The White House has confirmed that America's First Lady, Michelle Obama and the younger of her two daughters, Sasha, will take a summer break in Spain next week.

The First Lady will pay an official visit to Spanish King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, but their holiday has otherwise been described as a ‘private, mother-daughter trip with longtime family friends’, the White House said in a statement.

Spanish media reports said Michelle Obama and her younger daughter Sasha, 9, would be in the southern holiday resort of Marbella on Spain’s Costa del Sol between August 4th and 8th.

There had been speculation that President Barack Obama might also come to Spain to celebrate his 49th birthday on August 4, but this has been denied by the White House.

Michelle Obama has reserved about 40 rooms for herself and her daughter, their friends and bodyguards at the five-star Villa Padierna Hotel in Benahavis near Marbella.  The hotel, known as one of the most luxurious in Spain, is operated by the Ritz-Carlton group.

The US First Lady did not make any special requests, hotel owner Ricardo Arranz said, explaining that the hotel, which has private villas and three golf courses, would function normally during her stay.