Private transfer from Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport to Desert Springs Golf Resort

Desert Springs sits inland from Cuevas del Almanzora in Almería province, in a genuinely arid, cactus-and-scrub landscape that gives it the only Arizona-style desert golf course in Europe, the Indiana Course. Golfers make up most of the traffic here, arriving year-round because the Almanzora region stays warm and dry when the rest of Spain cools down, making winter play very reliable. The resort is a self-contained complex of villas, apartments and the Crocodile Club clubhouse rather than a town, so guests tend to stay put or drive out to Vera Playa, the beaches at Villaricos, or the whitewashed hill town of Mojácar. Families and couples on golf-and-beach trips are the typical visitors.

This is a long eastbound run, well over two hours, almost entirely on the A-7/E-15 motorway that hugs the Mediterranean coast. You leave the built-up Costa del Sol behind quickly, pass Motril and skirt the coastline of Granada province, then cross into Almería. The scenery shifts from resort sprawl to dramatic dry hills and greenhouse plains as you approach Almería city, which you bypass. Near the end you turn off toward Cuevas del Almanzora and follow smaller local roads inland through open, sun-bleached country to reach the resort. The final approach is unremarkable driving rather than tight mountain bends, but the last few kilometres are quieter rural roads, so it feels a long way from the motorway bustle you started on.

Because Desert Springs is closer to Almería Airport than to Málaga, always check which airport your flight actually uses — many golf groups still book Málaga for the wider flight choice and accept the longer road transfer, but confirm before travelling. Bring your resort villa or apartment number and the entrance details, as the complex is large and gated. For golfers, note that clubs and travel bags need appropriate vehicle space, so state the number of golf bags when booking. There is little between the motorway exit and the resort, so ask the driver to stop in Vera or Cuevas del Almanzora if you want supermarket supplies before settling in. For early flights home, allow a generous margin — the motorway distance back to Málaga is long.