Top Destinations: Beach Holiday

Corsica

Corsica has literally hundreds of beaches, probably the best in France and several among the best to be found anywhere in the world. Palombagia, Saint Giulia, Calvi, Loto, Saleccia and Saint Restitude beaches are among the beaches that continually get rave reviews. Loto and Saleccia beaches are great if you are looking for seclusion and peace as these beaches are accessed by boat. North of Calvi there are a string of numerous beaches so if one doesn’t suit just walk onto the next beach. All of the beaches in Corsica are clean and the waters are crystal clear and warm during the summer months. If you are holidaying with children you may want to find out which of the hundreds of beaches have life guards. Twenty five of the numerous beaches currently have life guards in Corsica. The coastline of Corsica provides ideal conditions for diving and windsurfing amongst other water sports because of the clean waters and Mediterranean temperatures. The beaches in Corsica are rated very highly and because of this is one of the prominent reasons why Corsica attracts visitors worldwide.

Croatia

Croatia's main tourist attraction has always been its coastline. The Adriatic coast and islands are lined with amazing beaches, abounding in natural harbours, with its countless bays, ports and marinas. Croatia offers 1.778 kilometres (1.103 miles) of seaside and there are over 1.000 islands to pick from (66 inhabited) with a further 4.012 kilometres (2.487 miles) of seaside.

Croatian beaches are mostly pebbly, rocky and narrow so the coast certainly does not flourish with sandy beaches. However, due to the lack of sand, Croatia’s waters are some of the cleanest in the world, which contributes to a rising number of people choosing to go on a beach holiday in Croatia. Most official beaches in Croatia have lifeguards and numerous facilities from sports and water-sports facilities to catering facilities, parasols and beach chair rentals.

Whether you're looking for luxurious hotels, self-catering holidays or campsites, there are numerous Croatian beach holiday havens for visitors to choose from, that range from very affordable (€32) to very pricey (€1800).
 

Portugal

If you like nothing more than lying on the beach and taking in the sun with a jug of sangria, then Portugal is the place for a beach holiday. The Algarve in particular offers the best selection, the longest of which the 4km (2mil) Meia Praia at Lagos. The towns of Lagos, Albufeira and Faro all have local beaches though they can at times get busy in the summer. If you want your beach holiday on quiet, deserted beaches it's best to rent a car and drive to one of the many west coast beaches, where you can find quite coves and beaches, many lined and hidden by high cliffs. To the east between Faro and the border with Spain, you'll find sandy beaches washed by calmer and warmer waters.

Sardinia

There are plenty of idyllic, isolated coves and unspoilt Sardinia beaches for those willing to explore. Beach holidays in Sardinia are particularly popular with watersports enthusiasts, with rewarding water-skiing, windsurfing and surfing. Despite the advent of low-cost airlines, which although they have increased access to (and the popularity of) Sardinia, have also unrealistically raised the expectations of travellers as to what is available outside of the peak season months of June, July and August, often leading to disappointment. The island does not cater to year round mass "beach holiday" tourism. This is particularly true of the north and east of the island, in the resorts served by the airport at Olbia. One should always research what is open and available in the Sardinian resorts surrounding the airport that you choose to arrive at before you book. Just because the flight looks cheap and the airport that you fly from in the UK is convenient, there may well be a downside at the other end.

SOUTHERN SARDINIA

Southern Sardinia features long expanses of perfect sandy beaches and probably the most translucent turquoise sea you will find anywhere in Europe. The southern coast of this wonderful island provides an ideal environment for the ultimate beach holiday on Sardinia.

Santa Margherita di Pula
On the southern tip of Sardinia, Santa Margherita di Pula has a superb sandy beach and is close to the city of Cagliari, ablaze with cafés, restaurants, shops and the interesting old quarter 'Castello'.

Chia
Chia, one of Sardinia's most scenic and uncluttered coastlines, where rocky promontories separate reclusive sandy coves. A 16th century campanile stands guard over the Punic settlement of Bithia.

