Puerto Banus in Marbella, Southern Spain is one of the most exclusive resorts in the world but there are only five Hotels that are actually in Puerto Banus itself.

Fair enough, there are plenty of Hotels throughout Marbella to cater for all tastes and budgets but if you want to stay in Puerto Banus, right in the heart of the place, what choices do you have and what are the names of the Hotels?

First of a brief description of Puerto Banus, Puerto Banus is all about the Marina which contains yachts and motor boats, large and small. The Marina in Puerto Banus is lined with pavement cafes and restaurants that serve a mixture of traditional Spanish food and the more typical modern cuisine that we are now used to and expect.

Until ten years ago that was basically it but now the resort stretches back from "the port ? and engulfs 2 large shopping squares, Marina Banus indoor shopping complex and the five storey department store, El Corte Ingles.

You can also find shops such as Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, Luis Vuitton, Hermes and Dior all within this small but select area.

So where to stay

The 3 star Benabola Hotel in Puerto Banus is actually an Aparthotel where you can rent self contained apartments, studios, one bed, 2 bed and 3 bedrooms but with all the facilities of a Hotel, such as daily sheet changes etc. Each apartment comes with a small kitchenette. The Benabola is in an ideal location between one end of the port and the popular Plaza Beach.

The Pyr Hotel in Puerto Banus is another Aparthotel offering a selection of Studio and 1 bedroom apartments with their own kitchenette. The Hotel offers all the usual things, Pool, caf etc and is in a good location, just back from the Port and right by the shops, but if you are unlucky you could end up with a room that has road noise from the main N340 that runs behind the hotel. Make sure you book your room with this in mind.

The largest Hotel is the 4 star Andalucia Plaza Hotel, a 390 room residence with both an indoor and outdoor pool that is great for the summer and winter. Together with a gym and one of only 3 Casinos on the whole Costa del Sol. Again you could get a room with a bit of road noise but the Hotel is in an ideal location just on the edge of town. It's around a 7 minute walk to the port and under 5 minutes to the beach.

Located directly next to the beach is the 4 Star Hotel Dinamar in Puerto Banus, like the Andalucia Plaza this hotel is on the edge of town but close enough to be within walking distance of everything. The Dinamar Hotel offers excellent facilities and is adjacent to the main sea front promenade that connects Puerto Banus to Marbella.

The only remaining Hotel is the 4 star Park Plaza Suites. Located overlooking both the Port and Plaza Beach this Hotel is ideal for those who literally want everything on their doorstep. Plaza Beach is also on your doorstep and over the peak summer season Plaza Beach has lively beach parties with top DJs and Dancers on a Sunday afternoon and Thursday evening.

For many people looking to book their Holidays the Hotels in Puerto Banus seem like an expensive option when you can find slightly cheaper Hotels within a fifteen minute drive but please bear in mind that as most people spend every evening in the Port area the costs of Car Hire, parking and or Taxis every night could exceed the extra that one might pay to stay right in the heart of Puerto Banus.