Last updated at 12:00, Monday, 22 March 2010

Advertising feature. Working a nine to five job every week of the year can prove to be a stressful life for a lot of people and many people are in the same boat when it comes to looking for a holiday in which they can forget about their working worries. The current economic downturn also means that people are working longer and harder than they ever have before in order to be able to pay for a holiday in paradise, but with the help of a bargain break it is cheaper to get than you think.

The first thing that people look for when booking a holiday is one that they can afford, and hotel deals help you to save pennies and pounds when planning a holiday. Comfortable two, three and four star hotels are available in most if not all European holiday destinations and all-inclusive packages that include flights and catering as well can help you save even more money. Most tourists only spend the night in their hotel anyway and spend the rest of the day making the most of their time away from home, meaning that a good place to sleep is all that your holiday accommodation needs to provide you.

One holiday destination in Europe that has long been popular with many tourists is the Costa del Sol, which literally translates as the coast of the sun. This means that the southernmost coast of Spain has hours and hours of sunshine throughout the year, and the Mediterranean coast can enjoy as much as 320 days of sunshine every year. The Costa del Sol is thus an ideal destination for those tourists who want to do a spot of sunbathing on the beach or by the hotel pool.

Once you have selected a great value hotel, it is time to plan your itinerary and decide what things you want to do. Spending time on the beach is an activity that most tourists partake in as the cooling effect of the sea breeze creates an ideal climate against the bright sunshine. A trip to historic British territory of Gibraltar is also a worthwhile attraction, whilst Alhambra, the Royal Palace in Granada is a stunning example of Moorish architecture.

Part of the autonomous region of Andalucia, the Cotsa del Sol is home to many towns and cities, most notably including Malaga, Torremolinos and Marbella, within which cheap hotels can be found at each location. The Tiburon hotel in Torresmolinos is an example of great value two star hotel from which tourists can enjoy the attractions that the Costa del Sol has to offer, whilst the Las Chapas Palacio Del Sol hotel in Marbella is slightly more expensive three star accommodation that has plenty of leisure and sporting facilities for active visitors.

The choice of resorts on the Costa del Sol is vast, but at each town tourists will enjoy the beautiful surroundings and pleasant climate offered by the area. Andalusians themselves are also proud people who strongly express themselves at local festivals and through handcrafts. This helps to make the Costa del Sol a welcoming destination for a European break that can easily be undertaken on a budget as well.

First published at 15:46, Monday, 22 March 2010
Published by http://www.dgblife.co.uk