At the western end of the Costa del Sol, with the imposing Rock of Gibraltar as a backdrop, Sotogrande is perhaps the quintessential luxury resort.

Favoured by the Madrid elite, it as been a popular holiday home from home for the rich and famous for more than 50 years. Today it has an intoxicating mix of traditional Mediterranean villas and the modern waterside apartments of the marina.

With an impressive pedigree, Sotogrande offers the very best in leisure. Within the few square miles of the resort are some of the finest golf courses in Spain, including, of course, Valderrama, host of the 1997 Ryder Cup and home to the Volvo Masters. In addition to Valderrama there are the equally appealing Sotogrande, Almenara, La Reserva and La Cañada courses, with the Alcaidesa links course and the twin courses at San Roque just a few minutes away.

But Sotogrande, whilst having become almost synonymous with golf over the past few years, has so much more to offer. Three polo fields attract the polo set during the summer months and there are a number of important tournaments on the Sotogrande calendar. Horseriding is another popular activity with many hacking trails taking riders through cork oaks and pines around the estate.

But where Sotogrande is really blossoming is in the marina area. Waterfront apartments and townhouses with their own marina berth are reminiscent of the South of France or Miami. Some residents have their car parked on one side of their home and their powerboat moored on the other – a perfect combination!

The marina is full of life, with cafeterias and bars, restaurants and designer shops to tempt the visitor. But whilst it is full of life, it is lived at a slightly more sedate and leisurely pace. In Sotogrande there is no need to hurry. Life here is to be savoured and enjoyed. After all, if a cool drink on a summer terrace overlooking delicate sailboats as they gently rock on the swell of the Mediterranean has to be rushed – well, someone, somewhere is missing the point….

Sotogrande, as one of the more mature resorts on the Costa del Sol, has a good number of year round residents and, as a result, a good level and range of services. And, of course, it is very well located for the airport in Gibraltar with excellent connections to the UK. Indeed, many businesspeole working in Gibraltar choose Sotogrande as their home.

Property in Sotogrande is perhaps more established than in other areas of the Coast, and, as such, it holds its value very well. Whilst there are many new developments in Sotogrande, the older golf courses have their full complement of frontline villas. Many of these were built some years ago on substantial plots and are highly prized in today’s market where land is at more of a premium. The beachfront is equally prized and there are some spectacular villas whose gardens lead directly onto the sand.

So if luxury is what you require – and here we are talking true luxury, not the watered down version which is often used – and misused – so freely, then Sotogrande is where you should be looking to make your home.