MORE INFORMATION

ALOHA GARDENS - MARBELLA - PUERTO BANUS

Contents

• Your apartment
• Aloha Gardens – facilities
• Bars and restaurants
• Pharmacy, Doctor, Banks and Shopping
• Sightseeing
• Other things to do
• Golf
• Getting about
• Useful telephone numbers  
  

Your apartment

• Air-conditioning/ heating – the control is on the wall in the living room. Because of the orientation of the apartment it rarely gets excessively hot or cold. There is also a fan.
• Kitchen – recently refurbished and with all new appliances you will find everything you need.
• There are place mats and coasters on the worktop behind the door.
• Linen and towels – all are in place at the beginning of your stay including towels for the beach or pool. If you are here for more than a week linen and bathroom towels will be changed weekly. We do not change the beach towels.
• Blankets are provided.
• Cleaning – the apartment is cleaned for your arrival. Extra cleaning may be arranged at a small charge.
• TV – there is a communal satellite dish and you can receive several channels in English 
• There is also a range of channels in Spanish and other European languages.
• Radio/Tape/CD Player
• Insect Screens – all the windows have screens of the roller blind type.
• Garden and terrace – furnished for dining and relaxing.

Aloha Gardens

The complex has many facilities for you to enjoy.

Swimming Pools
these are normally open from 8 am to 11 pm.

The main pool – come out of your apartment and turn left, just across the ramp to the garage take the steps up to your right, at the top turn right and then follow the path between the 2 buildings.

The pool is about 18m x 13m. There are sun-loungers provided.

The second and children's pool – from the main pool take the path from behind the shower at the shallow end under the conifer arches and go down the steps.

This pool is about 12m x 15m, which also has waterslides.

The covered pool – from the bottom of the steps to the children's pool turn right and follow the path, cross the drive to the main entrance to the garage and follow the path down beside the ornamental stream.

This pool is about 15m x 10 m and there is also a jacuzzi.

The depths are clearly marked at all pools. There is a list of the rules for safe enjoyment of these pools clearly posted in English and Spanish. Please do take a moment to look at these and follow them for the safety and enjoyment of both yourselves and others.

Please note that there are no lifeguards at any of the pools and you use them entirely at your own risk.

Gym

There are changing rooms and showers, a sauna and small Jacuzzi. The gym has a small selection of aerobic and weight equipment.

Children under 16 are not allowed in the gym unaccompanied.

Classes are held regularly.

Sports Centre

There are two paddle tennis (a cross between tennis and squash) and one tennis court plus a multi use court (basketball, volley ball, football or tennis). There is also a little bar.

Booking is essential and there is a small charge. Equipment may be hired and lessons booked with the coach.

Mini-bus Service to Puerto Banús

The Aloha Gardens mini-bus leaves (subject to having at least 3 passengers) 3 times per day, except Sunday, and costs 2€ return per person.

It is essential to book at least 24 hours in advance.

The times areas follows:

Reception

You may book the minibus and excursions here. It is open at the following times:

• Mon – Fri   09.00 – 20.00
• Sat   08.00 – 20.00
• Sun and hols   10.00- 20.00

Bars and Restaurants

• Pedro's Tapas Bar, open in the evenings for drinks and tapas, is just at the end of this building – turn right out of the apartment and go through the green gate.
• El Jardín Restaurant and Bar is on the corner of the complex just down from Reception. This is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
• There are several restaurants including Reserva, Ivy Marbella, El Girasol, The Pepper Room and The Gallery 2 minutes walk away on the Avenida del Prado; there is also a sports bar and 3 cafes.
• In Puerto Banús there is a huge selection of restaurants to suit every taste.
• The village of Benahavís (20 minutes away), known as the ‘Rincón del la Gastronomía de la Costa del Sol ', is famous for its many fine restaurants.
• You will also find a great choice of places to eat in Marbella , San Pedro, Nueva Andalucía and of course in the surrounding area.

Pharmacy

The nearest is next to Mercadona. There is also one in Puerto Banús. In San Pedro you will find 24 Hour pharmacy on the leftt hand side of the Avenida Marques de Douro as you go up the hill from the A7/N340.

Doctor

Marbella Medical Services have British trained doctors and make house calls. They also recognize travel insurance policies. Tel: 952 82 31 35

Banks and Foreign Exchange

There are many branches of banks and ATM's in the area. Most banks are only open until 2pm . There are also foreign exchange booths in the main towns. If you are going to Gibraltar you often get a better rate of exchange there.

Shopping

• Less than 5 minutes walk is Mercadona Supermarket which is well stocked and has excellent prices. Even nearer is the Opencor convenience store which is open lat 7 days a week. If you plan a big shop go to Alcampo at La Cañada Shopping Centre.
• There is a selection of other shops and services all within a few minutes walk including a newsagents, hairdressers and banks.
• There are more shops and cafés at Centro Plaza near the Bullring. There is also a Supersol supermarket here.
• Puerto Banús has excellent shops including a branch of the famous store El Corte Inglés and a Hipercor hyper-market. Parking in Puerto Banús can be difficult so we suggest you use one of the car parks or leave the car on the Nueva Andalucía side of the A7 and walk through the tunnel. It actually takes about 30 minutes to walk to Puerto Banús from Aloha Gardens . There is also the Aloha Gardens mini-bus service; taxis are usually easy to get.
• The La Cañada Shopping Centre is about 10 minutes away by car. Take the A7 in the Marbella direction; follow the Marbella by-pass to the Ojén exit. There is plenty of free parking and a great selection of shops including famous Spanish names like Casa, Zara, Mango, Cortefiel and Springfield . There is also a huge hyper-market - Alcampo. Together with a range of bars and cafés and a cinema this is a superb shopping destination
• Marbella has almost every type of shop you could ask for from inexpensive shoe shops to Cartier. Head along the Avenida Ricardo Soriano and into the old town round the Plaza de los Naranjos.
• San Pedro also has an interesting collection of shops in the streets that lead up from the A7.
• Markets – great for all sorts of bargains there are large markets in Nueva Andalucía round the Bullring and Centro Plaza on Saturday and San Pedro near the Polideportivo at the top end of the town off the Avenida Picasso on Thursdays. Both markets are open from 9 am to 2 pm . If you want to go to the Nueva Andalucía market we suggest you walk as parking is difficult and the police regularly tow away illegally parked cars.

