The stunning but affordable beach towns just two hours from UK – with beers from £2 and hotels from £30-a-night

SUNNING yourself on a beautiful beach doesn’t always have to involve long-haul flights and weeks away from home. 

In fact, there are some beautiful beach towns, some only two hours from the UK, that have golden sand, clear blue water and affordable accommodation, with some deals less than £450 for a family of four, for a week.

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Porto Vecchio in Corsica, France is beautiful and only a short flight away[/caption]

For as little as £39 a night, these lush locations across Spain, Portugal and France offer a fuss-free family trip, going from school to the seaside in less than three hours.

Armaçao da Pera, Algarve, Portugal

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Praia da Marinha beach is stunning[/caption]

A lesser-known spot on Portugal’s Algarve coast, former fishing village Armaçao da Peras is a treasure trove of golden beaches and crystal clear water, dotted with secret coves.

This up-and-coming holiday resort is surrounded by cobbled streets and historical landmarks.

A wander through the old market, stacked with hand-weaved baskets and local crafts, and you’ll feel like you’ve discovered a completely new place.

But, in reality it is only 20 minutes to the water parks, theme parks and wild nightlife of Albufeira – so it’s ideal for families. 

Book a four-star, seven-night stay with loveholidays from £269pp, which is only £39-per-day.

El Arenal, Majorca, Balearic Islands

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Brits hit the beach in Majorca, Spain[/caption]

This Balearic bolthole is on Majorca’s sun-soaked southern coast and is perfect for those who want an active break.

Sitting on six kilometres of soft sandy beach and with water sports such as windsurfing and water-skiing on offer, El Arenal rivals neighbouring lively resort Magaluf – and, dare we say it, is even a bit nicer.

Boasting authentic Spanish restaurants and bars, as well as a brilliant beach, this top stop is only a 2 hour 25 minute flight and there are some brilliant bargains to be had. 

A beer at Scottish-owned bar, Bogarts, is only £2 – so that’s a great place to start.

Book with loveholidays, seven nights all-inclusive for only £399 per person.

Porto-Vecchio, Corsica, France

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Santa Giulia Beach in Porto-Vecchio[/caption]

Ooh la la! Sitting off the coast of France and Italy, the beautiful island of Corsica combines the best of both worlds.

Think fantastic food, cheap-yet-excellent wine, and beaches that rival the Italian Riviera. 

There’s no shortage of charming coastal towns but Porto-Vecchio also boasts white sandy beaches, in particular Plage de Palombaggia & Plage de Saleccia, which are perfect swimming spots. 

If you don’t want to feast on bargain bottles of wine and scoff giant gelato cones for £2 in the citadel, you can hop on a boat to the Lavezzi islands or hike in the shade through the Ospedale forest.

Book with loveholidays for flights plus a range of self-catering options from £50 a night.

Salou, Spain

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Cabo Salou in Spain is close to Barcelona[/caption]

An easy 2hr 20 minute flight will take you into Barcelona Reus airport, but instead of heading to the stylish, Spanish city, go south to Salou.

This sweet spot has all the Catalan charm of Barcelona, but with a stunning beach and promenade that has beach cafes serving £2 Cava and fresh tapas starting from £3 a plate.

Book with holiday hypermarket for a Tui package including a hotel right on the beach, breakfast, and flights with all baggage and transfers for only £507pp for seven days.

Menorca, Spain

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You’ll be spoilt for choice in Menorca as the Balearic island boasts stunning hidden beaches with turquoise water[/caption]

Just 2 hours and 25 minutes from the UK, you’ll be spoilt for choice on the Balearic island of Menorca, with beautiful villages, coves, hidden beaches and fantastic food. 

Nightlife here is island-style, with little beach huts nestled into the cliffs and open-air restaurants serving freshly caught seafood for a fraction of the price you’d get in London, or even Spain’s bigger beach destinations. 

Book an apartment with holidayhypermarket for £471 per person for seven nights and have the option to make your own picnic to take to the beach.

Puerto Pollensa, northern Spain

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Majorca, and its picturesque town Puerto Pollensa, is a Brit favourite[/caption]

Puerto Pollensa is a picturesque, leafy seaside town in northern Spain that has a sandy coastline and crystal clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving. 

If you prefer to be on dry land, the medieval town is beautiful, with lots of Spanish history and shady, cobbled streets. There are more than enough tapas counters, restaurants and bars to keep the party going until the early hours. 

Flying to Palma, you can be there in two hours, 30 minutes, and you are ideally located if you want to explore further afield too. 

Book seven nights, four-star self-catering with travelsupermarket for £316 per person.