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Sotogrande lacked a place to see and be seen. Where locals and foreigners of the elitist Cadiz urbanization created in the 60s met in neutral territory, that is, neither on the polo field nor at the golf club. Neither in your house nor in mine. Today they already have it. The SO / Sotogrande has just opened, a design hotel with many figures: six restaurants, three swimming pools, 152 rooms, almost 3,000 square meters of spa and, of course, five stars. And, if we talk about investment, a whopping 40 million euros.
"Sotogrande did not have a hotel to match. Many of the golf fans who pay a
fee
to play between 150 and 350 euros ended up moving to a more remote luxury hotel", explains Horacio Alcalá, CEO of Alsotel and one of the project development advisers. "In addition, we realized that here we had
the 'million dollar view'
, the same as the houses in La Reserva: the green of the golf course, the sea in the background and the blue sky. it hid a parking lot ".
That parking lot was the old Almenara hotel where the brand new SO has created what is going to be "the best spa on the Costa del Sol".
But even before Sotogrande was the exclusive urbanization founded by the American
Joseph McMicking
, there was a farmhouse, that of Santa María de la Higuera, from which the idea that the five-star hotel plays both design and
Andalusian
tradition
.
Hi-So restaurant.
The illustrious (and discreet) residents of this development next to the mouth of the Guadiaro River may remember many of the former employees, but they will hardly recognize their facilities. There are many square meters of swimming pools (one for family and one for adults, plus the one for the spa) and gardens to explore. There is no lack of a good repertoire of hammocks or corners to take a photo ... or a cocktail of those prepared in Mixo, one of the star bars.
If the HI-SO restaurant commands a spectacular grill, at the Society the atmosphere is more gastronomic. And in Cortijo Andalusian flavors prevail (watch out for Casares sourdough bread and oil, an
exclusive hotel
coupage
) ... An offer that
did not exist in Sotogrande
. There are also a variety of rooms (from 260 euros / night),
36 of which are suites
. Although the penthouse ones take the cake (from 1,300 euros) with
very large terraces
and views of the sea.
"This hotel has not only been built for guests but also for the Sotogrande community," explains Rami Badr, director of the Orion Capital fund, which owns the establishment.
"It tries to attract locals to have fun and at the same time make
guests feel welcome
and part of this lifestyle."
The designer uniforms.
"We are open to the community", insists the Danish
Robert Kmita
, director of the hotel.
"In summer, we will have a monthly party open to the public. In winter there will be
brunch
with DJs every Sunday, many events with
guest chefs
and concerts because we have an open-air auditorium with capacity for 250 people."
Although perhaps it is the spa that most attracts the attention of the residents of the area, a space of 2,800 square meters that can accommodate eight treatment cabins;
an indoor and outdoor gym open 24 hours and
equipped
with machines to the teeth;
and a pergola to do yoga, pilates or whatever.
Cryotherapy and flotation
equipment complete the wellness menu
.
One of the rooms.
"It is definitely not a boring hotel," says Marc Dardenne, European head of luxury hotels for the French group Accor. The most obvious example is what Dardanne and the
SO brand
tribe
call
employee fashion
. He explains: "In each of the establishments, a designer is chosen to create the staff's clothing."
In Sotogrande that firm is
Dolores Cortés
, the Valencian bathroom designer who is
largely to
blame
for
the freshness that the resort transmits
. From receptionists to bar bosses to waiters, pool boys and room service, each guild wears a different ensemble with vibrant colors and plant and exotic patterns. The patterns then continue throughout the hotel with cushions, murals and lamps ... A few notes of color to shake up Sotogrande this summer.
The SO has opened this week welcoming the best golfers of the Ladies European Tour (LET) who participate in the
Aramco Team Series
tournament
that starts today in the Cadiz enclave, and will be open to the public from August 9.
A plate from Cortijo.
| SO / Sotogrande
.
Dedde 260 euros / night in low season.
Web: www.so-sotogrande.com
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
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