Home base for beach/relaxing vacation?
 

I'd love to visit Spain, but I'm looking for a more beach/relaxing vacation this time. No cities. Even San Sebastian but it seemed too city-ish for me. I'm trying to escape, a little, but still have conveniences and restaurants around. Beautiful beaches, nature, food. Any suggestions? I was looking at Girona and Tamariu since I could fly into Barcelona.

I'm open to other airports but I prefer to really pick one or two home base(s) and relax on beaches with umbrellas, some biking, Any areas that come to mind please?

I hear Girona is nice.. we ended up seeing photos a friend had taken of a beach town and went there.. heaven. Its a small town, no Starbucks or McDonalds.. but many good small restaurants, a lovely cove of beautiful clear water, anicent ramparts on one side and an "old town" section. It was just over an hour from Barcelona by bus..

Tossa De Mar.. look it up.. its as adorable as it seems.

We have also gone to Mallorca twice.. Its a 20 minute plane ride from Barcelona( and dirt cheap, think we paid 50 euros last year for the flight on Vueling )
We love the small seaside town of Cala D'Or.. lots of restaurants , street life and bars. but not a rowdy british holiday type of place..
Palma ( the main city on Mallorca) is charming.. we only spent 2 days there and are kicking ourselves.. wished we had allowed more time there.. the old town is so beautiful.. we wandered the narrow streets every evening, the fortifited wall was wonderful to wander during the day with views to die for, the Cathederal, shopping , the food.. we loved Palma.

Anyways.. google for images of Tossa De Mar, Cala D'or and Palma( arranged in size from smallest to biggest)

Calella de Palafrugell is what you are describing, although I don't know what it is like to go biking around there. However, it's very flat. Girona is a city that bustles a lot more than San Sebastian.

Visited all theses places this past April-. Tossa De Mar and Palafrugell were both lovely, and as it was not yet real beach weather, not crowded. They are not too far from Girona, which is on a river and where we stayed, and is certainly worth a visit as are the numerous little towns like Begur and Pals , closer to Palafrugell, in the evenings.

Take a look at small Lekeitio close to Bilbao and San Sebastián. This is the culinary heartland of Spain, beautiful landscapes, perfect for biking, fabulous coast and beaches. http://www.lekeitio.org/en
https://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/towns...aa30-12375/en/

About the wonderful Basque region. https://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/

A crazy food culture up here, some 30 Michelin star restaurants in the tiny Basque Country (little more than 2 million people in total), but the best part of the food culture up here is what you get at any place you happen to walk into, the famous pintxos etc.
http://www.euskoguide.com/food-drink...ntxos-pinchos/
http://www.euskoguide.com/food-drink...r-restaurants/

Hondarribia, just east of San Sebastián, could be another option. See this (after some 3-4 mins) and you might be sold ;-) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP2tNtDZ6Vs

While I loved Girona, I trust you realize that it is NOT on a beach.

I enjoyed Tossa de Mar. Not much to do there, but at least one exceptional restaurant, IMO, La Cuina de Can Simon.

If you don’t already have it, you might want to get the Michelin Green for the area – I found it indipensible.

justineparis- I was thinking about Mallorca, I might just consider it for this trip!

amarante - thank you, Calella de Palafrugell looks perfect and the topography reminds me of Croatia which we loved so much. Do you think there's enough variety of beaches and restaurants to spend 4/5 days there? We can also rent a car to take day trips.

Keds1- thank you!

kimhe - the Basque region sounds wonderful, but it didn't look like there was much swimming from the video. Swimming is a must on this trip :)

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-june-2017.cfm
Read the second half of my TR about our time on Costa Brava. Very relaxing when we were there in early to mid June. Gets very crowded July and August.

And to answer your question about Calella in previous post, plenty to do. But it is very hilly leading up from the beach in Llafranc, as I recall perhaps a bit less so in Calella but plenty of hills. Girona is a very convenient airport (not right in the city). The city of Girona is about an hour inland from Calella. As I explain in my TR, found the area the perfect mix for walking and relaxing with opportunities for sightseeing.

