Though not yet as popular as Costa del Sol, Madrid or Barcelona, Almeria is a rapidly developing holiday spot with enough choices of airlines and airports to get you there at a good price.

Airports: Belfast, Birmingham, Dublin, Gatwick, Leeds, Luton, Manchester, London Stansted.

Airlines:Monarch, Easyjet, Ryanair, Iberia

Fares to Aleneria are somewhat more expensive as there is not as much competition among airlines offering it as a destination. Fares can range from 139 up to 230 and more depending on your carrier. If you're having difficulty finding a suitable flight to Almeria, consider a flight to Malaga as an alternative. Almeria is only a 2 hour drive from the Malaga Airport. You could also consider flying into Granada and catch the A-92 Autovia into Almeria.

Alemeria airport (LEI) is a small but modern airport and becomes busier each year. You can chose to hire a car, take the bus service or take a cab into the city.

Almeria is located at the eastern edge of Andalucia. Because the Almeria region and Costa Almeria are only now growing in popularity among holidaymakers, there is no defined busy season. You'll be able to find a variety of activities and places of interest year-round. New resorts are springing up east and west of the city.

The city has a rich history and takes influence from the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Moors who all occupied the city before it was recaptured by Christian armies in the 15th century. As evidence, the imposing Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress, overlooks the town from its hilltop perch.

You'll find a strong African influence here due to the large number of immigrant workers from Morocco, Tunisia and others. You can even take a ferry trip to North Africa from Almeria.

Choose from a good selection of galleries, museums and shops for diversion. The Olive Oil Museum, located in the city's historical quarter in a 19th century home, gives you the chance to taste a variety of olive oils. La Rambla is a long avenue of squares, street cafes and children's play areas. For architecture buffs, the old city offers fascinating medieval examples with colonnades, archways and squares you can explore on foot.

There are seven golf courses in Almeria offering something for novice golfers as well as more experienced players.

Nature provides much to see in Almeria. Inland you'll find an almost lunar-like landscape, chosen as a perfect backdrop for the "spaghetti westerns" of the 1970s. Almeria is also known for its troglodyte villages - a community of cave dwellers who have fashioned extraordinary homes, complete with smart doors and puffing chimneys, in the soft rock.

Hikers, bird waters, and scuba divers find the Cabo del Gato-Nijar nature preserve a favorite attraction. Its desert landscape and rugged coastline doted with small coves provides adventure for nature lovers of all types.

You can find more tame entertainment choices at the tourist centers on the eastern coast of the province at Mojacar and on the southern coast, west of the city. Here are beaches, marinas, international restaurants, hotels and sports centers.