Looking for luxury, style and relaxation? The Balearics have got it all, as well as some of the best spas in Spain

1. Hotel Hacienda Ibiza

Think Ibiza: pristine azure waters, idyllic beaches and that cool, hippie chic vibe that just oozes calm and harmony. If this is an appealing idea, then the Hacienda Na Xamena spa will hit the spot. Nestling high on the cliffs overlooking the Med, in a blissfully unspoiled pinewood, the location is a natural paradise blessed with amazing flora and fauna.

Few visitors to Barcelona miss the colourful market of Sant Josep, also known as La Boquería, right on La Rambla, but there are many other gems tucked away throughout the Catalan capital.

Barcelona, with its fabulous Gothic quarter, impressively sprawling Sagrada Familia cathedral and more Gaudíesque buildings than you can throw a Dalí at, is attracting more than its fair share of visitors. From a culinary perspective it’s a treasure trove of everything from rustic Catalan cooking and Basque tapas – currently all the rage – to mouth-wateringly tasty paellas and sparkling cavas. To get a real feel for the city, its culture and cuisine, there’s nowhere better to get to grips with it all than local markets.

Penelope Cruz is finally coming into her own in English-language film, and she’s so happy she could sing

On a cold winter’s day in Berlin, Penélope Cruz breezes into the boardroom of the Adalon Hotel like a ray of sunshine. Once dubbed the ‘Spanish enchantress’, she may be 5ft 6in but you can’t fail to notice her. Dressed in figure-hugging navy jeans, tailored black jacket and silver-hoop earrings that peep through her long black hair, the 34 year-old starlet is in a triumphant mood. And no wonder: in town to promote Elegy, she’s just received some of the best reviews she’s ever received for an English-language film.

Spain’s ‘Coast of Light’, the Costa de la Luz, has loads of authentic charm, sympathetic new developments, and bargain prices. Article by Anthony Jeffries.

Not everyone is unhappy with the current state of the Spanish property market. On the far reaches of the Costa de la Luz, in Spain’s most south-westerly province of Huelva, British buyers are reaping the rewards of holding on to their cash a little longer. For the first time anyone can remember, Spanish vendors are having to drop their prices to meet market demands and developers are having to be more than a little creative to sell off-plan properties.

Tired? Skin looking dull? In desperate need of a massage or a manicure? Try a break at one of our top five luxury spas as recommended by Louise Cook.

Whether you’re looking for a simple facial or an in-depth course of treatments, Spain has some of the very best spas in the world. Here are our top five luxury spas by the sea.

Fiona and Simon are looking for a second home with golf nearby. Can we find them the perfect pad?

Dear Property Clinic,

We have decided to buy a second home and think that a house or apartment on a golf course and close to the sea combines the best of both worlds. Simon is keen on golf and wants to combine holidays with a chance to improve his game. I want to buy somewhere that we can lock up easily and know that it will be secure until our next visit. We have family who will join us for holidays so two to three bedrooms is a must. I think that new build would be best as we like modern, low-maintenance properties.

Fiona and Simon Jenkins, Hampstead

When their business went bust, it didn’t take long for Build a New Life in the Country stars Nick and Lesley Vallance to write down their dreams and make them come true. Article by Bob Morrison.

The ancient town of Velez-Malaga is only three miles inland from the resort of Torre del Mar on the Costa del Sol, yet few holidaymakers step out of that quarter-mile-deep comfort zone of the beach area to discover this bit of authentic Andalucia. With archaeological remains in the area dating back to Phoenician times, and both Roman and Moorish influences still visible in the layout and architecture, Velez is one of those interesting gems that has somehow managed to remain out of sight despite being in full view.

Spanish food has always been influenced by its trade with the many countries that surround the Mediterranean Sea

The Mediterranean region is shared by many countries that may be physically and culturally different and yet show similarities, not least in terms of their food. They enjoy an abundance of produce, ripened under sunny skies in the fertile soils that surround the sea.

Computer expert Craig Mander didn’t let a little thing like learning the language stop him building a life and coaching football on the Costa del Sol

Craig Mander didn’t plan on building a life in Spain. For one thing, he had everything going for him back home in Britain, and for another, he didn’t speak a word of Spanish and had never visited the country. He was busy building a career in his native Hertfordshire when he was headhunted at 21 years old to set up the information technology systems for an estate agency on the Costa del Sol.