Travel Review: La Manga Club

By Leila Stocker

Just over fifty years ago, a golf-mad American named Gregory Peters stumbled on a picturesque part of the Costa Calida. He had a vision to create the world’s most luxurious sports resort, destined to be the size of Monaco. Now double the size of that principality, La Manga Club - based in Murcia in south-east Spain, celebrated its 50^th anniversary last year.

Bordered by the Mar Menor natural Salt Lake and Calblanque Regional Park, the complex officially opened in 1972 and now covers an area of 1,400 acres with approximately 2,600 properties. Over the past 50 years, the golf and tennis resort has welcomed sporting greats and celebrities alike, to grace its greens and courts. Here is the low down of how to have a fantastic holiday at La Manga Club.

Booking up

Find the best accommodation with La Manga Getaways – the resort’s exclusive holiday rentals firm that is also celebrating its own 20^th anniversary this year. Run by the bubbly Sarah and Dom Sabatino, the company specialises in luxury accommodation on the resort. Sarah and Dom both have first-hand experience of the area, having lived there for many years. The firm currently manages 60 holiday-rental properties.

Where families should stay

La Manga Getaways offers family-friendly, luxury accommodation in many different communities around La Manga Club. Arguably the best community for children of all ages is Bellaluz. This established development of apartments and villas is built round a lively central square with bars and restaurants, has two large pools, plus playground and is a hub for families at La Manga Club – especially during the school holidays.

Where is best to stay for views?

Los Altos Villa is modern inside, has fabulous views and is a stones’ throw from La Manga Club’s tennis centre, shops, banks and popular bars, such as The Last Drop. This stunning three-bedroom villa in Los Altos rents from £900 per week.

What to do on resort

Having undergone huge improvements over the past year, the sparkling new Racquets Club now has a brand-new gym, plus padel and pickleball courts, adding to the refurbished clay, Astro and green set tennis courts. Holidaymakers can also play on one of the three championship golf courses,

Where’s best for lunch

Guests should visit the longest standing restaurant at La Manga Club - El Bistro in Bellaluz Pueblo. A truly perfect spot for a relaxed lunch or dinner - everything on the menu is thoughtfully prepared. Try the speciality of salt-baked sea bream, served with simple grilled asparagus.

Where to go for a special dinner

Gimlet in Bellaluz, offers mouth-watering, tapas-style sharing platters. With a Bulgarian influence, the menu follows a Spanish tapas-style and sharing is encouraged. Try the mackerel salad, courgette carpaccio and signature slow-cooked, pressed lamb.

Or set in its own grounds around a pretty garden, La Finca is also spot on for special occasions. A La Manga Club institution, it is a cavern of glamorous animal prints and interesting artwork. Food is lovingly prepared and live music is performed in summer months.

What to do off-resort

La Manga Club has views to two different stretches of water – the calm Salt Lake of Mar Menor, which lies between the mainland’s coast and the La Manga Strip and the med sea on the other side, with its rugged mountainous coastline. Take a boat trip on the Mar Menor with Happy Boats. The firm hires luxury speed boats for six adults for two hours from 190 Euro.

Also located in the seaside town of Playa Honda, less than a 10 minute drive from La Manga Club, Apicoco Bar & Grill serves a mix of Spanish and English food and is known locally for its Sunday Paella.