Summer is here and the beach is calling! Especially for Brits if Holidu’s Summer Price Index 2026, ranking the summer’s 50 most searched destinations by British travellers, is anything to go by. Because one thing the top ten have in common is their close proximity to a good beach!

Holidu is a European vacation-rental program focused on homes, apartments and villas. Their analysis not only picks out which locations the most people are looking for a holiday rental at, but also the average rental prices per night for a holiday rental for two to eight people there.

We took a look at their top ten (spoiler: Spain features heavily, but doesn’t win the top spot), what gaycationers can do at each location, how much an average rental will set you back, and our top pick there for LGBTQ+-friendly rentals. Even if you aren’t British yourself, after taking a look at what’s on offer, you won’t be able to deny that the British have excellent taste when it comes to holidays and rentals. 

10th Place:  Alcudia, Mallorca (Spain)

The Spanish island of Mallorca is a well-known hub of tourist activity. Its capital, Palma, can be a little chaotic (and expensive), but Alcudia serves as an affordable alternative to the capital, Palma.

Alcudia started as a humble fishing village before evolving into a major resort for tourists. Its old town, however, has still maintained its historic character–all cobblestone streets and medieval walls–giving it more of an authentic feel. Visitors can also enjoy the nearby “hidden pirate cave” by boat or hike and its port is often used as a launch pad to sunrise dolphin watching.

There’s no “gay scene” (you have nearby Palma for that), but the whole island is LGBTQ+- friendly and places like La Rosa Vermuteria are popular with queer folk with a penchant for vermut!

Our Pick for Rental: Holiday Home ‘Town House Esglesia 10' with Private Terrace, Wi-Fi and Air Conditioning

Average rental price: £377 

9th Place: Alicante, Spain

Heading south in Spain, Alicante comes in at a respectable 9th place, with equally respectable rental prices.

 Due to its handy airport and many direct flights from the UK, its popularity comes as no surprise.  The small city with a big personality is loomed over by Castillo de Santa Barbara,  a historic fortress whose sweeping views over the coast make it worthy of the climb. Other city highlights include the stylish Carbonell House, the colorful streets of Barrio de Santa Cruz, and the palm-lined Explanada de España promenade.

Alicante even has its own intimate gay scene, which fills with horny tourists and locals over the summer, with bars like Canibal Lounge Bar and the bear-centric Dark Alicante.

Average rental price: £175 

Our Pick for Rental: Vacation Home “Casita Kunterbunt” with Sea View, Terrace & Wi-Fi

8th Place:  Protaras, Cyprus

You can’t put a price on peace and quiet. Well, you can but it’s one worth paying to come to Cyprus. Protaras serves beach perfection in the form of Fig Tree Bay with its fine golden sands, and shallow turquoise waters. You don’t go there to sightsee really but just in case you get restless on the beach there’s boat trips to sea caves, a hill hike up to Church of Profitas Elias and  drag shows at the Diamonds Showbar to keep you occupied.

Or you could get adventurous and set off across the island to the gay beach, Pissouri. 

Average rental price: £336 

Our Pick for Rental: Princess Zena

7th Place: Benalmadena, Spain

Yeah, back to Spain for our 7th place. Benalmadena might not be on the gay radar, but it’s literally the next town along (and a pleasant beach walk) from favoured gay mecca, Torremolinos.  Benalmadena is a prettier alternative for a homebase from home with whitewashed houses and its striking port, Puerto Marina, filled with great restaurants and an aquarium. 

Getting to the gay “chiringuito” Eden Beach Club is also easy from Benalmadena, since it sits right at the end of the Torremolinos strip just the other side of the port, as is staggering to or from La Nogelera (the gay area up in the center). 

Average rental price: £192  

Our Pick for Rental:  Air-conditioned Apartment on the Beach with Balcony, Wi-Fi & Fantastic View

6th Place: Palma, Mallorca (Spain)

Mallorca’s capital puts two fingers up to tacky beach resorts and places them with Gothic grandeur, sophisticated restaurants, Arab-inspired architecture, and a nightlife scene that rivals Ibiza. It all centers around its old town, whose shaded courtyards wind around its seaside cathedral. 

Exploring the island as whole is easiest from Palma, as you’d expect, and you get the whole gamut of cruises and tours to choose from. It ain’t cheap, but you pay for quality and authenticity with Palma. As for its gay scene, it holds its own with bars like The2 Palma Gay Bar and plenty of cruising establishments like Dark Cruising Bar.  

