As does the sun - and during the winter, and stay in southern Spain

For the ones who feel like they need a break from chill, clouds, rain and snow, the southern and western Mediterranean coast is a great option. Alicante and Malaga are the places where many tourists escape for some warmer weather, sun, and sand, without busting the budget.

Malaga and Alicante remain warm (11 -16 degrees), sunny and dry enough throughout the winter to be a very appealing alternative along with Tenerife, Palma de Mallorca and Murcia.

The weather in Alicante with an average annual temperature of 18 degrees could be by itself already it's best publicity.

Each winter come to Alicante and the main holiday resorts on the Costa Blanca thousands of tourists, eager for the winter sun.

In Alicante, the terraces of the Explanada still offer their natural Horchata; the stalls continue selling trinkets and in the marina are anchoring impressive sport boats.

Winter season is the Tourist Board's proposal to continue benefiting of the four city beaches. You can access them on foot, by bus or walking a beautiful and comfortable ride with the tram.

On the beaches of Postiguet, Albufereta, Saladares-Urbanova and San Juan there are twelve tracks for beach volleyball (some are floodlit) and a full training circuit with explicatory panels.

A classical tour through Alicante city includes a visit to the castle of Santa Barbara and, since a couple of years, to the brand-new MARQ, the most modern Archeological Museum in Spain, with modern audiovisual techniques, interactive panels and holograms.

One of the areas which have improved in recent years is the one surrounding the old port. The Marinas of Poniente and Levante have been converted into entertainment centers and are increasingly attracting more visitors. Restaurants, cocktail terraces, shops, kiosks and bars surround the docks with luxurious boats.

There is a ship-bus available which connects the Marina de Levante and the Commercial centre Panoramis. The return trip takes 25 minutes.

Alicante is a vibrant city and not just a resort, with its own University and thatfore a great amount of young people; in winter there are available as well many activities and a full programme of fiestas and nightlife in Alicante, especially on the weekends. The central market of Campoamor is a great experience on Saturdays, when it is more bustling than ever

There are several tourist offices Distributed in the city of Alicante, is located in the main street in the Rambla de Mendez Nunez. In winter, open 9-20 pm (Monday to Saturday). Closed on Sunday.

When traveling with children, and you can ask in the tourist office to the schedule of the Family Theater in the Palm Garden. Is scheduled on Sunday, puppet shows, children's theater. Also, do not miss the Mediterranean basin in the Plaza Nueva.

In the area of Benidorm, and a halfan hour by car from Alicante can be found several Theme Parks, such as the Mundo Mar, Terra Mitica and Terra Natura.

If you spend your holidays in Alicante in winter, make sure that if you are planning to rent an apartment in Alicante or villa that it has some kind of heating. Houses in southern Spain are built that way that they remain cool in summer and are generally not insulted and can be cold in winter. This problem does not apply to the Hotels in Alicante, which generally offer great deals during the winter season.

The Costa Blanca is famous for its white houses and the special lightning conditions, which make particularly clear the difference between the white beach and the blue sea. Winter is a great time to explore more and discover places that perhaps you wouldn't have found in the hot high season. You can use a car hire in Alicante and visit the surrounding towns of Elche, Orihuela, Benidorm, Guadalest and Altea with its charming historic centre of whitewashed houses, the Sierra de Bernia mountain ranges and of course the symbol of the Costa Blanca, the Penon de Ifach in Calpe.

For the lovers of nature, Alicante has two natural parks, the Parque Natural del Carrascar de la Font Roja and theSierra de Mariola.

Another great option to enjoy nature are the so-called Vias Verdes (green rails), former disused railway infrastructure which has been converted into routes for cyclists and Walkers.