Our third stop-off on this two week mission to find a wedding venue is the Estepona Palace along the beach front in the heart of Estepona. The hotel is really beautiful with a stunning grand reception, large spacious bedrooms (some in need of an uplift) and large grounds with a huge pool right next to the beach. The beach itself isn’t the best beach in the Costa Del Sol but just a five minute walk around the corner is a great swimming beach with drinks and snack bars.

My only reservation with this hotel is the popularity of it! The two previous hotels we’ve stayed in were very quiet and peaceful but at the H10 you have to fight for a sunbed and get down early in the morning to reserve a good spot. Breakfast time is also a bit manic and again getting there early pays off. Other than that it is quite lovely and bearing in mind it is peak time I guess it’s to be expected.

We did find a really lovely spot here where we could potentially have our wedding ceremony but its not quite exclusive enough for a quiet doo and the function/disco room was OK but not great.

The best thing about this hotel is the location, everything is either a short walk or short drive and its quite easy to get around and find your way back!

I haven’t been to the spa yet but it looks really lovely and quite reasonably priced as well. I may opt for a quick treatment in there before I am whisked off the our next hotel in Ronda, maybe a massage to recover from all the wedding planning!

Visit the H10 Website for prices and more information.

Photographs from The H10 Estepona Palace

After checking out of the Rock Hotel Gibraltar, we headed for the Selenza hotel just outside Estepona. We got a bit lost because the hotel is not situated right on the beach, in fact its a little out of the way but we got there in the end.

The 4* hotel appears brand new and super modern with simplistic but effective decoration throughout. The snack bar, restaurant and pool area are also well looked after and beautifully styled. Our room was on the 3rd floor and was nice, the only downside was that a road ran directly passed the hotel so instead of listening to the soothing sound of the sea as I read my novel on the balcony, I could hear sounds of building trucks wizzing past and noisy pedestrians.

The Room itself was very nice; plasma TV, large bed, good wardrobe space, dressing gowns, good shower, very comfortable. If you decide to stay here, request a room on a lower floor overlooking the swimming pool - a much better view and more peaceful surroundings.

In terms of the appearance of the hotel itself I have no complaints. I do however think the location was poor, it is on the end of Estepona on the way to Puerto Banus (visited Trader Vics, Banus while staying here which I highly recommend if you fancy a night out). Not close to any shops therefore eating in the hotel restaurant is the only option if you don’t have a hire car or want to get a taxi. The food and drinks were overpriced and there is a limited selection.

If you get a chance to visit the spa please do, we were given vouchers to use the Thalasso Pool free of charge for the day which we took full advantage of. The spa is beautiful, very up to date, fantastic gym and there are some great treatments on offer. Treatments are expensive but a wide variety are available. I had a citrus body scrub to get rid of dead cells which was very relaxing and helped prepare my skin before my sun bathing sessions.

All in all, a lovely looking hotel in a poor location but well worth a visit if you fancy a few days of pampering and relaxation. Visit www.selenza.com for more pictures and information.

Photographs from The Selenza

Its quite a well known fact that most women buy designer sunglasses as that’s for some as close as they will get to owning anything designer so why not get the best this 2008 from Harvey Nichols online.

The selection of sunglasses is amazing but I’ve fallen for the Bottega Veneta BV58/S 807 LF sunglasses in black with 100% UVA and UVB protection. With classic round black acetate frames and graduated grey lenses these sunglasses make for a super chic and feminine look. For some reason I picture either a lovely headscarf or neckachief and a large tote to be the perfect accessories with the glasses.

Get yourself a pair from Harvey Nichols online costing £175.

Just as you think Ibiza cant get better, Ibiza Rocks the seasonal event of live music and wild partying takes over a hotel.

The former Club Paraiso hotel has now been renamed and will be open for the summer season. The 3 star hotel situated in San Antonio will include three swimming pools, a 24 hour bar, 2 pool side bars and gym and a restaurant to name a few. Just 300 meters from the beach and sunset bars the hotel is situated right in the centre of San Antonio. What do you get in your Ibiza Rocks holiday? Plenty of entertainment from pool parties to after parties, rep service and a guaranteed option to buy Ibiza Rocks gig tickets for indie’s freshest and finest bands. There’s also optional airport shuttle transfers and insurance. Studios are available based on 3 or 4 people staying with basic facilities including bath, shower, WC and kitchen.

