While I'm sure you're aware of the land of the free, it's a pretty common phrase, have you ever heard of the land of the sun? Well, you may not have, but then again you probably have at some point. The Costa del Sol, whose name means "Coast of the sun", has recently been becoming rather well known as an excellent destination, both for holidays and retirement.

Whether you intend to purchase a holiday home, or are simply looking for a good vacation spot, the south coast of Spain has whatever you could want. In most cases, when you want somewhere to go for a holiday, there is some reason not to visit a particular area. this is not the case in Spain, though.

There, any holiday activity you can imagine is possible. If you really wish to, you can spend all your time lounging on the beach, and if you visit in the winter you might even have it to yourself. Don't worry, though, it never gets really cold, so there's no need to pack your snowshoes. Unless, of course, you choose to travel to one of the nearby mountains, where every winter sport imaginable is available.

To be honest with you, I suppose that there is one downside. The countryside is so attractive, you might not be willing to leave. Which would be a real tragedy for whatever company you work for in your home town. To give you one example, the Costa del Sol city of Marbella is renowned for its quality nightlife, including high class theatres which are (naturally) showing an ever-changing selection of shows.

Besides the more usual, laid back holiday activities you can find in almost any other country, Costa del Sol also offers you a wide selection of more exciting things to do. I've already mentioned the mountains, which are not only known for the excellent skiing they offer, but are also a great place for hang gliding, mountain biking, or just hiking through the forest.

Closer to the ocean, you can go horseback riding, tour the safari parks and zoos, or spend the day at Tivoli World- one of the biggest fun parks in Spain, and something you're inner child will never forgive you for missing! Not only this, but the Costa del Sol is host to over 50 golf courses, some of the best in the world. If safari isn't your thing, then you might be interested in playing on some of the worlds most beautiful greens.

Then down by the sea there is every watersport imaginable, from water-skiing to scuba diving to swimming with dolphins, although I'm not sure that qualifies as a sport! Plus, from the shores of Costa del Sol, you can see some incredible scenery. The nearby mountains fill the horizon, while across the water the shores Africa are visible.

If you take only one holiday in your life, and want to be assured it will be a good one, then Spain is for you. Spain, and the glorious Costa del Sol, which can now be reached via a single flight from any major city. Property there is selling fast, so now is the time to buy- either for a holiday home, or as an investment, for the price is sure to rise.