow/muddle any clear government policy. Marriott is watching the situation closely.
For guests coming to Playa this year, we also reccomend dinner at Capannina, an Italian restaurnt a 10 minute walk astride the pedestrian bridge by A340. Great food and ambiance without having to drive or take a taxi. Likewise the Vela Azul, the chiringuito next to the resort cooks a decent steak and grilled gambas among other dishes. The French owner speaks little English, but he's a cordial host and his chiringuito offers great views of the Med. This trip my wife and I finally realize that Vela Azul is also a good place to venture over to for a late afternoon drink as he's got a nice terrace which falls into shade and overlooks the Med. He's also got a slushie machine which comes in handy on a hot day.
I've added about 20 new images of Playa and environs on my web site that folks who are interested in the Costa del Sol resorts might want to look at. The new images are at the top of the queue until I reorganize the gallery in a couple of weeks.
In any case, we had a great time, and we're sure that anyone heading to the Playa Andalulza or the Marbella resorts will also have a great visit.
barry
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