FALLING IN LOVE WITH MARBELLA

Basically, it's one of those hotels that you visit and the moment you leave, you instantly say "I can't wait to go back!" 

I'm sure you'll all be aware by my increasing travel content and constant Instagram wanderlust that travelling the world and seeing as much of its wonder's - lol to the cheesiness levels just one sentence in - is one of my biggest passions and I will embrace any opportunity to see more of it. But despite having a travel bucket list longer than the Kardashian's list of marriages - Soz Kimmy K and co, love you really - one place that I never even considered putting on the list was Marbella.

To me, Marbella was a place where the TOWIE cast went - having worked on the show for a year I say this in a "true story" kinda way rather than a derogatory one - somewhere where people look mega, ultra, super glam 24/7 and where people who love to party go, but after just returning home from 3 heavenly days, I'm really sad that I felt that way because I can honestly say, I've never been so positively surprised and overwhelmed by a place. From the atmosphere, to the fellow guests, the surroundings that Instagram dreams are made of... Marbella is really, really stunningly beautiful. Like, if Marbella was a person, it'd be Blake Lively. That beautiful.

So, me and my gal pal Hannah - who after spending 3 solid days with, I have officially decided is my spirit animal/a sassier version of myself - headed off to catch our Monarch flight to Malaga (p.s I'm not sure I've ever flown Monarch before but my 5"8 self was seriously loving the leg room and how easy/comfortable the flight was) to stay at the Amare Marbella hotel and we were both immediately blown away by how stunning it was.

And then proceeded to Snapchat, Instagram, Tweet, Vlog and Photograph the entire thing #bloggerlife...

Arriving at the hotel at around 8:30pm, it was still light enough to see that we had seriously lucked out with the most stunning room - that also contained a bottle of Moet and if you think that Hannah and I didn't mini fist pump at this then you are seriously mistaken) but it was only on awakening the next morning, sun shining brightly on the ridiculously exotic looking hotel and resort that I really had a to take a moment to appreciate just how stunning that view really is.

Then I attempted to capture the room's beauty - I say "attempted" because put two beauty and fashion loving girls that tend to overpack at the best of times in one room and you basically have a bombsite in 2minutes [insert cry laughter emoji here]. As with the rest of the Amare Marbella, our room was a stunningly light and airy room with lots of whites - if the Amare had a profession, it would be a blogger/Instagrammer - with gorgeous touches of turquoise and marble. The most luxurious and comfy bed complete with a coffee machine [there are not enough heart eye'd emoji's available for this], a corner sofa, a dreamy shower and of course, that terrace which I've officially made my life goal to own.

It was just so comfortable, but also so modern and chic, and trust me, having stayed in a lot of hotels recently that mix is pretty hard to come by.

After oohing and ahhing at the room throughout the whole trip - yeah, soz about that Han - we then took ourselves off to explore the rest of the hotel before breakfast, giving each other "Oh my god this place is so Instagrammable" smirks as we went. The reception in itself is super beautiful whilst the VIP lounge - which yes, we could get into, lols at us being VIP's - is one of those mega calm and zen places that I can just imagine chilling in with a pina colada, bashing out 3/4 blog posts (#DreamLife) whilst feeling like some sort of princess. You can also grab a bite to eat at any time between 7 - 11 and you better believe that we ducked into it many times for cheese and meats breaks. And then we have the spa. Oh my goodness the spa can I please just live there for the rest of my life, many thanks?! After a quick hydrotherapy session - jeez, we so fancy - I headed in for a Shi Zen relax which was genuinely the most incredible massage I've ever had in my entire life. Inspired by Shiatsu, it aims to bring relaxation and wellbeing and that is exactly what it did.

I mean, minus the cheese, that's probably not so great for my wellbeing is it? 

Whilst on the subject of cheese, let's just discuss food for a moment. I am a big foodie, but I'm also one of those awkward coeliac types - the ones that actually have to eat gluten free - so I was a little cautious to begin with that I may be left hungry. But thanks to the most incredible buffet with such a fab selection of all kinds of foods, my appetite was easily kept in check (no mean feat, believe me). With fry ups, meats, cheeses, fruits, waffles, breads - including gluten free bread!! Now that deserves the hand clapping emoji's - and the dinner buffet with cuisines from all over the world, I seriously looked forward to every single meal.

The meal that without a doubt was the most "this really is my dream life" meal was our lunch on the last day though. It wasn't necessarily the food itself - although I have to say, that Goats cheese, berries, honeyed walnuts and balsamic glaze salad will be in my dreams for the foreseeable future. No seriously, the dreamiest of all dreamy salads - it was that we were based in the beach club, looking out over one of the most gorgeous, exotic looking beaches I've seen, having girl chats and grateful moments. Those are always my favourite kinda meals. The ones where you're not even bothered about getting the perfect instagram shot because you're too busy enjoying the moment... just to put it into perspective for you all ;)

I've lost myself in that goats cheese for a moment, where was I? Oh right, so once we'd demolished some food, on our second night we got ready for the hotel's opening season party #AmareParty and it was such a beautiful way of showing guests, VIP's, journalists etc. what the hotel really has to offer. Now, we all know I'm a major granny so parties aren't always my favourite thing - mainly because Harry Potter marathons with hot chocolate wins out always - but this one was different. We started with a tour of the hotel, ending on the rooftop bar with some champagne (not a bad Friday night tbh) before heading down for more cheese - Hi, my name's the Brie/Feta/Goats cheese next door, how ya doing? - more drinks, a fashion show from some spanish beauty queens that really made me regret the extra chunk of brie and handful of salami and just general good times. It was the perfect last night to end our stay and such a fab way of showing everyone that the Amare hotel is not only gorgeous, but the perfect place to stay for those wanting amazing food and brilliant entertainment all in the most luxurious of surroundings. I'm all about that kinda life...

We also - sorry, sorry, I know you thought you were nearly at the end, just one extra little fangirl - happened to be demolishing our cheese and meats and everything else when the sun decided to put on a show of it's own producing the most insane pinky/purple/golden sunset that genuinely took my breath away. You know I'm as a major loser for sunsets so sat there in that moment, with a prosecco and kilogram of cheese, oh, and Hannah by my side (lols) it really was one of those "I am so blooming grateful for life" moments. I had a lot of those on this trip, but this was a special one!

With our final day coming round far too soon, we took ourselves off to explore the old town - otherwise known as Instagram porn - before soaking up some final rays by the pool and discussing all things Marbella and life. I know I've said this a lot now, which is why I'll only reiterate it one last time. Everything that I thought Marbella would be, the Amare Marbella and Old Town area, just wasn't that at all. Sometimes when a place is so luxurious, it almost becomes slightly pretentious or clinical and definitely not somewhere that ever truly feels homely, but this stunning place really did feel like a home from home. It's a place that older couples, younger couples, families and your girlfriends would absolutely love, somewhere you go to relax and chill and forget about all of life's troubles. It's somewhere that you can be waited on hand and foot whilst chilling by the pool or beach, or just chill out on your terrace looking out on to views that belong in photo frames.

Basically, it's one of those hotels that you visit and the moment you leave, you instantly say "I can't wait to go back!" 

Have you ever been to Marbella before? Ever stayed at, or are thinking of staying at Amare Marbella? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

xx

We flew with Monarch, the scheduled leisure airline, which operates flights to Malaga from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton, Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £49 one way (£80 return).

For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www.monarch.co.uk

Also a huge thanks to Marbella Tourism for making our trip as special as it was.

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