Swaying palms, golden sands and crystal waters! Here’s where to find them this summer (and the hotels to book now!)
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With soft sands, gently lapping waves and turquoise waters, the beaches of Europe’s most treasured suntraps never lose their allure.
And these stretches of sand seem all the more heavenly when they lie mere footsteps from your hotel.
That’s where British Airways Holidays steps in, carefully selecting some of the best beach hotels in Europe, whether you’re plotting an all-inclusive family break spent building sandcastles or a romantic couple’s trip filled with snorkelling and sundowners.
We’ve picked out our favourite blissful beach hotels to inspire wanderlust this summer, each set in easy-to-reach destinations – Greece, the Turkish Riviera, Sicily and Portugal’s sunny Algarve.
Here we present an array of blissful beach hotels that will inspire wanderlust this summer, including the luxurious Domes Miramare in Corfu (above)
Plus, you’re guaranteed complete peace of mind when you book your whole getaway with British Airways Holidays. Every trip is ATOL protected, you can book with low deposits*, the holiday helpline is open 24 hours a day, just in case you need it, and 23kg baggage allowance per person is included.
These hotels tick all the boxes for the perfect summer holiday – it’s time to get planning yours…
IDYLLIC ISLAND LIFE
The Greek islands are a haven of azure waters, whitewashed houses and pine-clad hills, making them the perfect spot for a dreamy beach break.
And a Corfu bolthole to add to your wishlist is Grecotel Corfu Imperial, a five-star hotel that recently underwent a 50million Euro renovation.
Stay in the resort’s Dream Villa residences, which offer direct access to the beach, while a private pool and luxe marble furnishings add to the allure.
Grecotel Corfu Imperial is perched on the private peninsula of Kommeno, with some guest suites overlooking the water
Stretch out on whichever beach takes your fancy – there are four to choose from – or perfect your butterfly stroke in the hotel’s heated and freshwater swimming pools.
Evenings are spent indulging in fine dining, with exquisite French fare served at Aristos and mouthwatering seafood plated up at the seaside Yali restaurant. Take part in the Dine Club package and you can feast in an array of restaurants in the nearby Grecotel sister hotels too – with a free boat transfer whizzing you from one to the other.
As a bonus, getting to Corfu is simple – British Airways is running up to four flights daily from London throughout the summer season.
A jewel on Crete’s northern coast, the newly renovated Grecotel LUX ME White Palace is another Greek idyll worth escaping to.
The hotel’s Luxe All-Inclusive Living concept means you can sample wines from the 150-label-strong wine cellar, dine at your leisure in the hotel’s restaurants and enjoy unique guest experiences like a private wine tasting with a sommelier in the hotel’s wine cellar.
(L) A jewel on Crete’s northern coast, Grecotel LUX ME White Palace; (R) There’s a 300m-long Blue Flag beach to chill out on at Grecotel Creta Palace
Spend your days relaxing on a lounger on the 1000m stretch of Blue Flag beach with a page-turner in one hand and a chilled glass of Cretan wine in the other, keeping your eyes peeled for little Caretta Caretta turtles in the water.
Further along this stretch of the northern coast you’ll find another slice of paradise – the Grecotel Creta Palace.
With a design inspired by a traditional Cretan village, wander through the hotel’s beautiful square to find boutiques, a taverna, a church and bountiful gardens, as well as an authentic Greek coffee house for your morning jolt.
Not to mention the 300m-long, sandy Blue Flag beach where you can take it easy as you soak up the sun, or, from parasailing to scuba diving, get active with the many thrilling water sports on offer.
One quick flight will whisk you there – British Airways is running up to four flights daily from London to Heraklion Airport and up to six flights a week from London to Chania throughout this summer.
All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, come with 23kg baggage allowance per person and a 24 hour holiday helpline. Secure your 2023 holiday now with a low deposit – visit ba.com/grecotel
GORGEOUS GREECE
The sandy shores and unspoilt bays of Greece are prime postcard material – and they look just as good in real life.
Start your Greek odyssey in Halkidiki, staying at the luxurious adults-only Domes Noruz Kassandra. You can fly in to nearby Thessaloniki – British Airways is operating up to 13 flights a week there from London this summer – and on arrival, why not make a beeline straight for the hotel’s magnificent Blue Flag beach, complete with clear-as-day waters and a bustling beach club.
Domes Noruz Kassandra is set on Greece’s sunny Chalkidiki peninsula, which juts out into the glittering Aegean Sea
The resort offers a wealth of entertainment – expect live music and show-stopping chef battles – but it’s also ideal for enjoying a slower pace of life. Devote a day to poolside lounging, before dining in the resort’s signature restaurants, which plate up delicious sushi and hand-crafted cocktails.
On Corfu you’ll discover Domes Miramare, a luxurious adults-only haven that’s something of a legend on the island – back in the 1960s, the hotel was owned by the glamorous Onassis family, even hosting Jackie O’ herself.
Domes Miramare on Corfu was owned by the glamorous Onassis family in the 1960s
Stay in a waterfront villa and you’ll be just steps from the sea, making a morning dip a heavenly daily ritual. Set in a beautiful olive grove, there’s plenty in store for foodies with award-winning chefs preparing contemporary Greek cuisine at the resort’s restaurants.
All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, come with 23kg baggage allowance per person and a 24 hour holiday helpline. Secure your 2023 holiday now with a low deposit – visit ba.com/domes
PARADISE IN PORTUGAL
With its dramatic coastline, golden beaches and rugged rock formations, it’s no surprise holidaymakers return to Portugal’s Algarve region time and again.
