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!

Happy holidaying, whatever your reason!

The hotel is buzzing this week with the start of the World Cup and three weddings, there's a great atmosphere around the place! Happy hour is as popular as ever in our Panorama Bar and the Moonlight bar has become the central hub for most main matches, with the brand new 3 metre screen. Today is the wedding of Susan and Kevin, yesterday Emma and Joseph tied the knot and tomorrow is the turn of Emma Culleton and her fiance Patrick. Best wishes to all couples from all of us here at Sunset Beach Club!

Summer Activities for all ages

Of course the number one concern on your Summer holiday is to relax and make sure the whole family have an enjoyable time...This Summer, Sunset Beach Club has got more than just the World Cup to keep you entertained! Once again as Summer starts so do our funpacked activities, we offer a wide range of games and events for all ages. Organized by the Entertainment team, the whole family can make the most of their holiday here with a kid's club for 5-12 year olds, a teenager's club for 13 - 18 year olds and also a full programme of adult's daytime activities, that's not to mention our breathtaking shows in the Moonlight Cabaret Bar, ranging from tribute to Elvis, Michael Jackson, Moulin Rouge and of course the extraordinary Urban Magic Show to mention just a few! To see this Summer's activity programme, please click here.

World Cup Kick Off!

Finally the wait is over! Everyone's been counting down the days and stocking up on their patriotic clothing and now we can finally sit back and enjoy the 2010 World Cup! The tournement starts today with the South Africa v Mexico match and Uruguay v France. As we have a wide variety of guests from all over the World, we will be showing all matchs and featured games will also be shown in our Moonlight Bar on the brand new enormous 3 metre screen! Let the games begin!...

Sinead & Alan's big day!

Today is the wedding of Sinead and Alan. Their ceremony will take place at a nearby church in Benalmadena, the guests and newlyweds will then return to the hotel where they will be greeted with a cocktail reception followed by their chosen gala dinner menu. The wedding reception will take place in our stunning Sala Malaga, the room is already set with personalized menus and silver chair ribbons! Good luck and on behalf of all of us here at Sunset we wish them a fantastic day!

Fundraising Event

Taking place this Saturday at Sunset Beach Club's Moonlight Bar is "The J Factor"! This fun filled fund raising event is being held in aid of Juliette and will also be raising public awareness of Lyell's Syndrome. The show starts at 7pm and there will be lots of great acts to enjoy including; singing, dancing and a Rock 'n' Roll tribute band, all of which are followed by a radio party to dance the night away with Ace FM. Tickets are 10€ (5€ for children) and all proceeds go towards Juliette's treatment. For tickets and more information, please call Rashpal on 952 711 377. Look forward to seeing you there!

Salito's Grand Opening Party - 5th June 2010

Salitos is our popular chillout bar by the sea. Located just minutes away from the pool, it's just a short walk along the seafront promenade in the direction of Torrequebrada. Opened in 2009, it proved very popular last Summer and has recently re-opened it's doors for the 2010 season. This year Salito's is better than ever with lots of parties and weekend DJ sessions as well as it's second to none location and atmosphere. This Saturday, 5th June, will be the grand opening, celebrating the one year anniversary of it's existance. Be sure to pass by from 5pm onwards, where you're sure to enjoy a fantastic evening!

Wedding of Danielle & Cillian

We're into full swing with the wedding season here at the hotel! Danielle Minogue and Fiance Cillian are today's happy couple who will be getting married later on this afternoon and then enjoying their gala dinner reception in our Sala Malaga. Today's celebration is one of the largest so far this year, with over 80 guests, the banquet room is ready and waiting with gold chair ribbons, personalized menus and neutral table flowers, here in the picture you can see the blessing set up on our seafront promenade. On behalf of everyone here at the hotel we wish them a lovely day.

Wedding of Jo-Anne and Adam

Today is the Wedding of Jo-Anne and Adam. The ceremony will take place in a local church later this afternoon, the guests and happy couple will then return to the hotel for a poolside cocktail reception at the Tikki Lounge, followed by a gala dinner in our Sala Malaga. Decoration of the banquet room is nearly finished the room is ready for this evening's celebration. Now included in our wedding packages, the couple have personalized menu cards and have chosen fuschia chair ribbons and table flowers.

Evening Entertainment Extravaganza!

Ricky Lavazza's fantastic tribute act is fast becoming a favourite! New in the Moonlight Bar, the show includes many favourites such as Robbie Williams, Tom Jones, Michael Buble as well as an outstanding Elvis tribute complete with glitter jumpsuit! All ages are welcome and you're sure to be singing along in no time! With free entrance, if you haven't already visited, be sure to check out the show, currently taking place every Wednesday in the Moonlight Bar at Sunset Beach Club!

