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I've been to the Costa Del Sol a few times in the past, but twice for short breaks in recent years, and neither trip was a traditional sun and sand holiday.

Marbella - The first occasion was a couple of years ago at the end of November - Travel Counsellors held their 2008 Conference there, hosted by the Costa Del Sol Tourist Board. And I was lucky enough to stay at the plush 5 star Gran Melia Don Pepe, in the sophisticated resort of Marbella. The hotel was grand with great facilities, and a spacious pool area. The Golden Mile and the nearby area boast the glamorous jet set, and many Brits enjoying an extended winter break in the sun. The conference was a huge success, as usual, and we all enjoyed a few days of glorious weather in our free time. We enjoyed sightseeing, flamenco dancing, walks along the promenade and wonderful Spanish hospitality.

Mijas - This previous experience prompted me to return, which I did recently with a family group for a few days, during an early spring break this year. This time we went to Mijas Pueblo, one of the white hilled villages of Andalucía. And stayed at the lovely TRH Mijas Hotel. It rained most of the time, but we did get glimpses of blue skies and sunshine amongst the clouds. And the views from this elevated position down towards Fuengirola and the coast are spectacular. This is an area to relax in, as well as sightseeing, and we did plenty of that in our comfortable hotel.

The Mijas hotel has a good spa, Jacuzzi and sauna, and a big lounge/terrace bar with those fantastic views. In summer there are terraces out in the front, which will be wonderful to relax. It's a peaceful oasis within a short distance to all that the Costa Del Sol offers.

It's has a perfect location, being close to the centre of the resort, and the bus down to the coast, which stops literally outside the hotel. It's the best of both worlds - you are away from the main commercial hub of the Costa Del Sol, yet only a short (and reasonably priced) bus ride away from it. The whole Costa Del Sol area is ideal for short breaks, given that most regional airports have regular flights to Malaga. But there is so much more to the Costa del Sol, and you can easily spend much longer here.

Mijas is full of little shops, tapas bars, restaurants, and the most amazing views - see my pictures. And it's so pretty, and suitable for both short breaks and longer stays.

The transport system is excellent - the regular bus service for runs from not only from Mijas to Fuengirola, but from there back and forth along the coast. There is also a small train service which runs from Malaga Airport as far as Fuengirola, and a bus service from there to Marbella and Puerto Banus.

Further afield it's easy to make day trips to Gibraltar, Granada, and Rhonda. Meanwhile, don't overlook Malaga, the region's capital city, that most of us just pass through to the airport. It's also a city worth seeing, and on the previous trip, we'd visited the Picasso Museum, and the Alcazaba, which is the Moorish fortress with great views of the city and the port. There are many tapas bars, and good shopping. A place I would recommend.

I've been back and forth to the Costa Del Sol over the years, and during one family holiday a long time ago stayed in Nerja, further up the coast during one blistering hot and humid July. Nerja is very popular with the British, but still retains a typically Spanish feel. The nearby caves are well worth a visit.

The Costa Del Sol is extremely busy in summer with the lure of it's beautiful beaches, and the promise of many hours of sunshine. It's still popular, but much more leisurely, in the winter and shoulder seasons, so whatever you are looking for in your holiday, you have plenty to choose from here.

It's an all year round holiday destination. So why not explore it, and see it's different sides.

Adiós! And enjoy!