Spring still doesn’t seem to be on its way, as the UK prepares itself for another spell of freezing weather. For those desperate to see blue skies and feel the sun on their skin, it looks like the best option is to book a holiday elsewhere. Holiday prices remain at an affordable level so now is an ideal time to start browsing the holiday websites and see what's available to break the winter blues.

But where at this time of the year is a good bet for sunshine? Within Europe there is only one place that reliably offers decent weather throughout the year and that is the Canary Islands. Not strictly in Europe at all, they are included within the borders of EU as an autonomous region of Spain.

Of the Canaries, it is Lanzarote that usually has the driest climate, given its close proximity to the north African coast and the low-lying nature of the island. With no mountains over 700 metres, rainfall is kept to a minimum, falling on average only twenty days a year. The intense heat of mainland Spain is tempered by breezes straight off the Atlantic.

The excellent choice of Lanzarote villas and Lanzarote apartment accommodation that you'll come across never ceases to amaze most visitors to the island.

Most apartment complexes are set within semi-tropical gardens around a communal swimming pool. None will be more than three storeys tall, as strict rules about construction mean that buildings can only be as tall as a palm tree. A good number of these complexes have been refurbished in recent years to bring the accommodation up to date, with modern style furnishings.

So its resorts couldn’t be further from those of Los Cristianos or Maspalomas. There are no skyscrapers and no advertising hoardings, two factors which blight many landscapes. In the coastal towns, where the majority of apartments in Lanzarote are based, there is a uniformity that makes these places pleasant to visit and stay in.

Many of the quiet residential streets, lined with palms and tropical trees, also contain numerous holiday villas. And such is the choice of villas in Lanzarote, there is usually something to suit every budget and taste, whether it is for couples, families or groups of friends.

Some villas come equipped as a home-from-home, with DVD libraries and books to entertain their guests. Others have games rooms, with pool tables and Playstations. Nearly all have built-in barbecues, as the weather allows al-fresco dining at all times of the year. Private swimming pools are also the norm, with most heated during the winter months to just take the chill off the water. With hot-tubs also on the increase, there are plenty of ways to relax in a Lanzarote villa.