La Sella hosts the Ladies European Tour for good reason but it earns its place on a women’s golf travel list for reasons well beyond the tournament.
Women & Golf editor Jane Carter reviews the resort.
La Sella Golf Resort isn’t your typical Costa Blanca golf destination. The setting alone tells you that — Montgó Natural Park rising behind the resort, the sea visible from the upper holes, and a town worth visiting on the doorstep. I was here to follow the Ladies European Tour, which holds its annual event at La Sella, but the resort works well beyond tournament week for any woman looking to combine good golf with something more than pool time.
Location
La Sella sits inland from Denia in the Marina Alta region, near the village of Jesús Pobre. Fly into Alicante and the transfer is around an hour. Alicante flights can be noisy — it pulls in a lot of stag party traffic — so if you’re travelling solo or in a small group, that’s worth knowing.
What the location gives you in return is access to a part of coastal Spain that hasn’t been overrun. Denia is a proper Spanish town — Moorish castle, good market, decent local restaurants — and Montgó Natural Park is on the doorstep for walking and cycling. For couples or groups who want culture alongside their golf, this area is a genuine draw. You’re not in a resort bubble here.
The Hotel
La Sella is a Marriott property and delivers what you’d expect from that brand. Rooms are comfortable and well-maintained. The resort hosts the LET tournament annually and it shows — this is a place that understands golfers and is set up for them.
Dining covers the bases well: formal restaurant and a more relaxed downstairs bar, so there’s flexibility depending on what you want after a round. The resort was busy during my stay and service throughout was attentive and efficient. As a woman travelling for golf, it felt safe and well-managed from the moment I arrived.
The Golf Course
The La Sella course is a 27-hole Olazábal design split into three nine-hole loops — Llebeig, Gregal, and Mestral — played in rotating combinations. Worth knowing before you book, as each nine plays differently.
I didn’t play during tournament week but spent considerable time on the course watching the LET field. It was in excellent condition. The layout is tree-lined throughout, which matters in this climate — shade on a Spanish summer’s day is not a small thing. Fairways are tight enough to require some thought but not punishing for mid-handicappers. There’s water, but it’s not overdone. The terrain is walkable and the views, particularly from the Mestral nine, are a genuine bonus.
The Hoyo 19 restaurant sits at the foot of the course — regional rice dishes, terrace overlooking the 9th green, and exactly what you want at the end of a round.
The Facilities
The La Sella Spa offers a full water circuit — sauna, hammam, hydrotherapy pool, outdoor hot tub — plus a treatment menu. An hour in the circuit after golf is a good way to end the day. The gym runs Technogym equipment and is free for hotel guests. There’s a pool, and cycling and hiking routes are accessible from the resort. A group with mixed interests won’t struggle to fill the time.
The Verdict
La Sella works particularly well for women golfers because it doesn’t feel like it’s making a special effort to accommodate them — it simply does, as a natural result of hosting professional women’s golf every year. The staff are good, the course is well above average, and the surrounding area gives the trip more depth than most resort breaks manage.
It suits couples and mixed groups well, but equally a group of women wanting a trip with substance beyond the fairways. It’s not a party destination. It’s a considered one.
The Facts
- Where: La Sella Golf Resort & Spa, Alqueria de Ferrando s/n, Jesús Pobre, 03749, Denia, Alicante, Spain
- Getting there: Fly into Valencia or Alicante (approx. 1.5 hours). Both airports are well served from the UK.
- Best time to visit: Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable conditions for golf. Summer is hot, though the tree-lined course helps.
- The golf: 27-hole course designed by José María Olazábal. Three 9-hole loops played in rotating combinations. Golf academy, driving range, putting and approach greens on site.
- Accommodation: Marriott 5-star hotel and self-catering apartments.
- The LET connection: La Sella hosts an annual Ladies European Tour event.
Website: lasellagolfresort.com
