The Costa del Sol, located along the southern Mediterranean coast of Spain, covers just over 150 kilometres of Spain's Malaga Province and remains one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Med. A firm favourite with sun seeking tourists, the region enjoys a mild all year round climate, beaches are in abundance and with a wide variety of entertainments and outdoor activities on offer, the Costa del Sol continues to build its reputation as a European playground for sun, sea and fun.

The fiestas, Easter parades, song contests and the bull runs without a doubt claim first place on the list of recommendations for travellers who want to see beyond what first meets the eye. The region is awash with semitropical vegetation in which palm and cypress trees, bougainvillea, oleander and hibiscus are common. Fight your way past the army of sun tanning tourists and you'll discover sleepy whitewashed Andalucia villages and towns which still retain the traditional values of old Spanish life.

On the coast, several large resorts dominate. Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Benalmadena, Marbella, Puerto Banus, Nerja and the Mijas Costa are the most frequented. Each resort boasts its own unique character and offers a something for everyone appeal in the form of excellent beaches, lively bars and bistros, quiet unassuming restaurants, and a whole host of other attractions including some of the worlds finest marinas, golf courses, entertainment centres and nightclubs, which attracts millions of visitors to the region annually.

Best time to visit: All year round. The climate is hot in summer and moderate throughout the winter months.

Essential experiences: Lazing around in the glitz and glamour of Marbella and Puerto Banus; dreaming of owning a luxury pleasure craft at Benalmadena Marina; a night on the razzle in the bright lights of Fuengirola and Torremolinos; exploring the white washed Andalucian villages of Mijas and Frigliana; feeling humbled at the Caves of Nerja; absorbing yourself in the magnificent Andalucian atmosphere.

In a few words the Costa del Sol is: Package holidays, vibrant nightlife, sleepy whitewashed villages, championship golf courses, British pubs, expats, luxury pleasure crafts and million pound marinas.

Whether you're after sun, fun and sea, hilltop retreat or relaxing break one thing's for sure, the sun shines hotter and longer in the Costa del Sol.