8 other hot spots that won’t burn cash
BAGGING a bargain beach holiday does not mean limiting yourself to the likes of Sunny Beach in Bulgaria or Torremolinos in Spain. Great deals are to be had across Europe. Here’s our pick of some of the best...
Venetian sands
yoU may not think of going to Venice for a beach break, but that is (almost) what’s possible at Lido di Jesolo in Italy, just northeast of La Serenissima.
It’s so close you can easily go to the city for a day trip and the best thing is that, when you return, the Lido is an oasis after all the crowds. The sandy beach is nine miles long, with pleasant ice cream parlours and restaurants.
HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights half-board at La Serenissima ( tui.
co.uk), which has a pool and is a short walk from a waterpark, from £249 pp in May with flights and transfers.
Croatian charm
ANoTHER good choice for culture vultures, Mlini in Croatia is a traditional fishing village (pictured far right) that’s now a popular resort within a 15-minute bus ride of the medieval walled city of Dubrovnik (see our budget Dubrovnik guide on page 70). There’s a charming centre with tavernas and restaurants, plus quiet coves with sand and pebble beaches. Ferry rides are available to visit islands along the coast.
HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights’ halfboard at Hotel Astarea, which has a pool and access to a pebble beach ( jet2holidays.com), from £441 pp in May with flights and transfers.
Greek legend
KIoNI is a fishing village on the remote north- east coast of Ithaca (pictured right), legendary home of odysseus. It’s got a tiny sand beach, yacht moorings, seafood tavernas and a handful of boutique shops. The joy of northern Ithaca is its peace and quiet, well off the beaten track in the Ionian Sea. Walkers can explore many ancient inland pathways. HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights’ self- catering at Likoudis Apartments ( ionianislandholid
ays.com) with a shared pool, from £362 pp in May with flights to neighbouring Kefalonia, car hire and ferry crossing.
Portugal hideaway
IHLA de Tavira is on the eastern coast of the Algarve and is blessed with some of the region’s most picturesque beaches (and there are plenty to choose from).
It’s within a nature reserve, reached via a short ferry.
There are a few small restaurants and bars on the island, while Tavira itself is a sleepy, ancient town with fine 18th-century buildings.
HOW TO DO IT: Seven nights’ B&B from £338 pp at Vila Gale Tavira ( onthebeach. co. uk), which has a pool and is close to the beach, with flights and transfers included.
Turkish retreat
ToUrisM in Turkey has suffered of late due to regional troubles, which has had a knockon consequence: many bargains are around. olu deniz on the country’s south-west coast has long been popular due to its gorgeous sand beach curving into a splendid turquoise lagoon. it’s a relaxing spot, despite the many hotels, tavernas and restaurants at one end.
HOW TO DO IT: seven nights’ b&b from £282pp at liberty Hotels ( thomascook. com), which has a pool and is 150m from the beach, with flights and transfers included. CHiClana de la Frontera on the Costa de la luz is a far cry from Torremolinos. Yes, tourism is well-established, but Chiclana is typically andalusian with cobbled lanes, whitewashed houses, tapas bars and flamenco dancing. it’s a five-minute drive from Playa de la barrosa, a beautiful stretch of sand.
Cadiz, one of the oldest cites in western Europe, makes a good day trip. HOW TO DO IT: seven nights’ all-inclusive from £394pp at riu Chiclana ( firstchoice. co. uk), which has a pool and is 200m from the beach, with flights and transfers included.
Pose in France
sTaY in the heart of the French riviera at a hotel in nice and enjoy the elegant Promenade des anglais.
Many consider nice — with its Matisse and Chagall museums — a place to go for a city break, but there’s the long stretch of beach as well. lots of posing goes on at Plage Publique de beau rivage — all part of the fun.
HOW TO DO IT: seven nights from £453 pp staying at the radisson blu Hotel nice on the Promenade des anglais ( loveholidays.com), which has a pool and is 50m from the beach, with flights included. a sandY beach curves along the coast by the sleepy fishing village of algajola, close to the ancient town of Calvi.
This is a quiet spot on the French island of Corsica, somewhere to relax with a novel. Pleasant bars and restaurants are to be found in algajola, which has a fine 16thcentury castle. HOW TO DO IT: seven nights’ b&b at Hotel santa Vittoria ( corsica.co.uk), right by the beach, from £499pp with flights and transfers.