Nora
Founded during the 8th and 9th century BC, Nora houses the remains of Punic and Phoenician sanctuaries, a magnificent Roman villa, amphitheatre and stately forum.

NORTHERN SARDINIA

Sardinia's sophisticated northern shores, such as the Costa Smeralda and Baia Sardinia, are interspersed with near-deserted sandy coves and rocky inlets. This stunning stretch of coastline contrasts with the remote, rugged landscape inland, where the beauty is of a wilder nature.

Costa Smeralda, Porto Cervo
Stretching for 30 pristine miles across the island's north east corner, Costa Smeralda has idyllic sandy beaches. Cervo boasts a luxury yacht club and marina complex and stylish boutiques.

Baia Sardinia
Baia Sardinia, a small village set in a beautiful little bay with fine sand and clear water. Here, life centres around the beach and the piazza where there are a few small shops, bars and restaurants.

Oliena
For those avid to discover a characteristic Sardinian town, Oliena is a perfect example, set in the Cedrine valley at the foot of Monte Corrasi. Shaded streets are lined by whitewashed houses with painterly courtyards, reposing in a languid atmosphere neighboured by gnarled olive groves, terraced vineyards and scented almond trees.

Cala Capra
Those in search of less obvious exposure find languid coves at Cala Capra, a sandy stretch shaded by low wooded hills in an area of unsurpassed Sardinian natural beauty.

Alghero
An old Catalan town and picturesque port, Alghero is a fusion of Italian and Spanish flavours. Explore the ancient ramparts and medieval walled town before taking a coastal walk past the craggy cliffs, vineyards and olive groves of the Coral Riviera. Beach bums will flock to the 5km stretch of golden sand, and foodies will savour local delicacies such as fresh lobster served up in the renowned but reasonable restaurants. 

Spain

Spain is home to some of the finest beaches in the world. From beautiful rocky beaches, to wide stretches of sun-kissed sandy beaches, to beaches that are lined with pubs and bars, Spain has them all. A beach holiday to Spain is the ideal way to relax as the warm temperatures are complemented by the sea breeze, meaning you can bask in the sun's rays without getting uncomfortably hot. Popular holiday resorts include Benidorm on the Costa Blanca, Lloret de Mar on the Costa Brava and Torremolinos on the Costa del Sol. Even in high season, there are plenty of incredible holiday bargains to be had. Language barriers tend not to be a problem in places such as these as some 12 million Britons visit the country every year and more than 300,000 British expatriates have made Spain their home. You will find that Spanish workers in these resorts will generally speak very good English.

A beach holiday in Spain will typically involve relaxing and sunbathing on the beaches by day, followed by drinking and dancing in the clubs by night. They are also a great choice for a family holiday, with lots of hotels and travel operators running 'kids clubs' to keep children entertained while you enjoy a break. And if spending day in, day out by the beach or pool becomes tiresome, you are unlikely to be far from an aqua park or market. Expect also to see banana rides, foam parties and lots of British cuisine such fish and chips.

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Spain may be flanked to the east by France and the Pyrenees and to the west by Portugal, but most of the country is ringed with sand, rock, and seawater. That, coupled with almost year-round sunshine, has attracted many millions of beachgoers.

Costa del Sol: Stretching east from Gibraltar along the southernmost coast of Spain, the Costa del Sol is the most famous, party-hearty, overdeveloped string of beaches in Iberia. The beaches feature superb sand, and the Mediterranean waters are calm and warm throughout most of the year. But these charms have brought throngs of visitors, making this the most congested string of coastal resorts in Europe. The most important resorts here are Marbella, Torremolinos, Málaga, and Nerja. Look for soaring skyscrapers, eye-popping bikinis, sophisticated resorts and restaurants, lots of sunshine, and interminable traffic jams.

Costa Blanca: This southeastern coast embraces the industrial city of Valencia, but its best-known resorts, Benidorm and Alicante, are packed with northern European sun-seekers every year. The surrounding scenery isn't particularly dramatic, but the water is turquoise, the sand is white, and a low annual rainfall virtually guarantees a sunny vacation.

