WATCHING the morning sun sparkle on an immaculate padel court as the first players warm up, I can’t help but admire their dedication.
I, however, have a different priority in mind and a few minutes later I’m settled at a shaded table on a flower-filled terrace, enjoying breakfast of omelette, mini tortillas and crushed tomatoes on crusty bread.
Fellow guests in their pristine tennis whites head towards yet more courts as the Andalusian sun rises into a clear blue sky.
Perhaps later. For me, the comfy Balinese beds beside the terrace pool are calling.
And that’s the joy of the Higueron Hotel Malaga Curio Collection by Hilton on Spain’s Costa del Sol.
There are sporting and spa facilities that would put a posh country club to shame — and all sorts of indulgent ways to do very little but soak up all that sunshine.
Don’t let the name fool you though.
While it has Malaga in the title, the hotel actually sits in the hills directly above the bustling, British beach favourites of Benalmadena and Fuengirola.
Malaga city itself — with its Picasso Museum and buzzing tapas bars — is an easy 30-minute drive away.
Meanwhile, the superyachts, designer boutiques and champagne-fuelled glamour of Marbella and Puerto Banus sit 30 minutes in the other direction.
Snag yourself a cheap hire car from the airport and the whole coast is your oyster.
But the joy of this hotel is just how much there is to keep you busy without ever leaving the grounds.
The extensive sporting facilities include not just the ten padel and tennis courts, but beach volleyball sand courts and three for basketball as well as indoor and outdoor pools and a huge air-conditioned gym.
The spa is just as comprehensive, with a hydro circuit in its heated pool with pressure jets, massage beds, Jacuzzi and waterfalls.
There’s also a sauna, steam rooms and dedicated rooms for treatments.
Luckily for me, the hotel had plenty to keep non-sporty guests busy.
As well as the main pools and terraces — including a stunning adult-only rooftop infinity pool — there’s also a private beach club on the coast.
A free hotel shuttle whisks you down the hill to yet more comfy lounging spots, a pool and two superb restaurants.
And what could be more indulgent on a sunshine break than food created by a Michelin-starred chef?
There are seven a-la-carte restaurants in the hotel and the beach club, three of which have menus designed by award-winning chef Diego Gallegos.
While the Michelin-starred Sollo has tasting menus at £150pp, you can still enjoy the chef’s creations at funky fusion restaurant Arara.
Its £51 tasting menu features Brazilian, Peruvian and Andalusian flavours with a South East Asian twist, with eight courses designed to be shared by diners.
For daytime indulgences, catch more chef- inspired dishes at the beach club, including clams cooked in sherry with flying fish roe and delicious prawns in a spicy pil pil sauce.
Rooms in the main resort are ultra-modern — opt for a deluxe for stunning views of the resort and Mediterranean beyond.
And if you’ve really got cash to splash, the exclusive Leiro Suites are another level.
There’s more space, Scandi designs and funky balcony furniture.
But you’ll also get the choice of breakfast at the rooftop Infinity restaurant and access to the Balinese beds there and at the Beach Club.
Also included is spa access, free guided sports activity, early check-in and late check-out and parking, as well as priority reservations.
The hotel offers the best of the Costa Del Sol and a host of sporting options to keep you fit and healthy.
For me though, those Balinese beds at the Infinity Rooftop are the reason
I’ll definitely be returning for the stunning views — and the most chilled of snoozes.