Hotels and accommodation, activities and attractions in Somerset, Bath and Exmoor

If you are looking for a break in the sunshine at a reasonable price, then snap up one of the many cheap flights to Almeria that are on offer. Fly with Easyjet for as little as £35, or seek out a flight and hotel package deal from lastminute.com, and you could be sipping sangria on the sand in no time. And you won’t have to break the bank once you’ve flown out either, with Almeria’s range of hotels you can find whatever you’re looking for. We aren’t even talking basic rooms for basic money – stay in family-friendly comfort at 4* hotel for just £37 pppn, or even a luxurious 5* for as little as £90. The best deals are mainly up for grabs in September, so you can prolong the summer while back home everyone gets back to the grindstone – always a good thing.

The name Almeria stems from Arabic, and means ‘the mirror of the sea’. It is the driest region in Europe and also one of the very warmest, with an average annual temperature of 19 degrees Celsius. With a mean 330 days of sun a year, it is almost guaranteed to deliver if sunshine is what you’re after – the perfect destination for relaxing by the pool or on the beach.

On the other hand, if you like your holidays a bit more on the active and cultural side, then Almeria will certainly not leave you wanting. Its magnificent old castle, Alcazaba, is the second largest Muslim fortress in Andalusia after the Alhambra. The castle and its beautiful gardens are of course well worth a look, especially since entry is free for any EU citizens who show a valid passport upon visiting. You might also recognize some of your surroundings from the silver screen, since Almeria was the filming location of numerous spaghetti westerns. Sets from Sergio Leone’s films can still be found in the desert of Tabernas, and the town itself was used as a magical backdrop in Lawrence of Arabia. The region’s striking, almost lunar desert landscape certainly makes for a break in the sun with a difference.

In terms of dining, Almeria doesn’t have the widest variety of restaurants, but its host of very reasonably priced and excellent tapas bars is not to be missed. Often you are even treated to some free tapas to accompany your drink. As for nightlife, there is the usual choice of bars and nightclubs, but why not try something a little different and attend some of the free Latin dance classes available – a great chance to meet people and have a truly exciting and memorable night.

One of Almeria’s greatest advantages is that despite its beauty and climate it is not a tourist trap, and remains a region in which holiday-makers can indulge themselves in a real feeling of independence without feeling like sheep in a herd.