Spain's insatiable popularity can sometimes be a double-edged sword for sun-worshipping Brits, who can quickly become an easy target for illegal activity. such as pickpocketing can be rife in busy hotspots - with cities like Barcelona renowned for its sneaky thieves.

Of course, is still seen as a safe country, and has a low crime rate compared to lots of other European countries. Data published by Catalina Esponosa did however find that crime in the country rose by six per cent in 2013 - reaching a record-breaking 2.5 million official reports.

'Conventional' crimes such as theft made up the majority of Spain's crime cases (around 650,000). "While popular tourist destinations like the Balearic Islands and Catalonia experienced higher crime rates, namely of more than 60 crimes per 1,000 inhabitants, rural regions such as Extremadura reported significantly lower criminal incidents," Statista explained.

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If you're looking for a week in the sun, but don't feel safe partying on the mad streets of Benidorm of Magaluf, you may want to visit Albacete. According to travel experts over at , 'tranquillity breeds safety' in the under-appreciated city, which has a population of just 170,0000. "The chances of being burgled or being the victim of any other crime are extremely low," they added.

The city is a great place to experience a more authentic side to Spain, even if you just want to watch the go by with a frothy coffee, or try some unbeatable tapas. The Cathedral of San Juan Bautista is also a must-see for any history buffs, along with the Albacete Museum covering ethnography, numismatics, fine arts and antique photographs.

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Getting to Albacete isn't the quickest, which perhaps explains why it's not been infiltrated with UK tourists. First, you'll have to fly to Alicante, which takes around two and a half hours. You can get direct flights from a slew of major UK airports, including Liverpool, Leeds, Manchester, Glasgow, and London. If you're flexible with dates, you can grab a proper bargain - with return fares for this month coming to just £35.

Once in Alicante, you'll need to drive away from the popular coastline and head inland. The drive takes around two hours in a car, while direct train and bus routes offer a similar journey time.

Accommodation in Albacete varies depending on your budget, but don't expect to be staying in a skyscraper hotel with a rooftop pool. For a week's stay (from Monday, March 24-31) expect to pay just 100 yards from the centre. A spa hotel a mile out of the hustle and bustle will set you back £527 for the exact same dates.

*Prices based on Skyscanner and Booking.com listings at the time of writing

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