The Spanish region with 81 Blue Flag beaches, £1 beers & holidays under £350pp this summer

ALTHOUGH holiday prices are starting to rise, there’s an often overlooked Spanish region where all-inclusive holidays are still under £350pp.

The seaside region of Costa Brava was once extremely popular with Brits, but it seems to have been replaced by the Balearics and Canaries.

4

4

Located on the coast of Girona and stretching from Barcelona to the French border, the region has much to offer and is far closer than its island rivals.

Flights from the UK to Costa Brava only take two to three hours, depending on where you’re departing from.

That said, Costa Brava’s appeal goes far beyond the short flights and cheap holiday deals.

The region boasts 81 Blue Flag sandy beaches, natural parks, diving hotspots and charming old towns.

Eating and drinking out is also fairly cheap in the area, with bottled beers costing around €1.16 (£1), wine for €4.80 (£4.15) and coffee from €1.40 (£1.20).

Meanwhile, three-course meals for two at a restaurant should cost around €25 per person (£21.50).

More than 100 beaches are spread across the region, and most of them are beloved by locals and tourists, so you should be in safe hands wherever you go.

However, most people would agree that Illa Roja Beach, Fenals Beach and Aiguablava Beach are among the most popular.

Costa Brava is also known for being both family-friendly and great for partying, especially in Lloret de Mar, which has been described as the “party capital” of Costa Brava.

In fact, Lloret de Mar is one of the most popular spots to visit, as it is home to some of the most popular beaches, resorts, local restaurants, shops and hotels.

Thanks to its five miles of coastline, Lloret de Mar is also one of the region’s best snorkelling and diving spots.

Diving fans claim the sea here offers “perfect conditions”, with a water temperature of around 24C and dozens of caves, bays and species to discover.

Here are the best deals we’ve spotted for holidays to Costa Brava this summer:

• 3 nights all-inclusive at Oasis Park Splash Hotel – from £215pp
• 4 nights all-inclusive at Summer, Calella – from £213pp
• 7 nights all-inclusive at Best Lloret Splash – from £350pp

Lloret Beach is the biggest and most popular option, as it’s easily accessible and offers watersports like jet skiing, parasailing and sea kayaking.

Although the beaches are the biggest attraction, you should also try to visit the villages and landmarks of the area.

For instance, Castell d’en Plaja is a private castle on a hill right by Lloret de Mar, and it’s said to be one of the best spots to be at sunset.

Costa Brava is also the birthplace of Salvador Dalí, so you can learn more about him and see some of his most important works at the Dalí Theatre-Museum.

Elsewhere, there’s the Salvador Dalí Museum House in Cadaqués, known as the “most picturesque” village in Costa Brava.

Any stay in Costa Brava should include a visit to Girona, which was also recently used as the backdrop for Games of Thrones.

Plus, the restaurants around Girona have accumulated around 15 Michelin stars, so they’re worth a visit.

For more holiday deals, we revealed the top-rated TUI Blue hotels for short and long-haul holidays, with deals from £334pp.

We found the Spanish hotel voted ‘best in the Mediterranean’ by TUI and dubbed a tropical paradise by fans.

Or the ‘most luxurious’ TUI Blue hotel has a 24-hour wine bar, huge swimming pools, and ultra-all-inclusive stays.

_{Prices correct at the time of publication.}

4