Bookmarking

Fabulous beaches and tons of swimming along the Basque coast. The three city beaches in San Sebastián are some of the finest on the continent. Benn here some 25 times in the summer months, and all the beach time and swimming you could want. https://www.sansebastianturismo.com/...o-to-the-beach

The famous La Concha beach in San Sebastián is the best beach in Europe according to tripadvisor: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...san-sebastian/

This is where the Spanish elites have come for some 150 years for spending the summer months, and the beaches have always been one of the major attractions.

...and Karraspio beach in Lekeitio is considered one of the finest along this fabulous coastline: https://theculturetrip.com/europe/sp...asque-country/

Travel Channel: "If you're looking for a European beach getaway that's less well-known than Côte d'Azur and Costa del Sol, this rugged coastal region fringing the Atlantic is full of surprises." http://www.travelchannel.com/interes...basque-beaches

You might also have a look at beach towns on the French side of the border - Biarritz, Saint Jean de Luz, etc.

Some years ago we stayed a few days in Mundaka on the coast north of Bilbao and enjoyed it immensely. Very low-key village with a pretty little harbor and a small beach, but the bay in front of Mundaka is one of the premier surfing sites in Europe, with immense beaches at the head of the bay.

And if you're okay with some heat (but breezes and cool water) think about Tarifa out on the Atlantic near Cadiz. Beaches with lots of kite or wind surfers, cool Roman ruins, easy access to beautiful white villages in the Andalusian hills, or take a day or two and pop over to Morocco. Fly into Seville, Malaga or Gibraltar. http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...120228_17s.jpg http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...120226_37s.jpg and http://gardyloo.us/wp-content/upload...120225_19s.jpg

Thank you so much everyone. I am nearly positive we will be visiting Basque Country. I wouldn't have considered it if not for this forum. So, thanks again.

I am also tempted to combine it with more of a beach trip (just for 2/3 days). Maybe a quieter side of Ibiza (Portinatx, Es Cana, Santa Eulalia) or Mallorca. Leaning toward Ibiza bc I can also get to Formentera. This will be in late July, early August so peak season. I would then fly into Bilbao after that. Does this sound like an odd combination with Basque and my interests?

I hope this will not come across rudely, but the beaches I'm seeing near San Sebastian doesn't seem to appeal to me. For whatever reason, I'm not sure I like long expansive beaches with tall buildings nearby. I like greenery and shade and small, sort of hidden beaches. That's what is making me want to pick another beach destination.

While I really enjoyed Calella de Palafrugell, I wasn't seeking variety of beaches or restaurants. I just picked my spot and was happy! So I'm not sure it's the right place for you. It's a cove, really.

Although I don't think you would like St Jean de Luz or Biarritz, this might help you decide on a Basque coast destination.

http://www.basquecountrymagazine.com...age-by-village

<I'm not sure I like long expansive beaches with tall buildings nearby. I like greenery and shade and small, sort of hidden beaches. >

Karraspio beach in Lekeitio: http://www.euskoguide.com/images/lek...itio-playa.jpg

Itzurun Beach in Zumaya, have been here a few times: https://tourism.euskadi.eus/en/beach...aa30-12375/en/

But I can assure you that nothing much beats the scenery of the San Sebastián beaches there they lie surrounded by the Igueldo, Urgull and Ulía hills, and with the small Santa Clara island in the heart of La Concha (The Shell) bay. Even a beach on the Santa Clara island, you can swim out here and boats also take you here in the summer months: https://www.sansebastianturismo.com/...tid=98:tourism

you can be lucky or unlucky with rain on the Basque Coast at any time of year, including summer. So if you want the guarantee of suntan/swim beach time, you need to go someplace where there is historically less chance of summer rain. The Basque Country has beautiful food, scenery (even if it is not swim weather) and nice cycling paths (and the cooler temps can make for nicer cycling). You might find lots of nice spots for beach time, but you might not, depending on the weather patterns when you are there. Only fair to tell you.