With almost 8,000 kilometres of coastline and 3,000 catalogued beaches, Spain is the perfect destination for those in search of sun and sand at any time of year.

Simpson Travel present the very best...

Perched high on a hill outside Frigiliana, Cortijo Monticana enjoys unsurpassed views over the Sierrra de Tejada across olive groves, vineyards and pine woods down to the distant Mediterranean coast.

Cortijo Monticana is ideal for outdoor living; the inviting pool is surrounded by gardens brimming with carnations, roses, geraniums, vines and citrus trees, and a shady terrace with built-in barbecue is perfect for alfresco meals.

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Perched on a hillside, less than three kilometres (partly on narrow track - suitable for confident and patient drivers only) from the pretty whitewashed village of Cómpeta, the attractive Villa Bellavista enjoys panoramic views of the surrounding Sierra de Tejeda and, on a clear day even the Rif Mountains of Morocco.

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Marbella
Perhaps more stylish than its neighbours and a genteel atmosphere prevails in the fashionable shopping streets by day but night time gets a lot livelier, particularly around the old area of Plaza de los Naranjos. The trendy yachting marina of "Puerto Banus" offers upmarket shops and restaurants and so-called celebrity bars such as "Sinatra's". The beach at Marbella stretches for 17 miles.

Almunecar
The next coastal stop of interest. "Sexi" as it was known to its Phoenician founders has an interesting old quarter around the "Castillo de San Miguel" and the "El Majuela Park". An impressive tower, "La Mozorra" within the castle, dominates this rocky outcrop and looks down onto the lapping waters of the two bays on either side of it. Consider a visit to the Ornithological Park (Open everyday from 11.00h - 14.00h and from 16.00h to 20.00h) where subtropical plants and flowers offer a suitable setting for the rare species of birds that are on view.

Almería
A great mixture of the old, the medieval and the new. A great Moorish fortress looks across buildings crumbled by 16th century earthquakes, to the busy shopping boulevards of the modern day city. You can enjoy the pleasant gardens and the sea views from the 10th century ""Alcazaba" and then explore the old quarter, near the 16th century cathedral, which is fun to explore and offers a good choice of bars and restaurants. Whilst keen shoppers will appreciate the goods on offer in Calle de las Tiendas, off Plaza Manuel Perez Garcia and then perhaps a Tapas and a glass of fino in one of the bars which are to be found on the lively side streets here.

Las Alpujarras
The area that forms the southern foothills to the Sierra Nevada. It is a very fertile area and in marked contrast to the desert like terrain of the Almerian coast. It has strong Moorish traditions which is reflected in the sugar cube like architecture in the villages. It is a popular choice for walkers or you can enjoy a car tour through the most Resort Manager of the Alpujarran villages like Pampaneira, Carataunas, Capileira, perhaps culminating your trip in Trevelez, Spain's highest village and best known for curing hams.

Best Beaches in Andalucia with Simpson Travel

The long sandy beaches of the Costa de la Luz run from the Portuguese border to the meeting point of the Atlantic and Mediterranean oceans at Tarifa. They are generally always a couple of degrees cooler than the Mediterranean beaches of the Costa del Sol and are often fanned by refreshing breezes. Most visitors to this area are Spanish; consequently outside of weekends, other than the most popular beaches, they are generally uncrowded.

El Palmar
This is a small village with a couple of shops and a few restaurants that have grown up along the front. There is plenty of beachfront to choose from here and it offers a good choice of bars and simple restaurants. One restaurant not to be missed is the charming La Chanca, which is picturesquely set in an old tuna salting building, situated at the end of the beach. It is particularly pleasant to enjoy an evening drink or a meal here, when the garden becomes awash with rose-coloured light as the sun sets over the ocean.



Casa Diego offers the unusual luxury of its own private swimming pool in addition to enjoying use of a large communal pool whilst being within strolling distance of El Palmar's seemingly endless beach. Diego's talents as a master craftsman have really shone through in the construction of this enchanting house, built entirely of natural stone.

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El Roche
The main beach of El Roche is called La Playa del Puerco and then going eastwards from here towards Conil there are a series of small bays which are less easily accessible but therefore are quite a bit quieter. The beach or playa is signposted through the housing estate of El Roche situated on the opposite side of the N-340 from your villa.