World Kickboxing Championship in Benalmadena

The municipal auditorium of Arroyo de la Miel will host the first World Kickboxing Championship of Benalmádena on Saturday 29th May 2010 at 18:00hrs, where Gastón "El Irlandés" Monroe and Samuel "El Chopo" will battle for the title.

More information at 952 563 002 / 689 181 705

A busy weekend in Cork

Our Sales Manager, Chelo Herruzo, had a busy weekend at the Over 50's show in Cork. Many visitors to the stand had already visited Sunset Beach Club or the Costa del Sol, and with frequent flights between Cork and Malaga, getting here has never been easier! If you entered our competition at the Show, make sure to check your email as we will be shortly sending notification to the lucky person who has won a 3 night winter stay at Sunset Beach Club!

Salitos in the sun by the sea!

It's here! Bar Salito's is ready and raring to go for the Summer season 2010! Opening party will be this Saturday (14th May) from 3pm onwards, with canapés and cake to celebrate it's first birthday! If you have been before, you don't know what you're missing, Salitos is located right by the sea, infront of the hotel in the direction of Torrequebrada. If you're on the Costa del Sol this weekend make sure to check it out!

Moulin Rouge Rehearsals

Rehearsals are well under way for our Summer shows, the entertainment team are working hard to make sure this year's Tribute to Moulin Rouge lives up to the high expectations of the hotel guests! Each year as well as a variety of professional acts, one night per week, the Moonlight Bar proudly presents a tribute show, produced by our animation staff. From this week's sneaky peak at rehearsals, we doubt that this Summer's whirldwind of sensational dancing and authentic costumes will disappoint!

Paella by the pool

Who doesn't love a traditional Spanish paella? This Summer's activity programme includes Spanish cookery classes, one of the most popular of them is the demonstration of how to make a paella. The dish is made the traditional way with classic ingredients, but rather than being stuck indoors on a sunny day during your holiday, our Entertainment team bring the lesson to the poolside! Hotel guests are invited to gather around and watch the class before being invited to taste a tapa and offered a glass of wine to wash it down! We recently snook out of the office to take a look for ourselves and made this quick video to get your mouths watering...Click here to view the video!

We're coming to Cork!

This coming weekend, 15th - 16th May, is the Senior Times' Over 50's Show the the City Hall in Cork. Sunset Beach Club will be attending the show with our own stand, C14, where you will have the opportunity to pick up some of our brochures and DVDs as well as meeting Chelo from our Commercial department and the Hotel's General Manager!

Exploring Morrocco

Chelo from our Comercial Department, and Annemie from the Golf and Leisure desk, spent last week on a trip to Morrocco with the Costa del Sol tourist board. Both of them had a great time exploring and enjoying both Tangiers and Casablanca. Here is a picture of the group at the port in Tangier on their way back to Spain!

Manic May!

May is always a very busy month here at the hotel as the weather is perfect not just for family holidays but also for first comunions and weddings, lots of warm days with plenty of sunshine, but not too hot to bare in a suit and tie! We had two first comunions celebrated here last Saturday, one small group enjoyed a gala lunch in our seventh floor banquet room, whilst Clara's comunion was held in the Moonlight Bar, with over 100 guests attending! Here we have a video taken of the room before the guests arrived, beautifully decorated with colourful balloons and chair ribbons as well as personalised table plans and menu cards:

Fuengirola - Feria de los Pueblos

Every year, during the month of April, The "Feria de los Pueblos" comes to Fuengirola for one week and brings the main feria ground to life with cosmopolitan ambiance and fantastic atmosphere. The feria ground is easily accessible, located between the the main train station of Fuengirola and that of Los Boliches, meaning the festival attracts many visitors from all over Andalucia. This special event offers the opportunity to taste and sample the traditional food and drink of various countries including; Ireland, Germany, Cuba, France, Italy, Mexico, Sweden and many more! Each country has it's own tent with themed music and decoration, a visit to the "Feria de los Pueblos" allows you to "travel the World" in just a couple of hours! The fair is taking place this week until Sunday evening.

How the volcano affected our guests...

Here's a picture of me with Phonsie and Aileen. Their travel plans were also disrupted by the volcanic ash in the skies over Northern Ireland, but as you can see from the photo they weren't exactly upset with the prospect of staying on the Costa del Sol a little longer than planned. The couple had no choice but to relax in the sun and enjoy the unexpected days of holiday at Sunset Beach Club! Click here to view their video comments!

Family fun on unexpected extended holiday!

Although the volcanic ash and flight cancellations have caused severe disruption to many tourists here on the Costa del Sol, there's still plenty of guests here that are making the most of their unexpected extended holiday in the sun! Tom and his family are enjoying every extra minute here at Sunset Beach Club. See their video comments here!

Devine and delicious dishes not just for dinner!

