Now that we all know that it's totally out of bounds for hip folk to go to Greece or the French Riviera, where is left? I've been casting around European media to suss out the best beaches to see and be seen, and it looks like the hot spots for 2010 are:

1. Rügen
2. Svetlogorsk
3. Sopot
4. Saranda
5. Tiree
6. Capo Mortola (near Latte di Ventimiglia)
7. Hells Bay (in the Isles of Scilly)
8. Sylt
9. Hiddensee
10. Muggia.

I'm tempted to take in all ten in 2010, but would appreciate views from other Fodorites. The Russian edition of Cosmopolitan hyped Svetlogorsk as being "to Europeans in 2010 what Cape Cod was to Americans in 1980". The folks at National Geographic rated Saranda and Tiree as in the premier league while Carmel and Sanibel languished in the 4th division. Should I ditch Muggia for Miami?

All help appreciated from a novice looking for the right spots to be spotted.

....
hey, come on guys... I'm just the lad from Malta whose bold post is slipping down the list into Fodor's oblivion. Please answer...

You all helped a lot a couple of years back when I made my first trip to the USA (Maine or Montana was the question). Now I am exploring Europe.

Tim

Does Muggia even have a "beach"?

Svetlogorsk doesn't roll off the tongue quite like Cape Cod, and you'd probably have to eat Russian food there. Not my fav. The other far northern spots just don't say "hot spot" to me.

I'd only consider Italy, France or Spain, but Saranda looks nice.

Why would you leave Malta for any of these places? Especially Miami.

Sorry Tim, I am not a beach person and your list looks a menu in Estonian.

Some of those places look stunning - and sorry Jean but the over commercialised concrete jungles that make up the resort towns of the traditional Med countries - with acres of greased bodies slithering next to each other do absolutely nothing for me. Give me the stunning beauty of Tiree any day.

But is it "hot"? That's what the OP is asking for.

I don't think 'hot' is meant literally!

I also prefer stunning scenery, but the OP isn't asking for that. He's asking for a hot spot, as in the "right spot to be spotted," where to "see and be seen." A totally different focus than pretty seascapes.

Ruegen and hip are an oxymoron.
Nothing against Ruegen - but hip? No way. Hiddensee even less.
Sylt is Germany's Hamptons/Martha's Vineyard equivalent. It is pretty good.

This is insane. Only the crassest and most callow American could write a phrase as out of touch with Europe as "Europe's hippest beach spot".

There's no such country as Europe, and the idea that a Parisienne or Roman would go through all the palaver (and extreme danger) of getting to, or staying in, Kaliningrad - where this Svetlanagrad place pays its mafia protection money - or the tedium of a beach on the edge of the Danzig dockyards (Sopot) is beyond belief.

As for believing a Londoner would be impressed by hearing "The Russian edition of Cosmopolitan hyped Svetlogorsk"...

Cosmopolitan????

Though, in fairness, a hip Baltic is only slightly more deranged than the delusion anyone except a Scot would remain motionless on Tiree beach for more than three seconds. Tiree, arguably, is the greatest place on earth for grownups and children too young and sensible for fashion addiction to go on brisk walks: but to anyone familiar with the place, "hip" is something you get replaced after 80 years of daily 15 mile dogwalking.

If Tiree beach doesn't have signs up saying "Moronic teenagers of all ages banned", it's only because the good citizens assume no-one daft enough to be interested in "hip beaches" would appreciate Tiree's glories anyway

Thank you all very much. I had e-mailed the editors of a magazine about places they recommended and that was their list. At least they replied very politely (and very promptly) too, but I wonder now if they were leading me down the proverbial garden path. I'll go to Gozo instead, which is very unhip but very lovely. Thank you Fodorites

flanner, he's a "lad from Malta." Keep your knee-jerk under control.

Only a Brit wouldn't begin to understand that going to the beach is a lot more than sending your wife down with the laundry and some sticks, right Flanner?