It is easy to define luxury. Merriam and Webster defines it as “a condition of abundance, great ease and comfort which is not absolutely necessary but provides pleasure and satisfaction”. At the Denia Mariott La Sella Golf Resort and Spa, the word luxury encapsulates the extent of extravagance the resort has to offer.

Nestled along kilometres of powdery white sand and lush tropical mountains lies the Denia Mariott. Located midway between the cities of Alicante and Valencia and a few minutes away from the picturesque village of Javea, Denia Mariott boasts of 178 deluxe guest rooms and suites each decorated with a combination of contemporary and resort decor. All rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art modern day amenities. Most rooms offer splendid views of the Mediterranean Sea, the majestic mountain of Montgo or a grand view of the golf course.

Making for opulent walks, Denia Mariott has extensive landscaped gardens, ponds and waterfalls interspersed with rolling lawns and tropical flora. During the day, take a walk or a swim in its beautiful beach. Numerous water sports add choices on how to spend a day of leisure. The health club and spa facility is also worth taking several visits to. Options for dining and entertainment at the Denia Mariott are varied with each providing a different kind of experience.

There is also the exclusive enclave called the La Sella Golf Club. The club has a tastefully furnished lounge, an 18-hole golf course designed by Jose Maria Olazabal. The golf course offers a balanced course suitable for all levels of play. From each fairway, panoramic views of the countryside can be seen.

The Denia Mariott is ideally located. The resort is situated near a bustling harbour filled with restaurants, bars and retail shops. Sightseeing along the Mediterranean coastline, nature walks through Mount Montgo and the different beaches are just a few distances away from the resort.

Travellers wishing for a holiday getaway in a picturesque place requiring nothing less than luxury will find their stay at the Denia Mariott just the ideal.

The fusion of the best catch from the Mediterranean Sea and the freshest fruits and vegetables grown from the most fertile of soils makes up the gastronomic delights of Denia. The town of Denia has always been a seafarer’s haven. Its port and its daily fish market afford the locals and visitors alike to partake of the delicious flavours of the Mediterranean Sea. Likewise, its vast orchards grow a dazzling array of the freshest produce.

Among its many dishes, Denia is known for its tasty rice dishes. A popular rice dish is the arroz a banda, a savoury rice dish cooked in fish stock, saffron and tomatoes. This traditional dish is so popular that Denia even hosts an international food event in its honour every March.

But without a doubt, the most famous rice dish in Denia and actually in the whole of Spain is the paella. Paella has its humble beginnings when back then the locals who lived near the coast subsisted on fishing and on the spring and summer harvests of rice. They discovered that by cooking rice with other ingredients such as vegetables and beans, they could feed more people. Thus, was born the paella. In time, variations of the dish evolved, with a wider choice of ingredients such as lobster, prawns, squids, mussels, chorizo, chicken and even rabbit. The addition of tomatoes, garlic and saffron give the rice its yellow colour. In time, the poor fisherman’s meal became a rich man’s treat. Paella is sometimes baked in an oven usually covered with aluminum foil to preserve and contain the flavours. It is served piping hot.

A variation on the paella also served in Denia is the fideua. Like paella, it is cooked in a liquid along with other ingredients except that this time, instead of rice, noodles are used. The multiple flavours of the fideua can be enhanced by a squeese of lemon.

Other Denia favourites are the gamba roja de Denia, prawn fished in Denia waters and served fresh; suquet de peix, fishermen’s pot with fish, sea urchins, dry octopus as main ingredients; espencat, grilled vegetables; Spanish tapas among others.

After satiating the appetite with mouth-watering Denia dishes, have a drink of Mistela, a traditional aromatic raisin wine.

In recent years, Denia has experienced one of the biggest real estate booms along the Costa Blanca. Still, what is remarkable is that despite increased residential and commercial constructions and a flourishing tourism, the city has managed to preserve its natural environment amidst modern advances. Denia’s native charm is never compromised. Developments only accentuate the city’s picturesque landscape and not impinge on it.

Located along the coast of Costa Blanca and nestled at the foot of the majestic Mount Montgo, Denia enjoys the best of both worlds, land and sea. Denia can be one’s own piece of paradise on earth. Nature lovers can enjoy scenic walks in the Montgo Natural Park. Adventure seekers can scale the mountain and be rewarded by the most magnificent views. Sun worshippers can lay supine in Denia’s powdery-fine sand. Swimmers can take their fill of gorgeous beaches. Diving aficionados can plunge deep into Denia’s hidden coves and discover a wealth of marine life.

One can find a stunning array of the freshest produce grown in Denia’s orchards – bright golden lemons, black and green olives, plump oranges and much more. Dining at Denia is a pleasure, seafood galore at its freshest and filling rice dishes. Almost all the water sports are available in Denia.

History buffs can lose themselves in Denia’s numerous historical landmarks. Denia also possesses one of the most important harbours in the Region of Valencia. It has ferry connections to cosmopolitan Ibiza, lovely Mallorca and inviting Formentera.

Furthermore, Denia experiences almost 300 days of sunshine. Average temperature is at 18 degrees centigrade. Denia can also be easily reached by road, by train, by boat and of course by plane. Airports in Valencia and Alicante are just a few miles away. There is a regular bus services between Valencia, Denia and Alicante. Through MotorwayA7, Denia is easily accessible from Barcelona and Andalucia.

Denia is the perfect panacea for bone-weary travellers. It has been proclaimed by the World Health Organisation as among the healthiest places to live in. Not to forget, the charming natives with their warm and friendly disposition make Denia a wonderful place to settle in just like home.