by Sarah Royce-Greensil, The Telegraph, March 27, 2017
A standalone seafront villa within Marbella's sports-centric Puente Romano resort, Villa La Pereza offers space and privacy, with four bedrooms, an open-plan living area, private garden and pool. With airy, contemporary decor, the villa feels like a private home-from-home, with access to the hotel’s extensive facilities.
The suite:
“Pereza” translates as “laziness” and the villa is designed to encourage just that. A detached, single-storey house set on the beachfront and built in the typical Andalusian Pueblos Blancos style, the 210 sq m (2,260 sq ft) Villa Pereza opened in 2016 and Spanish interior designer Jean Pierre Martel has furnished Pereza with a soothing, modern palette. Expect warm greys, sandy beiges and Greek marble: all very clean and symmetrical, but with bright splashes of contemporary art and seaside-themed trinkets stopping it from becoming clinical.
The villa is designed for indoor-outdoor living, with sliding doors to let the fresh air and sunshine in, and a large private garden with a heated swimming pool. There’s also an outdoor “gym” area consisting of a stationary bike and treadmill - although borrowing hotel bikes or running along the beachfront promenade is far more appealing.
Inside, a bright, light-filled living area is designed for communal lounging, with a large L-shaped sofa, gargantuan TV, dining table and kitchen, which opens onto a covered decking area with further sofas. Overlooking the gardens and onto the sea beyond, this is the perfect place to enjoy a glass of wine or to have lunch delivered from one of the resort’s many eateries.
There are four well-equipped ensuite bedrooms: three doubles and a twin, two of which have contemporary four-poster beds. Guests will argue over the master: spacious and comfortable, it features a capacious bathroom with a deep Jacuzzi bath, and sea views.
The hotel:
Sister resort of the legendary Marbella Club, Puente Romano is geared more towards the active holidaymaker than the “fly and flop” contingent. It’s renowned for its tennis facilities - it has 10 courts, hosts professional championships and Marko Djokovic (brother of Novak) is among its coaches - but also offers the full gamut of water sports, four swimming pools, a fitness centre and group exercise classes, along with horse-riding and golf in nearby Benahavis.
Post-exertion, guests can unwind in the Six Senses Spa, which offers “Integrated Wellness” consultations: a scientific assessment of your vital health indicators, with targeted treatments.
Refuelling is also a highlight. Puente Romano has an ever-growing roster of restaurants, cafes and bars: nine on the last count, including the wonderfully breezy Sea Grill, set high overlooking the sea and the two Michelin-starred Dani Garcia, where the renowned Spanish chef presides over avant-garde, experimental creations. There are also Italian, Thai and Japanese options and daytime cafes, one of which is entirely gluten-free.
What to expect:
As soon as you pull up to the villa’s electric gates there’s a sense of exclusivity, heightened when staff carry in a pre-ordered lunch to be enjoyed on the decking. Despite the villa’s slightly isolated position, staff are quick to respond to room-service requests, but call ahead for a golf buggy lift in the evenings, especially when the resort is full.
The villa comes fully equipped with everything a group may need: there are televisions in every room, easy-to-use air-con and a simple Bluetooth sound system, which can be cranked up to full volume with no fear of disturbing the neighbours.
Overall, a sense of peace and privacy pervades: it feels like a holiday home rather than a generic hotel suite, and quickly has you dreaming of living by the sea full-time.
Standout feature:
The beautifully landscaped 800sq m garden. With a barbecue area, stylish daybeds and that private pool, it’s ideal for families, and the place guests will want to spend the majority of their stay.
Not so keen:
The indoor and outdoor dining tables only seat six, so mealtimes would be a squeeze if the villa was fully occupied, while the kitchen area is on the small side for guests wishing to cook a substantial feast.
Location:
Located on the Golden Mile in the Costa del Sol between Marbella and Puerto Banus, Puente Romano is 45 minutes from Malaga airport. It’s a short taxi journey to the nightlife of Puerto Banus marina, but given its size and amount of dining options, the resort feels like a destination in its own right.
The details
Villa La Pereza costs from €5,000 (£4,321), including breakfast. Rooms at Puente Romano cost from €250 (£220) per night, including breakfast.
Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso von Hohenlohe, s/n, 29602 Marbella, Málaga, Spain; +34 952 820 900; puenteromano.com
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This article was written by Sarah Royce-Greensill from The Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.