Looking for beautiful sandy beaches where you can swim in the sea plus lovely pools

[TeenLifeMum]

We’re a family that loves water so I’m looking for a European holiday for summer 2024 and really need some help choosing. I have 3 teens 13yo twins and a 16yo. They’re chilled kids who like hanging with us - swimming, nice architecture, food.

I’m struggling to find a hotel I like that isn’t by a pebble beach - I love soft sand. it’s hard to actually find out on websites as they don’t always specify.

does anyone have any recommendations? I keep going back to playa Blanca, which I like but it doesn’t have the architecture of Croatia or Greece. Please help.

Sardinia, Corsica ??

Playa Blanca isn't the prettiest resort but Hotel Volcan is lovely as is Marina Rubicon which it is next to. And you could do a few trips to see the amazing architecture of Cesar Manrique.

How about the NE of Majorca? I’ve stayed in Alcudia - the beach was definitely sandy & good for swimming. If you want a more historic town there is Port de Pollenca to the north

Puerto Mogan Gran Canaria, or the Iberostar next to Playa Flamingo in Lanzarote. M

Otherwise Portugal Lagos, or we love Ile de Re in France.

Calla Millor in Majorca definitely has the beach you are after. It’s lovely round there.

Western isles of Scotland 😁 Harris n Lewis are the most beautiful beaches you will ever clap eyes on. Might need a wet suit tho or a very hardy disposition!

@WhatdoIdoTree I really like the look of puerto Morgan. Any thoughts on either of these hotels:
Cordial Mogan Playa
or
Hotel LIVVO Puerto de Mogan

I usually prefer seafront but the first option does look lovely! It’s so expensive I don’t want to get it wrong 🙈

Sunrise Beach Protaras

Our friends go to Cordial Mogan Playa every year and love love it!! We’ve gone past a couple of times and it’s stunning. Only ten mins from the beach and it’s flat and easy to get to, lovely beach and lots of restaurants.

another option is Limassol, four seasons.

Menorca has beautiful beaches for swimming. We stay self catering and hire a car to get around the island. My teenager loves jumping in from the cliffs at Cala'n Brut. The towns are beautiful to wander around too.

Not a Canaries fan unless it’s winter and there’s nowhere else!!

Menorca is famous for its sandy beaches
as is Sardinia.

Algarve has big sandy beaches.

Some nice old towns too.

Yeah Menorca has a big selection of sandy beaches (some resorts, some they call "virgin", natural beaches with pine forest walks to them.

There a big walking coastal trail between a lot of them.

It's very easy to get around if you hire a car because it's small.

And the capital, mahon/mao is a beautiful historic place.

Old capital in the North is nice too

Thank you all. After lots of research and googling ideas from here we’ve gone with the canaries. The hotel reviews were outstanding including a review in the Times and it ticked all our boxes.

I have enjoyed Majorca previously but the weather this summer put me off - a friend went and had rain and overcast most of the holiday in August. I’d be gutted if that happened - I’m a lizard and get so much energy from the sun.

we’ve played it pretty safe. One year dh and I will do the exploration we want to do in Europe (Road trip) but that’s not for 2024. We need a relax and recover holiday.

Thanks for all the great suggestions and Portugal is definitely on the list for the future.

Which hotel did you decide to book?

@Elfon Cordial Mogan Playa.

oh wow!! Can’t wait to hear all about it! The Port is beautiful, beach is so easily accessible.

also it’s a small thing but a super Hyper/Super Dino close to the hotel for extra snacks/water.

Flat walk down the beach.

We’ve been to Cordial Morgan Playa 3x. You won’t regret it ~ it’s a great hotel. Tons of great restaurants within mins.

Thanks @WhatdoIdoTree and @theresnolimits
this year is going to be challenging (unavoidable) for our family so we need an easy holiday we can just be together as a family and leave the bs behind for a week.