Head to the hills and olive groves of Andalucia and treat your mum, wife or better half, to a relaxing weekend away at the exciting new boutique B&B, Casa Olea .

With the almond blossom out, wild flowers in the hills, the sun shining and comfortable day-time temperatures (15 – 20C), a green getaway to “Andalucia in Spring” is just what she deserves after such a long, cold winter…

Use Casa Olea as your comfortable base and visit the Moorish wonders of Granada and Córdoba (Alhambra and Mezquita); then explore the picturesque “white villages”, medieval hill-top castles and stunning mountains of the Sierras Subbéticas, with Casa Olea’s own self-guide walking and mountain biking routes.

Sample award-winning olive oils, tasty local goats cheeses and fino wines from Montilla-Moriles; marvel at Priego de Córdoba’s baroque churches and enjoy a steam, soak and a massage in their Arabic baths; then come back to tasty home-cooked evening meals, log fires and a warm welcome at Casa Olea.

* MOORISH MOTHER’S DAY escape to Andalucia…
- Price: double rooms from 85 euros/night including taxes and breakfast.
- How to Get There: Fly to Granada with Ryanair, or Malaga with most low-cost airlines.
- Car Hire: from Granada or Malaga airports, with all major companies.

www.casaolea.com

A seriously Moorish Valentines Break with a difference. Head to the heart of Andalucia and discover romance, Moorish wonders (Alhambra and Mezquita), Olive Oil tasting, bracing winter’s walks in fabulous mountain scenery and warm hospitality at an exciting new “boutique B&B”, Casa Olea.

Use Casa Olea as your comfortable base and visit a region which has been attracting romantic travellers, writers and artists since the early 19th century. Visit Granada and Córdoba for the day and explore the Sierras Subbéticas mountains around Casa Olea, a hidden corner of Andalucia, not yet “on the map” for UK travellers. And there are some bargain flights out there still, so it’s an afforable escape too.

AMOR IN ANDALUCIA – Valentines Break offer

* PRICE: from 148 euros per person for 3 nights, including:
- 3 nights’ accommodation at Casa Olea with breakfast in your room or the dining room and no 9AM deadline scrum at the buffet!
- 3-course Valentines home-cooked dinner with a bottle of Cava.
- Olive Oil tasting to sample the region’s award-winning oils.
- “Champagne picnic” to take with you on a romantic winter’s walk.
- Price based on double room. Additional nights from 79 euros/dbl.

* TRAVEL COSTS are extra and would need to be booked direct. Guide prices for Flights and Car Hire as follows:

- Ryanair Stansted/Granada return (Wed/Sun): from 40 GBP return.
- Ryanair Bristol/Malaga return (Fri/Mon): from 80 GBP.
- Ryanair Birmingham/Malaga (Fri/Mon): from 50 GBP.
- Ryanair Glasgow/Malaga (Thu/Tue): from 40 GBP.
- Car Hire Granada airport, 4 days: from 48 GBP.
- Car Hire Malaga airport, 3 days: from 41 GBP.

Enjoy one of Andalucia’s big cultural festivals or in-the-know fiestas in 2010, while staying at the exciting new “boutique B&B”, CASA OLEA  – half way between Granada and Cordoba and ideal for visits to the Alhambra, Mezquita and much more…

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* JAN: Los Reyes (Three Kings): watch the children go crazy as sweets are thrown from carnival floats in street processions throughout Andalucia (06 Jan).

* FEB: Valentine’s Day: treat your loved one to breakfast-in-bed at Casa Olea, then our “champagne picnic” on a walk through the olive groves to a hill-top medieval watch-tower.

* MAR: the onset of Spring in the Sierras Subbéticas, ideal temperatures for hiking, biking, a day’s skiing in the Sierra Nevada, or visiting the Alhambra (Granada) & Mezquita (Córdoba) nearby. In Baena, an ear-busting 3000+ drummers hit the streets for their “Vispera de San José” fiesta.

* APR: “Viernes Santo” (Good Friday) is the climax of Semana Santa in Priego de Córdoba, with emotive processions day and night and ritual blessing of the hornazos, the lucky pastry chicken!!

* MAY: Patios de Mayo in Córdoba: annual contest of flower-filled patios and balconies. The “Hay Festival Alhambra” comes to Granada, while the MotorGP Spanish Grand Prix takes place in Jerez (02 May).

* JUN: Corpus Christi, observed throughout Andalucia (03 Jun), is especially traditional/fun in Granada. The “Festival de Musica Sefardi” celebrates Córdoba’s ancient Jewish heritage with night-time concerts and food stalls in the Botanical Gardens and Juderia district.

* JUL: escape the World Cup obsession for “Jazz entre Olivos” (Jazz in the Olives) in Jaén, with open-air street concerts; or the “Festival de la Guitarra” (Córdoba Guitar Festival), with flamenco, classical, jazz guitar & Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler live in the Plaza de Toros.

* AUG: the “Fiesta de la Alcaparra” (Caper Festival) in Fuente Tójar – a very local, small-scale fiesta typical of the summer weekends in Andalucia. Or, experience the crazy Pamplona-style fiesta of “Toro de Cuerda” in Carcabuey, with locals running with “baby bulls” on ropes.

* SEP: sample cheeses from all over Spain at the “Feria de Quesos” (Cheese Festival) in Zuheros; try the fino wines at the “Fiesta de la Vendimia Montilla Moriles”, one of Spain’s oldest wine festivals (since 1816). Or, see U2 in Seville, as part of their U2 360° Tour.

* OCT: sample quince in every form conceivable at the “Fiesta de Membrillo” (Quince Festival) in the white village of Zagrilla, then burn it off with hiking in the Sierras Subbéticas. See Europe’s top golfers (and hopefully recent Ryder Cup winners?!) at the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama, Sotogrande.

