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Ask someone to describe 'the perfect holiday' and you're bound to get a rambling, oft contradictory brain splurge.

Throw in the tricky subject of travelling as part of a couple or family, and the list of holiday hang-ups only multiply.

When you've got cultural city breaks, exotic beachside lazeabouts, soothing spa getaways, and snow-capped ski soirees all vying for your holiday brochure attention, it's hard to know where to start.

Which is where Granada comes in.

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Skiing in Granada: Sierra Nevada is Europe's most southern ski resort

Not only can you dabble in all the above, but you could even do so over a long weekend.

Such is the smorgasbord-tastic appeal of one of Spain's most southerly cities, Granada's guaranteed to stimulate your palette, grey cells, endorphins and adrenal glands in equal measure.

To be perfectly honest, I'd never considered Granada as a skiing destination.

When you think of the scorching, beach-flanked Costa del Sol, you'd have to be a piste professional to connect the mental dots to Apres-skiing on the mountainous, snowy slopes.

Perfect conditions: Sierra Nevada is Spain's sunniest ski resort

Yet as I found myself careering towards a group of tiny toddlers, with nothing but the Spanish for 'Stop!' and 'Help!" whizzing past my ears (¡Para! and ¡Ayuda!', for the record), and the strained voice in my head forcefully clarifying that be-skittled children were not an effective braking mechanism, it became undeniably clear that Granada is a perfect place to ski.

It just helps if you actually know how.

Luckily, a last-minute sideways scramble saved the children, if not my dignity.

As I stood up, dusted myself off and surveyed the beautiful, sweeping panorama (and as the aforementioned target tots set off at a blistering pace down the powder before me), my super-smiley, surprisingly patient instructor swooshed over to congratulate me on surviving - if not entirely defeating - the Nursery Slope.

Sexy flamenco dancing: Be blown away by the dramatic performances

And nope, I asked; Nursery' isn't Spanish for 'impressive'.

Situated just 35km from Granada's city centre, the Sierra Nevada ski resort has everything a ski-fanatic could want.

There is more than 100km of trails contained in 118 ski runs, as well as 400 snow cannons to guarantee retina-searing, sparkling snow all year round.

It has solar abundance (more than 320 days of sun a year, and officially the sunniest ski resort in Europe), and not only that, but it's higher-than-the-Pyrenees elevation offers views across the Strait of Gibraltar to Africa and Morocco (on a good day, and if you're brave enough to stray to the top of its highest run).

And if you're more of an 'Apre' aficionado, then the resort has countless spas hidden within its luxurious alpine hotels, log-cabin bars, and great gastro-restaurants to suit the more relaxed of skiers.

It will take your breath away: Experience one of the local flamenco shows

The theory goes that 10,000 hours of practice can make you an expert at anything, but after a day of masochistic flailing, I can confidently confirm that applying the same logic to '10,000 pratfalls' doesn't quite bear the same result.

As dusk fell, we headed back down the mountain towards the city's sun-bleached, Arabic-flavoured centre, and a twilight tour of Spain's most visited tourist destination, the Alhambra.

From outside, it's undeniably imposing, with imposing red stone fortress walls standing strong against the snow-capped Sierra Nevada mountains behind.

View from above: The city centre and historic Moorish buildings in the Albaicin district of Granada

Break through the exterior (well, ticket office), and the architectural and historical treasures hidden within are as enchanting as the citadel's checkered past.

Originally constructed in the 9th century, it's had an incredible history since - throughout the centuries it's been home to alternately invading Muslim and Christian forces, abandoned to beggars and thieves, occupied during the Napoleonic invasion, and been used as an architectural muse by an array of romantic writers and artists.

It's heady melange of artistic, formalistic styles and religious iconography means you should brace your jaw for a floor-bound thud before exploring within.

Something for everyone: Matt enjoys an evening stroll near Granada's old city

Busy shopping area: The city centre of Granada

If the sweeping views of the city beneath don't impress, then the sheer variety of courtyards, water ornaments, jasmine gardens, and mesmerically detailed, kaleidoscopic patterns and inscribed verses decorating the walls certainly will.

After a dizzying wander throughout its labyrinthine areas, I lean out over the parapet, take a deep breath, bask in the heat of the sun and survey the majesty of the surrounding area.

I may not be a poet, but the Alhambra evokes enough magical romanticism to certainly encourage me to start.

While it's a given that every destination you visit will eagerly advertise its own lengthy (and often hyperbolic) list of 'Must Dos', a trip to Granada without experiencing the region's native dance - the flamenco - in all its glory really is cultural sacrilege.

Clear blue skies and crisp white snow: The Sierra Nevada resort is a great choice for skiers and snowboarders

I'll happily admit that I don't know my clogging from my concertos (let's just say I make Anne 'Strictly Sack of Potatoes' Widdecombe look positively balletic in comparison), so I had no idea what to expect.

Our host, the El Templo de Flemenco, is housed within a subterranean cave hidden away in the city's historic and undeniably atmospheric Albaizin quarter (the area itself a World Heritage site).

As the night began, we politely munched dinner as a close-knit, colourfully-dressed family band played a host of traditional, toe-tapping Spanish ditties.

Yet as the evening drew on, and the plates politely stacked away, an infectiously dramatic, rousing mood swept through the cave.

Soon, a foot-stomping, swirling, rotating door of male and female flamenco dancers took to the stage to stamp out intense, passionate, fiery and undeniably erotic routines.

Sun on the slopes: Skiers and snowboarders taking a breather are seen in the reflection on Matt's goggles

if you think Strictly's brief three-minute flings with flamenco are entrancing, a solid 30 minutes of incredibly intimate performances will blow you away.

And as the evening drew to a close, even the traditionally squirmsome matter of bringing the audience up on stage to dabble in the rhythmic devilry was a non-event, with many a diner voluntarily and willingly wooed into shaking their groove thang on-stage.

A mere 24 hours in the city had elicited endorphins, excitement, education and ecstasy in equal measure - and that's even without getting a chance to visit the numerous golf courses and beautiful beaches all situated nearby.

The well-worn saying goes that it's impossible to please everyone. Granada begs to differ.

Ready to hit the slopes: Skiers and snowboarders travel up to the top of the slopes