Pueblo Tranquilo

The journey to Pueblo Tranquilo (meaning peaceful village) takes you just a few minutes away from the beach, past designer villas and leafy developments, to a very exclusive and relaxing place to spend your family holidays, on the banks of the river Rio Real.

These luxurious, child friendly apartments are laid out in pretty clusters, nestling within a grove of Eucalyptus trees and surrounded by bird song.  This apartment is in one of the best spots overlooking the river, so you can enjoy reading a book on the terrace with the gentle sound of the water flowing in the background.

The whole complex is very well cared for, and there is a large swimming pool with a separate toddler pool, surrounded by flowering gardens and with plenty of sun loungers provided for total relaxation. 

The owners have thought of everything you may need when travelling with tots, and they have created such a tasteful and welcoming home that you may not want to leave!  You will have 2 bedrooms, a spacious open plan sitting-dining-kitchen area, two bathrooms and plenty to keep the children entertained.

I particularly love the private terrace which looks down to the river.  The sound of flowing water, the birds singing, the woodland and colourful bougainvillea might leave you thinking you are in a remote paradise - well remote it is not; as you are within just a few short minutes drive of the beach, shops, and the very lovely resort of Marbella.

This apartment is very tastefully finished and you will find everything you need from a rocking musical cot and Bumbo, and mod-cons like the huge flatscreen and WiFi, to the wonderful contemporary decor and furnishings.  A lift takes you up to the right place from the front door or from the underground parking area.

A wide bright hallway greets you, and immediately draws you to the open-plan sitting area, bathed in light from the terrace and overlooking the river and Eucalyptus groves beyond.

The sitting room has a leather 3-piece suite flanked by Italian marble tables and plush rugs, perfect for crawling tots to enjoy the great selection of toys and activities provided.  And if they need some downtime, then they can also enjoy a family DVD or a quick catch up of CBeebies before bed.  There is also a Wi-Fi connection available on a reasonable pay as you go system so you can bring the laptop or iPad.

The dining room has space for Mum, Dad, kids and the highchair, and there is line of sight from the American kitchen, so perfect to keep an eye on the children while whipping up a meal.  The kitchen itself is compact but fully equipped with everything you need - microwave, ceramic hob, oven, fridge freezer and a stock cupboard, so mealtimes are a breeze.

The master bedroom is spacious and bright with a view of palm trees. Air conditioning is provided in Summer and heating in Winter; a ventilation fan is also available for comfort in high season. This room has a lovely ensuite bathroom with bath and shower over, as well as a large walk-in wardrobe to hang your lovely new holiday frocks!

A twin bedroom is perfect for the children and has room for an additional cot, or there is space for two cots in the master bedroom if required.  The twin beds can be pushed together into a super-king size if perhaps two couples with babies wanted to share.

Finally there is a separate shower room, and plenty of storage space throughout the apartment.

Parent points:

• The children's room has a window over the far bed, parents should check it is locked
• Although there is a relatively high wall, children should be supervised on the balcony.

This apartment is in a lovely spot, overlooking the river and trees which run alongside these small Andalucian style blocks; all very peaceful and relaxing!

The terrace is edged with cerise bougainvillea and has a large table and seating for 6, together with two extremely inviting chaise-longues and a lemon tree! 

A really great feature of this complex is that the pool is set back along a private path on the river banks (all very safely fenced), and because it is a little away from the apartments you are not going to be disturbed by any noise during the summer. 

The pool itself is only about a minute's walk away and is accessible with a pushchair.  There is a shallow pool for toddlers together with bathrooms for changing and showering... and don't forget to grab a bestseller from the free book exchange on your way in!

• A large swimming pool with a separate toddler pool and spacious grass surround
• Enclosed terrace
• Pool & beach toys
• 2 Cots and cot linen, including Graco vibrating lullabye cot
• Microwave
• Steriliser
• Highchair
• Booster seat
• Bumbo
• Hand blender
• Plastic plates, cups and cutlery
• Potty
• Step
• Changing mat
• Bath toys
• Bed guards on request
• CBeebies, DVD player & music system available

For the children...

