The stunning but affordable beach towns just two hours from UK – with beers from £2 and hotels from £30-a-night
In fact, there are some beautiful beach towns, some only two hours from the UK, that have golden sand, clear blue water and affordable accommodation, with some deals less than £450 for a family of four, for a week.
For as little as £39 a night, these lush locations across Spain, Portugal and France offer a fuss-free family trip, going from school to the seaside in less than three hours.
Armaçao da Pera, Algarve, Portugal
7
A lesser-known spot on Portugal's Algarve coast, former fishing village Armaçao da Peras is a treasure trove of golden beaches and crystal clear water, dotted with secret coves.
This up-and-coming holiday resort is surrounded by cobbled streets and historical landmarks.
A wander through the old market, stacked with hand-weaved baskets and local crafts, and you'll feel like you've discovered a completely new place.
But, in reality it is only 20 minutes to the water parks, theme parks and wild nightlife of Albufeira - so it's ideal for families.
Book a four-star, seven-night stay with loveholidays from £269pp, which is only £39-per-day.
El Arenal, Majorca, Balearic Islands
7
This Balearic bolthole is on Majorca's sun-soaked southern coast and is perfect for those who want an active break.
Sitting on six kilometres of soft sandy beach and with water sports such as windsurfing and water-skiing on offer, El Arenal rivals neighbouring lively resort Magaluf - and, dare we say it, is even a bit nicer.
Boasting authentic Spanish restaurants and bars, as well as a brilliant beach, this top stop is only a 2 hour 25 minute flight and there are some brilliant bargains to be had.
A beer at Scottish-owned bar, Bogarts, is only £2 - so that's a great place to start.
Book with loveholidays, seven nights all-inclusive for only £399 per person.
Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France
7
Ooh la la! Sitting off the coast of France and Italy, the beautiful island of Corsica combines the best of both worlds.
Think fantastic food, cheap-yet-excellent wine, and beaches that rival the Italian Riviera.
There's no shortage of charming coastal towns but Porto-Vecchio also boasts white sandy beaches, in particular Plage de Palombaggia & Plage de Saleccia, which are perfect swimming spots.
If you don't want to feast on bargain bottles of wine and scoff giant gelato cones for £2 in the citadel, you can hop on a boat to the Lavezzi islands or hike in the shade through the Ospedale forest.
Book with loveholidays for flights plus a range of self-catering options from £50 a night.
Salou, Spain
7
An easy 2hr 20 minute flight will take you into Barcelona Reus airport, but instead of heading to the stylish, Spanish city, go south to Salou.
This sweet spot has all the Catalan charm of Barcelona, but with a stunning beach and promenade that has beach cafes serving £2 Cava and fresh tapas starting from £3 a plate.
Book with holiday hypermarket for a Tui package including a hotel right on the beach, breakfast, and flights with all baggage and transfers for only £507pp for seven days.
Menorca, Spain
7
Just 2 hours and 25 minutes from the UK, you'll be spoilt for choice on the Balearic island of Menorca, with beautiful villages, coves, hidden beaches and fantastic food.
Nightlife here is island-style, with little beach huts nestled into the cliffs and open-air restaurants serving freshly caught seafood for a fraction of the price you'd get in London, or even Spain's bigger beach destinations.
Book an apartment with holidayhypermarket for £471 per person for seven nights and have the option to make your own picnic to take to the beach.
Puerto Pollensa, northern Spain
7
Puerto Pollensa is a picturesque, leafy seaside town in northern Spain that has a sandy coastline and crystal clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving.
If you prefer to be on dry land, the medieval town is beautiful, with lots of Spanish history and shady, cobbled streets. There are more than enough tapas counters, restaurants and bars to keep the party going until the early hours.
Flying to Palma, you can be there in two hours, 30 minutes, and you are ideally located if you want to explore further afield too.
Book seven nights, four-star self-catering with travelsupermarket for £316 per person.
The World's 50 Best Beaches
The World's Best Beaches consulted more than 750 judges including travel journalists, influencers, and beach ambassadors to rank the beaches.
Lucky Bay, Australia
Source D'Argent, Seychelles
Hidden, Philippines
Whitehaven, Australia
One Foot, Cook Islands
Trunk, US Virgin Islands
Honopu, Hawaii
Reynisfjara Beach, Iceland
Navagio Beach, Greece
Balandra, Mexico
Cala Goloritze, Italy
Pipe Creek, Bahamas
Pink, Indonesia
Grace, Turks & Caicos
Gardner, Ecuador
Mcway, California
Turquoise, Australia
Le Morne, Mauritius
Sancho, Brazil
Seven Mile, Cayman Islands
Lanikai, Hawaii
Maya, Thailand
Moro, Spain
Kelingking, Indonesia
Meads, Anguilla
Flamenco, Puerto Rico
Arena, Dominican Republic
Little Hellfire, Australia
Lazio, Seychelles
Vaeroy, Norway
Horseshoe, Bermuda
Myrtos, Greece
Hidden, Mexico
Grand Anse, Grenada
Xpu Ha, Mexico
San Josef, Canada
Matira, French Polynesia
Capriccioli, Italy
Pasjaca, Croatia
Boulders, South Africa
Salines, Martinique
Champagne, Vanuatu
Marinha, Portugal
Balos, Greece
Achmelvich, Scotland
Kaputas, Turkey
Radhangar, India
Varadero, Cuba
Piha, New Zealand
Pink Sand, Bahamas
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