Malaga is a large city in Andalucia, in southern Spain. It is a particularly popular international tourist destination on the Costa del Sol. With the combination of the warm Mediterranean climate, miles of sandy beaches and cultural attractions like Malaga Cathedral and Picasso's birthplace, it makes the perfect destination for a family holiday. Furthermore, with a massive selection of rental homes in the city and surrounding countryside, Malaga can be a surprisingly low cost city to visit.

Malaga has a wide variety of things to do. There's Picasso's birthplace, complete with some of the artist's earliest childhood paintings, the Picasso Museum with a rather bigger collection of the artist's work, and the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo (Centre for Contemporary Arts) for Malaga's post-Picasso artworks. Malaga Cathedral and La Conception Botanic and Historical Garden are both popular attractions which can give you a break from the bustle of the city centre. Inevitably most people visiting Malaga and the Costa del Sol will want to spend some time on the beaches, and La Malagueta is the most convenient. If simply sunbathing is a bit dull, however, outdoors fans can also go cycling or rock climbing at places such as the breathtaking El Chorro gorge to the north west. For those too cautious to try their hand at rock climbing, El Chorro also has a suspended pathway high above the gorge for some spectacular views!

There are a huge variety of holiday rentals in and around Malaga - apartments, villas and haciendas, and the rental villas are particularly great for kids. The properties are often close to the coast within easy reach of the beaches, and private pools are almost a standard feature. With prices from around £500 a week for a villa big enough for a family of four, the rental costs compare very well with hotel room rates, and you also have the advantage of much more space, both indoor and outdoor, for the kids to run around and let off steam without disturbing other tourists. And if you can't face the crowded beaches for one or two days of your holiday, a day by your villa's private pool is going to be great fun.