There is a great selection of toys to keep toddlers happy, as well as some favourite TV channels for the afternoons when it is too hot for the pool.  The apartment is just a couple of minutes drive from some great beaches, and the swimming pool is in a very safely enclosed area, with a separate toddler pool for non-swimmers.

Pueblo Tranquilo is owned by the same family as El Bosque, which is only about 5 minutes drive away so might be ideal if you are coming with friends but don't want to be in each other's pockets.

It is just a couple of minutes drive from the facilities of Torre Real and Elviria, which are both lovely upmarket suburbs of Marbella.  It has a good selection of international restaurants, bars and cafes, as well as being home to some very exclusive beach clubs such as the new African safari-themed Trocadero Arena. 

The Andalucian style complex is so lovely you might not want to leave! But should you wish to go out and explore then you are literally minutes from the main road that takes you to all of the attractions along the Costa del Sol, not to mention those beaches!

To explore farther afield you will be spoiled for choice. Here you are within an hour's drive of cultural gems like Gibraltar, Ronda and Malaga, and some of the most popular holiday resorts in Spain.

Here is a taster of what the Costa del Sol has in store...

The Safari park Selwo Adventure is easily reached on the road to Estepona, chock full of animals and wildlife, a trip on the huge safari trucks is sure to delight the little ones!  Why not make a day of it and take a picnic to enjoy at the top of the park with breathtaking views to Africa and the Rock of Gibraltar.

Over 6s will love a trip to Aventura Amazonia, an adventure course built into the tree tops of the pine forests in Elviria, just 3km from the Apartment.

The beach front areas of Elviria, el Rosario, Las Chapas, Cabopino, Marbella and Estepona are lined with "Chiringuitos" which are family friendly beach restaurants, and dotted with play areas for the children.  The traditionally Spanish old quarters in the larger towns of Marbella and Estepona are all worth a visit too.

Try a trip to Gibraltar - a Rock Tour by minibus to visit St Michaels Cave & World War Tunnels, and getting up close and personal with the Barbary Apes is just the thing for fantastic holiday memories! 

In Summer, you can take the family to visit the largest Aquapark on the Costa del Sol in Torremolinos, just 30 minutes away. There is plenty to keep children of all ages happy and some excellent shallow pools and attractions for Toddlers.  Fuengirola/Mijas have a smaller aquapark, Parque Acuatico Mijas, that is only 15 minutes or so drive and just as much fun.

Also along the coast is the resort of Benalmadena, where the family can spend a fabulous day out visiting the lovely Paloma Park with peacocks and semi-tame rabbits running around (take a picnic and food for the ducks!), then pop next door to Selwo Marina or perhaps take a tour on the mini train or Red Bus tour around Benalmadena.

Also in Benalmadena is the award-winning Puerto Marina which is a nice alternative to Puerto Banus. It is an exclusive port with a selection of restaurants, bars, and the delightful Sea Life Centre with a touch-tank for little visitors, but for a luxury touch then don't miss nearby Puerto Banus, millionaires playground indeed!

In Fuengirola you will find the Biopark, a new type of zoo based on respect for nature and the preservation of natural species.  Here you can meet the latest members of the family, two beautiful rare white tigers which can sadly only now be seen in captivity.

Heading inland we have a delightful choice of traditional "Pueblos Blancos" or white villages to visit.  Try Benahavis, the so-called gastronomical corner of the Costa del Sol, or the ever popular towns of Ronda and pretty Mijas Pueblo. 

One thing is certain, on a family holiday in Andalucia you will be spoilt for choice!

For many families, going away for less than a week may not be practicable. Closer to home though, short stays can be a great option and the calendars will allow you to select anything from 3 nights or more where this is available. If you are travelling outside of the school holidays (which of course we recommend if you can), consider arriving and departing on non-standard days (why not try 11 nights for example) as you can get some great deals both on your accommodation and on flights.

Before booking, please read our Terms and Conditions.

Choose your arrival and departure dates here to get the best flight prices and timings - just ask!

Price includes: linen, towels, mid stay change of linen for bookings of two weeks or more, standard end of stay clean, electricity and heating. No charges apply for payment by Debit Card or Bank Transfer and a 2% charge will be applied to Credit Card payments.

Swimming pool available from mid-May to mid-September.