Beautiful Summer Beach Destinations for Budget-Savvy Travelers
With summer already in full swing in much of the Northern Hemisphere, many people are on the lookout for the perfect beach destination. Indeed, a beach trip is projected to be the most popular of all types of vacations in 2018 as over half of travelers (58%) think that they are likely to go on one.** Moreover, half of global travelers (50%) say that “quality beaches” are an important factor when picking a destination.*** However, with such a high demand it can be a challenge to find the most idyllic beach spot without breaking the bank.
With that in mind, we have delved into our endorsement and pricing data* and looked at more than 135,000 destinations across the globe to uncover the best value destinations to hit the surf this summer without blowing your budget completely.
Guaruja, Brazil
Situated on the coast of São Paolo state and known as the “Pearl of the Atlantic”, Guaruja is popular for its beautiful coastal areas and sandy beaches. While technically winter, temperatures are at a comfortable mid-twenties degrees Celsius (high-seventies Fahrenheit) in August and rainfall is at an annual low. Because it is technically the low season, June to August are on average 50% more affordable than the most expensive month (January).
Negril, Jamaica
Go on a beach bar crawl, jump into the ocean from one of West End’s iconic cliffs or just relax in a lounger on Seven Mile Beach: Negril may well be one of the world’s best beaches. July is one of the warmest months in Jamaica and while it is the rainy season, rainfall tends to confine itself to short spells in the late afternoon and evening. July is the most affordable summer month, with accommodation prices more than 30% lower than when compared to the most expensive month (January).
Bentota, Sri Lanka
Whether you are looking to unwind after a sightseeing trip around Sri Lanka or just want to find the best beaches on the island, Bentota is the perfect spot. Although Bentota’s beaches are often praised for being relatively quiet, it offers a range of accommodation options for every budget – from boutique hotels to package resorts. The period from mid-July to August is known as the inter-monsoon season, with dry and hot beaches along the west coast. While this is a great time to travel, prices in July and August are roughly 40% lower than in the high season in January.
Maldives
Those crystalline blue waters and pristine white beaches are not just the prerogative of newlyweds. While the months from June to August fall in the wet season in the Maldives, temperatures are quite constant throughout the year. You might encounter an occasional rainy day, but if you go for 10 days or more you will get plenty of sunshine. While prices rise a little in the period from June to August, the summer months can be up to 40% more affordable on some of the islands than during the high season’s peak in January. If the Maldives are on your bucket list, consider travelling during this period as there are quite a few deals just waiting to be discovered.
Quarteira, Portugal
One of the original resort towns in the Algarve, Quarteira has the quality beach fronts of famous Albufeira and Faro but is not as well-known with foreign tourists. Go earlier in the season as prices are 46% more affordable in June than in August, and if you time it right you catch Portugal’s Popular Saints Festival, which celebrates the more popular Saints during various weeks in June throughout the country.
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* Beach destinations were selected using Booking.com traveler endorsements for beaches. Pricing data was calculated as the most affordable months, as compared to the most expensive month of the year. Only 3-, 4- and 5-star accommodations were taken into account.
** Research commissioned by Booking.com and independently conducted among a sample of adults who have taken a trip in the last 12 months/plan to take a trip in the next 12 months. In total 56,727 respondents were surveyed (2000+ from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Germany, Spain, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Malaysia, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, United Kingdom, and the US, and 1000+ each from Denmark, Croatia, Sweden, and New Zealand). Respondents completed an online survey in October 2017.
*** Respondents were asked how much of an impact a list of factors would have when picking a destination, ranking them on a scale of 1 to 10. The figure refers to the amount of respondents who rank “quality beaches” an 8 or higher.