My husband loves skiing, I prefer lying on the beach. Cue arguments about how we are going to spend a well deserved week’s holiday away in April.
Well now we´ve discovered the best of both worlds: Sierra Nevada. Only two hours away from Marbella in Granada, and one of the only resorts in the world where you can ski in the morning and sun yourself on the beach in the afternoon. And it’s not just any old beach; you need to see beautiful white sandy beaches of the Costa Tropical, with Salobreña and Almuñecar beaches being the most highly recommended.
There´s no better time to do it than April or even the first few weeks in May, when the sun is at its hottest while the snow is still in abundance in Europe´s most southerly ski resort. Plus, it can take less than an hour to reach the beach from the Sierra Nevada ski resort.
If you wanted to, it would be possible to ski down the mountain and walk to the beach! It would be a two-hour walk with skis, which is maybe not too enticing. But it is in a sense, possible to “ski to the beach” here in Southern Spain!
SIERRA NEVADA
Sierra Nevada sits at 2,100m above sea level, with the highest point of the ski area at 3,300m, ensuring good snow cover. The mountainous range also happens to be a skier´s paradise with 105km of slopes and over 120 runs to explore. There is terrain to suit all levels of skiers: there are 40 blue runs, nine black, 50 red and 16 green. In addition, there are cross-country ski trails and snow-shoeing paths.
The name Sierra Nevada itself means “snowy range” in Spanish and between the months of November and May, the peaks are covered in fine snow, making it a magnet for all skiers. People also come up from the coast to escape the heat of local towns, and to take advantage of some of the fabulous facilities the resorts here have to offer.
There are also plenty of restaurants, bars, ski hire shops and more or less everything and anything you could need for a bit of quality skiing in Spain. Plus, the surrounding snow-capped landscape and endless views on a clear day are truly breathtaking.
COSTA TROPICAL
So after a hard morning on the ‘pistes’ you can jump in your car and drive down the mountain to the glorious Costa Tropical.
The closest beach town to Granada is Motril, although Salobreña and Almuñecar are close by and have better beaches.
If you fancy driving a little further you can hit the coast at La Herridora or Nerja, as there is a lot more to do in these bigger resort towns that cater well for families.
WHY APRIL?
Skiing with the sun on your face on a clear, bright day is one of the most enjoyable experiences. Temperatures reach up to 13 degrees Celsius in the Sierra Nevada in April while on the Costa Tropical´s stunning beaches you can be bask in the sun with temperatures reaching in excess of 30 degrees.
Just be sure to apply sunscreen for your ski and beach trips, and wear sunglasses as opposed to ski goggles to avoid unsightly white tan lines on your face!
WHERE TO STAY
It´s always better to stay in the resort of Sierra Nevada and then enjoy the skiing facilities early on in the morning before heading down to the beach for the splendid afternoon weather.
With quality hotel and lodge accommodation available to suit all ages you are spoilt for choice. Marbella Rocks recommends the Melia Hotel if you are interested in staying in the heart of the resort as there is literally only a 100-metre walk from the ski lifts. The Yhi Wellness Spa in the hotel also has fantastic facilities and there is a full English buffet breakfast.
There is also surprisingly quite a bit for the kids to do if you want to make it a family trip to Sierra Nevada. The best activities can be found at the Mirlo Blanco recreation zone.
Children´s activities include fun ski bikes and sliding down the more shallow slopes on inner tubes. There is also ice skating and roller-sledding, which is a bit like a toboggan, but much slower and safer! The crèche and nearby Snow Garden are well-run establishments with fully trained staff to look after children up to six years old if you prefer to have fun on the ‘pistes’ and collect your little ones before your afternoon on the beach.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Another good way to enjoy your ski to snow experience is to book half the trip in the Sierra Nevada and then enjoy the last leg of your trip on a beach resort or hotel in the Costa Tropical.
You can relax and feel truly revived on the beach section of your holiday and go home with a tan whilst having also enjoyed a holiday steeped in activity.