Mmmmm..our new menus are now available online! Whether your looking for a poolside lunch, light bite, take away snack, great value set menus or fine á la carte dining, the Oasis Restaurant has got something for every tastebud! From Traditional Spanish Paellas to juicy flame-grilled Irish steaks, it's no surprise that the restaurant here at Sunset Beach Club attracts not only hotel guests but also many local residents.

Happy holidays!

What a lovely start to the day! There was a nice surprise in the inbox of Claire, our Resort Services Manager, this morning, a bright a cheerful e-card from Jim and Susan McHugh. Our thanks goes out to them for taking the time to show how much they enjoyed their holiday and on behalf of all staff, we look forward to welcoming them again soon!

Isabel Luna

Isabel Luna is here singing live this weekend! The popular Spanish flamenco singer will be performing in the Panorama bar on Friday from 9pm onwards and then on Saturday from 9.30pm in our Moonlight Cabaret Theatre. With free entrance for all why not come by this easter and enjoy a taste of real Spain with some traditional flamenco music!

Easter is more than just eggs!

It's Semana Santa! This week is holy week all over the world, but not many other countries celebrate with such style as Spain. Rather than Good friday and bank holiday Monday, here the festive days are Thursday and Friday where you see an incredible cultural display with all main cities hosting enormous parades that last the entire weekend. Malaga, Sevilla and Granada are all very popular over the Easter period, here in Malaga extra schedules of public transport will be added and the town will be overwhelmed once again with the hustle and bustle of visitors from all over Europe.

Scottish Golf Show 2010

Debbie from Sunset with Dani of Huelva. Our Commercial Director Debbie arrived back in Spain yesterday after a very successful weekend at the Scottish Golf Show. This is the second consecutive year the Scottish Golf Show has been held in Glasgow, but the first year that Sunset Beach Club had our own stand. The show was very busy with lots of both visitors and exhibitors, which made braving the cold worthwile!

Putting the party into Wedding Party!

Unsuspecting guests may have mistaken Wednesday's wedding for a children's birthday party! Lisa and Jez didn't want a formal bash but instead wanted their day to be as relaxed and truly enjoyable as possible, not just for themselves but for all of their guests, especially the younger ones! After getting married in Gibraltar the couple that live locally here on the Costa del Sol travelled back to the Hotel where they greeted guests with a cava and canapé reception followed by gala dinner and then after party. The bride pulled out all the stops when it came to decorating the banquet room, brightly coloured balloons, assorted chair ribbons and incredible amounts of sweets and chocolate on every available surface, not to mention the cake! Words can't describe, so hopefully this picture does the trick, a fantastically fun day was enjoyed by all!

Win a Golf Holiday!

Fancy a golf holiday? Whether you're looking to travel with your partner or your best golfing buddy. We're pleased to offer you the chance to win 4 nights accomodation with breakfast here at Sunset Beach Club for 2 people with 2 greenfees each! All you need to do to enter this fantastic competition is visit our stand at the Scottish Golf Show this weekend, SECC Glasgow, where'll you'll be greeted by Debbie, our Commercial Director!

St Patricks Celebrations in Benalmadena

Each year, Benalmadena hosts a St Patrick's Day parade through the town centre of Arroyo de la Miel. The popularity of the parade increases each year, attracting around 1,000 local Irish residents. If you want to watch or take part in the parade, head up to Arroyo this afternoon!

Terminal 3 Opens!

Yesterday, Monday 15th March saw the opening of the new terminal at Malaga International Airport! If you've been to Benalmadena before, or in fact anywhere on the Costa del Sol, then you will already be familiar with Malaga Airport, and may have seen the new facility being developed over previous years. The new terminal 3 will boast 180 check-in counters, 48 boarding gates and 26 baggage belts and therefore creating the capacity of handling up to 30 million passengers per year! New roads and new stops for public transport will all aid in the usability of this fantastic new facility which is part of the biggest transformation in the history of the airport.

Paddy's Day Celebrations at Sunset

Yes it's that time of year again! St Patrick's Day 2010 falls on Wednesday 17th March, and of course here at Sunset we'll be celebrating in style! So if you're in the area and looking for a great night out, check out our special menu.

Pool Bar Opening

The first sure sign of the Summer season has arrived. The pool bar opened yesterday for the first time this year and will be now be open for drinks and ice creams all day everday (weather permitting).

Incredible value offer

New offer, incredible value! The sun is shining and the sky is blue this morning here in Benalmadena, so why not take advantage of this too good to be true last minute offer and come and stay with us this month. You can enjoy a self catering stay in an interior apartment from just 20€ per person per night or treat yourself to an exterior apartment including breakfast from just 28€ per person (all prices based on two sharing).