Conil de la Frontera
Conil is a popular holiday destination for Spaniards and the beaches closest to the town can get quite busy during the height of the season but have all the beach facilities that might be popular with children especially. You can rent out pedalo boats and canoes and have some excellent fish restaurants on hand. Playa de la Fontanilla is just out of the town whilst Playa de los Bateles is just in front of the old town.

Best Beaches in Costa de la Luz with Simpson Travel

Port de Sóller
A horseshoe bay with a sandy beach on the south side which allows swimming. Cafés, bars and sports facilities are available.



If you value peaceful and secluded surroundings but also like to be within walking distance of the amenities of a town, then Finca los Naranjos could not be more perfect.

The garden terrace is ideal for alfresco living, whilst the mature gardens set around an inviting pool, with their abundance of trees and shrubs, provide shady nooks in which to relax with a good book.

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If you are seeking a peaceful and private retreat in a rural location, yet also appreciate the convenience of having only a short walk to the local shops and restaurants, then the delightful stone built traditional casita, situated on the edge of Fornalutx, C'an Guiterre could not be more ideal.

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Es Trenc
From Ses Covettes to Colònia de Sant Jordi, the beach runs for 7km; still unspoilt in the main but it does get busy in high summer at weekends, there are now one or two bars and some sunloungers etc. The water is excellent, prone to seaweed after storm. It is now a nature reserve and partly nudist on the Colònia de Sant Jordi end.

Cala Mesquida
Well known for its dunes and lovely water, it is again pretty busy in high season now; for the braver drivers (as rough track) try the adjacent Cala Mitjana as it is quieter. (between Artà and Capdepera) Adjacent Cala Agulla is also excellent.

Cala Pi
A tiny cove that was once a secret but now more built up but still enjoys sandy beach and crystal clear turquoise waters. (south of Llucmajor).

Portals Vells
Close to Magaluf, this is a lovely cove at southwest tip of the Bay of Palma, busy in high summer, blissfully quiet otherwise; there are two beaches - El Mago, the smaller beach, is Mallorca official nudist beach.

Cala Sant Vicenç
Two coves & two tiny coves, excellent for families with turquoise clear water in the summer and good facilities. (close to Pollença)



An idyllic hideaway, Casita Mimosa nestles in a secluded valley amidst stunning countryside, barely a 15 minutes' drive from Pollença; a more tranquil setting would be hard to imagine - perfect for couples who want to get away from it all.

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Best Beaches in Mallorca with Simpson Travel

Simpson Travel is run by a select team of travel professionals with extensive experience of running successful specialist travel companies, including Graham Simpson who was the founder of 'Simply Travel'.

We share a passion for the holiday destinations we offer and the service we want our customers to enjoy. In essence, we are dedicated to offering our clients the type of holiday we ourselves would wish to take.

Not for us large impersonal hotels and blocks of apartments. We prefer quality accommodation to quantity, and to work in harmony with local communities respecting their culture, traditions and environment. And above all, we wish to offer our clients a truly personal service.

Tailor-made and flexible service

Our reservations team in the UK have personally visited all the villas and hotels in our holiday destinations and are well placed to advise and guide you to making your booking. They can tailor-make holidays of any duration using charter and scheduled flights, with additional services to suit you. We can arrange short break and special interest holidays, as well as 'accommodation-only' for those who prefer to make their own travel arrangements, subject to availability.

Your choice may be to stay put in one place or 'mix and match' a few nights in a romantic retreat followed by a stay in a small, charming hotel. Or you may wish to combine an idyllic villa with a visit to one of the many vibrant cities on offer.

Our personal service is as professional, unobtrusive and friendly overseas as it is knowledgeable, detailed and dedicated in the UK.

Our accommodation

All our villas and hotels have been personally selected. Careful consideration is given to location, charm, character, ambience and the owners' professional attitude and willingness to ensure a smooth holiday for you, plus of course, the general standards and levels of comfort on offer.

Peace of mind

Full protection is guaranteed when you book with us. Our holidays are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority, under the Air Travel Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 5858, and by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) under our licence number W5698. ABTA ensures its members adhere to high standards of service and business practice.

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