Estepona has a varied range of shops, from typical tourist shops to designer stores and has two local market days one on a Wednesday which is the bigger of the two and the other on a Sunday, selling everything you can imagine from fresh fruit and vegetables to exotic spices from around the world.

An excellent choice of wines are available and lots of other local produce along with all the traders selling clothes, carpets, rugs, local gifts and lots of arts and crafts make this an excellent day out for all the family.

Estepona has its own fishing fleet and is still a very vibrant fishing port which has its own market and if you can get out of bed early enough, the best time is around 5am you can have your pick of a huge range of freshly caught fish.

The Puerto de Estepona also has a Sunday market which is always very popular and makes a great day out for all the family, after you have visited all the market stalls you can relax over a glass of wine or sangria overlooking the marina and its varied yachts and cruisers, some 400 of them.

The world famous Puerto Banus, which berths some of the most exclusive motor yachts in the world has to be on your list of places to visit, restaurants, bars, boutiques, arts and crafts shops, you name it its all here.

Puerto Banus also has a shopping mall, El Corte Ingles which has five floors of shops all high quality, a fashion shopping mall opposite and a ten screen cinema, ample parking available also.

Marbella is only twenty minutes from Casa Flores and for many years been one of the most exclusive and exciting towns in southern Spain, here the rich and famous can be seen in the up-market restaurants, shops and bars of the famous "golden mile". Orange Square is a beautiful park in the middle of Marbella and a meeting point for locals. A must to relax and watch while having a coffee.

Here are some of my favourite places to eat :-

Restaurante Cazador, Puerto de Deportivo Estepona - portions are huge, great value for money, one of my favourites. Dine here only if you are very hungry.

Restaurante Venta la Choza - This is elegant and cosy, with extremely well stocked wine cellar and fine Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine. Open daily for lunch and dinner served by attentive and friendly staffs. Ten minutes by car from Casa Flores. A personal favourite. Booking recommended.

Mandarin Palace:- A well established, inviting restaurant specialising in Peking and Cantonese cuisine. You will be greeted by warm and friendly staffs where your every whim is catered for.

Dragon de Oro:- Owned by Jackson lo and Anna Lam. This restaurant is famous for their delicious Szechwan &Peking cuisine. This is one our favourites featuring a cosy and stylish dining. Dragon de Oro is situated ten minutes from Casa Flores.

Estepona Port (on the water front) is also famous for its fish restaurants and tapas bars. It is a lively and fashionable port portraying a wide range of restaurants specializing from fish to pizzas. One of our favourites has to be Cazadore.

Estepona Central - Restaurant Sur (Argentinian). This restaurant has a varied menu ranging from Argentinean Pasties to fish and chips. This has to be one of Peter's favourite steak house. The atmosphere is friendly and informal.

Reinaldos Bar on the corner in the port, great music and atmosphere.

Che Corrine on the front line of the port - elegant and comfortable lounge bar with great music and fabulous atmosphere for that extra special night.

Spain's Costa del Sol is also known by many as the "Costa del Golf" with over forty courses on the coast between Malaga and Gibraltar.

Here are some of my favourites:-

Estepona Golf course:- The coast's only family owned and operated golf course, which was opened in 1989. Always provides a warm and friendly atmosphere. This is an 18 hole golf course, length 6,001m and par 72.It also boast the longest hole on the coast.

La Duquesa Golf:- One of the most popular venues for Mediterranean Golf tournaments. This course is a challenging Robert Trent Jones design, which runs 360 degrees around a hilltop with fantastic views of Mediterranean and Marbella. This is an 18 hole golf course, length 5,672m and par 72.

El Paradiso Golf:- A popular and well established course designed by Gary Player and constructed in 1973. A beautiful setting with lush fairways punctuated by meandering streams. This is an 18 hole golf course, length 6,116m and par 71.

Coto de la Serena golf course just opposite Las Dunas Hotel, 9 hole course all par threes, less expesive than most and with a little vanta watering hole half way around, this is worth a visit.

Sailing, boating, skiing, fishing, cycling/ mountain biking, pony trekking, tennis, sight seeing tours and much more make this a wonderful holiday location.

Cruising and sailing charter is available to Casaflores guests on a 36 foot Westerly yacht. Half day or full day, longer trips to Morrocco can be arranged. RYA yacht master and fully trained and experienced crew. E-mail us for details.

Selwo Adventure park - a fantastic day out for all the family, a wildlife park at its most natural. A must visit place when on the Costa del Sol.