Some believe Marbella to be as exciting as St Tropez but at half the cost.

The Golden Mile, Marbella's famous seafront, is a place to see and to be seen (but only if you happen to be in a Ferrari).

Try seafood at Bar Altamarino and enjoy the sun and surf on one of the three beaches south of town, Playa de la Badajilla, Playa de Venus or Playa de la Fonatanilla before heading out to see the White House replica (with adjoining masque), a copy-cat mansion built by the Kind of Saudi Arabia.

There is a marina and casino area, Puerto Banus, for international night life, but watch out for some high prices in the more sequined spots.

For those with explorer DNA, the hills around Marbella have a history of human habitation going back to the Paleolithic period.

While many Costa del Sol vacation spots return to their sleepy states during the June to August season, Marbella rocks on, earning it the title of Spain's Little Party Town.

Not to be missed are the first fifteen days of June when Marbella really spins out a fiesta commemorating the defeat of the Moors.