The Journal
Guides, destination stories and insider insight into renting a luxury villa in Marbella, Puerto Banús, Sotogrande, Estepona and beyond.
5 October 2026
La Zagaleta in practical detail: a 900-hectare private estate in the hills of Benahavís above Marbella - some 230 houses, two resident-only golf courses, 24-hour manned security, and the drive times to Puerto Banús, Marbella and Málaga.
Read →1 October 2026
A villa concierge serves the guest and manages the stay, a property manager serves the owner and manages the asset, a family office serves the family. Where the three roles overlap and how to choose.
Read →1 October 2026
Booking direct with an owner saves the margin and buys local knowledge; a Marbella agency adds vetting, formal terms and recourse. What you gain, what you give up, and how to decide.
Read →1 October 2026
A Marbella villa agency represents an inspected portfolio and is accountable for the stay; Airbnb connects you to a host. What actually differs at booking, on arrival, on price and when things go wrong.
Read →31 August 2026
A working guide to Puerto Banus from the people who live alongside it — when the marina is at its best, where the residents actually eat, how to walk it to Marbella, and why the town behind the postcard is the reason to stay.
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27 August 2026 · 16 min read
Understand how a villa concierge works in Marbella, from arrival planning and private chefs to local support, risk control, and tailored stays.
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26 August 2026 · 19 min read
Plan costa del sol travel with a practical comparison of seven villa booking services, from curated stays to major platforms, with fees, fit and trade-offs.
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25 August 2026 · 7 min read
Marbella is five different worlds. Compare Nueva Andalucía, the Golden Mile, Puerto Banús, the old town and Estepona to find the right luxury villa area for you.
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25 August 2026 · 16 min read
Plan a holiday home buy in Marbella with a clear process for choosing locations, checking legal details, modelling costs, and preparing for rental use.
Read →24 August 2026
What December genuinely delivers on the Costa del Sol — real temperatures, heated pools worth asking about, Christmas and New Year logistics, quieter roads, winter rates, and which areas suit a winter villa week.
Read →10 August 2026
A practical guide to holding a wedding or large celebration at a Costa del Sol villa — licensing, capacity, catering, noise limits, guest accommodation and what to confirm before paying a deposit.
Read →3 August 2026
Why September beats August for a Marbella villa holiday — warmer sea, quieter beaches, easier tables, a fuller events calendar and shoulder-season rates across the portfolio.
Read →13 July 2026
Staffing, discretion, bedroom planning and the hotel timetable: the practical reasons a large family group chooses a staffed private villa on the Costa del Sol over a luxury hotel.
Read →6 July 2026
Sotogrande in practical detail: polo at Santa María Polo Club, Valderrama and the golf valley, the marina and the Guadiaro estuary — plus who it suits and how far it is from Málaga and Gibraltar.
Read →29 June 2026
Private gyms, treatment rooms, heated pools for year-round swimming, yoga terraces and in-villa therapists — and how to judge whether a villa genuinely supports a wellness routine or merely has a sauna.
Read →22 June 2026
Why a family villa rental on the Costa del Sol outshines any hotel — private pools, full kitchens, room to breathe, and a concierge who arranges everything from beach days to golf lessons.
Read →22 June 2026
22 June 2026
Everything you need to know about renting a luxury villa in Marbella, Spain — the best areas, what to expect, pricing from €4,900/week, and how to book your perfect Costa del Sol escape.
Read →22 June 2026
What 'architecture as art' actually means in a rental villa on the Costa del Sol — glass walls that still work in August, orientation and afternoon sun, infinity pools, plot size, privacy from neighbours, and how to read a listing like an architect.
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