Inspiration for May half term

[HaveYouSeenRain]

I am looking for some tips for May half term. DC1 has an inset day straight after so looking at 8-10 days ideally. We have been to Southern Italy in the past, which we loved but also open to explore new places.
looking for
-sandy beach - this is the key criteria as the kids love playing in the sand and don’t play for long at stony beaches
-beach weather
-Europe, not Turkey or Dubai
-maybe a resort that’s not all AI with pools and a kids club
-ideally in walking distance or short bus ride to a nice town or some sights, we prefer not to hire a car
-not a long airport transfer

Children are primary school and pre-school age. Has anyone got some great recommendations please? Not sure I can stretch to Ikos to be honest.

We went into the Algarve in May half term this year for the first time.

Some lovely beaches, very warm and plenty of towns to visit. We had a hire car so can't comment on buses.

Faro airport was 30 minutes from our villa but there are resorts all along that coastline. Wasn't a massive fan of Albufeira town itself but it did have all the facilities you'd expect.

We have been to Salou in May half term, lovely long sandy beach, quick transfer times from airport and the weather was perfect at that time of year.

We have been to the unspoilt Vasilikos peninsula on the Greek island of Zakynthos. Lots of beautiful little coves and beaches.

We liked Saint-Cyr-Sur-Mere on the south coast of France. It’s got 2 sandy beaches and has the bonus that you can get there by train.

Cyprus is a nice temperature at May half term.

Crete. Elounda area has swishy resorts. Panormos is a quiet, family friendly resort town. Or look west towards Chania for the best beaches.

I have been looking at Greece. Is the weather warm enough end of May for pools and beach?

Honestly? Not really unless you are all quite hardy. The weather will be lovely but water probably quite cold. I’d want a heated pool personally, and the sea will still be chillyish - ok for short dips only.

However this also applies to anywhere in Europe, Crete is probably one of the warmer options (Cyprus perhaps marginally warmer)

What's your definition of warm enough?

The Algarve ticks these boxes for me and mine, usually low to mid 20s around that time. However the unheated pools are still quite cool then. I like the sea then but not the pool at all. It's usually warmer the further east you go, so you'd want to be based somewhere like Faro, Tavira or Albufeira rather than Lagos. There are also places on the southern Spanish coast that are close to sights and culture and may be a little warmer, though I've never been at that time of year. Huge choice of resorts in both areas.

Agree with pp that if you're someone who likes hot rather than warm, you're better off in the Eastern Med. The hottest places in Greece are likely to be around the Rhodes and and Crete end rather than Corfu area. Or you could try Cyprus.