* NOV: catch up with the latest releases in European film at the Seville European Film Festival; or enjoy jazz performances throughout Granada at the “International Jazz Festival”, one of Europe’s oldest. Baena’s “Olive & Olive Oil Festival” celebrates the region’s rich olive heritage.

* DEC: all of Spain heads to the campo (countryside) for the popular “Puente de la Inmaculada” long weekend (4-8 Dec); while “Noche Vieja” (New Year’s Eve) is also celebrated throughout Andalucia – with locals eating their 12 lucky grapes on the main square to chimes of midnight.

Specialist operator, Vintage Travel has joined forces with Welsh Artist Jantien Powell to offer – new for 2010 – tutored painting holidays at selected properties with private pool in Andalucia, Spain.

Included is expert tuition every day – with sessions arranged either at the villa taking in the wonderful interior and the scenic grounds or at nearby picturesque painting locations.

As an example of what’s available, there’s a week’s holiday based at El Molino del Pilon – a five bedroom, five bathroom converted mill house (sleeps 10) set within 17 acres of grounds near the historic ‘pueblo blanco’ of Arcos de la Frontera.

The house provides the ideal setting – with grassy open spaces, shady areas of mature woodland, a large natural lake and waterfalls along the former millstream, whilst inside, there’s the original water wheel as well as beamed ceilings, exposed stonework and lovely furnishings.

In addition, the itinerary includes visits to Arcos de la Frontera, the historic hilltop town of Ronda, Zahara and Setenil – where the houses are built into the cliff.

Starting 23 April, the cost is £875 per person, twin-share inclusive of seven nights’ accommodation, all meals – prepared by Jantien’s chef – professional art tuition and local transport. Return UK flights extra.

Reservations: 0845 344 0420, www.vintagetravel.co.uk

The Spanish use olive oil as a standard accompaniment to most meals, so why not stay in a wonderfully restored 200 year old olive mill in Andalucía for a chance to experience some of Spain’s most exquisite food. Using The Hotel Finca el Cerillo as a base, follow the ancient ‘Silk Route’ between Cómpeta and Granada and walk beneath the majestic peaks of the Sierra Almijara. After strolling through sweet chestnuts and olive and citrus groves, visit tiny hamlets where famers still travel by mule or take advantage of the hotel gardens with 100 year old carob and palm trees.

The pool has stunning views across the valley below and the Moorish village of Archez with its 13th Century tower. For cosy winter nights there is even a beamed lounge with a blazing log fire to relax in front of. The seven night guided walking holiday “Secrets of Andalucía” starts from £978 per person departing 23rd January 2010, including 4* full board (with wine) accommodation, walking briefing, local information, route notes and map kit. Prices inclusive of flights start from £1163 per person from Gatwick to Malaga with British Airways, including transfers. Flights can be arranged from most UK airports. Call Headwater Reservations Line 01606 720199 or book on line at www.headwater.com

Spain continues to be one of the most popular holiday destinations in Europe with over 50 million people choosing to take holidays there every year. Owners Direct, which advertises thousands of villas in Spain, reports that the country is still its number one destination, receiving over 200,000 booking enquiries between January and July this year, an increase of 40% on last year. On www.OwnersDirect.co.uk there are currently over 6500 privately owned holiday homes available to rent in Spain.

The most popular destination for Spanish holidays is still the Costa Del Sol, with 75,580 enquiries received between January and November 2009; an increase of 45% since 2008. Despite a blighted reputation of late, Britons continue to choose Costa Del Sol as their preferred destination for relaxation and fun for all ages. In fact, the Costa del Sol received over 50% more enquiries than the Greek Islands and Tenerife combined. Regardless of the negative press surrounding the Spanish economy, apartment and villa rentals there are proving increasingly popular for Brits due to the low rental rates and the self catering capabilities.

Booking enquiries for inland properties this year have also increased, with the most popular destinations being the Granada Province, Las Alpujjaras area and inland Costa Del Sol. Away from the main tourist destinations is some amazing countryside dotted with traditional villages in keeping with the ‘real Spain’. The scenery is diverse, with the the lush green Andalucian countryside contrasting with the mountainous landscapes of the Sierra Nevada. People take time to explore on foot, horseback or bike and can often travel for miles without meeting another English speaking person.

The region of Andalucia has worked hard in recent years to promote the diverse and cultural side of Spain – an approach, it would seem, that is paying off.

Vintage Travel – specialising, exclusively, in hand-picked houses with private pools – has expanded its portfolio of properties in Spain for 2010 with additions including El Torero, a grand and elegant country home in Andalucia.

With high vaulted ceilings, exposed beams and elegant archways, the property dates back to the 19th century and incorporates a stone tower originally used as a watchtower to defend the local town of Vejer de la Frontera.

El Torero, which is imposing and exquisitely furnished and surrounded by 350 hectares of wild olive trees and cork oak, sleeps 16 in eight en suite bedrooms and comes complete with air-conditioning, a private pool, enclosed lawned garden and daily maid service.

The property is only on offer during the month of August and costs £5995 for seven nights’ rental.

More modest additions in Spain include Cal Nano, a detached three-bedroom, two bathroom villa set at the bottom of a hillside that forms part of the Les Gavarres mountain range in Catalunya.

The property, which sleeps six, is set in enclosed gardens with a large covered terrace and private pool and is situated just 1.5 km from the hamlet of Vall Llobrega and a 10-minute drive from the sandy beach of Castell.

The price of a week’s rental leads in at £695 at the end of March/beginning of April, rising to £1995 in peak season.

Prices do not include return UK flights and car hire, but these can be arranged independently or by the company on request.

Reservations: 0845 344 0420, www.vintagetravel.co.uk