Costa Brava: Rockier, more serpentine, and without the long stretches of sand that mark the Costa Blanca, the cliff-edged Costa Brava extends from Barcelona to the French border. Look for the charming, sandy-bottomed coves that dot the coast. Although there are fewer undiscovered beaches here than along Spain's Atlantic coast, the Costa Brava retains a sense of rocky wilderness. One of the more eccentric-looking villas along this coast belonged to the late Salvador Dalí, the region's most famous modern son who lived much of his life near Cadaqués.
Costa Verde: Radically different from the dry and sunbaked coastline of Andalusia, the rocky Costa Verde (Green Coast) resembles a sunny version of Ireland's western shore. It's temperate in summer, when the rest of Spain can be unbearably hot. Much of the coast lies within the ancient province of Asturias, a region rife with Romanesque architecture and medieval pilgrimage sites -- and one that has not yet been overwhelmed with tourism. Premier resorts include some districts of Santander, Gijón and, a short distance inland, Oviedo.

The Balearic Islands: Just off the coast of Catalonia and a 45-minute flight from Barcelona, this rocky, sand-fringed archipelago attracts urban refugees seeking the sun, jet-set glitterati, and exhibitionists in scanty beachwear. The Mediterranean climate is warmer here than on the mainland. The city of Palma de Majorca has the greatest number of high-rises and the most crowded shorelines. Much of Ibiza is party central for young people and gay visitors during the summer. Sleepy Minorca offers more isolation.

La Concha, San Sebastian

La Concha is said by many to be one of the best city beaches in Europe, let alone Spain. Situated in the north-east corner of Spain, near the western end of the border with France, San Sebastián is a chic coastal city with excellent Pintxos (the Basque name for tapas) and one of the nicest beaches you'll ever get in a city.

Greece

Greece is blessed with some of the most stunning beaches in the world and a climate that suits it perfectly. Beach holidays in Greece provide the perfect ambience to sit back and soak up the sun on the long sandy beaches. Try out adventure water sports or fishing, party the night away at beach bars that can be found on every beach in Greece, whatever you choose, the beaches of Greece offer a whirlwind of entertainment for the entire family.

Islands like Santorini offer the famous Perissa and Karmari black sands beaches, Crete, a sweetwater beach with a long, beautiful but pebbly shore is accessible only by water or a long hike and is a favorite among sunbathers- nude and suited. The island of Mykonos has beaches that are all about crowds, fun and a great atmosphere and nightlife, adding up to a splendid beach holiday in Greece. The beaches of Milos offer crystal clear water, clear sands and a beautiful Grecian sunset. The island of Skiathos is home to the Banana Nude Beach and a favorite among naturists from around the world. Accommodation on islands is plentiful. Book in advance as it get difficult finding a place during the summer months. Greece scores 9 on 10 as a beach holiday destination.

Lanzarote

For those who are seeking the ultimate beach holiday in Lanzarote, you won’t feel let down because this stunning and unspoilt island is home to over 90 rather attractive beaches. If you want tranquillity without the thronging crowds and noise then there are plenty of beaches situated not far away from the main resorts and you will find them in every corner of the island. There are a huge variety of beaches to visit on Lanzarote, which also boast fabulous surfing spots, pretty little sandy bays and an array of great value eateries and shops nearby. The warm, dry climate is perfect for sunbathing and swimming as the sea temperature rarely drops below 18°C.

Tenerife

Boasting 269 kilometers of stunning coastline, Tenerife isn’t short of attractive beaches which offer something for everyone: sun-worshippers, watersport enthusiasts, families and nudists. Many of the beaches in Tenerife are manmade using sand which has been imported from the Sahara Desert, creating long golden stretches of sand which are ideal for sunbathing and chilling out.

