A foodie's delight in Marbella

Indulge your senses
Also on the menu at Villa Padierna is the Thermae Spa with eight steam rooms and saunas and a heated indoor pool. The steam rooms have round-the-world themes. The Indian room is filled with fragrances of ginger, cinnamon, lemongrass and orange and sitting alone on a marble seat with an Indian deity looking over me I felt the stresses of London slip away.

The Turkish Hammam is the largest room and definitely the steamiest - you can barely see your hand in front of you. I imagined that this is what it would have been like in the great London smogs and with alcove seating on different levels you feel all alone, even if you're not and when a figure suddenly emerged through the mist I had to stifle a scream. It was an eerie, but fun experience. The Greek room is more romantic and with a little domed roof, with 'stars' in a night's sky it is 'like looking at heaven,' says Karolina who works in the spa.

Things to do
It would be easy to stay relaxing in the hotel throughout your stay, but of course there's plenty to see and do beyond its walls. The hotel can organise activities including horse riding in the Sierra Blanca mountains, a visit to a sherry bodega to see how the local tipple is made (and how it tastes) or day trips to Morocco. Or if you want to do your bit for local conservation, then you can go on a half-day trip to work as a volunteer for the conservation and reforestation of Sierra Blanca.

If you want to try some local food then jump in a taxi to Marbella Old Town. The Old Town is a good place to get a feel for local life and on a Sunday people stream on to Plaza de la Iglesa and the surrounding streets after Mass.

Wearing their Sunday finest, old and young fill the narrow lanes and alleyways and stop to chat, peer through shop windows or go for lunch at the little bars and restaurants offering traditional and reasonably priced tapas. Restaurante El estrecho on San Lazaro has been open since 1954 and offers local dishes like shrimp Andalusia pilpil, tripe or traditional stews.

Need to know
Marbella's nearest airport is in Malaga, about a half-hour drive away. Various airlines offer reasonably priced fares from the UK, including Monarch and EasyJet. Despite its five star elegance, rooms at Villa Padierna start at €149* per room, per night (including breakfast) and they currently have a 'Happy Hour' deal for the Thermae Spa, where you can get two treatments for €75. So grab your chance to lie back and enjoy some guilt-free indulgence. Now all you have to decide is where to have that gin and tonic.

Rates from €169 per room including breakfast, excluding 7 per cent VAT. Valid from 8th April to 15th July, for a minimum stay of three nights. Rates are non-refundable, and pre-payment is required at time of booking.

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