As a favourite
destination of the rich and famous, the Costa del Sol would not
be complete without top of the range shops and labels.
From boutiques to jewellers to large department stores and interior
design outlets, this area has it all.
The
most glamourous shops are naturally centred around Marbella and
Puerto Banus.
Almost every top brand can be found here, from Prada, Versace,
Bulgari and Cartier to the best in furniture, yachts and luxury
cars.
A new name for British visitors, but well established in Spain,
is Loewe a luxury leather and clothing brand with branches in
Marbella and Puerto Banus.
The
whole coastline is well served by large hyper markets and supermarkets
and it's entirely possible to get hold of everything you're familiar
with at home.
The Spanish chain of department stores "El Cortes Ingles"
have many outlets along the coast and have a product range familiar
to most British tastes as well as an excellent range of local
produce.
The cost of food and drink in the shops is roughly two-thirds
that of the UK, with some items such as alcoholic drinks and meat
considerably cheaper than this.
El
Cortes Ingles, Puerto Banus
Large department store overlooking the main square of Puerto Banus.
Here you'll find an excellent selection of Spanish and world-wide
designers as well as departments dealing in everything from hi-fi's
to watersports and briefcases to barbecues. Once you've explored
this be sure to check out the rest of the designer boutiques and
clothes shops that are dotted throughout the port.
Plaza Mayor, Malaga
A recently opened theme-park style shopping centre with loads of
leisure facilities if you get distracted from spending your euros.
Also houses a multiplex cinema that shows films in English.
La Cañada, Marbella
Now that the new phase has opened it's probably the largest selection
of shops outside a town centre. Home to many familiar names such
as Miss Selfridge and Evans it also houses a new fnac store where
you can buy many english books, DVD's and CD's.
Markets
There are all manner of outdoor markets in the towns and areas
of the Costa del Sol. From the large flea market in Fuengirola
to the conventional food markets held in most towns at some point
during the week.
Browse the stalls to find the bargains and be sure to haggle on
the prices, there's always a discount available! Still an excellent
place to pick up leather goods, foodstuffs and carpets, as well
as the usual selection of fake sunglasses and handbags!