However, one of the distinctive features of Tenerife is the black-sand beaches – so look out for those. The best beaches for sunbathing are: Puerto de la Cruz and Santa Cruz (North Tenerife), Playa las Americas, Los Cristianos and Fanabe (South Tenerife), Los Gigantes and San Juan (West Tenerife), so those looking for the best beach holiday in Tenerife should consider those areas.

Visitors wishing to catch the waves and surf should visit Playa Las Americas, Conquistador and Fitenia (South Tenerife) or Fitenia which is north of the island.
Puerto de Santiago (West Tenerife) and Puerto de Santiago (South Tenerife) are ideal for snorkeling offering clear viewing and calm waters.
 

Turkey

Turkey has an 8000km coastline and some very impressive beaches, making it one of the most regular haunts for a beach holiday in Turkey. Turkey is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the south, the Black Sea on the north and the Aegean Sea in the west and happens to be dotted with breathtakingly beautiful beaches. The Turkish shoreline offer travelers miles of sun soaked sand and gravel beaches. The two most popular beaches for a relaxing beach holiday in Turkey are Olu Deniz Beach and the Altinkum Beach. There are a host of other less popular beaches that attract tourists as well. Located on the South West coast of Turkey on the Aegean Sea, Olu Deniz is a beach resort village, with the beach rated one of the five best beaches in the world! Due to its outstanding natural beauty, this beach is declared a part of national conservation project and it is protected from any building and developments activity. The weather is superb and you can swim in the natural lagoon behind the beach ten months of the year. The small town has a numbers of hotels and accommodation is never a problem, although you must book in advance. Another popular summer resort in Turkey with a stunning beach is the Altinkum beach resort. Other popular locations for a beach holiday in Turkey include a few of the beaches along the Mediterranean coastline like the Patara, Olimpos, Alanya, Side, Calis, Anamur and Kemer beaches. The Pamucak Beach, 7 km west of Ephesus has soft spongy sands that slowly elevate in the southern fringes of the beach to Kusadasi, the Aqua Fantasy Water Park. The beach itself is always abuzz with activity with the Aegean Sea waves whipping up the sands and blurring the waters. In Ephesus itself, is the Kusadasi beach has become popular with the tourists. Its proximity to the Ephesus remains attracts both historical tourists as well as the conventional beach public. Turkey scores 8 on 10 as a beach holiday destination.

Sharm el Sheikh

Beautiful sandy beaches, warm water all year round, loads of aquatic sports, superb diving and snorkelling, and more sunshine than you can shake a stick at. Beach holiday destinations don’t come much better than Sharm el Sheikh, so pack your swimsuit and book your ticket. Some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling can be found here with hundreds of different types of coral and thousands of species of fish, plus the odd shipwreck.

There’s also plenty of activity on the surface of the ocean with waterskiing, sailing, and windsurfing being a few of the aquatic sports you can try on a beach holiday in Sharm el Sheikh. If all you want to do is lie on a beach and soak up the rays, then you can’t go wrong with a Sharm el sheikh beach holiday.

The beaches are sandy, clean and plentiful and the sun shines all year round in Sharm. Whether it’s adventure in the sea or lazing on the beach, Sharm el Sheikh is the perfect destination for an Egypt beach holiday.
 

Cyprus

Cyprus has miles of beautiful golden coastline which make the ideal for a perfect beach holiday. The beaches in Cyprus are clean and well maintained which resulted in many of them being awarded with the International blue flag. A beach holiday in Cyprus is the perfect way to relax, but for the more adventurous many offer water sport activities such as jet-ski, fun boats, wind-surfing, diving and parascending, and some even have equipment for water skiing. Cyprus is also blessed with serene bays hidden amongst the alcoves and are the perfect tonic to escape the rigours of everyday life.

Boat trips are also widely available from beaches in the main resorts of Cyprus where you get the chance to explore the coast and visit other. These trips are particularly good for exploring the aquatic wildlife and discovering the secluded bays you would ordinarily have missed.
 

