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Albania capped beach prices to stop the gouging at Ksamil. In June 2026 Sarandë's council used that power to approve a top tier of 4,000 lek, about €42, for an umbrella on Ksamil's island beaches. Five quieter Riviera beaches, and two that will not help.
9 min read
Turks and Caicos
Hawaii·United States
In the field
Playa de Macenas is Mojácar's quiet southern beach, a stretch of grey sand and rock guarded by an eighteenth-century watchtower, with easy access, a beach bar, and a wild coastal track running on past a medieval tower to nudist coves and a Treasure Island film set.
Praia das Catedrais near Ribadeo in Galicia hides Spain's greatest rock architecture, arches up to 30 metres high, under a beach that exists only at low tide. Entry is free but capped at 4,812 a day with a mandatory summer booking, and the tide table matters more than the permit.
Playa de los Muertos, near Carboneras in Almería, is the wild pebble beach with a reputation for Spain's clearest water and a name earned by the currents that once carried shipwrecked sailors ashore. Reached by a steep footpath, with no facilities, no lifeguards, and a sea that demands respect.
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destination guides
The Albanian Riviera has the same Ionian water as Corfu, just across the strait, at a fraction of the price. The six best beaches, from sandy Ksamil to empty Borsh, and the honest catch.
8 min read
destination guides
Dubrovnik gets the cruise ships and the crowds. Istria gets the actual beach coast. The 7 best beaches in Istria, from Rovinj to Medulin, who each one suits, and how to visit.
9 min read
destination guides
Hvar is the island everyone names, but ranked on their beaches alone, Croatia's big six finish in a different order. Krk to Brac, counted up to the winner, and why Hvar came fourth.
7 min read
destination guides
Cruise caps, tourist taxes, booked-in-advance beaches and outright closures are rewriting the European beach holiday in 2026. Here is every major rule, country by country, with the official source for each, and where to go instead.
8 min read
destination guides
For a beach-first trip to Greece, the Ionian islands quietly beat the famous Cyclades: sandier, calmer and more sheltered. Here is the case, the honest exceptions, and how to choose.
6 min read
destination guides
The 2026 World's 50 Best Beaches are out, with Entalula in the Philippines crowned number one. Here's the full ranked list, how it's decided, and our honest verdict on the eight we've actually stood on.
11 min read
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