Liz McArthur - www.canada.com

Well, the weather outside is frightful, so let's fly somewhere delightful.

Somewhere like the Costa Del Sol, where heat isn't just about the temperature outside; it's about the people and passion of Andalucia, southern Spain. Home to bullfighting and flamenco, it is the perfect cure for winter-weary souls.

Last March, I booked a flight from London Stanstead airport with Easyjet.com and flew to Malaga, haven for British sun-seekers. Not known for its culture but for a good nightlife and hot weather, it was the perfect place to start my week in the sun with my limited budget.

I met up with an friend from Scotland and we booked into a small pension. For about 10 euros each we had a large room with two beds and a shower attached. We shared a western-style toilet down the hall with two other guests.

The owner was friendly and willing to help us with directions provided we could supplement our shaky Spanish with hand gestures and charades.

We spent a day and a half in Malaga, taking in as much sun as we could at the local beach and frequenting the dozens of cafes, enjoying the local beer and large plates of calamari.

When we'd burnt ourselves to a crisp, we bought two bags of fruit from the vendors in the local market and caught a bus to Jerez de la Frontera.

Arriving at night, we were lucky to find a hotel room as the local flamenco festival was in full swing. The tourist-information centre was easy to find and helpful in recommending various flamenco clubs and performances.

We found a local flamenco club deep in the back alleys of the city and watched a phenomenal display. Don't expect any early nights however, the clubs open late and close late.

I left Jerez reluctantly and recommend the Costa Del Sol for anyone with the winter blues. I missed out on the sherry-tasting tours but there are many in Jerez and are easily booked from the tourist centre or from the bodegas themselves. Costs are minimal in this part of Spain and even travelers with the tightest of budgets can expect to partake in a wide variety of activities.