TRAVEL SPAIN

Americas first lady Michelle Obama has chosen to spend a few days with her daughter and friends in the luxurious Hotel Villa Padierna located in Benahavis near Marbella on the Costa del Sol - Southern Spain.

It was first reported on web sites in Spain that the entire family would be with her although that was quickly denied by the white house claiming that the president has other urgent matters to attend at home.

It is understood that the trip will tale place from the 4th to the 8th August 2010 and is likely to include a courtesy visit to see King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in Majorca where they regularly holiday each year.

Styled as a Tuscan palace, the Villa Padierna lies in the hills just outside the upmarket resort of Marbella. It is surrounded by the prestigious Flamingos Golf Club and its own exquisite gardens. Relax with a stroll through these grounds or with a session in the hotels state-of-the-art spa centre.

The property is set just 1 km from the beaches of the Costa del Sol. From its mountainside setting you get a magical view across the water to Africa, and a spectacular sunset most evenings.