Sight-seeing

• You can book organised excursions at Reception
• Granada with the fabulous Alhambra and Generalife Gardens is about 2 hours away by car
• Ronda is must with the spectacular Tajo Gorge and the oldest bullring in Spain and is about 90 minutes away (although only about 45km it is a mountain road)
• Málaga has a fascinating centre, wonderful cathedral, The Picasso Foundation the Gibralfaro Castle .  
• San Pedro and Estepona are both charming and interesting.
• White Towns – Andalucía is well known for the many beautiful white towns – Los pueblos Blancos. For a real taste of a pueblo blanco Ojén and Istán are nearby, very authentic and have spectacular views. Mijas is justifiably famous and also, interestingly, has a square bullring but it is incredibly busy with tourists. A little further afield are many more beautiful towns including Casares, Arcos, Gaucin, Medina Sidonia, Vejer and Zahara de la Sierra. Jerez and Puerto de Santa Maria make an interesting trip. You can visit one of the sherry bodegas and the internationally renowned Royal Spanish Riding School with its beautiful white Lippizaner stallions.
• Seville, Cadiz and Córdoba are wonderful cities. They make a long day trip but you may like to consider staying overnight. Go after lunch so you arrive when everything opens after siesta and return the following day after lunch.
• Gibraltar is interesting and has some wonderful duty free bargains. Park on the Spanish side of the border in La Línea and walk across. There are usually long queues at immigration both ways for cars. Remember you will need your passport.
• The Andalucian countryside and mountains are very, very beautiful and there are many trips that can be made getting away from the crowds and traffic of the coast.

Other things to do

There is a world of choice; here is just a selection:

• Cinema – at Puerto Banús and the Plaza del Mar in Marbella - these occasionally show films in English.
• Boat Hire – you can hire small motor launches at the marinas in Estepona and Benalmádena. Prices are from 60€ for two hours. 
• Parque Acuatico de Mijas – great fun on the waterslides and only about 30 minutes away just off the A7 as you come to Fuengirola. Open daily from 10am to 6 pm ( 7pm in July and August) with discounted rates after 3pm ( 4pm in July and August).  
• Whale and dolphin watching at Tarifa. Tel; 956 627 008  
• Tivoli World – a theme park with a host of attractions, entertainment and rides. About 30 minutes away – take exit 222 from the Autovía del Mediterraneo. It is open daily from late afternoon till late.  
• Horse Racing – the Costa del Sol racecourse is near La Cala de Mijas about 30 minutes drive from Aloha gardens. There are race days all year. Entrance is 3€ per person and parking is free.
• Casino – this is next to the Hotel Andalucía Plaza , a few minutes away and is open from 7pm . You can play roulette, poker and black-jack or try your luck on the slot machines. Remeber your passport

 Golf

Aloha Gardens is at the entrance to golf valley with its 5 courses – Aloha, Las Brisas, Dama de Noche, Los Naranjos and La Quinta. Dama de Noche is the only course in Europe floodlit at night. Aloha and as Brisas are mainly membership only courses.

Nearby you also have Los Arqueros, Guadalmina, Atalaya, El Paraíso, Los Flamingos and many more.

To book tee times at special prices call Vacation Care Golf on 952 93 02 52  

At certain times of the year (usually in the hotter months) some of the courses have special offers. These are usually advertised in one of the local free papers – Sur in English, Town Crier and Euro-Weekly. Or call the course direct.

Getting about  

Car
often the quickest and easiest although parking is a problem in some places. Always carry your driving licence and the car documents with you. This is a legal requirement in Spain . If you have a photo driving licence you can use this as I.D. when paying by credit card (most places now require photo I.D. for credit card payment).

Do not park on a yellow line even though you may see others do so. You could be fined or towed – both expensive. In Marbella it is best to use one of the car parks – they cost about 1.5€ per hour. If you don't want to walk all the way to Puerto Banús park outside Dreamers Disco and walk through the tunnel

Taxi
there is a rank in Puerto Banús or you can call 952 90 65 52 or 952 77 44 88.

Bus
the number 4 goes from the Plaza Maestranza (by Mercadona) to Puerto Banús and San Pedro. From Puerto Banús you can get a bus into Marbella . From San Pedro you can get busses to various different places further west along the coast.

Useful phone numbers

• Tourist Office     952 77 14 42
• Local Police     952 82 22 49
• British Consulate   952 35 23 00
• Irish Consulate     952 47 51 08
• German Consulate   952 36 35 91
• Málaga Airport   952 04 84 04

Emergencies:

• All services            112
• You can also call:
• Ambulance             061
• Police                    091  

There are also copies of the telephone directories in the apartment.