With years of experience in entertaining us on our sunshine breaks, the Spanish also know a thing or two about villa holidays.  An explosion in coastal property building over the last forty years means there is a huge range of choice in terms of location and type of property. And the infrastructure needed to support villa holidays is also there in spades.

Holidays in Spain offer value for money – whatever your budget – as well as a huge variety of food, drink and entertainment options.

Fiestas take place throughout the year, bringing all night revelry, parades and fireworks to even the sleepiest communities. And while the big cities are packed with excellent shopping and museums, the coastal areas are lined with sandy beaches offering all manner of water sports, theme parks and eateries.

Away from the resorts, you can also enjoy world-class golf and superb walking in dramatic landscapes. A great part of any villa holiday in Spain is to head inland by car and explore the scenery and quiet whitewashed villages.

Planning your trip is easy to do. Why not read some of the tips on our villas page to help you along the way.

The Costas are where all the action takes place on a Spanish villa holiday.

Costa del Sol – centred on Malaga and with less than three hours from the UK by plane, the Costa del Sol is a favourite with British villa guests. Pick from coastal resorts such as Estepona, Marbella and Puerto Banus, or head inland to lovely Mijas. You will find everything from villas attached to golf course developments or centred on shopping areas to more traditional homes in Andalusian villages overlooking the Med.

Costa Blanca – on the Costa Blanca, most villas are found in resorts such as Javea, Denia, Moraira and Altea. These all have their own individual character and beach areas and are a world apart from nearby Benidorm itself with its high-rise hotels and non-stop entertainment. Fly into Alicante (ALC) for easy access.

Costa Almeria – boasting one of the best climates in Europe this quieter area is excellent for families or for escaping the crowds of the busier resorts on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca. The scenery is breath taking with mountains running to the coast and quiet beaches. Fly into Almeria (LEI).

Costa Calida – the rise of the villa and apartment complex of Torrevieja, plus the nearby La Manga club area with its world-class sporting facilities, has made the Costa Calida a firm favourite with Brits. Flights to Murcia (MJV) are the best way to reach the area.

Balearic Island Villas– Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca all have a wide range of villas available for rent. Menorca is best suited to families and those looking for a quieter break, while the other two islands cater for all whatever the type of holiday you want.

Canary Island Villas – Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura also offer villa holidays. The choice is not as great as in mainland Spain and the Balearics, but the islands do offer year-round sun, making family villa holidays around Christmas and New Year a popular choice.

We would recommend car hire as the most efficient way of enjoying a villa holiday to the Spanish mainland. Picking up at your arrival airport such as Malaga (AGP) or Alicante (ALC) makes it easy to both get to your villa and to visit local attractions such as water parks and beaches.

Many villa holidays come complete with vehicle rental; however do check out prices to ensure you are getting the best overall deal.

If you opt for a villa without car hire then you will need to ensure it has easy access to public transport or to a resort centre where you can buy provisions at least. You can arrange a transfer to your resort from the airport to make arriving and departing a breeze.

Shopping – all of the resorts along the Spanish coast are packed with holiday shopping. So whether you need an inflatable for the pool, a spare pair of flip flops or some extra sun cream, you’ll have no trouble finding what you want.

There are also many local markets offering fruit and veg, as well as local bakeries for bread and a range of supermarkets and hypermarkets for other groceries.

Shopping centres also abound with department stores such as El Corte Ingles found across the country and items in chain stores such as Zara, Pull & Bear and Jack Jones often cheaper than they are in the UK. You will also find souvenirs ranging from fridge magnets to flamenco dolls and high-end Lladro porcelain.

Water sports – along the coasts there are water parks, pedaloes, and water skiing and windsurfing schools, as well as companies offering dolphin spotting boat trips and snorkelling gear.

Culture – every Spanish village has a church, which is the centre of many of the fiestas held throughout the year. Time your villa holiday in Spain to coincide with one of these parties and you will be able to enjoy all manner of celebrations, from late night fireworks to stunning parades and even bull running.

The major towns have museums and galleries, while there are also plenty of castles to visit. If you are staying on the Costa del Sol, it’s well worth heading inland to visit places like the Alhambra Palace in Granada, the Mesquite in Cordoba or the cathedral in Seville.

Entertainment – when it comes to nightlife, you can have quiet nights on the veranda of your Spanish villa or go wild in the clubs of your nearest resort. Every part of Spain offers restaurants, bars and a variety of evening entertainment.