The beachionary blog

Mrs. O presents: 5 fab beaches to visit this summer!

For this post we asked Mrs. O to select five of her most favourite beaches across the globe. She kindly accepted our challenge and shared with us some of the world’s greatest summer getaways:

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Hollywood Beach - Photo by Flickr user mattjiggins

Hollywood Beach - Florida | USA

No one will believe it, but it is! Year on year we return to what became one our favourite places in the world. I love Miami Beach, but hate the pool/beach scene – my idea of heaven is lying down on a sun lounger with a copy of Vanity Fair. Sleep, read, sunbathe and dip into the stunning sea. It’s nice, it’s warm, not too crowded and has one of my favourite hotels just on it. And of course the shops are just around the corner!

Praia do Vidigal - Rio de Janeiro | Brazil

Don’t mean to disappoint anyone, but the idea of me and my closest 2,000,000 friends isn’t my idea of a nice holiday. Rio is one of my favourite destinations but if you do not want to get lost in the crowd, you can find a semi-private beach a little over 1km from Ipanema Beach.

Located between uber-trendy Leblon and São Conrado, this beach is shared by the Sheraton Rio guests and the inhabitants of the Vidigal slum. No safety issues, we are all people – and you can’t beat the view!

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Motu Tape - Photo by user Mrsoaroundtheworld

Motu Tape - Bora Bora | French Polynesia

One of the settings of my incredible honeymoon, French Polynesia certainly did not disappoint. A breathtaking scenery and very few people around. Of course having my own direct access to it helped a lot. I promised I would go back on my 5th wedding anniversary – and counting the days!

Quinta do Lago - Algarve | Portugal

The grass is always greener on the other side, they say… I had to go to many sandless beaches (the worse thing you can do to me!) to value what I had back home. For me, there’s nothing better than arriving at this spectacular beach – the experience starts on the wooden bridge you need to walk through to access this beach, also known as Gigi Beach on the Ria Formosa. My advice? Book a table at the beach restaurant (Gigi) before you get down to the beach and enjoy the fresh fish and white white sangria.

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Cala Galdana - Photo by user Mrsoaroundtheworld

Cala Galdana - Menorca, Balearics | Spain

A hidden gem – or at least it used to be! Majorca’s younger sister, an example of no overdevelopment, Menorca is one of my favourite places in the world – and the closest thing to the Caribbean turquoise sea in Europe.

Excited by all good things in life, Mrs O spends a significant part of her life travelling around the world and having a bit of fun. Based in Henley-on-Thames, in England, Mrs O is originally from Lisbon, Portugal and clocks up over 200,000 airmiles per year.

Follow Mrs O on Twitter (@mrsoaroundworld) or visit http://mrsoaroundtheworld.com

Discover the Most Gorgeous Alternative Beaches in Europe

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Tuerreddda - Photo by Flickr user 1la

Beachionary was invited by CheapFlights.co.uk to write a blog post by selecting eight alternative beaches in Europe. They are beaches ideal for all those travelling in Europe this summer but who want to avoid the crowds and explore natural, unspoilt destinations. So, we put together this list of less heard of, “hidden” coastal treasures! Pick one that suits your taste and start packing!  


1. Tuerredda - Sardinia | Italy

Tuerredda beach is one of the most beautiful and unique beaches in Italy. It’s unique for its thin white sand that feels like chalk and its crystalline turquoise waters. It looks like a beach in Caribbean Sea but it’s located just 3 Km away from Teulada in the south part of Sardinia.  Get some exercise by swimming across towards the small “Isla Tuerredda”, a tiny island just off the middle of the beach.  Don’t forget your snorkeling mask!

2. Cala Rajá -  Andalusia | Spain

Cala Rajá is an isolated beach located at Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park near the city Almería. The access to the beach is quite difficult since you have to walk for quite some distance but those who attempt it will be rewarded by its shallow light blue waters and the sense of tranquillity you feel. An ideal destination for those seeking to relax and enjoy the sea.

3. Livadaki Beach - Folegandros | Greece

Livadaki beach is a secluded little cove on the island of Folegandros. It is one of those well hidden secret beaches that many islands in Greece have on offer! Access to the beach is only possible by boat from port Agali or on foot if you fancy taking the trail from the village of Ano Meria. The surrounding hills protect the waters from strong winds. There are no facilities on the beach so don’t forget to bring water, food and your umbrella for shade!   

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Egremni Beach - Photo by Flickr user constant progression

4. Egremni Beach -  Lefkada,  Ionian Islands | Greece

Lefkada’s Porto Katsiki is one of the best beaches in the world but it is certainly not the only marvellous beach on the island. Egremni beach, situated in the south west of Lefkada, is more remote but just as beautiful. It is accessible by boat and, since recently, by car, if you don’t mind the 350 steps from the road level down to the beach. It is more than 2.5 Km long and therefore it can never get too crowded. The light blue clear waters, the approximately 150 metres of high cliffs and the breathtaking sunset give a heavenly feeling.   

