Virgen Del Carmen - 16th July

This Friday the 16th July many coastal towns throughout Spain will celebrate the festivities of the “Virgen del Carmen”. This is a special day for many of the small original fishing villages (I know, they’ve changed a lot!) on the Costa del Sol as the Virgen del Carmen is actually the patron saint of fishermen (she’s also the patron saint of the Spanish Navy) and no fishing boat sets to sea without her image on board.

Head down to “La Carihuela” in Torremolinos, Los Boliches in Fuengirola or even the Marina in Benalmadena, and you will witness the beautiful processions which pay homage to the Virgen del Carmen. Each locality will have a slightly different ritual but all include the amazing procession of the Virgen del Carmen in the sea. She will be carried from the church to a beach or port and then placed on one of the fishing boats surrounded by flowers; what follows is a beautiful spectacle as dozens of boats surround the “Stella Maris” – as she is also referred to- and follow her out to sea.

If you haven’t seen this procession, I recommend you take a drive down to the port in Benalmadena (or any of the other fishing ports and villages mentioned), you won’t be disappointed! You might even be able to see the boat procession from the terrace of our Panorama Bar as they often come up as far as the hotel; make sure you bring your binoculars!

What a week! World cup & Weddings Galore!

Well it's been such a busy week here at the hotel we've barely had chance to blog! July has arrived and with it so has the scorching Spanish Summer sunshine. But there's more to Sunset than just great weather, this week we've had weddings taking place on Wednesday, Thursday and a seafront blessing planned for later on this afternoon so the resort is buzzing with blushing brides. Also of course with the World cup final looming, the atmosphere is tense as the staff and guests alike wait in suspense to see if Spain can go all the way and win the cup. We've had a great turn out for both semi final matches in the Moonlight bar, and will also be showing the final there this Sunday as well as the third place play-off match on Saturday night. Let's hope Spain can give us a fantastic finale to the week!

A Night at the Races

If you are looking for something a little different to do on your holidays, we’ve got the the perfect activity for you; an evening at the Costa del Sol Racecourse.

The new summer race program has just been announced and a fun evening is on the cards for all the family. As well as the racing, there are plenty of other activities: live music, flamenco shows, activities for kids, a selection of restaurants and even a nightclub called Le Chic with music from the 70’s and 80’s.

Racing starts this Saturday the 3^rd July at 22:00 hrs, however, if you are a football fan and would like to watch Spain beat Paraguay in their quarter final clash, they will be opening their doors earlier (20:00hrs) so that guests can watch the match on various screens throughout the grounds.

The following dates are for the confirmed races to be held this summer: 10^th,17^th,24^th, 30^th July and the 6^th August.

So where exactly is the racecourse? It’s actually located very near to Fuengirola and about 20 minutes drive from Sunset Beach Club. If you have any questions just ask at Reception or at our activities desk and they will be happy to help.

Enjoy the races!

Benalmadena Feria Fun

As always, last week's San Juan celebrations attracted great crowds of all ages and nationalities to the beaches of Benalmadena. The atmosphere of the night really is something exceptional, barbeques sizzling, waves crashing, fires crackling and the unescapable buzz of chatter and laughter all along the coastline. The only downside to the festival is that it only happens once a year! However as San Juan finishes it marks the start of Benalmadena feria week. Paloma park, located in the centre between Arroyo de la Miel and the coast, is home to Benalmadena's "Recinto Ferial" (Main fairground). If you've been on holiday here before you may already know this area as it is home to Benalmadena's weekly market and carboot sale. The fair runs every night for one week and is a great night out for the whole family with plenty of rides, stalls and kiosks.

Friday Football Frenzy!

Today is make or break for World Cup groups G and H. The final matches of the first round take place today and will decide the qualifying teams that will make it through to the knock out stages next week. The four o'clock kick off promises to be an exciting game as Portugal take on Brazil, followed by the 8.30 game between Chile and España which is sure to have the local bars and streets alive with tension and torment!

What a whirlwind of a Wednesday!

As the knock out stages of the World Cup are fast approaching, the pressure is mounting on the deciding matches. Today's highlighted matches include Germany v Ghana at 8.30pm and the 4 o'clock kick off which will see England fight for survival in the tournement against Slovenia, both of which will be shown live in our Moonlight bar. This is the ideal place to watch the nailbiting England match, with face painting and competitions for the kids, fully air conditioned comfort, gigantic 3 metre screen and a fully stocked bar ready to cope with celebration or commiseration! But of course today is not just about the football, as tonight will welcome the celebrations of San Juan! As the sun sets and the party starts, regardless of the footballing results spirits will be high and the festival will last long into the night...

Summer Festival - San Juan

The fiesta of San Juan is definitely one for the calendar! The event takes place each year on the evening of the 23rd June and is celebrated with an overwhelming amount of beach parties all over Spain. Barbeques and fires are lit as the locals and tourists alike soak up the fantastic atmosphere. The finale of the evening is taking part in the traditional jumping of fire and running into the sea, thereby cleansing the soul of sins. If this is a little intense on a family night out, then don't be put off as the festival is also accompanied by a stunning firework display that takes place at the puerto marina, but can be seen throughout Benalmadena. The festivities begin late afternoon and carry on well into the night as the following day is a bank holiday, perfect for recuperating after such an eventful night! Of course our famous Salitos bar by the sea will be hosting it's own party, starting at aroun 9pm, so be sure to call in and say hi to Fran and the others down there!