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Like much of the UK population, I struggle with letting go of summer. Given the few sacred days of sunlight we're graced with on this side of Europe, it's little wonder why, though parting from the season gets no easier despite my best efforts to mentally brace myself each year.
Needless to say, as September crept around and I inevitably noticed sunsets getting earlier and earlier, a faint sense of dread set in. Thankfully, I was prepared for this exact scenario and made sure I could soft launch into the colder season by smugly booking myself in for an extended summer holiday in the warm climes of Spain.
Though you'd never know it from how smoothly the resort runs, Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol only opened in early 2025. Set on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean coast, the resort lies between Sotogrande and Gibraltar, being a short 30-minute drive from Gibraltar airport.
With 153 equally chic rooms and 47 villas, all suites benefit from scenic views of the sea, Fairmont's well manicured terrain, golf courses or the main pool. Rooms are light, beachy and stylish, with interiors that will have you snapping photos to take back home for your own interior inspo.
My Sea View Plunge Suite put me in good stead for the long weekend, including a spacious living room with TV, a private terrace with plunge pool and chilled outdoor sofa area. Fairmont beds are so renowned that you can actually buy their own bedding in the US (sorry, Brits), and I can confirm that I enjoyed the best sleep I’d had in months in this suite, with there being no better feeling than ending the day melting into my mattress and drawing the blackout blinds for maximum effect. Bathrooms, meanwhile, are marbled and elegant, featuring generous bath tubs (perfect for bubble baths and watching TSITP finale from, tried and tested) and a rainfall shower so relaxing that stepping out of it felt near impossible.
Though I am firmly of the mindset that if you're staying in a resort near the sea you are morally obliged to swim in the ocean, the plunge pool rooms and main pool area make a compelling case for otherwise. Truly, there's no shortage of dreamy spots to lounge the day away in, nowhere more so than the spa where I fell asleep on the massage table in the capable hands of one of the resort's friendly masseuses. Beyond a range of face and body treatments on offer, Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol's spa also offers a picturesque indoor pool, two hammams, a sauna, hydrotherapy and a fitness centre equipped with state-of-the-art machines, a yoga studio, gym and cardio room for good measure.
When it comes to food, between Umbra, El Faro la Hacienda and Dalmar, there's always a reason to look forward to meal time at Fairmont. Headed up by Michelin-starred chef Benito Gómez, Dalmar showcases the best of authentic Andalusian cuisine, prepared with quality and care that comes through in every bite. From Gómez's hearty signature jamón croquettes to delicate tuna tataki, dining here is an experience in every sense of the word.
Umbra has you covered for a more laid-back, Mediterranean style meal by the pool (think burgers, smoothies, salads), while El Faro offers a modern take on Spanish traditions, serving up melt-in-your-mouth carpaccio, expertly grilled fish and everything in between. Breakfast also takes place at El Faro, with an extensive buffet offering accounting for all tastes. Standout favourites here were their buttery, flaky praline pastries, wonderfully fluffy omelettes and generous meats and cheeses selection.
After waking up at the last possible moment before breakfast ended, a typical day would see me feasting here before retiring to my room to read by the plunge pool. Eventually, I'd migrate down to the beach that the resort sits on the edge of.
Without sounding too Miss Congeniality, a long walk on the beach is one of my favourite things to do ever, and thankfully you're well placed for this at Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol. Playa Alcaidesa is easily accessible from the resort (you can even get a lift via buggy, should you wish), being a long sandy stretch with uninterrupted views of the Rock of Gibraltar on one side and the lighthouse on the other. Enormous Guylian-esque shells are scattered across the expanse of the natural beach, seemingly too perfect to be real. In fact, they were very much real, and so too is the stunning resort just a few steps up from it.
Ultimately, my stay wasn't merely an antidote to the fading summer, but rather a chance for me to hit pause, fall back in love with my own company and soak up some much needed solitude. Days blurred into a gentle rhythm of sea breezes, good food and quiet afternoons spent reading. I even managed to finish a book for the first time in longer than I'd care to admit, and if that's not a sign of a good holiday then I'm not quite sure what is.
I left with perhaps the most treasured of all holiday souvenirs: a feeling of pure, unadulterated contentment, leaving me emotionally recharged for the months ahead.
Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol rooms start from £347 (including taxes and fees) for a Fairmont Poolside King Room. Rate includes breakfast.
Save when you book with these Booking.com discount codes.
