La MANGA
Area: Costa Calida
Country: Spain


Location:
On the SE coast of Spain, 15 miles E of Cartagena, 45 miles SE of Murcia, 65 miles S of Alicante, 40 miles by road SE of Murcia airport at San Javier.

Telephone code from UK:
34

Website:
http://www.marmenor.net

Position:
La Manga ("the Sleeve") del Mar Menor is a narrow spit of land 15 miles long stretching N from the Cabo de Palos and partially enclosing the inland sea of Mar Menor. It is part of the Costa Calida in the province of Murcia.

Description:
A long, mainly flat, fairly narrow strip of land attached to the mainland at its S end. Locations are referenced by means of kilometre markers (surfboard shaped) along its length. In places no wider than the road or bridge, it divides the Mediterranean Sea from the inland sea of Mar Menor. The resort developed largely from the 1980s onwards with an apparent absence of overall planning. A complete mixture of architectural styles and accommodation types, ranging from budget apartments to luxurious beachfront villas. A good, well-maintained and signposted main road _ partly dual-carriageway and with one-way sections in places _ runs along the entire length of the resort. La Manga Club is a separate sport and golf complex situated 8 miles SW of the rest of the resort and has its own full range of amenities and accommodation ranging from 5-star hotels to privately owned apartments.

Suitability:
Mainly middlemarket Spanish, with German, French and British being very much in the minority. Suitable for all age groups; families, couples and singles. Good for sporting types, both on land and water, particularly at La Manga Club with its wide choice of sporting facilities and golf courses. Plenty also for keen nature lovers, birdwatchers and history buffs.

Accommodation:
High-rise accommodation predominates in the "Sleeve" itself _ a good choice of hotels, aparthotels and apartments, often with beachfront locations, a good sea view and lots of facilities. Firmly middlemarket, many of the apartments are privately owned while being maintained by various management companies. Popular with package tour companies on a large scale. There are also individual villas and a large camping and caravan site. La Manga Club offers predominantly apartment-style accommodation (again, mostly privately owned) as well as higher-category hotels.

Shopping:
Many supermarkets large and small; a good selection of tourist outlets with handicrafts and souvenirs; fashion clothing; beachwear and accessories; jewellery; home ware; tobacco goods; ceramics; plus chemists and shops providing everyday necessities. Plenty of banks and a few petrol stations. The self-contained complex of La Manga also has a good supply of designer shops, supermarkets, chemists and places to buy souvenirs, clothes, shoes, jewellery and sportswear.

Beach:
On the W shore, facing the saltwater inland sea, a series of narrow mainly sandy beaches offer shallow safe bathing and gentle waves and are referred to collectively as the Mar Menor Beaches. On the E side is an almost continuous wide beach of fine sand known as Playa Mediterraneo. A variety of water sports are offered throughout the resort including jet-skis, boating, fishing, scuba diving and snorkelling.

Entertainments:
Daytime: a wide selection of water sports including scuba diving, snorkelling, jet-skiing, fishing and yachting. Also tennis, ten-pin bowling, minigolf, cycling, go-karting. Plenty for children too. La Manga Club offers a good selection of sports (including squash, tennis, horse riding) and spa treatments. Nightlife: casinos, a good selection of discos and nightclubs, various lively theme bars and music bars. Large hotels and apartment complexes offer a variety of evening entertainment, mainly during the summer season.

Eating:
Wide choice of budget to middle-of-the-range Spanish restaurants. A few English, French, German and other ethnic restaurants including Indian and Chinese. Plentiful fresh seafood, local specialities, fresh fruit and pastries. Many hamburger bars, international fast food, pizzerias and for typical Spanish snacks, tapas bars. La Manga Club boasts a number of eateries including local, Spanish, tapas, Italian, Mexican, Asian and American.

Public-transport:
A regular and frequent public bus service runs along La Manga's main road. Large numbers of taxis cruise or are available from ranks. Cars and bikes can be hired. Buses connect with Cartagena (hourly, or 2-hourly on Sunday), Murcia and Alicante. Railway stations are at Los Nietos and Cartagena. La Manga Club has its own (free) shuttle bus to get around its own extensive site.

Local-excursions:
Half day: Murcia (typical cathedral city), Cartagena (historical remains). Various boat excursions available. Regional park of Las Salinas (where flamingos stop off en route to/from N Africa); Cabo de Palos (seafaring village with lighthouse and 2 beaches). Calblanque regional park. Full day: Granada, Moorish capital of Spain.