Despite all the negative press that has surrounded Marbella over an illegal property scandal that was run by the former Mayor, Marbella has one of the most unlikeliest guest to arrive at her shores. The First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama and her youngest daughter Sasha arrived today at Malaga airport via a private US Air Force plane with the pair and their entourage being whisked off to the Hotel Villa Padierna in the hills above the resort town of Marbella, a haunt for the rich and famous.

Even though this trip has been described as "private trip" with no press conferences planed, the mother-daughter pair who left the President Barack Obama behind in the United Status together with the eldest daughter Malia, have a scheduled meeting with Spain's King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at their summer palace on the Balearic island of Majorca.

The US First Lady will visit the city of Granada, the former seat of Moorish rule in Spain which is located some 180 kilometres (110 miles) north of Marbella, on Thursday. She will take in the Alhambra fortress-palace, Spain's most-visited tourist attraction, as well the city's cathedral and the hilltop Albaicin quarter of narrow alleyways and small squares.

In recent days local officials have had roads re-paved, gardens tidied up and new streets lights installed while the hotel has flown a US flag at its entrance in the Obama's honour.

Dozens of photographers and reporters have staked out the entrance to the five-star hotel, where rates for a room run from 250 euros for a room to 5,000 euros (6,500 dollars) for a villa with 24-hour butler service and private pool and garden.

"It's an honour to have her here," Ángeles Muñoz, a former GP turned mayor of Marbella, told The Sunday Telegraph. "She could have taken her holiday anywhere in the world, but she has chosen to come here."

After their trip to Spain, Michelle and Sasha will visit the Gulf Coast of Florida before heading to the New England resort island of Martha's Vineyards.