The British holidaymaker's love affair with Spain

PICTURE the scene. It's summer and, as the rain pelts against the windows and the wind howls through the streets of Britain, you find yourself dreaming of a proper getaway. It's not too much to ask, is it? A week or two on the beach, some sun, sea, sand; but where to go?

Well, continuing with the alliteration, millions of Britons opt for somewhere in sunny Spain. Whether you stay in a hotel or opt for some time in one of the many villas available, Spain offers just about everything you could possibly want or wish for from a summer break.

Research undertaken by Skyscanner, a search engine technology company based in Edinburgh, has found that, in a poll to discover the most popular destinations from the UK travel market, Spain boasts five cities within the top 10. Though strides have been made by Portugal, Italy and Cyprus in terms of taking a slice of the market, the popularity of France has fallen and Spain remains strongly in the lead.

So, why does Spain have such dominance, almost a monopoly, on the British holiday market? As previously mentioned, it has much to do with the range and types of holiday that can be undertaken across the country. Hundreds of dazzling beaches litter the coastline, which stretches for over 5000 miles, offering soft sands and the crystal, warm waters of the Mediterranean. Though the classic destinations of Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol remain as good, and indeed as popular as ever, they are very much the tip of the iceberg in terms of what Spanish beach holidays have to offer.

The stunning rock formations on display at Playa de Las Catedrales in Galicia, for example, will amaze and inspire in equal measure whilst the wind in Tarifa (in Andalusia) makes it a perfect destination for thrill-inducing water sports such as windsurfing. Its visitors will also have the chance to indulge in some whale watching and enjoy the vibrant, fun nightlife.

Renting one of the many luxurious villas in Spain is the perfect way to explore this fascinatingly diverse country. Doing so will enable you to create a base that is to your own liking and perfectly suited to your specifications. After all, it's your well-earned break, why let anyone else dictate your schedule?

There is certainly no shortage of villas to rent in Spain; particularly popular are those situated in places such as Majorca and other islands within the Balearic region. Here, a more spacious setting and a slower, more relaxed pace of life is the norm as these destinations do not have a mass population, and therefore don't boast the vibrant bustle of many areas in the mainland.

If a city break is perhaps more your cup of tea, then both Barcelona and Madrid are as diverse and interesting as anywhere in the world. As both the geographical and business capital of the country, Madrid has all the movement and sense of importance you'd expect of a major city. What it lacks in terms of sea and sands it more than makes up for with an abundance of colourful restaurants and bars as well as its extravagant architecture.

Miraculous buildings are also on offer in Barcelona, home to numerous famous Gaudi structures. Also, the capital of Cataluña offers a host of museums, an opportunity to swim in the Olympic pool from the 1992 Games and a cable-car ride down to the beach. For the sports fans, both cities are home to famously brilliant football teams with breathtaking stadiums to match.

With such a variety of holidays on offer, and an enviable range in which to enjoy them, Spain seems set to dominate the holiday season for Britons for many years to come.