Guests of the Marbella Club Hotel enjoy the most exclusive luxuries, including exquisite cuisines, a private beach club, spa, golf and riding stables, in a relaxed and intimate setting, surrounded by exuberant gardens steeped in history and pampered by the best climate in Europe.

Every detail of the Marbella Club Hotel offers an unforgettable experience and distinctive touch.

HISTORY: Since its establishment more than half a century ago, the Marbella Club Hotel has accumulated a wealth of history, full of extraordinary and unforgettable moments. The hotel has been a meeting place for the international jet-set: aristocrats, stars of the entertainment world, business leaders and famous figures from all over the world. It all started in 1946, when Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe and his father, Prince Max, visited Marbella with the idea of buying some land. The following year, Alfonso purchased Finca Santa Margarita as a family residence. As the number of visitors to the 'finca' steadily grew, so did the property, and eventually the Prince, sparked with the pioneering enthusiasm and the visionary ideas that distinguish those who are ahead of their time, was able to make his dream come true, transforming his private residence into an exclusive club.

From that point on, the Marbella Club Hotel has come to be recognized the world over as one of the most prestigious establishments in the hotel world. And the Prince's vision has become reality with the Marbella Club Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa that we know today, included as it is amongst the Leading Small Hotels of the World.

Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe was born in Madrid in 1924, the first son of Prince Maximiliano von Hohenlohe and Princess Piedad de Iturbe. He founded the Marbella Club Hotel in 1954. He married Princess Ira de Fürstenberg in 1955 and they had two children, Christopher (1956) and Hubertus (1959). They divorced in 1961. Prince Alfonso married again, this time to the American actress Jackie Lane and they had a daughter, Princess Arriana. In 1991, he married a third time, to Marilys Haynes, a British citizen. The prince died in Marbella in 2003. He was named a Favorite Son of Marbella, and the city has named one of its main streets, the Bulevar Príncipe Alfonso de Hohenlohe, after him.

THE FIRST FIFTY YEARS: In 1947, Prince Alfonso von Hohenlohe's family acquired Finca Santa Margarita, an old farm situated on 18 hectares along the coast of Marbella. Soon after, in the spring of 1954, thanks to the effort and determination of the young Prince, the Marbella Club Hotel first opened its doors. There were ten rooms in one wing, eight in the other, another room in the tower with a suite next to it, and a sitting room, dining room and bar located in the main part of the old converted farmhouse.

Fifty years later, and with an impressive history behind it, the hotel published Marbella Club: The First 50 Years, an exciting coffee table book detailing the extraordinary story of "this small paradise on earth," as Prince Alfonso liked to describe it.

The culinary offerings at the hotel are simply spectacular. Renowned executive chef Juan Gálvez designs the menus of all its restaurants.

GRILL: The classic Grill, the gourmet restaurant of the hotel, has long been a veritable culinary landmark. Its famous menu, which changes five times a year, is made up of the most exquisite classic and traditional cuisines, both local and international. Only the best cuts of meat reach the grill and thus the emphasis is on seasonally available ingredients. During the hunting season a special menu is drawn up. All of this enhances the historical dishes served in the evocative patios of the hotel, possibly the most romantic setting in Europe, where guests linger over intimate dinners by the glow of candles and starlit skies. An evening at the Grill is truly an unforgettable experience.

BEACH CLUB: The hotel's legendary Beach Club owes much of its fame to its extraordinary international buffet, where quality and style reign supreme. A visit to the Beach Club is a must. Here, guests can indulge in that sweetest of pastimes, the dolce far niente, as they lounge on sun beds. Or take a dip in the heated sea-water pool. A few steps away, they can enjoy the beach, where waiters will cater to their needs. Every day of the year the Beach Club Buffet offers an ample assortment of delicacies from European, Asian, Lebanese and traditional Spanish cuisines. It is hard to resist the great variety of exquisite salads, grilled meats and fish. Lunching at the Beach Club Buffet is one of the many luxurious experiences and pleasures that the hotel offers its guests.

MC CAFE: Since its debut in the summer of 2002, the MC Café, which is strategically located at one of the hotel's entrances, has become a very popular meeting place for both visitors and locals, drawn by its elegant contemporary design, its European/Asian fusion cuisine and its famous low-calorie menus. Prince Alfonso was a great fan of the MC Café's informal yet fashionable atmosphere. It is a perfect choice for any occasion: for a morning coffee or a full breakfast, even a late breakfast, or for an invigorating mid-day appetizer. It is also ideal for a light lunch or a relaxed and delicious dinner. And, of course, it is always distinguished by its first rate service.

MC BEACH: The hotel has its own snack bar on the beach, if the informal and delightful MC Beach can be referred to as such. With the MC Beach, the hotel has increased its already superb culinary offerings. Here guests can enjoy a refreshing appetizer or a delicious lunch made up of salads and freshly caught seafood roasted on the spit. The MC Beach is the ultimate in style: sun beds, music to chill to, blues and whites melting together in the reflections of the waves.

POOL BAR: The Pool Bar is located in the heart of the hotel. Here, amidst gardens laden with rich history, guests can find a fabulous menu filled with salads, sandwiches, meats, fish and excellent wines. With the heated pool at hand, lunching in one's bathing suit might be the perfect option. Relaxation is the lap of luxury and the Pool Bar is a fine spot to enjoy both. Class and comfort come together here.

