There are really two worlds on Spain's southern coast ? the highly developed coastal strip, including resorts like Torremolinos, Fuengirola and Marbella, and inland the timeless, Moorish-influenced Andalucia of Granada, Ronda and the ?white villages?. Hotel developments straddle both these worlds. You can choose to be on the coast or up in the hills, though you will certainly need a car if you stay far inland.



This area is one of the worlds major golf centres, with dozen of beautifully designed and tended courses to choose from.

The Costa del Sol has Spain's mildest winter climate, which is why more and more people are taking long winter breaks away from the rigours and heating bills of a British winter.

Torremolinos in particular is great fun, and Marbella and the nearby Puerto Banus remain stylish and chic. If you really do want peace and quiet, you can always head for the hills, or further east where the stretch beyond Malaga is less developed. Nerja is the main resort here, and very pleasant it is too.

The eastern part of the Costa del Sol has many small coves and beaches and a more Spanish feel than the rest. The attractive resorts of Almunecar and Motril are in the province of Granada, whose coast is sometimes known as the Costa Tropical.

Whatever you call it, this is an interesting area. Inland is the Sierra Nevada and a series of smaller hill ranges including the Alpujarras, made famous by Dave Stewart in his book ? Driving over Lemons?. There has been very little tourist development in these hills, and as a result you can see old Spain.

The vast majority of holiday accommodation remains west of Malaga. Mijas just inland from Fuengirola is a good example.

If you can tear yourself away from the beach or pool, a visit to Grenada and its Alhambra (the wonderful Moorish palace) is well worth while. It's also straightforward now to visit Gibraltar for the day, and there's a good road up to Ronda, with its bullring and spectacular position atop an inland cliff.