giadav

We are thinking about Spain and love the beach, nice hotel and good local restaurants. Looking to go for 10-12 days. Does anyone have a suggestion on what 2 areas to visit along with hotel suggestions, and how to travel between both locations? Thank you.

Bedar

How about Ibiza and Formentera. You take a ferry between the two. Or, someplace on the Costa de la Luz. Google and come back.

danon

What time of the year?

kimhe

From May to October, San Sebastian. Food heaven and some of the finest city beaches on the continent: http://www.sansebastianturismo.com/e...o-to-the-beach
http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/

Stay in Hotel Londres, right on the La Concha Beach promenade: https://www.hlondres.com/en/
I always have dinner in Urola on my first nights in San Sebastian. A place locals take new visitors to show what the local food culture is all about: http://www.casaurolajatetxea.es/es/portada/

For something completely different, fly from close by Bilbao to Malaga in 90 mins. The Acacias beaches in Pedregalejo just east of the city center are very popular with locals. So are the about 15 excellent and affordable seaside restaurants here. Seafood heaven. http://www.malagaturismo.com/en/tour...cias-beach/742

And 3000 year old, genuine and laid-back Malaga city itself is a wonderful place, and a very Andalusian contrast to Belle Epoque San Sebastian:
http://www.andalucia.com/cities/malaga/home.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/spain/andalucia/malaga
Fine video intro to Malaga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Na4yYZH2Hg

Plenty of great hotels right in the heart of the city, Molina Lario is one of them: http://www.booking.com/hotel/es/molina-lario.en-gb.html
Can recommend Dom Vinos for a special food and wine experience: http://azahar-spain.com/azahartapas/dom-vinos/
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restauran...Andalucia.html

danon

SS is gorgeous, but I would not count on much beach time ( in the water) in May or Sept...
it rains a lot.
perhaps sitting by the beach?

kimhe

<SS is gorgeous, but I would not count on much beach time ( in the water) in May or Sept...>

It certainly rains in San Sebastian, but usually heavy showers and then back to sun again. Have been in San Sebastian at almost all times of year since the late 80's, and it's usually small problems to have a couple of hours in the sun and your morning or afternoon swim in May and September too. Average 6 hours sun pr. day in May and September, and September is in fact statistically the month with the least amount of rainfall of the year.(wetteronline.de) The water might be a bit on the cold side in May, but in September it will still be more or less summer temperatures (some 75F).

danon

kimhe,
You certainly know better from many visits to the area.
We were in SS in mid May ...it was sunny but not one person was in the water.
In late Sept... again, it rained a lot for a few hours, then cleared but no swimmers.

Our friends were so convinced that all of Spain is always sunny and warm, they went to SS
In February.

okminty

We loved Nerja, also known as The Balcony of Europe. We were there end of June. Great weather.

kimhe

<Our friends were so convinced that all of Spain is always sunny and warm, they went to SS In February.>

That is optimistic if you want sun and warm weather

danon

I like beautiful cities with an " option " of spending time on the beach : Barcelona, SS, Valencia, Malaga , Nice...to name a few.
Many travelers prefer small resort towns, for them it is all" about " the beach .

justineparis

WE have loved our two beach visits to Tossa De Mar and Cala D'Or.

Tossa is a small town only 1.5 hours from Barcelona.. beautiful bay , ancient ramparts on one side of bay.. Tossa had many excellent restaurants.. but its only worth about 4-6 days because it is a very small town.

Cala D'Or we have an amazing 7 days just last summer... I would go back there in a heartbeat.. The town is fun and lively ,, tons of places to eat and shop and just wander.. the water was amazing.. and while its on the island of Majorrca.. known for being a bit of a party destination.. Cala Dor is NOT that type of place .. its an hour away and there were no rowdy young Europeons or Brits using it as a party place.. they all stay in Palma and a few other bigger centers.

just google for images of Cala D'Or and Tossa De Mar and you will see why we fell in love with them..

giadav

We are looking for July or late August. I will look at the above suggestions and come back

ribeirasacra

Nerja's sea is full of sewage.
Maybe read though some of these links for find what you ar looking for:
http://www.traveler.es/viajes/rankin.../199/mosaico/1
http://www.20minutos.es/especial/mej...ya-espana/mapa
http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2015/02...n_6704100.html
http://www.spain.info/es/que-quieres/destinos-playa/
All will tell you a different story.

Bedar

Danon - you gotta remember that Kimhe comes from Norway. The Scandinavians and Germans go in the water at temps we'd find cold.