When you think of the Costa del Sol, you naturally imagine hotels right on the seafront. However, the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace lies 10 minutes inland and is not in the whitewashed Andalusian style you might expect. When we arrived, we discovered an opulent, pale umber palazzo seemingly inspired by Tuscany, but Andalucia is clearly here in the courtyard rills and palm trees. Although it has a historical air, the hotel was built only about 20 years ago and has now been reborn as the first Spanish (and second European) property of Anantara, the Asian luxury group, and it is undergoing a gradual revamp with a sharp focus on its southern-Spanish setting. The glass-roofed lobby is overlooked by classical- style statues and sweeping twin staircases. Ceramic bowls, archaeological pieces, prints of Italian mansions and works from the hotel’s art collection are displayed along the walls. The Anantara Villa Padierna Palace has long-range views of the Mediterranean and is a 20-minute drive from Marbella and glitzy Puerto Banus. A shuttle takes you to and from the hotel’s Beach Club in ten minutes. The palatial pool is surrounded by the fountains, palms, cypresses and lotus ponds of the beautiful gardens. And then, of course, there are the three extraordinary world-class golf courses. There is also the award-winning Anantara Spa with more than 2,000 sq.m. of Roman baths, hamman and pool set in landscaped gardens. The 125 spacious and luxurious rooms, suites and pool villas are equipped with all the five-star amenities you would expect. We had the pleasure of staying in a wonderful junior suite with beautiful vistas over a golf course, with the Mediterranean in the background. During my stay I also visited the Padierna’s Villa Obama, a beautiful Andalucian pool villa where Michelle Obama and her children stayed during their holiday on the Costa del Sol. The Anantara Villa Padierna Palace is firmly on the map as a gastronomic destination since the property offers many terrific restaurants among the excellent culinary offerings, including La Veranda, La Loggia, 99 Sushi Bar & Restaurant and Gastronomy by the Sea at the Beach Club and an astonishing cocktail bar. Taken together, once you are settled in, you really don’t feel the urge to leave this place at all and you can truly unwind from day-to-day life. We only zipped back and forth twice to the beautiful Beach Club where we enjoyed the Andalucian sun, a delicious Mediterranean lunch and first-class service.