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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

European beach holiday - sandy beaches, no sunbeds, warm

29 replies

MeakTiger · 01/04/2019 15:35

I’m not sure this exists!

I’m looking for a quiet sandy beach in Europe. No facilities, not fussed if there are no restaurants or bars.

We love the west coast of Portugal but want to go somewhere different. We’ve tried Spain a few times but never found anywhere we loved. I’m sure there must be somewhere in Greece.

Any suggestions?

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 01/04/2019 16:12

There are plenty in Corsica. What kind of accommodation would you want and do you mind a slight walk to the beach?

BathTangle · 01/04/2019 16:17

Kefalonia? Katelios has sand and was a peaceful place to be, although nothing like the rugged beauty of the West Coast of Portugal. Antipaxos has sandy beaches from memory.

Original poster
MeakTiger · 01/04/2019 18:05

Thanks for suggestions, will have a look at those.

We like wild, remote and rugged. However DD wants a pool and DS wants a sandy beach. Accommodation wise a villa or apartment with a pool would be fantastic. Happy to have a walk or drive to the beach; ideally one we can drive to in 30 mins or less.

Is Kefalonia not quite built up and busy?

OP posts:
Ricekrispie22 · 01/04/2019 19:47

This may be too remote! www.i-escape.com/onar
Fly to Athens, hire a jeep and drive to Rafina port, just under 30 minutes away to the east. There are regular daily ferries to Andros taking 2 hours (typically going at 7.30am, 5.30pm and 7.15pm). From the ferry terminal at Andros, it's another 45 minutes drive.

ComeOnGordon · 01/04/2019 19:50

We went in the first week of September to Puglia. Went to beautiful sandy beaches near Monopoli. There were sun loungers but no loud music and no bars. And it was empty cause the Italian kids go back to school on the 1st sept

Ithinkmycatisevil · 01/04/2019 21:59

Corsica! Barely a sun bed in sight!

123rd · 01/04/2019 23:57

We have been to Corsica twice. St Florent. I want to retire there ...

BarbaraofSevillle · 02/04/2019 07:08

Gozo is very quiet. There is a big sandy beach at Ramla Bay, but you have to drive there, or go on the bus, as I don't think there is actually any accomodation within walking distance.

There's a couple of cafes if you want food, maybe toilets, but no other facilities as far as I recall. There's also a few other small beaches such as Marsalforn and Xlendi and probably some others. Marsalforn is the biggest coastal resort on the island and it's still tiny, but there's a few nice restaurants around the bay.

If you're going as a family and have a car, it's probably best to hire a villa or a farmhouse - google Gozo Farmhouses, there are several traditional farmhouses that have been repurposed as holiday lets.

Lots of other stuff to do on the island if you like outdoorsy things, or there's a few historical sites too. Can also do a boat trip to Comino to go to the Blue Lagoon which is a beautiful shallow beacy area. You need to fly to Malta and then drive/ferry/drive, but Gozo is tiny and nowhere is more than 20 minutes away. Ferry is cheap (no need to book, just drive up and get on the next ferry) even with a car and you only actually have to pay for the Gozo to Malta direction.

BarbaraofSevillle · 02/04/2019 07:09

Menorca is also well known for what I think they call 'virgin beaches' which are beaches where there is absolutely nothing there except the sand and sea.

Luglio · 02/04/2019 07:13

Dismayed to see so many saying Corsica.

Horrified at the prospect of Corsica becoming too popular...

Original poster
MeakTiger · 02/04/2019 08:49

Ricekrispie22 that looks bliss but no pool for DD and while we might be able to persuade her that it’s not needed the lack of WiFi will cause dismay (I know, I know). Equally I do need to access my work email at least once a day (as much as I’d like not to).

Having a look at Corsica I’m struggling to find accommodation for our dates, flights are perfect, just finding somewhere to stay.

Will look at Gozo too! Thanks for all the suggestions.

OP posts:
HumbleBumble13 · 02/04/2019 11:23

There are lots of wonderful quiet beaches near Carvoeiro on the Algarve, if you look at carvoeiro.com/beaches for distance etc some are only busy on a Sunday, also plenty of villas nearby. What month are you looking at?

Original poster
MeakTiger · 02/04/2019 13:48

We are looking at end of July.

We have been to Portugal several times so I was hoping to find somewhere new! Accommodation still seems to be a sticking point for Corsica. Ideally looking for £250/night or less for accommodation only.

OP posts:
BaronessBomburst · 02/04/2019 13:56

I was going to suggest Sicily. We went to Medina di Modica in May and had the place to ourselves. Even Taormina was quiet.
I think it could be quite busy in July though.

troppibambini · 02/04/2019 14:09

@luglio I feel the same every time someone says Puglia fortunately everyone seems to be going to Ostuni so I will just keep quiet about the really good places damn these instagrammers and their trulli Grin

RottnestFerry · 02/04/2019 14:13

*Dismayed to see so many saying Corsica.

Horrified at the prospect of Corsica becoming too popular...*

I know how you feel. When I see threads like this, I'm afraid I keep my mouth shut. Selfish maybe.

givememarmite · 02/04/2019 18:51

Have a look at the Parque Natural Cabo de Gata in Almeria, Spain. It's a while since I've been there but there were plenty of beautiful beaches, not a sunbed in sight...some you could only access by boat. We stayed in a villa (no pool but plenty will have them) and hired a car visiting different beaches every day. Was lovely and so relaxed!
Almeria itself is lovely for a day trip and you can also visit the places where Spaghetti Westerns were filmed if you fancy something different!

Original poster
MeakTiger · 02/04/2019 22:05

@troppibambini all the pictures I see of Puglia look crowded and busy! It looks like my holiday nightmare.

We’ve really not loved Spain. My DD hated the beaches of Andalusia last summer as it was very windy and the sand whipped right up. The beaches were quite busy too. The west coast of Portugal in early September has been our favourite European break.

This trip really is for the DC though so the beach and pool are more important than usual (DH and I are lucky enough to be getting a separate short child free holiday this year).

OP posts:
donajimena · 02/04/2019 22:10

Menorca? You can have a villa with a pool but there is the most amazing beach that would tick your boxes called Cala'n Turqeta which is is like a carribean beach. No bars, no sunbeds. I know you weren't fussed on mainland Spain but Menorca is very tranquil and in general not overly windy.

donajimena · 02/04/2019 22:13

Beautiful

European beach holiday - sandy beaches, no sunbeds, warm
troppibambini · 02/04/2019 22:19

Not the case at all meak.
It's busy in august as it where a lot of Italians go on holiday but it very much depends where you go.
Like anywhere if you go to any of tourist parts it will be busy but there are plenty of parts which aren't.
Saying "it looks busy" is like saying "Scotland looks busy"

SimplyPut · 02/04/2019 22:33

Binibeca, Menorca is quiet but with some amenities and two beautiful rugged beaches... one without sun loungers! We stayed in the Pierre Vaccance and found it to be immaculate and not overrun by stereotypical British holidaymakers Blush.

SimplyPut · 02/04/2019 22:35

Can be windy though!

EmmaGrundyForPM · 02/04/2019 22:36

SAO Miguel in the Azores? Definitely no sun beds.

jocktamsonsbairn · 02/04/2019 23:47

Look at the blue garden apartments/studios in Roda in Corfu. Within walking distance of the town for what you need, has a pool and WiFi. Slightly out of town, on its own and by the end of the beach that has no sun beds or crowds unless you keep on going and end up at the AI hotel! Surrounded by olive groves. Not really rugged and wild but seems to hit most of the other requirements! You can hire a car to get up in the mountains and explore.