This epic landscape is front and centre at the recently renovated Domes Lake Algarve, the only hotel with access to the breathtaking Praia de Falesia beach, a sweep of sand fringed by towering cliffs and cerulean waters.
Wander along the wooden deck at this five-star resort and you’ll find pretty bars, restaurants and pergolas set on the water, including a floating restaurant serving Greek-Mediterranean dishes with delicious Portuguese wines.
Domes Lake Algarve is the only hotel that has access to the breathtaking Praia de Falesia beach
For a supremely elevated experience, opt to stay in one of the All Exclusive VIP Haute Living Selection accommodations, which hands you the key to a raft of benefits, from in-room dining experiences to a private concierge service.
The resort is family-friendly but has adults-only areas too. Little ones love the KiEPOS Kids Club and Creche and while they’re occupied, enjoy a treatment at the award-winning Soma Spa.
Domes Lake Algarve – which was fully renovated earlier this year – takes its name from the stunning private seawater lake it’s set on
Wondering how to get there? British Airways is flying to Faro airport from London up to six times a day during the summertime.
All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, come with 23kg baggage allowance per person and a 24 hour holiday helpline. Secure your 2023 holiday now with a low deposit – visit ba.com/domes
SUNSHINE IN SICILY
With days spent lounging on the beach, leisurely dips in the water and seafood cooked Sicilian-style, you’re sure to love a stay on Sicily’s northern coast.
Fringed by fragrant gardens, the all-inclusive Grand Palladium Sicilia Resort & Spa offers direct access to one of the longest beaches in this idyllic region, so whether it’s laps in the sea or lengths in one of the hotel’s four pools, why not start every morning with a swim?
The all-inclusive Grand Palladium Sicilia Resort & Spa offers direct access to one of the longest beaches on Sicily’s northern coast
Lined with sun loungers, the hotel’s private area by the beach is an ideal base for mellow afternoons of water sports and sunbathing, while you can take your relaxation levels up a notch with an escape to the Zentropia Palladium Spa & Wellness centre.
Making your stay all the more stress-free, you can dine in the hotel’s three a la carte restaurants and witness incredible live displays of gastronomy at the show cooking restaurant, with the hotel’s generous Dine Around package.
Grand Palladium Sicilia Resort & Spa’s generous Dine Around package means you can sample everything from mouthwatering Italian cuisine to Thai delicacies
Post-dinner, sit back for an evening of live entertainment or retire to your sophisticated sleeping quarters for the night. Stay in a Signature Level room and you’ll enjoy VIP check-in and a complimentary spa day, as well as exclusive access to the stylish Signature Level bar.
To sweeten the deal, getting there is a breeze – British Airways is flying to Palermo’s airport up to four times a week this summer, as well daily to Catania.
All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, come with 23kg baggage allowance per person and a 24 hour holiday helpline. Secure your 2023 holiday now with a low deposit – visit ba.com/gpsicilia
UNWIND IN THE TURKISH RIVIERA
Historic sites and beautiful beaches collide in Belek, a sun-drenched town in Turkey’s Antalya region. Here, you can take your pick from three luxurious, all-inclusive hotels in the same serene pocket of coastline.
Golf lovers will be smitten by Gloria Golf Resort, which is part of the superb Gloria Golf Club – the largest golf course in Turkey.
Golf lovers will be smitten by Gloria Golf Resort, which is part of the superb Gloria Golf Club – the largest golf course in Turkey
Explore Belek, a sun-drenched town in Turkey’s Antalya region, with a stay at Gloria Verde Resort (above)
Next up, there’s the newly renovated Gloria Serenity Resort, a spacious haven set between the Mediterranean sea and the Acisu River. Finally, it’s the five-star Gloria Verde Resort, perched beside sun-dappled pine forests facing towards the brilliant blue of the sea.
Guests of all three have access to the immaculate Gloria Golf Club and when you’re not practising your putting, the beach is calling with each hotel enjoying exclusive access to a private Blue Flag beach sprinkled with sun loungers and cabanas.
One of the elegant rooms at Gloria Serenity Resort, a spacious haven by the Mediterranean sea
For a pinch of pampering, each resort also boasts a stellar spa with hot tubs and Thalasso pools to soak in, as well as a menu of holistic treatments to try out.
Little ones will love the kids’ pools packed with waterslides, the Gogi Kids Club and the Gloria Mini Farm. And if you’re a foodie, you’re in luck. There are 15 a la carte restaurants, serving everything from fresh sushi to traditional Turkish delicacies.
What’s more, this sun-soaked idyll is just one flight away – British Airways is flying to Antalya up to five times a week throughout the summer months.
All holidays with British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, come with 23kg baggage allowance per person and a 24 hour holiday helpline. Secure your 2023 holiday now with a low deposit – visit ba.com/gloria-verde, ba.com/gloria-serenity and ba.com/gloria-golf.
BOOK YOUR DREAM BEACH BREAK WITH BRITISH AIRWAYS HOLIDAYS
For blissful beach hotels that will suit every kind of traveller, look no further than British Airways Holidays.
Book now to enjoy low deposits from £60pp*, a baggage allowance of 23kg pp as standard and ATOL (5985) protection.
For added luxury, upgrade to Club Europe for your trip. You can look forward to delicious food and drink options on board your flight, access to private lounges and dedicated check-in desks, increased baggage allowance and priority boarding.
Visit ba.com/holidays to book now.
*T&Cs apply. Deposit balance due 28 days in advance for short haul. Travel restrictions may apply.
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