Looking for an affordable seaside escape this summer? From the wild Atlantic coast of Spain to the serene Pelion peninsula in Greece, there are plenty of budget-friendly options that offer beautiful beaches and characterful accommodation.
On Spain's Costa de la Luz, Hotel Madreselva is set within the Breña y Marismas de Barbate nature reserve, with rooms from £83 B&B. The hotel is a minute's walk from the beach at Los Caños de Meca and offers easy access to watersports, the hilltop town of Vejer and Cape Trafalgar. In the Algarve, Memmo Baleeira in Sagres provides a modernist base from £105 B&B, with fish restaurants, dolphin-watching trips and the Rota Vicentina hiking trail nearby.
On the Pelion peninsula, the family-run Pounda Paou hotel on a hillside above the sea offers weekly rates from £399pp B&B. A car is essential to explore the hilltop villages and coves, and the hotel serves home-cooked Greek dishes. On Crete, the new Innside Elounda opens on 1 May with rooms from £92 room-only, featuring two restaurants, yoga classes and local art. It is well placed for visiting ancient sites such as Knossos.
In Croatia, the Makarska Riviera remains under the radar. In Tučepi, Villa Andrea offers rooms directly on the promenade from £94.50 B&B. Guests can enjoy wine tastings and arrange activities such as white-water rafting on the Cetina River. The larger resort of Makarska is a ten-minute drive away.
