Take 3 Blue Flag Beach Holidays
The best beaches to travel to
Choosing a hotel close to good quality beaches is essential for those who love to spend time on the sand and in the water on their hard-earned holiday.
But how can you guarantee the beaches will be of the standard you’d expect?
One easy way is to look out for a hotel or resort close to a Blue Flag beach, the gold standard for global sands. To qualify, a stringent set of criteria need to be met and maintained, including accessibility, sustainability and a commitment to environmental education.
At these beaches visitors will be assured of clean sands and stunning waters. But they go beyond this to champion Blue Flag’s mission to “connect people to their surroundings” too, meaning they will often have additional facilities to warrant their Blue Flag status.
So which are the best Blue Flag beaches to visit? Here are three of Travel Seen’s favourites:
Hillside Beach Club, Turkey
This coastal resort really has the wow-factor when it comes to its setting, nestled within pine forests in Fethiye. Here guests are spoilt not just to one, but three incredible beaches.
Main Beach was first awarded Blue Flag status in 2005, noted for its accessibility and lifeguards. Here at the heart of the resort there are lots of activities – wakeboarding, volleyball and sailing to name a few. The warm calm waters of the Aegean are perfect for kids, and there’s a restaurant and bar for meals and snacks.
The two other beaches at Hillside are for adults only. Serenity Beach lives up to its name, located at the end of a walkway through pine forest or reached via a five minute boat trip launched every half hour. Think hammocks and cocktails in a setting that feels like a private island.
Similarly Silent Beach encourages guests to switch off from their tech and reconnect with nature instead. To do this there’s a beach library and the Sanda Nature SPA next door for a post-beach day massage.
Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort, Portugal
If you love a short-haul beach holiday then the Algarve is definitely worth a closer look.
Along this coastline are fascinating coves, limestone cliffs, pristine sands and waters made for exploring by sailing boat or kayak.
Just five minutes by car from the Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort is the Blue Flag Carvoeiro Beach, the main beach in Lagoa. This little bay is a fisherman’s beach, so perfect for exploring before heading into the centre of Carvoeiro town for lunch and a wander through the streets of whitewashed buildings.
Although not Blue Flag certified, Praia da Marinha – just 11 minutes from the resort – is an absolute must visit while you’re in the area. Voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world it’s reached via a long staircase, which helps to keep it quiet and preserve its beauty, though makes it harder to access.
Elivi Skiathos, Greece
This luxurious resort has an enviable location on what is certainly one of the most famous beaches in the region: Koukounaries Beach. With its soft white sands, lifeguards and excellent access it’s been awarded Blue Flag status.
“One of the most widely-known beaches in Europe,” says the Blue Flag website, “It is known as 'Chrisi Ammos - Golden Sand' since the sand there is extremely fine and shines under the summer sun. This beach offers the visitors its deep-blue, crystal-clear waters and a unique chance for a rest since the forest of Koukounaries reaches down to the sea... the sunset is spectacular there and it is something worth experiencing.”
What makes the area even more special is the Strofylia wetland behind the beach, where the lagoon is home to the black swan. The hotel can arrange a guided visit to see this spectacular natural wonder.