Malaga Football Match

Looking for something different to do this weekend? Sunday 7th March, La Rosaleda, home to Malaga Football Club will welcom Xerez CD. This game promises to be and exciting Andalucian derby with both teams fighting for success, so why not head into Malaga centre and experience some real Spanish football? Click here for more info.

Win a romantic stay!

As you already know, if you're a regular visitor to our blog, this weekend my colleague Claire and our Wedding Planner Kerry will be exhibiting on stand E20 at the Belfast Wedding Journal Show. Great new is though, if you're planning a trip to the show you will not only get a chance to meet them and pick up some valuable information about weddings and general facilities at the hotel, but you will also be offered the chance to win a romantic stay with us! We often run competitions for accomodation here at Sunset, but this one is extra special as Knock Travel have also sponsored the competition by offering the winner an Aer Lingus flight voucher with a value of up to 200€! Call by our stand at King's Hall and fill out a form to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic price!

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner!

New for Summer 2010, Check out our great value Full Board rates! You can now stay with us at Sunset Beach Club and not have to worry about where or when to eat, as you will have breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Perfect for a relaxing holiday.

Feria de la Tapa at Tivoli

This month Tivoli World Amusement Park in Arroyo de la Miel have been celebrating the wonderful world of tapas! Each weekend offers a different speciality, this weekend is the turn of the "Arroces" which means there will be different rice dishes to be tasted, entrance to the park is free during this event and it is open from 12 - 7pm, with a tapa and drink setting you back just 1.50€. A great way to try some traditional cuisine and keep the kids entertained, especially with sunny skies forecast for the weekend!

Come visit us in Belfast!

Claire, our wedding coordinator is looking forward to next weekend's wedding show. After a very positive response from the Wedding Journal Show at the Citywest earlier this year, we hope the Belfast show will be as enjoyable. The show will be open Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the King's Hall in Belfast, so if you're in the area be sure to pop by and visit the Sunset Beach Club stand! For more information about the show please click here to visit the Wedding Journal Online.

Still not made any plans?

This Sunday is of course, St. Valentine's day so why not treat yourself and your valentine to a romantic meal here at the Oasis Restaurant? Who can refuse a four course meal for 2 including wine and soft drinks accompanied by live music at a picturesque four star poolside location for just 60€ per couple! For more information and to view the menu, please click here.

First wedding of the year!

Today is the official start to the Sunset Beach Club wedding season! Our first wedding of the year is that of Liisa and Taisto, which as you may have guessed from their names are a Finnish couple. They are holding the ceremony locally and then celebrating with family and close friends at a dinner reception in our Sala Malaga which has been beautifully decorated with red ribbons and rose petals!

Bride of the Year, Dublin

This weekend sees yet another team of Sunset Staff visiting Dublin! Claire, our onsite Wedding Coordinator and Miguel, our Operations Manager will be attending the Bride of the Year Show held at Dublin's RDS Exhibition Centre. If you would like to visit them, the show is open from 11:30am Saturday and Sunday and you can find them on Stand nº E24 (Sunset Beach Club).

Escape this feb!

48€ per apt/night self catering*

56€ per apt/night B&B*

72€ per apt/night Half Board (B&B plus 3 course set lunch or dinner excl. drinks)*

*Prices based on doule occupancy in a 1 bedroom exterior apartment with sea or mountain views, including VAT. (Supplements apply for additional occupancy - apartments are suitable for up to 2 adults + 2 children)

Book online

Busy weekend at Holiday World Dublin

Debbie and Chelo had a busy weekend at the Holiday World show at the RDS in Dublin, where they introduced lots of visitors to Sunset Beach Club, and also caught up with some regular guests. A great show, with no shortage of interest from families, golfers, and also some brides, who we also hope to see next week at the Bride of the Year Show. Watch this space for news tomorrow of the winner of the Prize Draw. The lucky winner will receive three nights accommodation at Sunset Beach Club.

Dublin's Wedding Journal Show

I've only just got around to uploading my pictures from my recent trip to Dublin! As I had mentioned on an earlier post that this was my first trip to Ireland and I am pleased to say I had a great time there, working hard on our stand at the Wedding Journal Show all weekend and meeting lots of friendly locals. Although the weather wasn't great, at least I managed to avoid the snow! The show was held at the Citywest Convention centre and there was a great turn out, with lots of interest in getting married here in Spain. My colleagues, Miguel and Claire will be in Dublin again this weekend at the Bride of the Year Show, so if you're in the area, be sure to visit them at the RDS!

On the stand at Holiday World Show in Belfast...

The España stand at Holiday World Belfast. The show was well attended, and it was very encouraging to see that so many people are starting to plan and look forward to their next holiday. Debbie had a busy three days chatting to past and potential guests, who were interested in various types of holiday, including family holidays, winter breaks, golf packages and ladies winter escapes!