This highly salubrious port just west of Marbella is a place to see how the other half live the high life - unless you're one of them of course, in which case you'll have your designated seat in one of the many outdoor cafes from which to sip your cocktail and watch the beautiful people go by before heading off to a party on a yacht.

The setting's not bad either, with a mountainous background and views of the ocean. The beautiful people need something to do in the daytime too, so there are boutiques, English-language cinemas, shopping centres and regular boat trips across the bay.

Slightly further west, its entrance marked by the bull ring, is Nueva Andalucia, a new development of luxurious villas and apartments based on a traditional Andalucian theme. It's set high up on the road towards the Sierra de Ronda mountains, so the views towards Africa are impressive.

This is another place to satisfy those in search of golf, with such top quality courses as Las Brisas, Los Naranjos, Aloha Golf and the floodlit La Dama de Noche nearby. There are also tennis courts and gyms, the popular Centro Plaza commercial centre and restaurants which have gained a name for their high standard of international cuisine.

The international school Aloha College is one of several schools in Nueva Andalucia.

If staying in the port there are a great choice of quality hotels in Puerto Banus