The Costa Del Sol is home to the beautiful “Golden Mile” – which is actually home to 18 miles of impressive hotels and beaches in Spain’s playground for the rich.
Around the world, there are places where the rich and famous like to spend their downtime. In the USA, they might go to the Malibu coast or into a house deep in the wilderness away from prying eyes.
Alternatively, some may travel to Europe and revel in the delights of Monte Carlo or St Tropez. Others, seeking glamour and stature may head to Spain, and the city of Marbella’s famous Golden Mile, an 18-mile stretch of coastline filled with the latest hotels and restaurants.
Since the first hotel was built in 1954, Marbella’s Golden Mile has attracted the latest and grandest establishments and individuals to make their mark next to some of the prettiest and most famous beaches in Europe.
As Europe approaches spring and the much warmer temperatures of summer, the beaches will once again fill up with tourists, locals and expats, and the grand houses will once more be occupied.
Like many famous cities and places, Marbella’s Golden Mile started with one person. According to Drumelia, in this case, it was one Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe.
They explained that Mr de Hohenlohe built the Marbella Club Hotel. They explained: “It was inaugurated in 1976.
“This became the pinnacle of Marbella’s elite at the time, with many celebrities and royalty spending their vacations here. This area rose to popularity and in turn, development of surrounding areas began.”
They said that such is the Golden Mile’s reputation that the likes of Michelle Obama, Sylvester Stallone, and Jason Statham have used the area for their summer holidays.
The Golden Mile is so big that it is not one section, but instead split into three areas categorised from A to C. Area A is made up of a series of hotels and restaurants including the original Marbella Club Hotel next to the area’s famous sands.
Area B is where the mile begins to move away from the coast and further towards the mountains. As a result of the topographical change, the properties have greater space between them but remain close to the beach.
Area C is where some of the larger houses and villas are built and lived in. Their distance from the more populated areas allegedly means it is more private.
While the types of houses vary between the areas, so do the prices which can range from €500,000 to €35million. Area A is home to the least expensive properties while Area C is the most expensive.
Due to the exclusive and high-profile nature of the area, buying into the Golden Mile is expensive. The cheapest price for a square metre of land is €500 (£) but this can rise to €2,000 () in some cases.
According to Bromley Estates Marbella, a villa “on a prime stretch of real estate in the Golden Mile could cost you as much as €25,000 per square metre”.
Despite the cost of buying in the area, the Golden Mile is believed to be very family-friendly and its travel links to local airports mean it is easy to get to from the likes of London and other parts of Europe.
