Best beaches in Europe?

[ekguy]

Me and my best friend wanted to go on a trip this summer, she wanted carribean and I wanted europe (more specifically Iceland).

Now as a compromise we're going to fly to Amsterdam and stay for 2 days and then fly to a coastal region so we can also enjoy beaches.

But seeing as I've never visited Europe for beaches I have no idea where to even start.

We were thinking maybe Ibiza? :dunno:

[Mitsu3000gt]

Sardinia, IMO, had some of the nicest beaches & clearest water I've ever seen. Lots of big beaches with tons more sand than these, too, I just cant find the pics right now. Flights from Frankfurt were like $35 Euros on Ryanair.

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Europe-2010/Europe-2010/Panorama1/1013790632_k3RVs-X2.jpg

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Europe-2010/Europe-2010/NIK7643/1013784600_38Q3c-XL.jpg

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Europe-2010/Europe-2010/NIK7867/1013484889_KouvP-XL.jpg

[msommers]

Zakynthos has awesome beaches. I've heard Portugal has a lot but I've never been. Ibiza is sick and the reason you go there is for the clubs; the beaches aren't bad.

[BlackRadon]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
Sardinia, IMO, had some of the nicest beaches & clearest water I've ever seen. Lots of big beaches with tons more sand than these, too, I just cant find the pics right now. Flights from Frankfurt were like $35 Euros on Ryanair.

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Europe-2010/Europe-2010/Panorama1/1013790632_k3RVs-X2.jpg

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Europe-2010/Europe-2010/NIK7643/1013784600_38Q3c-XL.jpg

http://mschlosser.smugmug.com/Europe-2010/Europe-2010/NIK7867/1013484889_KouvP-XL.jpg

Plus the food there is Unreal I hear! :love:

[Kobe]

Mitsu3000 how much are hotels?


Algerve in portugal as some nice ones, the ones by Lisbon are not that nice though...


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Algarve-1.jpg

[davidI]

Algarve is epic. Lagos is such a party town.

Spain has great beaches. Busy, and hot, but so many hot topless chicks :poosie:

[Feruk]

I've heard Lagos is amazing. Also, have a look at Bulgaria. My folks have seen a fair bit of European beaches and they said Bulgaria was the nicest. Plus it's dirt cheap! I'm planning to hit both "Sunny Beach" and "Golden Sands" (I know, real original names) this year.

[CHICHARITZHI]

this beaches is like where the mermaid swimming at night :thumbsup:

[Marsh]

I've heard Croatia has amazing beaches, anyone ever been?

[CHICHARITZHI]

check this out> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9_MBrkHugs

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by Kobe
Mitsu3000 how much are hotels?


I have no idea actually, but if you're very serious about going I could probably find out for you.

My brother has a business partner who owns a couple vacation rental properties there, and we stayed there for free. It was a fairly large 2 bedroom condo with A/C and all amenities - I know it's quite cheap if you go around September, which is after their peak season.

I know it's not super expensive, but I'm sorry I don't know any exact figures.

And as someone mentioned before, the food is amazing. Every day I bought fresh mozzarella, prosciutto, tomatoes, and oregano at the market for dirt cheap and just ate it all in a bowl haha. The restaurants were excellent too. Also, I gained some weight while I was there haha.

[msommers]

Originally posted by Marsh
I've heard Croatia has amazing beaches, anyone ever been?

Yes. The coastlines are incredible and the beaches are great, the only clause being that you should wear booties when going into the water (you can tell who's local and who isn't) because the surface is not smooth. The beaches are commonly pebble beaches and take some getting used to.

[ekguy]

oh and just to mention both my friend and myself are both into women haha. So wherever there's the most women will be completely acceptable lol.

:poosie:

[msommers]

Croatia had a lot of hot broads. And the topless Sweds were everywhere :thumbsup:

[2LOW4SNOW]

+ 1 for Croatia. Except the beaches there are more rocky than sandy. Nice clear water though.

[Feruk]

Not sure why people are saying +1 for Croatia when their beaches are rocky. That does not qualify it in the "best beaches" category. I'd say the opposite actually; I like a nice sandy beach myself. Comfort is key.