India

Beaches in India provide the most tempting combination of sun, sand, sea and surf that is too hard to resist for any beach lover and water sport adventurer. When it comes to beach holidays in India the choice is unending. Still the foremost choices of beach travel in India include the beautiful sea shores of Goa, where the tropical sun bathes the beaches of Anjuna, Baga & Dona Paula have something for every visitor. These beaches such as Kovalam, Marina and Juhu, not just focus on tourism they are also venues for recreation and entertainment for the local population and the outstation tourists. A beach holiday is one of the most enjoyable ways of spending a vacation. For a beach holiday on any one of the unmatchable beaches of India is the perfect holiday that has something in it for everyone. The sun, sand, sea and surf are just the ingredients for mixing some high spirits and enthusiasm in your life!

India is blessed with one of the longest coastlines in the world, and has some untouched and heavenly beach locations that are a delight unto themselves. You will find plenty of isolated coves with long, clean uninterrupted stretches of golden sand that are just the right distance away to give you your privacy, while at the same time allowing you access to nearby towns and their conveniences.
 

Caribbean

The Caribbean and beaches are synonymous with one another - the sun, sea and sand is the reason for the majority of tourists choosing the Caribbean as their destination. You'll adore the pure white sands in many of the Caribbean islands, as well as the colourful pink and black sands that can also be found. The beaches in the Caribbean are made even more beautiful by the crystalline waters that edge the heavenly stretches of sand. The beauty is breathtaking both day and night against the contrasting skies, and spending time relaxing on the beach is a great way to take in the gorgeous scenery around you.

Costa Rica

Whether you want to soak up the sun and sea on the Caribbean Sea or Pacific Ocean, Costa Rica is spoilt for choice and provides the perfect beach holiday. With the ability to rent idyllic scenic and breathtaking beach cabins and enough sun, sea and sand to get lost in – Costa Rica is the ideal beach holiday location. Pure white sandy beaches, over 12 hours of sunlight a day and a climate that is both subtropical and tropical depending on the area, beach holidays are a must in Costa Rica. Virtually anywhere that you stay within Costa Rica is blessed with these sun-kissed landscapes, full of amenities, activities and natural terrain that just demands to be explored. Costa Rica and beach holidays are a match made in paradise.

Maldives

The Maldives are the ultimate beach holiday, so much so that they were voted as the Best Beach and Rest & Relaxation Destination in December 2008 by Country Brand Index.
Each island in the Maldives is completed surrounded by a soft white coral sandy beach, lapped by the warm Indian Ocean extending out towards the shallow house reefs and beyond making the Maldives a perfect destination for a beach holiday.

A beach holiday in the Maldives isn’t just about lazing on the beach however, and you will find that most of the larger beach resorts in the Maldives offer water sports, so you can try your hand at jet skiing, parasailing or canoeing. And of course, almost all of the resorts in the Maldives have some kind of dive school where, if qualified you can hire out equipment and go your own way, or you can undertake training from a qualified instructor to experience life under the Indian Ocean. All in all, the Maldives are the perfect beach holiday resort.
 

Brazil

Beaches and Brazil go hand in hand: holidaymakers are spoilt for choice when it comes to beach holiday breaks anywhere along the sun-drenched coast. If you are visiting Brazil with the intention of visiting some of Brazil's pristine beaches, keep in mind that Brazil's beaches are on the Atlantic coast and so you should try to avoid travelling during the months of June to August, when the sea can be notoriously rough and cold. Also bear in mind that a number of tourists to Brazil's beaches each year drown in the coastal waters of Brazil as they haven't taken into consideration the local reefs, currents and under-tones. Rio de Janeiro may be famous for its urban beaches, and deservedly so for its see-and-be-seen scene. However, with 8,000 km of coastline, Brazil has no shortage of enticing beaches to choose among. The southern coastlines of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Santa Catarina are wild and unspoiled with small hidden coves backed by native Atlantic forest and many islands. For endless strips of deserted white sand, warm turquoise waters and palm trees galore, head to the northeastern states of Bahia, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte and Ceara.