GUEST ROOMS: All rooms in the hotel are decorated by prestigious professionals, with first-class materials, the finest fabrics and the most exclusive Mediterranean-style interior designs. In perfect harmony with the natural surroundings, each room has its own furnished balcony from which the sumptuous gardens and privileged sea views can be enjoyed year round thanks to the exceptional climate with which Marbella is blessed. The rooms all have bathrooms tiled in marble, with separate showers and baths.

SUITES: The 37 outstanding suites are ideal for guests who prefer more spacious accommodations. The suites share the same qualities and features of the gest rooms: elegance, design, exquisite decor in keeping with the natural surroundings, and private balcony. However, the suites have more living space, with two separate rooms, bedroom and living room, each equipped with television.

VILLAS: The 14 charming villas are faithful replicas of traditional Andalucían architecture, blending harmoniously with their surroundings, and are ideal for families and guests seeking to enjoy more space and privacy. The 2, 3 or 5 bedroom villas are located in the heart of the resort, and most of them have their own garden and heated pool, providing guests with both comfort and privacy.

THALASSO SPA: The Marbella Club Thalasso Spa is, without a doubt, one of the best spas to be found in a major European tourist destination. Located on the beach, with the Mediterranean at its doorstep, the spa offers state-of-the-art facilities, including a dynamic indoor sea-water pool, hammam Turkish baths, saunas, a relaxation room overlooking the sea, and 12 treatment rooms. The spa offers a full range of thalassotherapy and beauty treatments, with rejuvenation, weight loss and anti-stress programs, as well as exclusive treatments, such as holistic and stabilizing ShiTao massages and sea creation, facial massages with seashells. Hotel guests can also enjoy heated outdoor pools within the Marbella Club and a state-of-the-art tennis and fitness club at the Puente Romano sister hotel located within walking distance.

GOLF RESORT: With its magnificent 18 hole golf course, designed by Dave Thomas, the Golf Resort of the Marbella Club Hotel is a haven where golf enthusiasts, riding fans, and nature lovers can enjoy their favorite pastimes. It is also an ideal spot for pleasant walks amongst the hills and for taking in the spectacular views of the Sierra, Gibraltar, the North African coastline and the Mediterranean. The Golf Resort is located only 20 minutes from the hotel in the quiet and peaceful surroundings of Benahavís, an area of tremendous natural beauty.

The golf course is for the exclusive use of hotel guests. With limited play and an average of 30 minutes between tee times, over-crowded rounds are not a concern and morning tee times are guaranteed. The top-notch service at the golf course is that of a five-star resort: the staff collects clubs and carries them to the buggies and there is none of the usual stressful rush found at commercial golf courses. The hotel offers a complementary shuttle service to the Marbella Club Golf Resort. Required handicaps are: Ladies, 36, and Gentlemen, 28.

The Golf Resort Club House is a charming thatched cottage. Thanks to its superb location, overlooking both the 18th green and the lake of the 1st green, the Club House is an ideal spot to relax after a round, enjoying the spectacular view from the terrace over a refreshing drink or a delicious lunch. On cooler days, the open log fire of the common room provides the atmosphere of a hunting lodge, reminiscent of the early aristocratic traditions of the Marbella Club.

RIDING STABLES: The Marbella Club Golf Resort Riding Stables, host of the Spanish Show Jumping Championships, is a luxury in and of itself. These fabulous stables offer an exciting array of activities for riding fans, ranging from treks through the beautiful countryside to training for high-level competition. The spacious and finely equipped modern boxes, facilities for hosting international competitions and its first-class staff provide excellent equine care and are sure to inspire the most demanding riders.

The hotel is located between Marbella and Puerto Banús, in the heart of the Costa del Sol, the Golden Mile on the southern coast of Spain. The city of Marbella has a history reaching back over a thousand years. Nestled between the Mediterranean and the impressive Sierra Blanca, Marbella enjoys a unique microclimate that ushers in more days of sunshine year round than almost any other spot in Europe. Thus the hotel is set in sumptuous surroundings brimming with natural beauty. Finally, the hotel is located in Andalucía, a region alive with history, unrivalled in its cultural wealth and traditions.

The hotel is an ideal base from which to set out on a wide selection of day trips to nearby attractions. These include exploring the old-fashioned elegance of downtown Marbella and the mountain towns of Mijas, Benalmádena, Coín and Benahavís. A short 40 minutes from the hotel, the city of Málaga beckons with its bustling streets and air of mystery. The charming and picturesque town of Ronda, perched on a spectacular gorge, is the proud seat of the oldest bullfighting ring in the world and is reached in less than an hour's drive.

Swing through Gibraltar, Tarifa and Cádiz in one day and return in time for dinner. A world heritage site, Granada - featuring the Alhambra palace - is only one and a half hours away. In a couple of hours, you can reach either Córdoba, the city which gave its name to the famous Caliphate, or Sevilla, that majestic yet popular city, the heart of worldwide trading routes for almost two centuries. And, of course, there is Madrid, Spain's cosmopolitan capital, a little further afield, but reachable from Málaga by AVE, the high-speed rail service.

Finally, why not head over to Africa, whose coasts are visible from the Beach Club on clear days. Simply take the ferry across the Straits and there you are in Morocco, with Tangiers, Tetouan and the majestic Rif mountains at your fingertips.