[Graham_A_M]

Originally posted by msommers
Croatia had a lot of hot broads. And the topless Sweds were everywhere :thumbsup:


Originally posted by davidI
Algarve is epic. Lagos is such a party town.

Spain has great beaches. Busy, and hot, but so many hot topless chicks :poosie:

God you guys are fucking killing me here. :banghead:

arrggh... :(

[2LOW4SNOW]

Originally posted by Feruk
Not sure why people are saying +1 for Croatia when their beaches are rocky. That does not qualify it in the "best beaches" category. I'd say the opposite actually; I like a nice sandy beach myself. Comfort is key.

Yeah I should qualify that, maybe not the best beaches in Europe, but I would still recommend going to Croatia. There are other aspects (clear warm water, girls, history....) that make up for the rocky beaches. They are not iron shore type rocky, but small little pebbles.

They are fine to hang around on and go swimming, just don't expect baby-powder type sand like you would elsewhere.

Last time I was there I was snorkeling around the island of brac, when I found a bunch of money stuck to some sea urchins. I got a stick, kept diving down and collecting the cash. Dried it out on the beach, it paid for my food for the next week. :thumbsup:

[bspot]

Originally posted by ekguy
Me and my best friend wanted to go on a trip this summer, she

Just don't end up being one of those awkward traveling friend couples where one of the other dudes is trying to pound your best friend, but she can tell you're secretly in love with her, and you get all pissed off when she takes off with a guy which leads to his cock-blocking and tears all around.

Don't do it :)

[Darkane]

Originally posted by bspot


Just don't end up being one of those awkward traveling friend couples where one of the other dudes is trying to pound your best friend, but she can tell you're secretly in love with her, and you get all pissed off when she takes off with a guy which leads to his cock-blocking and tears all around.

Don't do it :)

Lol. that's why Men can never have girls as "friends" because we always want to fuck them.

True story, just think about it.

"Ah no man, she's super cool and fun to be around". Yeah personality does make a person more attractive, and shes a female, you'll want to bone her.

Lol at female friends.

Carry on

[darthVWader]

I liked the beaches in Greece. All three Islands I stayed had great beaches and cheap places to stay (Off Season May) 25 euro a night and I split that with my Bro. The weather was hot +20 to +30. In the off season you don't need to book rooms on the Islands (Maybe the popular ones Mykonos, Santorini) but all we did was arrive at an Island and jump off the ferry and bartered with the locals at the port. They all just stand there waiting for the boats to arrive with there binders showing pics of the rooms etc.

First Island was Naxos

Great little Island with a couple good bars and nice beaches. We rented scooters and toured the Island.

http://www.naxos-greece.biz/naxos-beaches.htm

Second Island was Ios.

Party Island with great beaches and loads of hotties, bars and night life.

http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/ios/ios-beaches.htm

Stayed at the Far Out resort 35 Euro a night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz5JDXDoiRE&feature=fvwrel

Last stop was Milos

Small local Island with lots of cool hidden beaches.

http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/milos/milos-beaches.htm

One of my best vacations ever!!!!!

[Quiet10]

Originally posted by ekguy
oh and just to mention both my friend and myself are both into women haha. So wherever there's the most women will be completely acceptable lol.

:poosie:


Originally posted by bspot
Just don't end up being one of those awkward traveling friend couples where one of the other dudes is trying to pound your best friend, but she can tell you're secretly in love with her, and you get all pissed off when she takes off with a guy which leads to his cock-blocking and tears all around.

Don't do it


I don't think his female friend is into guys. No problem here. :poosie:

[msommers]

Originally posted by darthVWader
Second Island was Ios.

Party Island with great beaches and loads of hotties, bars and night life.

http://www.greeka.com/cyclades/ios/ios-beaches.htm

Stayed at the Far Out resort 35 Euro a night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz5JDXDoiRE&feature=fvwrel



Ios is a ridiculous party and so much fun. I stayed at Franchesco's which is a short bus ride away from Far Out. FO was a great outdoor party, closed around 9pm I think but everyone heads in to do pub crawls anyways. One bar opens at like 3am or something, Sweet Irish Dreams I think it was called.

