Quiet beach area for swimming and relaxing with family?

Hello,

We're in Europe for the next few months and really need 2-3 weeks of relaxation time on the beach, ideally in an AirBNB or some other weekly rental. Problem is I don't know the area at all? So looking for places where everything would be walkable - beach, groceries, restaurants. Ideally the accomodation is really close to the beach, and a little more budget friendly than France or the UK!

And a sandy safe beach for swimming...

We are a family of 4, with 2 boys aged 10 and 12 with a plan to travel the world this year, but am more or less stuck around Europe until a work engagement in Prague in November. We just want some beach time now, to tide us over until we go to Thailand and Indonesia in December/January.

Any thoughts come to mind?
Thanks.

Every Spanish Mediterranean beach will be quiet in October because the beach season will be over. Actually, it's raining in Catalunya.
For sun and higher air temperatures, you may check the Canaries, for real beach weather within the Mediterranean, go to Cyprus.

Obviously to get as 'good' weather as possible in October you need to be as far south as possibe - Crete springs to mind though I don't know it. Cyprus too, and the Canaries obviously. You may be lucky and have fabulous weather in the Costa del Sol but you may not - in October I'd bet that it is more likely than not but you can't be sure. Sea temperatures cool slower than air temperatures so the sea should be OK for swimming in October.

I guess I'm more after locations in Spain, regardless of the weather. We've been happy on New Zealand beaches in their winter.

Costa Del Sol has come across my searches. But need help narrowing down the areas I think.

On the Spanish mainland i have noticed that the southwest often gets the best temperatures in autumn and winter, better than the Costa del Sol. I am referring to the coast roughly between Alicante and Almeria.

Maybe it's do-able.

But a "quiet beach" that's walking distance to accommodation, restaurants and grocery stores sounds like a contradiction in terms.

Jason - you asked for recommendations in Europe and now you're saying it's Spain only - and what on earth has NZ got to do with anything?

..um and the coast between Alicante and Almeria is surely SE Spain not SW no? - anyway how about Alfaz del Pi, Altea, Calpe, Moraira or Javea which are all N of Alicante I know but I don't know much about the coast S of Alicante.

Heh, just saying if we can enjoy an NZ beach in the winter, I think a beach in Spain in October could still be quite pleasant. Provided it was on the calmer side with respect to waves...

..um and the coast between Alicante and Almeria is surely SE Spain not SW no?

My mistake! Apologies I mean southeastern coast of course!
And yes, I agree that the better (micro)climate goes a bit further north from Alicante until the Benidorm/Denia area too.
However, besides of the good climate some parts of that coast are too tacky and tasteless to me. There are exceptions but then you better have your own wheels.

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