Refined but not expensive holiday destinations?

[gremi]

Not snobby just prefer a more refined/upmarket vibe or as dd would call it “old money” (eye roll)

For example, we’ve enjoyed small alpine villages or grand hotels in Eastern Europe. Holidays in remote Greek islands without airports or haciendas in south america.

Any other suggestions? Maybe the Caribbean?

Taormina in Sicily, it's very much a sitting people watching kind of vibe, small hotels and independent restaurants. Highly recommend and won't cost a fortune as you can fly easyJet to Catania. I would recommend renting the narrowest car if you are looking at hiring as the roads are very narrow! (Or just use public transport and book a tour to go to Etna)

Biarritz is upmarket but not Dubai-esque if that makes sense? Well to do French people. It’s a beautiful part of France.

Definitely 2nd Taormina or Ortigia in Sicily. Don't bother with a car. Or Sestri Levante or Camogli on the Italian Riviera. Stresa on Lake Maggiore - or Tremezzo or Varenna on Lake Como. Ischia is lovely and much cheaper than neighbouring Capri. Procida also but much smaller. We stayed in Monopoli in Puglia this year which we really enjoyed. Next year's plan is Tropea.

Or Dinard / Le Touquet / Antibes in France.

Though a fan of Italy too, in Caribbean there are various affordable options, the more when outside winter season. Thinking of certain parts of Jamaicas north coast, Dominica, Martinique / Guadeloupe, St. Maarten, Dominican Republic. All should have rooms available under 150 a night.

Lots of naice places in the South of France like Provence or Italy - places in Tuscany or Sicily. You can't go wrong with a beautiful mediaeval town with great restaurants sometimes close to beach areas. In fact most countries have exclusive areas where the well heeled live or holiday, it's just question of research.

We like Le Touquet for a short weekend - some nice restaurants and shops, a great beach and good Saturday market. Very easy to get to - short drive from Calais.

In the Caribbean, Tobago is lovely and less spoilt than some other areas but there are lots of smaller islands too. Norway is a great country to visit with beautiful scenery.

The isles of Scilly

Porquerolles in the Ile d’Hyeres off the south coast of France and Vis Island in Croatia.

Taormina is indeed lovely, but perhaps take a day trip if a cruise ship is due into port. The town is too small to take the swarm of people. A walk up to Castelmola is well worth it

I’ve been going for two summers and can’t wait to go back this next summer, what a beautiful city.

Bayonne and Saint Jean de Luz nearby are beautiful and you could even pop over to San Sebastián for the day. (this is for the OP)

Interested regarding Taormina

Deauville, lake Lugano, Levanto near Cinque Terre

Santa margherita la ligure down the coast from portofino

Comporta in Portugal, easy drive from Lisbon so could be combined with a city break. Stunning beaches.

I’d second Deauville, but stay in Trouville which is cheaper and literally next door, just walking distance over the bridge.

Keeping an eye

The beach looks amazing on google maps! Where did you stay?

In Sesimbra another beach town so not quite in Comporta, but we did a couple of day trips there. Lots of fancy boutiques.
Lots of dolphins in the ocean too.

Lovere and Lake Iseo in Northern Italy, fly to Bergamo with Easyjet.
Beautiful place and not a lot of tourists

Benidorm.

Ile de Re - well heeled Parisians, old fashioned vibe. La Rochelle too.

Paxos in the Ionian islands is popular with the sailing crowd.

Talloires on Lake Annecy.

Picos de Europas in Spain. I think that's one of my favourite places.

Florence

😂😂😂

Butlins