Book your Ibiza Rocks holiday through the website. Seven nights at the beginning of July costs around £415 based on 2 people sharing.

Shopping for sunglasses sounds easy but in actual fact it’s a gruelling task which takes hours because you need to find the right pair for you especially if they are by a pricey fashion designer.

These Tom Ford Bianca sunglasses may lighten your summer accessory load. With thick black frames and dark lenses this sleek and stylish pair of sunglasses are a ‘must have’ this summer.

Although they are an expensive £199 they are so worth it. Get your pair at Net A Porter now and enjoy the sun in style.

Once again the Rio carnival returns and is livelier than ever. This year it begins on Saturday the 2nd of February until ‘Fat Tuesday’ the 5th of February. I know it’s Monday morning but if you happen to be in Rio get yourself down there or just remember the month for 2009’s carnival.

With so much to do the carnival is one of the liveliest and most talked about events in South America. Samba parades, carnival balls, Rio scala, Samba land, merry making in Lapa, Samba school nights and street parties are just some of the forms of entertainment on offer, it is an event not to be missed.

Visit the Rio Carnival website for information about tickets and prices or just head to the street parties for free and party the night away.

Accessories are a key part in the overall beach chic look so it’s important to accessorize well.

So, you’ve got the bikini, the sun cream, the beach bag and the shades now you need the towel. Emilio Pucci just happens to have created an ultra chic Orchidea Print Beach Towel which is ‘so’ St Tropez. The multi coloured towel has a block colour boarder and is plain white on the underside. Wear an electric blue bikini like the Diane Van Furstenberg love know bikini I mentioned in the previous blog or go for other colours shown on the towel to match and compliment.

Get your Emilio Pucci towel now at Net-A-Porter for £140.

Nothing gets me in the mood for summer more, than seeing the swim wear option on my favourite clothing websites.

The January holiday sales are in motion and all I can think about is what bikini shall I invest in this year (a new bikini is an annual shopping ritual). I headed to Net-A-Porter for its fantastic line up of swimwear this season and I am impressed and in love. This Diane Von Furstenberg bikini has caught my eye. Turquoise is a great colour to go for when showing of that tan and the cute love knot details are a lovely top off. The bikini has a self tie top - excellent for comfort and the bottoms have skinny sides which can be quite flattering.

Get your Diane Von Furstenberg Love Knot Bikini at Net-A-Porter, priced at £118.

Following the success of the über-chic Gansevoort hotel in New York, the Gansevoort is headed for the south of North America, Miami to be precise.

The new hotel, Gansevoort South, is opening for 2008 and will be accepting reservations from the 15th of February. Combining its unique features like its 24,000 square foot roof top with a 110 foot pool with surrounding palm tree’s, a bar and lounge and spectacular views of the city of Miami and South Beach. There’s even a 50 foot long glass fish tank in the lobby containing 27 types of fish and sharks. Enjoy, colourful and spacious rooms with high tech features and amenities, including luxury shopping, a gym and spa.

The Gansevoort South can be found at 2377 Collins Ave. Miami, South Beach Florida 33139, for more information visit Gansevoort South. Doubles start around $395 per night.

Set against the backdrop of beautiful blue skies, turquoise seas and golden sunsets the Four Seasons resort in Koh Samui, Thailand is a paradise.

Tucked away on the hillside resort on the Gulf of Siam, you can stay in your own villa with coconut grove and tropical garden surroundings. To top it all off you can sun yourself on The Four Seasons very own private beach. Beach villas offer spectacular and unobstructed views of the Gulf and surrounding islands and come with outdoor wooden decking and seating area. To add to the tranquillity of it all you can enjoy eating by the beach or hillcrest and pamper yourself at the spa.

Enjoy yourself, exploring the beautiful island and the gorgeous scenic views in Koh Samui. Villas cost around £710 per night, to view available accommodation at The Four Season in Koh Samui and for reservations visit The Four Seasons website.