5. Porthcurno Beach - Cornwall, England | United Kingdom

Who said that there are no beautiful beaches in the UK? It’s not the Mediterranean but the beauty of Porthcurno in South Cornwall is just extraordinary! The light blue waters and the sand mixed with white crushed sea shells make this bay a unique place to visit. The best way to explore the area is through the South West Coast Path with a one day walk that starts at Porthgwarra and finishes at the beach of Porthcurno.

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Playa Papagayo - Photo by Flickr user lbadura

6. Playa Papagayo - Lanzarote, Canary Islands | Spain  

Playa Papagayo is located in the southern part of Lanzarote island, in the Canarias. Playa Papagayo is a sandy beach with calm waters of unspoiled natural beauty. The volcanic origins of Lanzarote island are evident in the colour of the sand and the scenery. Even though it is possible to meet some nudists in this beach, most of them visit other nearby less popular beaches such as Playa Mujeres  or Playa del Pozo.

7. Brela - Splitsko-Dalmatinska | Croatia

Brela Beach is the main beach of Brela, a small town in Splitsko Dalmatinska region,  also known as the “Perl of Makarska Riviera”! The pine trees and the crystal clear waters compose a genuine Mediterranean scenery. Apart from the main beach of the town, there are also smaller beaches to explore, such as Berulija and Punta Rata. The beach, covered with small pebbles and in some with parts sand, is awarded with Blue Flag for the quality of the water. You can either bring your beach umbrellas or find shade under the pine trees while you buy refreshments and food from the bars/restaurants close by.

8. Praia da Bordeira - Faro | Portugal

Praia da Bordeira is a vast beach as long as 3 kilometres. It is located on the west side of the Algarve coast in Faro and is popular among surfers but also worth a visit if you want to enjoy sun and sea away from Faro’s crowded beaches. The beach can be accessed by car just after the small village of Carrapateira but before going there make sure that you bring food and drinks with you.

 

CheapFlights.co.uk is the UK’s leading flight deals comparison website. You tell us where you want to go, we match you up with the best people to fly there. Because we don't sell our own tickets, we aim to give you the best flights deals available no matter where we find them. So if you fancy a trip to the capital of Denmark, just use our search box and we can find you the best deal on your flights to Copenhagen. 

Times' 20 Hottest beaches in Europe are now in Beachionary!

Just before 2010 goes away, we thought it's a good time to recall the 20 beaches that Sunday Times listed as the "hottest" ones for the year. You'll find a lot of them in France, some others in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece and Cyprus but there are few of them in countries you wouldn't imagine, like Lithuania, Germany and the Netherlands. The good news is that all of them are in Beachionary!! You can check where they are or tell us what you think, if you've been there, or even book your next summer holidays in one of them!

 So, here's the complete list:

  1. The sandy Plage Le Conguel  in Brittany, France 
  2. The beach in  Lac de Mondély in Midi-Pyrénées, France 
  3. The beaches at Collioure, a small town in Languedoc-Roussillon, France
    Plage de la Balette
    Plage du Boutique
    Plage de Port d'Avall
    Plage Boramar
    Plage St Vincent
    Plage Nord
  4. The isolated Plage de Piemanson  in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
  5. The golden Plage de Notre Dame  in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
  6. The crystal clear Palombaggia  beach in Corsica, France
  7. The rocky Cala d’Aiguafreda in Catalonia, Spain
  8. The famous Playa de la Concha in Basque Country, Spain
  9. The sandy Playa Las Salinas  in Balearic Islands, Spain
  10. The peaceful Platja Illetes in Balearic Islands, Spain
  11. The cove of La Grotta Azzurra in Campania, Italy
  12. The isolated Cala Luna in Sardinia, Italy
  13. The luxurious Bonj Les Bains in Splitsko-Dalmatinska, Croatia
  14. The famous Panormos in South Aegean, Greece
  15. The adventurous Papafrangas Cove in South Aegean, Greece
  16. The relaxing Polis beach in Paphos, Cyprus
  17. The beaches in Porto Santo island in Madeira, Portugal
    Quinta Palmeira 
    Praia do Cabeço 
    Praia das Pedras Pretas 
    Praia do Penedo
    Praia da Fontinha     
  18. The historical Palanga beach in Klaipėdos Apskritis, Lithuania
  19. The beaches in Sylt island in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
    Sansibar    ,   Oase zur Sonne   and Fun-Beach Brandenburg

    20. The beaches in Terschelling dunes in Frisian Islands,Netherlands

Spathoek  Noordergronden


Do you agree with this list? If not, why don't you go to Beachionary.com and write reviews for your favorite ones? They may end up the hottest ones for 2011!

The Beachionary Team wishes you a Happy New Year!

Photo by Flickr user Abeeeer