In the mid 1990's, visitors to the south of Spain began to discover that Granada and the Costa Tropical was a fantastic place to book Spanish apartments to rent and holiday villas in southern Spain.
A number of factors contributed to this discovery including the fact that holidaymakers were becoming more adventurous and were looking further afield from the popular holiday resorts on the southern coast.
Also many people were becoming interested in the cultural aspects of the country such as Spanish architecture, music, dance, cuisine, literature and art.
For this reason many visitors wanted to find a vacation rental in Spain in an area that provided more than just sunshine, sea and sand.
Granada is a relatively large province in Andalucia and to the west of the province are Malaga and the Costa del Sol.
To the east lie Guadix and Baza and the Costa Almeria.
Granada province has 102 km of tropical coast (the Costa Tropical) where Almunecar and La Herradura form the tourist capital.
Here you will find many holiday villas in southern Spain and Spanish apartments to rent.
The Costa Tropical de Granada is Europe's only subtropical microclimate.
The region is sheltered from the worst effects of the European winters by the Sierra Nevada Mountains to the north.
The Costa Tropical gets an average of 320 days of sunshine per year and average temperatures in the summer months are around 25 to 30 degrees Centigrade.
Granada is the capital of Andalucia and was once the greatest Islamic city in Europe.
It is located at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and is home to the greatest Moorish relic in Europe, the Alhambra Palace.
The Alhambra was a palace and fortress, which was home to the Arabic Sultans who ruled the region long ago.
If you book your Spanish villa rentals or Spanish apartments to rent here you should certainly pay it a visit.
If you book your vacation rental in Spain in Granada city you will find that it is a great place to wander round with its delightful historic centre, narrow twisting streets and busy restaurants and bars.
It also has a lively and cosmopolitan nightlife due to its large student population who attend the prestigious University of Granada.
Granada is a compact city and most people agree that driving is not a good choice as the roads are always congested.
If you book your holiday villas in southern Spain or Spanish apartments to rent in the city then walking or taking the bus around town is the best option.
The bus system is easy to follow and they run quite frequently.
Buses in Granada are usually red, and a single journey costs 1 Euro.
However you can buy a booklet of nine bus tickets for 5.
50 Euros which is better value if you plan to get out and about a lot and you can buy them directly from the driver.
Another mode of transport is by Taxi and most trips in the city cost around 8 Euros.
Taxis can be hailed in the streets and a green dome light indicates the vehicle is free.
A beautiful area in the Granada province for a villa vacation rental in Spain is the picturesque Lecrin Valley which is situated between Granada city and Motril and near to the Alpujarras.
The Lecrin valley is a peaceful and virtually unspoilt destination to book your Spanish apartments to rent, yet it is only thirty minutes drive from the coastal resorts.
If you like rolling countryside rich with olive, orange and lemon groves you will love the Lecrin valley.
It is a walker's paradise with a fantastic range of footpaths traversing the hills and linking the villages.
It is an ideal place for a tranquil break.
If you are thinking of booking Spanish apartments to rent in Granada direct and booking your own flights do not forget to arrange some travel insurance.
Some holidaymakers either choose the cheapest option or do not bother with insurance at all.
We would recommend that for peace of mind you consult a reputable insurance broker who will advise you on the best policy to buy for you and your family.