A magical weekend in Spain
KAREN BARNES
Relax under the palms by the pool
FINCA CORTESIN, ANDALUSIA
GREAT ESCAPES
Usually I’m not a fan of large hotels because their size makes them impersonal. Finca Cortesin, near Estepona on the south coast of Spain, is an exception. And, actually, it doesn’t have a huge number of rooms (67, to be exact) – it’s the grounds, facilities and the generous amount of space given to covered terraces and shady corners that make the place seem as if it must play host to hundreds of guests. Yet it never feels busy, apart from just the right amount of buzz at mealtimes, because this is a destination known for its food, so people come from far and wide to eat in the restaurants. The hotel is akin to a hacienda – clusters of two and three-storey white buildings nestling in the shade of gnarled olive trees, looking out towards the Mediterranean.