Some of the country's top beaches include Porto de Galinhas (Pernambuco), Jericoacoara (Ceara), Praia de Pipa (Rio Grande do Norte), Praia da Gunga (Alagoas), Espelho and Curuipe (Bahia), Bombinhas (Santa Catarina) and the beaches of Ilha Grande (Rio de Janeiro).

Particularly pristine and unspoiled are Baia do Sancho, Baia dos Porcos and Praia do Leao - all on Fernando de Noronha Island, an ecological paradise off the coast of Pernambuco. Clearly, paucity of beaches is not a problem in Brazil; and neither quality. Holidaymakers on a beach break to Brazil can rest easy: wherever you go, you can't miss.

Mexico

Mexico is home to some of the most breathtaking beaches in the world, and a beach holiday in Mexico will offer you azure waters; palm fringed beaches and endless stretches of golden sands. The beaches of Mexico are best visited in the dry season which is from November to April. During these months the water is calm, the weather warm and the seas more predictable. There is also less chances of a tropical storm sweeping the coastline. Beaches off the Pacific Coast and the Yucatan Peninsula are the most popular beaches in Mexico.

A beach holiday in Mexico will bring you to the coastal cities of Cancun, Acapulco and Peurta Vallarta that are renowned around the globe as some of the best beach destinations in the world and as a result are packed with tourists almost all year round. A beach holiday in Mexico will offer you the typical beach experience so whether you want to relax and simply lounge in the sand and sip on brightly colored cocktails while gazing out at the tranquil waters and surrounding jungle scenery, or be more adventurous and indulge in some snorkeling, parasailing or surfing, the option is yours!

Take note that June to October are the hottest and wettest months across most of Mexico.

South Africa

Beach holiday in South Africa

A great beach holiday destination for lots of sun, sand, sea and swimsuits - South Africa boasts a 3,000km long coastline with thousands of beaches, some of which are the most beautiful in the world. With such a large expanse of coast, visitors can enjoy the sun and sand without the crowded commercial feel that most beach holidays provide. The West Coast has some unbelievably beautiful, long, lonely beaches, where you can walk for miles and not see another person. It hardly ever rains, so the West Coast is a good place to work on your sun tan but – be warned – the water is freezing during the summer months (November – February). Probably the best West Coast destinations are Plettenburg Bay, Mossel Bay, Langebaan, Paternoster and, for surfers especially, Elands Bay.
 

Vietnam

Vietnam has a good, if underdeveloped, beach holiday scene that is suitable for couples, honeymooners or families. Vietnam's coastline hosts various beautiful beaches: such as Cat Ba, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Mui Ne- Phan Thiet. The sun is strong and waters are warm. Tourism in Vietnam is still not as developed as in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, thus luxurious water sports such as scuba diving might be hard to find in some places, but beaches here are still mostly unspoilt and naturally beautiful. Beaches in Vietnam tend to be crowded in early morning or late afternoon when the sun is weak. Ha Long bay, with thousands of small limestone mountains are also a must see. So while there is not much of a beach 'scene' in Vietnam, there are still the raw materials of a sun-drenched coastline and shimmering sea to make for a wonderful beach holiday destination.

Gold Coast

With some of the world’s most beautiful stretches of coastline, the beaches close along the Gold Coast are accessible, varied and, although slightly crowded in Summer, never packed. From secluded rocky coves of Southport to golden sandy beaches of the main beach and Broadbeach and onwards into the awe-inspiring views of Surfers Paradise, beach holidays in the Gold Coast offers something suitable for all families, couples and singles alike looking for a sun, sea, sand and everything in between.

The widely renowned Surfers Paradise is perfect for holidaymakers looking to surf, swim or just hang out and enjoy a beautiful coastline. Non-surfers should head to the nearby South Stradbroke while Coolangatta is best suited for couples whilst those seeking a more secluded beach should try Couran Cove.

Overall, the sun-soaked Gold coast boasts a string of full-scale holiday resorts that is the perfect destination for families looking for a beach holiday. Beaches are generally safe and there are ’flagged’ areas patrolled by excellent lifesavers.