Business Insider: Brits vote Zakynthos 2nd best in world for beach holidays (photos)

Navagio beach a top choice

The British edition of ‘BusinessInsider.com’ compiled a list of the 22 best beaches in the world for a holiday. The piece cites a survey by Expedia.co.uk on which beaches British holidaymakers consider the best to visit. The Greek beach of Navagio, in Zakythnos is among their top picks.

A new report from Expedia.co.uk reveals the most popular places for a beach holiday this summer among British travellers.
The travel booking site’s annual Flip Flop Report, which was published on June 21, based its findings on responses from UK residents who took part in a global study conducted among 11,115 adults across 24 countries.
Locations that made the cut include tropical islands sprinkled with palm trees in the Caribbean and unexpected beach destinations on the Baltic Sea.
Here are the top 22 places Brits are going for a beach holiday this summer, along with the percentage of travellers who have booked trips there.
Spain, 27% — Spain is overwhelmingly the most popular place for a beach holiday this summer. British travellers who want to experience both the city and the sea will probably make Barcelona their destination and go to Barceloneta Beach, where beachgoers feel like they can escape the city without having to leave.

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Italy, 6% — Italian beaches are known for their beauty. La Pelosa Beach, in Sardinia, is one of the country’s most picturesque, with a view of a 17th-century tower from the shore.

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Greece, 6% — Whether you prefer a pebble or sand beach, in rustic surroundings or modern, the Greek islands have a wide range of beaches. Navagio Beach, on Zakynthos, is one of the most unique, with the remains of a shipwreck on the sand.

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France, 6% — British travellers have opted for beach holidays closer to home in France. Cannes, on the French Riviera, is a favourite spot thanks to its pristine beaches.

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Portugal, 4% — Holidaymakers have chosen the beaches of Portugal for their summer holiday. Algarve’s Falesia Beach is a favourite with visitors, known for its burnt-orange rock formations.

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Florida, US, 4% — Known as the Sunshine State, Florida has a hot climate, which translates to plenty of beaches to choose from. Miami’s South Beach — flanked by quirky art deco buildings on Ocean Drive and dotted with colourful lifeguard towers — is one of the state’s coolest beaches.

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Cyprus, 3% — Most holidaymakers in Cyprus go to Nissi Beach, in Ayia Napa. The water is clear enough to see your toes in, the sand’s golden, and the scenery is glorious.

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Turks and Caicos, 2% — No, that’s not a Microsoft desktop picture. That’s Grace Bay in Providenciales — one of many flawless white-sand beaches in Turks and Caicos.

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Mexico, 2% — Mexico has some of the world’s most spectacular beaches. At Tulum Beach, considered one of the country’s best beaches, visitors can find Mayan ruins on the sand.

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Jamaica, 2% — Brits kicking back in Jamaica this summer are likely to visit Seven Mile Beach. Complete with turquoise water and palm trees, it’s the country’s most popular beach for a reason.

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California, US, 2% — Surfer types are drawn to California, where popular beaches like Venice Beach in Los Angeles offer big waves in beautiful surroundings. There’s also plenty of street food to keep visitors going.

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Barbados, 2% — British travellers are heading to this Caribbean island for picture-perfect beaches with vivid blue water and soft white sand. This beach, in the town of Oistins, has both.

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South Africa, 1% — This African country not only has magnificent natural scenery, but also gorgeous beaches like Camps Bay Beach in Cape Town, where sunbathers can relax with Table Mountain in the background.

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Malta, 1% — This tiny European country, which sits between Italy and Africa, has impeccable beaches. Most visitors head to Mellieha Beach, in the island’s northern region.

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Malaysia, 1% — Brits are visiting this Southeast Asian country to relax on beaches like Langkawi’s manicured Cenang Beach.

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Hawaii, 1% — This tropical US state lures travellers with its unparalleled white sandy beaches. Beachgoers can enjoy both white sand and gorgeous blue water — which is usually dotted with surfers — at Honolulu’s Waikiki Beach, on the island of Oahu.

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Germany, 1% — Though it may not be an obvious choice, Germany has some beautiful beaches. On the German island of Hiddensee, which doesn’t permit cars, beachgoers can leave everything behind to sunbathe by the Baltic Sea.

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Fiji, 1% — Travellers looking for an idyllic island escape come to Fiji. Natadola Beach, which is strewn with palm trees on the island of Viti Levu, gets the most visitors.

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Croatia, 1% — The European country’s most popular stretch along the sea is Zlatni Rat Beach, where visitors can bathe in transparent blue water amid a dramatic backdrop of mountains.

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Costa Rica, 1% — This Central American country has some stunning beaches, like Playa Manuel Antonio. Part of a national park bursting with nature, this scenic bay is popular but still gives visitors a sense of peace and quiet.

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Brazil, 1% — British travellers looking to travel to South America picked Brazil for their beach holiday. When in Rio de Janeiro, locals and tourists alike head to Ipanema Beach to catch the view of the sunset behind Sugar Loaf Mountain.

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Australia, 1% — Brits heading to the beach Down Under are likely to visit Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Popular with surfers, Bondi’s got a creative side, too, with street art on the promenade attracting those looking to spruce up their Instagram.

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