La Cala Resort

As a non-golfer, I still had a really relaxing stay thanks to the perks included in our golf experience package. We booked a superior room, and it was wonderful: spacious, spotless, and looked after by such kind hotel staff. The courses and facilities were beautiful, too. If you need help, the team is easy to reach by email or phone, and they’re happy to suggest places to visit in the area.

The team even arranged a 70th birthday celebration without any fuss, and everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful. It’s easy to see why people come back year after year. The three courses are seriously challenging, with hardly a straight fairway, lots of blind holes and tricky, mostly elevated greens. After a round, the welcoming clubhouse has a choice of places to eat: the Clubhouse, hotel restaurant or Steakhouse. Taxis are available to the beach or Mijas. The spa is inviting, with a range of treatments. Highly recommend.

I came for a competition with 64 players and got to play two courses. The Americas Course was beautifully landscaped, with sweeping bunkers, sculpted greens and striking holes. The Europe Course was a little tougher and called for more precision and strategy, while still giving us fantastic views all around. La Cala Resort sits among immaculate fairways and lush greenery, with elegant buildings, well-kept grounds and lovely views over the countryside. The winter sun made the scenery glow, and the place is so impressive that photos don’t really capture it. It’s a tranquil, high-quality spot whether you’re there to play golf or just enjoy the surroundings.

The internet in our room was limited and kept dropping out. I asked about it, and the speeds in the restaurants were surprisingly fast, so we ended up having some old-fashioned conversation instead. The pool was closed on Saturday and Sunday, which wasn’t a big deal, though I’d planned to spend my rest day reading and listening to music by it. It would have been my first time doing that. Maybe management would rather people eat and drink in the bars and restaurants than sit in their rooms writing reviews, even good ones. We had a lovely deluxe room with a comfy bed, plenty of space, a TV, small fridge, tea and coffee tray with small cups, and a balcony with a partial view of the course. Check-in was smooth, with no surprises: just passport and credit card. Breakfast at La Terrace Restaurant was buffet-style, with something for everyone and a chef making fresh omelettes if you wanted one. Some dining spots weren’t open, but the main ones were. We were glad we booked the à la carte half-board package, as it gave us a little more choice. We mostly ate at La Terrace, where you need to book ahead because it fills quickly with golfers, sometimes in large groups. That’s no surprise, as the food is really nice, well presented, and the service was great. We didn’t go to the Steakhouse, partly because it isn’t included in the half-board range. We did eat at the Clubhouse next door, which is more of a sports bar. The food there was great as well, just a different selection. We thought this was one of the nicest places we’d ever been and will definitely return. I haven’t covered the golf here, that’s in my review of the courses.