You don’t have to fly endless miles to find yourself on a beautiful beach, in fact some beautiful and relaxing beach resorts are only a hop, skip, and a jump away, proving that long-haul doesn’t always need to be the way.
The good news is that low cost airlines have played a massive part in enabling more of us to travel further than we ever have before, and if you time it right, and shop around, you could bag yourself an airfare that is a cheaper than a train ticket to a UK city! The only question is, where will you go?
Barranco de Fañabé & Roque del Conde, Canary Islands, Spain
Image by Michael Bolognesi via Flickr
Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
Image by El Coleccionista de Instantes via Flickr
Cutting costs here and there means you’re more able to travel regularly, and in my eyes, you should jet off as often as you’re able! A good way to cut travel costs is to book airport parking, rather than taking a coach or train to the terminal door. I always use ParkBCP to book my spot, and always save money when compared to the cost of public transport. Look at it this way, if there are several of you travelling, you pay per person for your public transport fare, but if you’re driving, you pay once. Bargain. I recently booked parking at Stansted, and couldn’t believe the low cost I was quoted. If this is something you’re thinking of, the good news is that it is a generally nationwide service too!
Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain
Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
Image by Miguel G.S. via Flickr
Costs cut mean more miles to travel, and in the case of short haul beach destinations, you’re actually quite spoilt for choice. We’re lucky that we have the Canary Islands only a four hours’ flight away from us, and they offer sun and warm temperatures no matter what the month. Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, and Tenerife have long been winter sun favourites, as well as summer scorchers, along with Fuerteventura for those famous huge sand dunes. Alternatively, mainland Spain offers just as much in the way of sunshine, and a myriad of beach resorts to choose from. You could go to the home away from home resort of Benidorm, or choose somewhere a little more hidden away.
Fuerteventura, Canary Islands, Spain
Image by Overdaforest via Flickr
Bil-Bil Beach, Benalmadena, Spain
Image by Peter Kates via Flickr
It’s not all about a Spanish vibe, Portugal is hugely popular, and the sunshine resorts of the Algarve, with their beautiful beaches and endless golf courses, continue to pull countless visitors every year.
Albufeira, Peneco beach, Algarve, Portugal
Maybe the glamour and sophistication of the South of France could persuade you to head over the English Channel this summer, or what about the slightly further afield Greek Islands for a real spot of summer heaven?
Nice, France
Crete, Greece
Image by Tony Hammond via Flickr
Wherever you choose to go, we are lucky to have such beautiful beach resorts just a few hours’ plane ride away; make this your excuse to get out and explore the wonders of Europe this summer.