Average rental price: £324 

Our Pick for Rental: Holiday Home “Son Sunyer” with Mountain View, Pool, Garden, Balcony & Terrace

5th Place: Marbella, Spain

Marbella's reputation precedes itself as being for those with some serious cash to splash. And while its Costa del Sol glamour is impossible to deny through all its champagne-soaked beach bars and designer labelled shops, there’s more to it than that (and it can even be more wallet-friendly for those who know where to stay, eat and drink on a budget). Besides the admittedly fun Golden Mile to go superyacht spotting on, it also sports a gorgeous old town with orange-tree-filled plaza and authentic Andalucian restaurants. 

The Cabopino beach is popular with the gays (or to go get yourself a sugar daddy) and the gay nightlife scene of Torremolinos is just a 20 minute bus (or taxi ride) away.

Average rental price: £297 

Our Pick for Rental: Marbella Penthouse apartment' with Sea View, Pool, Wi-Fi, Garden & Terrace

4th Place: Benidorm, Spain

Oh, sweet Benidorm! Perhaps thanks to the titular British sitcom, its popularity is almost unrivaled when it comes to all-inclusive holiday resorts and ill-fated bachelor/bachelorette parties.  But below its many highrises there’s a beach town that actually has a diverse range of things to do, from exploring a tapas-bar-filled Old Town to coastal cruising. Not to mention the stunning views from Balcon del Mediterranean.

If you avoid the seafront bars bellowing drunken renditions of Sweet Caroline (no judgement if that’s your thing), then you’ll also find a whole host of gay bars, clubs and cruising bars tucked away in the Old Town. Plus, the rentals you’ll find here provide a comfort (and protection from drunken tourists) that you just won’t get from a resort!

Average rental price: £205

Our Pick for Rental: Apartment Avenida Madrid with Shared Pool and Garden

3rd Place: Nerja, Spain 

In contrast, it seems that many seek a more tranquil holiday within the Costa del Sol. Nerja has the best reputation for that. You won’t find noisy nightlife here, but instead beaches with lapping waves, classy boutique shops, and the beautiful Balcon de Europa–a palm-tree-filled terrace reaching out into the Med with coastal views. 

The Nerja caves just outside of town rank as one of Andalucía's best natural attractions and there’s plenty of fishing villages nearby worthy of a day trip. There’s no gay scene here, but you don’t go there to party. It is inclusive to all though and makes for a good couple’s retreat. 

Average rental price: £182 

Our Pick for Rental: A410 Frontline Apartment Near the Beach with Sea View, Pool, Wi-Fi & A/C

2nd Place: Malaga, Spain 

Yet another location on the Costa del Sol hits the top ten. Malaga is the biggest city on the coast and not only has the most to do culturally, but also works as a base for exploring the entire region (Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Nerja and Marbella alike). 

Naturally it has an impressive palace-fortress above the city (the Alcazaba) with winning views over the port, and even comes with a castle attached. There’s also a cathedral, parks filled with pine trees, a pleasant waterfront and museums galore– most notably the Picasso museum and the very house where the painter was born. Being a big city there’s a moderately sized gay scene within the Old Town with bars like Kipfer & Lover, and if you get bored there’s a direct train to Torremolinos along the coast that runs until the early horse.

Average rental price:£194 

Our Pick for Rental: Apartment ‘Casa Malaga' with Terrace, A/C & Wi-Fi

1st Place: Albufeira, Portugal

Spain might dominate Holidu’s analysis, but it is Portugal who snatches the crown. Albufeira is the Algarve’s trump card, whose ‘holiday for all’ vibes calls out to tourists like a sexy siren in her prime. It has all the right elements, a lively old town that tumbles down to the seafront, amazing places to eat and drink, wild nightlife, a marina set up for boat trips exploring the stunning coastline and–of course–a golden sanded beach.

There's only two officially gay bars, but they are good ones. Connection is the most popular, whereas Dark By Nude is exactly what it sounds like: a place to get some action on your gaycation. You can’t beat Albufeira if you want the full holiday package–just be sure to pick yourself the best holiday rental to retreat away from the tourist crowds who clearly couldn’t agree more!

Average rental price: £246 

Our Pick for Rental: Villa Laura

You can see Holidu’s analysis for yourself here.

And book yourself a summer rental at any of the above here.

Feature image by martijn-Malaga@unsplash.