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Why fly half way round the world, when you can take a trip to the seaside instead?

As Manchester United jetted over 9,000 miles Down Under and a number of their Premier League rivals ventured to other far-flung places, Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth settled for a jaunt closer to home.

No, not to the beach down the road to the Vitality Stadium.

But to a place less taxing to travel to than say Los Angeles, Shanghai or Tokyo: La Manga Club.

Overlooking the majestic Mediterranean, one of Europe’s premier sporting facilities is nestled neatly inside the serene Spanish seaside spit of Mar Menor.

(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Blessed with 300 days of sunshine a year, the five-star resort is rich in quality and steeped in history when it comes to the sporting legends it has hosted.

Nine-time Major champion Gary Player was the resort’s first director of golf before he was succeeded in the 1980s by late great Seve Ballesteros as their touring professional.

Four-time Grand Slam king Manolo Santana was the first director of tennis.

And a who’s who list of celebrities have graced the guest book over the years. Matt Damon, Robbie Williams, Sir Tom Jones and David Beckham, to rattle off a few.

That’s before you get into the exclusive list of residents who live there. Former Scotland boss Gordon Strachan, Formula One legend Nigel Mansell and a ‘King’ in Liverpool hero Kenny Dalglish, who all own villas on the magnificent resort.

(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images) (Image: AFC Bournemouth/Getty Images)

Ultimately, La Manga Club provides the perfect getaway for elite athletes in today’s modern game - without having to go to the other side of the world to find it.

And that was one of the key reasons why Howe was chomping at the bit for his side to go back.

Shunning a potential lucrative shirt-selling opportunity of a tour elsewhere, the Cherries picked a two-hour trip to Murcia to ramp up their preparations for the new season.

Instead of fulfilling sponsor obligations to host a shirt-signing session, for example, Howe’s side were free to travel from their five-star hotel base by bike to their daily training ground without any fuss.

(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images) (Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

As well as having the chance to enjoy the full array of La Manga Club’s extensive facilities – which include eight FIFA-approved full-size grass pitches (including one inside a mini stadium), three 18-hole golf courses and a 28-court tennis centre – Bournemouth were able to take advantage of the resort’s other first-class sports amenities including its High Performance Centre and Wellness Centre featuring the latest gym technology.

It has served others well in the past. Beckham’s shirts from Real Madrid and Manchester United adorn the walls in the main gymnasium.

England, famously in 1998, used La Manga Club as their pre-World Cup base while Jurgen Klopp was a returning guest with Borussia Dortmund and later Liverpool, two years ago.

This summer Doncaster Rovers, Scunthorpe, Peterborough, Swindon and AFC Wimbledon have all joined Bournemouth. In fact, Wally Downe’s Dons challenged the Cherries in an entertaining pre-season friendly where Bournemouth came out as 3-2 winners.

The result in the grand scheme is irrelevant. But Howe will be hoping the feelgood factor will serve his side well, as it did 12 months ago.

(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

Bournemouth were so rejuvenated from their stay in Spain they made a storming start to the campaign winning six out of their first 10 games - collecting 20 points out of a possible 30.

That would set their stall for the rest of the season, where they would eventually defy the odds of relegation and finish in 14th.

In year where his striker Callum Wilson became a regular fixture in the England squad and stars like David Brooks and Ryan Fraser stood out, that would final league finish would have undoubtedly disappointed Howe.

This season, having spent almost £20million on the likes of Lloyd Kelly and Jack Stacey, he will want his team to break up the cluster of clubs competing behind the so-called ’top six’.

And he is confident their week-long stay in Spain will provide the perfect catalyst to get up and running when they take on newly-promoted Sheffield United on August 10.

“We had a really good time at La Manga Club last summer and we worked incredibly hard,” said Howe.

(Image: AFC Bournemouth via Getty Images)

“The facilities were brilliant, the people were excellent and everything there - we felt really did help us. It enabled us to get off to a great start of the season.

“The facilities, the hotel, the shortness of the trip from the hotel to the training ground; everything there was superb and we were catered for very well, so it enabled us to help build the team spirit and get everyone fit and firing in the same direction.

“We’re going to be working on all areas during this pre-season, I’d be foolish to say there’s just one in particular. Everyone from the outside may point to one specific thing but in my shoes if you neglect any then you will come up short.

“The aim is to improve the team ahead of the start of the season and we’re really excited to be back.

“It’s a great part of the season as a coach as we emphasise our philosophy and how we want the players to play this season.”

And let’s face it, not many teams will look forward to playing against Bournemouth in the new season. Especially so early on.