[bspot]

In that case, ekguy:

http://www.thatswhatshesaids.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/BoxBlock.jpg

[davidI]

Originally posted by msommers


Ios is a ridiculous party and so much fun. I stayed at Franchesco's which is a short bus ride away from Far Out. FO was a great outdoor party, closed around 9pm I think but everyone heads in to do pub crawls anyways. One bar opens at like 3am or something, Sweet Irish Dreams I think it was called.

Yep, great hostel. Franchesco owns a few bars in the area too, I think one is called the Blue Note.

He had a crush on my gf at the time and basically cleared half our hostel bill and made sure we got free drinks at his bars.

Never did make the beaches in Greece though...too much other stuff to do!

[ekguy]

Originally posted by bspot


Just don't end up being one of those awkward traveling friend couples where one of the other dudes is trying to pound your best friend, but she can tell you're secretly in love with her, and you get all pissed off when she takes off with a guy which leads to his cock-blocking and tears all around.

Don't do it :)

not even at all like that haha. She's into women and thats all there is to it. Me and her have a different kind of friendship lol. I wouldn't bang her even if I could, wouldn't want to fuck up what we have which is the most hilarious most fucked up most amazing friendship haha. Some of the shit we've done in each other''s presence is definitely hilarious and out there lol.

Defs looking forward to going on a trip to europe with her haha. Vegas was a blast with her so europe should be even better.

[ekguy]

For the person who suggested Greece...wouldn't it be a super bad idea to travel there at this point?

[Mckenzie]

+1 for Franchescos. Awesome guy who has owned that place forever. Try to get the private rooms with the balcony there. Ios is ridiculous all around.

As for beaches, I also second Greece in this order:

1) Paradise Beach on Mykonos
2) Paraga on Mykonos
3) The beach near far out hostel on iOS
4) The Italian island Sardinia and the beach Pula, south west of Cagliari
5) Santorini is neat for black and red sand beaches, but nothing will touch the beaches of Mykonos.

As for heading to Greece right now, I would not hesitate, but the only real problem you may run into is a strike that could cripple some element of travel. We had a backup plan to get off the island of Mykonos last June and had to use it.

That being said, Greek Islands are amazing...wouldn't hesitate to go for a second. I'll try to post some pics of these beaches.

[msommers]

Good summary of the Cyclade Islands, but don't forget Crete which has abundant beautiful beaches. I was in Chania for a day and there are A LOT in the area. Google something as simple as 'Crete beaches' and you'll see what I mean.

Zakynthos has them mainly on the south end of the island while in the north it is more rocky. The famous Ship Wreck is in the north and pretty neat with a beautiful coastline to take in on the way up there via ship.

http://www.beach-backgrounds.com/island-images/shipwreck-beach-zakynthos-greece-wallpaper-1920x1200.jpg

On the south, there are many small beaches to get to via a boat and even a protected turtle sanctuary ~100m off the beach.

[ekguy]

Keep em coming!!! Greece is looking pretty promising at this point.

What about the Mediterranean coast in France? I've only been there very briefly but remember it being beautiful as well.

[sillysod]

Turkey has some crazy beaches too you might want to look into. The night life there is 2nd to none.

[ekguy]

All these places ok with english? I also speak French.

[darthVWader]

Originally posted by ekguy
All these places ok with english? I also speak French.

The only time in Greece I had issues with lack of English was in some of the small villages on the Islands.

[ekguy]

Thanks for the help guys. Guess now she and I will have to sit down and discuss this trip further...

I was kind of hoping to stop in Amsterdam for a couple days as well.

[darthVWader]

I was in Amsterdam in Feb for three days and loved it. I searched online for awhile before I found a place that was cheap yet got good reviews for being clean and had your own washroom. I stayed at the Avenue hotel right in the heart of all the action and a short walk from the central train station. I paid $80 a night in Feb and got a very small but clean room with cont breakfast every morning. http://www.avenue-hotel.nl/
Its an awesome city

[davidI]

An Amsterdam stop-over should be possible. Lots of cheap flights to Schipol (sp?)

If you're not looking for a hotel, there are lots of good and fun hostels. Flying Pig comes to mind. I stayed at a YHA near the action. Great city.