Tarifa has made the most of its legendary status as one of the windiest beaches in the world — it has earned the reputation of the kite-surfing capital of Europe. A combination of surfing and power-kite flying, kite surfing has the power to send riders sky-high as they jump and flip over the waves. As this watersport gains popularity, more and more lessons are offered for novices. With few resorts, and fewer tourists, Tarifa serves up unspoiled beaches and clear views straight to Morocco. The surrounding countryside is mountainous, perfect for horseback riding, hang gliding and rock climbing. Winding, cobbled streets and remnants of Arab architecture fill the Andalucian town of Tarifa. A perfect afternoon can be spent exploring the town's nooks, strolling through the gardens of the Alameda and the fishing port, or simply relaxing over tapas in one of the many local bars.

One of the best beaches, called Bol, is on the island of Brac. It's a promontory of white sand and pebbles, which juts out from a piney woods forest.

Olu Deniz is a picturesque resort area, especially the main hillside town of Belcekiz, which has crystal clear water, and a long shingle beach curving away from the town promenade along to a calm blue lagoon. In addition to good value hotels - usually with pools - in Olu Deniz town, there are some popular resort villages nearby, such as Ovacik and Hisaronu [10 mins], which means that the beach can get overcrowded. The promenade by the town has plenty of bars, restaurants and cafés and there are loads of umbrellas and loungers for hire, and a wide range of water sports available. Paragliding and Hangliding, solo or tandem, off adjacent Babadag mountain and landing on the beach are extremely popular, as is scuba diving. Locals claim the season is all year round. Summer temperature averages 32C, winter 20C. 1hr 45 mins from Dalaman Airport.

Kolocep is one of the Elafiti islands which lie along the Adriatic coastline, opposite Dubrovnik at the southern end of the country. It has some of the loveliest, secluded beaches in Europe.
The most famous beach in Croatia is Zlatni Rat [Golden Horn] beach on the Dalmatian island of Brac.
The down side: the standard of facilities are not as high as western resorts, and despite the area's rich fishing industry [shellfish of the Adriatic are said to be some of the best in the world], the cuisine does not have a high reputation.
Best May-Sept, though July-August can be crowded and swimming in the sea is only comfortable from mid-June to late September.

Waianae, Hawaii, in Honolulu county, is 22 miles NW of Honolulu, Hawaii. The town is included in the Honolulu metropolitan area. As of the year 2000 census, 10,506 people lived in Waianae. In 2000, Waianae had a median family income of $48,145. 44% of adults are married. 67% of living spaces in Waianae are occupied by their owners, not by renters. 84% of commuters drive to work.

Santorini [also known as Thira] is spectacularly situated on the edge of a dormant volcano .Many believe that this is where the Atlantis legend began, when the volcano blew hugely in 1650BC, not only knocking off the local, highly civilised Minoans [remnants still visible at the Akrotiri site] in their 'island within an island', but also sending out a tidal wave that would have destroyed many other Minoan sites and ships and closed the book on Minoan power in the Mediterranean.
Along with Mykonos, Santorini is one of the most expensive islands in Greece, but the teetering towns of Fira and Oia are spectacularly worth it.
Due to its volcanic soil most beaches - Perissa and Karmari are the best known- have hot black sand/pebbles, though the water is clean and clear.
The best beach is narrow, characterful Red Beach ,with small red grainy sand partially covered in wood shavings to keep it cool, crystal water and rocks to offer snorkellers some action

Mykonos is one of the most attractive islands in Greece with its dry stone walls and cute organic architecture. Gorgeous Mykonos town - the epitome of whitewashed, blue wooded, narrow street Greek towns - is the start of the action, and it doesn't have to be so expensive... Just avoid waterfront dining!
Although Mykonos is fairly hilly, it's only ten miles long by seven miles wide, so most visitors rent cars or scooters to explore.
Places such as Agios Stefanos, Platyialos, and Psarou all have well protected beaches with medium grade sand and a good selection of tavernas - though heavily umbrella infested, but the pick for under-40s visitors is either the trees, coarse sand and funky bars of Paradise beach, or the even coarser but prettier Super Paradise , where naked gays have colonised one end. Both are a little exposed so water can get choppy.
For soft sand, dunes, stunning scenery, less people, less services and mad ducks try Panormas on the other side of the island.

Tito's military kept this island off limits to the world until 1989, because of its strategic location -- or perhaps its turquoise waters and near-perfect climate. Being deprived of commercial development kept the place fairly pristine.

Today, tourists are returning to the Komiza, a tiny fishing village on Vis. They are also flocking to inlets and beaches around the island, for boating, diving, and the simple pleasures of sitting on a dock eating grilled fish with a glass of local wine.

There are no beaches in Kas, but it's a really lovely, relaxed hill/harbour town with no package tourists in evidence and easy access to little beaches a few minutes away by public bus on the gorgeous winding coast road. Plenty of little hotels and interesting restaurants. An hour from Kalkan.

crossing the gorge, with a steep set of steps up/down to the beach,and a steep drop off into the clear blue sea. It's a 10 minute dolmus [bus] ride from the hill village of Kalkan, a harbour town with colourful restaurants and terraced bars overlooking the not particularly attractive marina. Kalkan has it's own small shingle beach too More sophisticated than most Turkish resorts. 2.5 hrs from Dalaman Airport.

Çalis Beach is informal, relaxing, and excellent for watersports or a family holiday. The coarse sand stretches for 2.5 miles, bordered by a pedestrianized road with fairly characterless hotels, cafes and restaurants along the water front. 4 miles from Fethiye. 1 hrs 10 mins from Dalaman Airport.

Reached by boat, Turtle Beach [also known as Iztuzu Beach], a sandbar of the Dalyan Delta, is a national conservation area and one of the last breeding places in Europe for the protected loggerhead 'Cretta' sea turtle. It's several kilometres long, with very scenic surroundings, hot brown sand, and shallow water. A small café, sun loungers and umbrellas available. Accessible mainly by an enjoyable 20min public boat ride from pleasant, relaxed Dalyan town. Dalyan has a gorgeous river frontage looking across to Lycian tombs carved into the rock face. Twitcher alert! Swamp bugs can be irritating to humans but delicious to avians, so lots of bird life here, especially swallows. Other excursions from Dalyan are mud bathing in the local hot mineral springs or swimming in nearby Lake Koycegiz. 30 mins from Dalaman Airport.

If Olu Deniz is too commercial for you, try the secluded beach in Gemile Bay. Gemile Bay Beach is a unspoiled, picturesque cove with a great view of St. Nicholas island [you can swim or take a boat across to see the ruins

Although Lake Tisza was created artifically at the beginning of 1970-ies its wild natural world reminds the visitor of an unspoilt, ancient water world.

The lake is a dammed section of the Tisza, the riverbed of which is clearly visible and where the depth of the lake reaches 10-15 m. Reef-clad bays, islands and backwaters provide habitat to numerous bird species and other animals.