€1,200 sunbed: How to spend a day on Europe’s beaches without breaking the bank

Dreaming of snagging the best sunbed on Europe’s most stunning beaches this summer? Be prepared to splurge — and book weeks in advance.

As Daily Mail reports, many top Mediterranean beaches — from Italy’s sparkling Amalfi Coast to the secluded coves of Ibiza — are now private, with even a pair of sunbeds and an umbrella costing almost as much as a full vacation.

On regular European beaches during peak season, expect to pay €20–€50 per day for two sunbeds. Luxury clubs and resorts can push that into the hundreds — or even thousands — of euros.

The priciest option this summer is Club La Cabane on Spain’s Costa del Sol: a triple sunbed sofa costs up to €1,200, complete with Dolce & Gabbana fabrics and a €200 champagne voucher. Poolside or beachside spots cost even more.

Along Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Arienzo Beach Club in Positano charges around €600 a day for two people — including two sunbeds, an umbrella, a two-course lunch, a bottle of champagne, and beach towels. Sunbeds with views of the Li Galli Islands can go for €848 per day.

The 2024 top-ranked beach, La Scogliera, rents standard sunbeds from €550, while prime waterfront spots cost €848 (£733); food and drinks are extra. Italian beaches lead Europe in private beach clubs, with the average price for two sunbeds and an umbrella climbing from €180 to €210 over the last four years, according to Altroconsumo — much to the dismay of locals.

On Sardinia, Nikki Beach charges €400, while more affordable options exist nearby. On Mallorca, Gran Folies rents two sunbeds for €340, and One Fire Club on the Amalfi Coast charges €318 a day. Even Monte-Carlo isn’t cheap: Monte-Carlo Beach Club asks €350 for a stylish sunbed with a view, and La Réserve à la Plage charges €250 for two.

But there are also more “down-to-earth” choices: at Playa Esmeralda in Costa Smeralda, two sunbeds and an umbrella cost just €15 during peak season. Sometimes it pays to hunt for a bargain before splurging.