Holidays in Spain have been the choice for British holidaymakers for decades and with good reason. Spain offers a seductive blend of gorgeous weather, exotic locations, dazzling beaches, grand monuments, tantalizing food and drink, and a host of activities such as swimming and golf along with a pulsating nightlife. But in a country so overrun with visitors, where do you go to find the authentic Spain? If you want to find the real Spain with all the conveniences of modern living, head for the Costa de Almeria. Here's why Almeria is the place for your holidays in Spain.

For one thing, there's the location. Costa de Almeria stands on the Mediterranean in the eastern part of Andalucía - home of flamenco and bullfights and birthplace of Picasso. Other than beaches and scenic fishing villages, the area is studded with the magnificent remains of ancient Moorish civilisation, orange groves, and orchards of white grapes.

Its Moorish castle, Alcazaba, is the second in size of Andalusia's Islamic fortresses after the Alhambra. This magnificent hilltop structure features stout walls and towers and commands stunning views of the surrounding area.

Another Almeria attraction is one for film buffs. This is where they shot the old Spaghetti westerns and today it's rewarding to visit the sets of such films as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in the desert of Tabernas.

If you love nature, you'll enjoy a visit to another local treasure- the natural park of Parque Natural de Cabo de Gata. This large terrestrial-maritime reserve covers the town of Carboneras, the mountain range of Sierra de Cabo de Gata, and 120 km² of the sea as a part of a Marine reserve. It's home to 1100 species of fauna the majority of which are birds making it an ornithologists' delight.

Another thing that makes Costa de Almeria so special is the weather. The region offers a unique desert climate with sunny dry winters and hot summers tempered by the coastal breezes. This means that any time of the year is perfect for your Spanish holiday. The region gets over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year and has the greatest number of cloudless days in the whole of Spain.

This sublime climate, combined with the fact that the Costa de Almeria is home to the longest stretches of coastline in the whole of Andalucía, makes it the perfect place to enjoy water sports such as sailing, scuba diving, windsurfing and rowing. Almeria is a great place to search out deserted empty beaches with hidden coves and then sunbathe or go diving in the warm, limpid water. The 2005 Mediterranean Games were held here and a sporting feel still lingers throughout the area.

And if golf is your activity of choice, you're in for a special treat. For one thing, this is the only spot in Europe where you can play golf in the middle of a desert. Golfing in Spain is a treat in Almeria; the region is home to seven first class golf courses many set against the dramatic backdrop of the coastline. Playing a round of golf here is a very comfortable and informal affair. You can play in shorts and t-shirt on any day of the year. All the facilities you need are on hand to ensure memorable Spain golf holidays - shops, bars, hotels, cafes and restaurants.

So if you want a rich and relaxed lifestyle with all the activities you could ever wish for, visit the Southeast of Spain and you'll surely fall under the spell of the serene beauty of Costa de Almeria. Getting there is now a snap. Almeria International Airport is less than an hour's drive away and offers regular, scheduled and budget flights from most UK airports. You can also get there by flying to Murcia International Airport, and Alicante International Airport, both are not more than two hour's drive from Almeria.

After you're trip, you may decide to join the many who after their holidays in Spain decided the Spanish lifestyle was for them and invested in a Spain property. Buying a property in Spain as a second or main home is a great investment and allows you to transform that holiday into a lifelong experience. If you decide to invest in a Spain property, be sure to get professional advice. Best of all, buy into a reputable resort project to get all the facilities you need around your home.