We went to olu deniz in turkey lasy year and really liked that,although we are older than you,im 40 next year,we think it has most things you have quoted.But im sure other people will come up with loads of other suggestions.Trouble is there is just sooo much choice lol

Hi and welcome.
How about Portugal's Algarve? Brilliant beaches,great food and accessible by 'no-frills' airlines from lots of U.K. airports.August is still high-season, but, if you can leave it 'til September, it's easy to do on a budget.Specifically, have a look at Lagos toward the west of the Algarve;it has everything that you seem to require - fabulous beaches (from small,secluded rocky coves to 5km long stretches of wide beach).The restaurants in town are varied and excellent and the town is always lively without being tacky.There's a modern marina and a wide,flat promenade which stretches virtually the length of the town.
If you'd like any more info or specific recommendations,just ask.

another vote for Olu deniz Turkey

Hi AND WELCOME MELYBABY,

have a look at benidorm, fab beach and plenty to see and do.

good hunting,

Eifion.

Thanks guys,

I think benidorm is out of the question. But i like the sound of Lagos & Ole Deniz.

Any other tips

Perhaps you could advise us of budget and how far you're prepared to travel.

Mark

i also vote for olu deniz or try icmeler thats nice too

How about Santa Eulalia in Ibiza? Away from the big clubs, but a choice of nice bars and restaurants and a lovely promenade.
Also look at Sa Coma in Majorca, or Puerto del Carmen in Lanzarote.
We went to Olu Deniz last August, it was very nice but a bit "out of the way" and it was hideously hot in August I'd go again but only for one week instead of two, and only in May/early June.

I think Lagos would be better than Olu Deniz for Aug/Sept. It's got over 200 restaurants/bars and is lively but not tacky (OD isn't tacky either). The Marina had a bar with live music, there is a jazz club, and beach bars that have parties at the weekend.

The beaches in the Algarve knock spots off the main belcekic sand/shingle beach at Olu Deniz, you would need to go to the lagoon in Olu to get a whiff of real sand and in July/August the lagoon beaches are packed (even the private ones). There is nothing to match Melia Praia, Porto do Mos, or Praia Dona Ana they are in a different league.

The down side of the Algarve over Olu D is the sea temperature.

Also I wouldn't recommend Lagos to a young couple outside of the main summer as it might be too quiet, but in the summer it is 'buzzing'.

Oh and you wont get hassle in Portugal, you will in Turkey. This bothers some but not others.

Thanks everyone for your tips.

Would be flying from Ireland. Dont mind which airport (not belfast).
We would be looking for a self catering hotel/apartment as we can easily go to restaraunts.

I have been looking between Praia da Rocha, Puerto del Carmen. However i seem to change my mind every couple of hours.

I dont want to around lager louts or chavs, but do want good bars, restaraunts, commercial centres, excursions, nice beaches etc.

What is the beach like in PDC as it has everything else, but from some pics the beach looks very black.

Algarve on the other hand looks so lovely but everyone keeps comparing it to blackpool in the sun.

Tukey is out of the question as DF doesnt want to go there.

I have picked up a new brochure XL. They mention Mykonos, Skiathos which look really nice. Esp Skiathos & its beaches etc.

Why not ask a few people on the Lanzarote forum CLICK HERE if you want to know more about PDC. You might also like Playa Blanca in Lanzarote.
If you want gorgeous golden sand then you could look at Corralejo in Fuerteventura, nice resort, lots of bars and restaurants and stunning golden sand dunes.

hi melybaby, not sure whether you'd like praia da rocha, a bit concrete jungle for me, on the plus side the beaches are great there, but just down the road at alvor is a different story, still retains a lot of its original charm, lovely restraunts and cracking little bars, have also been to skiathos ( many years ago ) and we loved that too ! 76 beaches to choose from !
one of my personal favourite destinations is tenerife, i believe it has something for everyone, loads to do day and night,
whichever destination you decide on, i'm sure you will have a lovely time,
happy hols !
juby

Have to agree about Praia da Rocha being a concrete jungle, an unfinished one at that! at least it was when I went prob 10+ yrs ago so maybe it's improved since then. Alvor did look much nicer though when we drove through a couple of times.

Melissa, have you been abroad before? If so where have you been and have liked? Perhaps that'll give a better picture as to other places you'd like. Everyone's different and what one person may love another will hate so I think the best advice is do as much research as you can, read loads of reviews and then hopefully you'll make the right decision.

Happy holiday hunting!

We've just been to Alvor in the Algarve for a week and really enjoyed it. There were loads of great places to eat. It was still in the high 70's in October so I think it would be in the 80's in September (Aug would be too hot). Some places are like Blackpool (I think that you'll always find a 'Blackpool in the sun' no matter where you go) but I wouldn't have said that Alvor was. It's a working harbour town and the people are just great.

You might also want to check out Petra or Molyvos on the greek island of Lesvos or one of the more livelier resorts on Kefalonia.

We were thinking of trying Cape Verde for the very first time..i am led to believe they are like a posh Canary Islands!!!

One of my friends has just come back from Sal in Cape Verde and whilst the hotel was fine they said it will be a few years before the tourist infrastructure is in place.

Albufeira in the Algarve ticks all the boxes for good beach, lots of shops, stalls, restaurants & bars. Would definately recommend it and have been 5x in the last 2 years.
Spent a day in Praia Da Rocha and hated it. Very nice beach but as stated loads of high rise concrete buildings and a bit like the Benidorm of Portugal. Also every bar/restuarant was an Irish typed theme bar (nothing against the Irish but it was Paddy's bar, the Irish bar, Ireland's Eye, Dublin bar, the Dubliner, Paddy's Irish bar etc and they were all the same).
Agree with puddleduck2 about Alvor, only spent a day there but would have liked to have tried it for a week.
We also enjoyed PDC, not much of a beach but an excellent resort for a family.

Hi Melybaby,
I go along with cyberspacekadette on Corralejo in Fueretaventura, which can be booked with Budget travel.ie and Erika Apartments is basically on the beautiful sandy beach, these apartments are beautiful inside, its a small complex exclusive to irish customers, and are brilliant, we stayed in them in april 2006
The beach is to die for! really fab shops, resturants and bars, not a tacky resort at all, a couple of commercial centres. the place is not over run with anything, there is 3 irish bars all selling guiness!
You can hire a car and tour the whole island which is brilliant, feed the chip munks who are so tame they eat out your hand! touring the island can be done in 2 days or 1 whole day from early morning till late evening, best car hir deals are from cicar.com
One of the "must see's " is the american shipwreck just round the coast, whats left of it! and you can take the ferry to Lanzarote for a day trip which is around €15 pp
believe me, it is a marvellous island
Fiona

Hisaronu in Turkey, caters for all tastes, it can me as quiet or as loud as you want it to be. Olu Deniz down the road for lazy days at the beach. The scenery is wonderful , people are great , you will be spoilt for choice