mbrinton2

Hi everyone! I am getting married next August 2017, and I would like to take my honeymoon right after, which would be mid-August. My fiancé and I are complete opposites. I've been to Europe many times ever since I was little and I love it. My favorites have been Paris, Santorini, Barcelona, and Amsterdam. My fiancé, on the other hand, hasn't been off the East Coast, and said he would way rather prefer a beach vacation, with nice sand and pretty views. Is there any place in Europe where you can recommend that has the European vibe, but also beachy, where there are fun things to do? I'm trying to find a place that would make us both happy. I was thinking Nice, France, or somewhere like that. I recommended Santorini to him and he actually said that it looks "boring" there because all of the houses look the same. I am the complete opposite, I LOVED Santorini. If anyone has any suggestions, I would love to hear them, thank you! ��

RonZ

Nice has a gravel beach and the entire area is going to be crowded. The sandy beach is in Cannes. Ever been to Rhodes?

http://www.rhodesguide.com/travelgui...each_guide.php

nytraveler

What is your fiance looking for besides a beach? (You must be aware that many european beaches are not sand and you need to pick carefully to get a decent one.)

Does he want an inclusie resort with a lot of water sports besides the beach? Does he have any interest in other part of europe (a big city or mountains or pretty countryside? Hiking? Biking?)

Otherwise it sounds like he would prefer HI to europe.

dfourh

For a first-timer to Europe he might really enjoy Nice - - it's a super easy destination for American (fact is, you hear American English everywhere you go - - chances are 70% that somebody at the table next to you in your restaurant is American).

I'm also a big fan of staying on Venice Lido (a bright, pleasant Italian beach resort 15 minutes by gorgeous vaporetto ride from San Marco) - - I've stayed there a dozen times myself.

Sorrento (with excursions to Capri, Sorrento, Pompeii, and parts afield) is also super easy a first-time American - - it is so easy for English-speakers, but also beautiful in many ways, that it could make a great honeymoon too.

As places for first-time-European travelling Americans go near beaches, I don't think you can top those three, but there are places to go with beach and more intimacy (e.g., San Remo, Portofino, Costa Brava) but these may be more challenging, culturally and language-wise, for a newbie.

Bedar

Have a look at Valencia, Spain. Has a terrific, sandy beach, and the city is full of cultural attractions.

MyriamC

Neither Nice or Sorrento have nice sandy beaches.

Valencia is nice. It has a great beach as well as something to do besides the beach.

Sicily might fit the bill, too. We really liked the beach at San Vito Lo Capo in the north-west, Cefalu' in the north, and Realmonte in the south. However, mid August is top high season in Italy!

Have you thought about the Canary Islands? Gran Canaria has excellent beaches in the south. Fuerteventura even better.

MyriamC

I completely forgot the Algarve region in Portugal. Very, very nice beaches!

PetrosB3

Rhodes of course, it has everything you can ask for. The old city of Rhodes is UNESCO, the town of Lindos is one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean, excellent beaches, natural parks, and even mountains. You can also make day-trips to Symi.

Odin

<i> (You must be aware that many european beaches are not sand and you need to pick carefully to get a decent one.)</i>

Why do posters write such rubbish.

No need for all inclusive if you don't want it. There is no point in having it as it limits your choices to the hotel and you probably want to get out and about.

There are sandy beautiful beaches all over Europe, from the white sandy beaches with blue sea in Denmark, coasts of the Netherlands, northern Germany, the Baltic countries, beaches in the Channel islands, the UK to all over the Med. The Med is one of the most popular beach vacation destinations in the world, some of the world's top beaches are there.

Sardinia has world class sandy beaches.

If you like the Greek/European beach vibe, Cyprus has some great ones too, in the east of the island at Ayia Napa, Fig Tree Bay in Protaras and Macronissos.

https://www.facebook.com/Jan-Majer-C...95498/?fref=nf

Whathello

Canarian islands.
Beaches, inland, party, food, ambiance.

MyriamC

Yes, Sardinia has world class sandy beaches but if TS' fiancé thinks Santorini is boring, he will NOT be happy with Sardinia which IS boring!

Sassafrass

San Sebastián, Spain!

nytraveler

People were mentioning Nice (beaches are pebbles) Sorrento/AC (many beaches are pebbles and rocks and the few sandy ones I saw were not much (not broad expanses of fine white sand Americans expect from seaside resorts - except from some upscale places that have brought in sand for their private beaches).

Undoubtedly there are many nice beaches in europe - but also a lot that many people would not be happy with.

miket123

The Adriatic side of Italy has long stretches of sandy beaches. Its popular with Italians, less so with the English-speaking crowd, so you need at least a few Italian phrases to get by. The Gargano Peninsula near Vieste actually reminded me of Greece a bit in appearance. There are plenty of towns along the coast, including the more party-oriented Rimini.

France also has plenty of places with nice sand, although you didn't say if just for sunbathing or for swimming. Although the water is on the cooler side, Brittany/Normandy has plenty of beautiful areas with a European feeling and views. For example Dinard or Trouville.

That all said, with a year to go in your engagement perhaps its worth spending some time having a frank discussion with him about vacations. This is the man you'll spend the rest of your life with. Perhaps reading a bit into what you've written, I don't see *any* interest in European culture or experience on his part. It sounds like he just wants to replicate a Jersey shore vacation, and if it happens to be on a different continent he's ok with that, but I don't get a sense he will be interested in anything that you might think of as part of a European (as opposed to stateside) experience.

Sassafrass

Miket123 makes a very good point. Will you be OK in the future either never going to Europe or taking Trips to Europe by yourself? You might have to do that.

However, being optimistic, once again, look at images of San Sebastián. You might get him to venture to other places nearby and even Barcelona, not a favorite of mine, but fun city and plenty to see, also has a beach nearby.

janisj

If someone wants (basically insists on) a simple beach honeymoon and isn't interested in the sites/culture . . . then you'll likely have more success planning for Hawaii, maybe Mexico, parts of the Caribbean.

kleeblatt

Maybe nytraveler meant Croatia instead of Europe?

kimhe

Another vote for Belle Epoque Donostia/San Sebastian. Some of the finest city beaches on the continent, a local culture that people take great pride in and the culinary capital of Spain, if not all of Europe: http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

"Is San Sebastian the world's greatest city for foodies?": http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...y-for-foodies/

Video intro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRWCdjw1C8Q

And hotels made for honeymoons.
Hotel Londres: https://www.hlondres.com/en
The attic suites: https://www.hlondres.com/en/accommodation/attic
Hotel Maria Cristina: http://www.hotel-mariacristina.com/en

kimhe

... and a little more on the three San Sebastian city beaches (plus the Santa Clara island beach): http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...o-to-the-beach