For most of us, when asked about our best holiday memories, it’s an image of a beach that spring to mind. From happy childhood memories of donkey rides and rock pools to the palm trees and shimmering sands of far-flung exotic locations, being by the sea has a magical and romantic quality that keeps us coming back for more. But where are the best beaches to be found today? Here are five suggestions guaranteed to rekindle the fire …

Sandbanks Beach, Dorset, England.

Situated just a few minutes from the centre of Poole, on the South Coast of England, Sandbanks is a peninsula at the mouth of Poole Harbour which features some of the highest house prices outside London. Fortunately, access to the beach is free! There are acres of fine golden sand on a beach which slopes gently making it perfect for children’s paddling. Life-guards are on daily duty during the summer season, too. For the young and young at heart Sandbanks offers everything that an English seaside beach should offer; for the more sophisticated visitor, there’s a wide range of bars, restaurants and hotels. There are watersports aplenty, too, on a beach which has, for more than twenty years, earned the annual EU Blue Flag bathing water ward.

Navagio Beach, Zakynthos, Greece.

This is a beach you’ll probably recognise – even if you’ve never been within a thousand miles of it. Star of a thousand holiday brochures and posters, Navagio Beach is one of those places which is almost impossibly beautiful. Towering limestone cliffs enclose a cove of glaringly white sand lapped by the gentle blue waters of the Ionian Sea. Hoisted up on the beach itself is the wreck of the Panagiotis, an alleged smugglers ship which, in its coat of bright red rust, creates a further contrast to the blue and white of sand, sea, sky and cliffs. Navagio is only accessible by sea and a number of boats operate a service. In high season the arrivals are hourly. Being one of the most famous beaches in Europe, Navagio can get crowded so the best time to visit is at either end of the main tourism season – March and April being probably the best.

Patara, Turquoise Coast, Turkey.

The Turquoise Coast – also known as the Turkish Riviera – is found on the South-West coast of Turkey and Patara is one of its real jewels. It features an 11-mile beach of wonderful sand and warm, blue water; but don’t look for casinos, restaurants or vibrant night-life here because Patara is part of a Turkish national park and there can be no development – by law. The beach is also one of the most important breeding sites for the endangered loggerhead turtle and, for that reason, is closed at night to give the animals a chance to come ashore and lay their eggs. By day, though, the seemingly limitless stretch of sand is big enough for everyone to feel they have discovered their own personal paradise. A romantic spot? The great Roman general Mark Anthony fell in love with the Turkish Riviera and gave it as a wedding present to his beloved Cleopatra!

La Grande Plage, Biarritz, France.

Developed from a small port on the Atlantic South-West coast of France, by the end of the 19^th Century, Biarritz was France’s premier playground for the rich and titled – royalty included. Today, that exclusivity has gone and the town is one of the most popular holiday destinations in France – and the beaches are one of the main reasons for Biarritz’s popularity. Unlike the Mediterranean coastline on the country’s southern shore, Biarritz plays host to the rolling breakers of the Atlantic and that makes it a surfers’ paradise. In fact, the town is now regarded as Europe’s premier surfing destination. But for those who like to be a little less energetic in the sea there are wonderful bathing areas of clean, clear water flanked by magnificent beaches of golden sand. This place, it is said, is the first choice of the native French sea-bathers. What better recommendation could there be? And when you’ve had your fill of sun, sand and surf the restaurants, bars and casinos are legendary.

Chia Beach, Sardinia, Italy.

One of Italy’s best kept secrets, Chia Beach, on the island of Sardinia, has been called a little bit of the Caribbean in the Mediterranean. Here you’ll find huge dunes of white sand and warm, crystalline water bordered by ancient juniper trees. Chia is the largest of a number of idyllic bays and inlets all along this part of the Sardinian coast ands the ideal spot from which to explore them. Opposite the bay is the tiny island of Su Giudeu easily accessible from the beach by simply wading across the water! Shallow, warm water makes sea bathing an everyday luxury and, if you’re lucky, you might even find yourself accompanied by inquisitive dolphins. Within a small area you’ll also find the perfect locations for watersports and surfing. In such a place of peace and quiet it’s easy to forget that you are virtually on the doorstep of the ancient town of Gagliari, Sardinia’s capital.

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Written by Elizabeth Moody on behalf of Travel Jungle, a leading flight comparison company in the UK.