Spain, Italy or Greece – which beach volleyball camp suits you?

Four camps, three countries, one motto: "Come as a player, leave as a friend." But which Volleytours camp is really your summer? Whether you're looking for the big international stage in Spain, relaxed camping vibes on the Italian Adriatic, beach volleyball plus party nights in Rimini or the quiet bay on Crete – this beach volleyball camp comparison shows you which location matches your level, your travel budget and your mood. (As of: August 2026)

The four camps at a glance: Spain, Italy or Greece?

Volleytours currently runs beach volleyball camps at four locations: Sunsation Beach in Gandía on Spain's Costa del Azahar, Ravenna in Lido di Spina on the Italian Adriatic, the Rimini Beach Bash, also in Italy, and the camp in Plakias on Crete. Each location has its own character, even though the same principle applies everywhere: training in groups by level, tournaments, evenings together and a community where you quickly feel at home.

Sunsation Beach is by far the biggest and longest-running location. Ravenna and Rimini share Italy, but they tick completely differently: Ravenna is more about nature and the campsite, Rimini more about beach clubs and nightlife. Plakias on Crete is the smallest and most exclusive camp in the programme, with only one week a year.

How quickly can you get there? Travel and flight times compared

You get to the Italian camps on the beach fastest: a direct flight from Frankfurt to Bologna takes around an hour and 20 minutes; from there it's about another hour by car to Ravenna and a short drive towards the Adriatic coast for Rimini. You can also reach Ravenna by train to Bologna and then on by train or Flixbus to Porto Garibaldi, right next to Lido di Spina.

For Sunsation Beach you fly direct to Valencia or Alicante; from both airports Gandía is a good hour's drive away, and Volleytours also offers an airport transfer. If you travel together, a rental car on the Costa del Azahar is usually cheap.

Plakias on Crete is the furthest away: direct flights from Germany land in Heraklion (HER) or Chania (CHQ) and take about three hours. From there it's another 114 kilometres from Heraklion or 97 kilometres from Chania to Plakias – around 100 minutes and about €120 by taxi, more flexible and usually cheaper by rental car. If you value an easy, short journey, Italy is your best bet; if you see the journey as part of the adventure, you'll happily take Crete on.

Which season and climate suit you?

The camp seasons differ significantly between the locations. Sunsation Beach runs longest: in 2026 from late March to late May in spring and from mid-September to late October in autumn – ten spring and five autumn weeks to choose from. Ravenna plays twice a year, with a short camp phase in April/May and one in September. The Rimini Beach Bash takes place exclusively in September, currently over two weeks. Plakias on Crete is the exception: there's only one single camp week in May each year, which automatically makes it the most exclusive camp in the programme.

In terms of climate, all four locations benefit from the mild Mediterranean climate with warm but not oppressively hot spring and autumn days – ideal for training without standing in the midday heat. If you want the widest choice of dates, look at Sunsation Beach or Ravenna; if you can or want to commit to a fixed period, Rimini or Plakias offer a clearly defined, very focused setting.

Beach and local character: lively, close to nature or all to yourself?

Playa Gandía is a flat, fine-sand beach that, according to Volleytours, is in places reminiscent of the palm-lined promenade of Santa Monica – with restaurants, bars and nightlife, especially at weekends, within walking distance. That makes Gandía the liveliest of the four locations, without the town feeling overrun by tourists.

Ravenna is completely different: the courts are in the middle of a centuries-old pine forest right at the Mare e Pineta campsite in Lido di Spina, south of Comacchio. It's quieter here, closer to nature and more about camping atmosphere than going out – even though Ravenna, San Marino and Venice are within reach for day trips.

The Rimini Beach Bash takes place at Bagno Tiki 26 right on Rimini's city beach, with courts reserved until 18:00 and a programme that deliberately combines training during the day with beach bar, cocktails and club nights in the evening – clearly the most party and nightlife-oriented location in the Volleytours programme.

Plakias on Crete is the opposite: a fishing village with around 300 inhabitants, the courts in a small bay at the end of the beach, surrounded by mountains, with a cosy beach bar right behind them. In the evening you head to the village tavernas rather than a club – authentic, quiet and with a "very family-like atmosphere", as Volleytours itself puts it.

Which camp is for whom? Target group, level and group size

Sunsation Beach explicitly welcomes all levels, from beginners to World Tour pros, and with 50 to 150 players per week it's the biggest and most international group in the programme – ideal if you want to meet lots of new people and choose from a long list of dates.

With 40 to 60 guests per week, Ravenna is mid-sized and also open to all levels; the camp is a good fit if you prefer a smaller but still colourful group to the big stage.

The Rimini Beach Bash trains in level groups with a maximum of eight players per court, but as a concept it's clearly aimed at everyone who wants to combine beach volleyball with community and nightlife – for those who love ambitious play and long evenings in equal measure, but not the right choice if you're looking for quieter camp evenings.

With a maximum of 24 players per week, Plakias is the smallest and most personal camp, open to recreational and tournament players alike and explicitly designed for solo travellers and couples too. If you're looking for intense, almost family-like group dynamics and don't mind a longer journey, this is the place for you.

Value for money: what do you get for your money?

Starting prices differ between locations and also depend on the week and accommodation category – you'll always find the current prices on the respective camp page. Ravenna is the cheapest, starting from €315, followed by Sunsation Beach from €349. The Rimini Beach Bash starts from €409, and Plakias is at the top end from €476 – understandable with a small group of max. 24 people and the more complex journey to an island. So you travel more cheaply to Italy or Spain, while Crete is more exclusive and smaller.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Which Volleytours camp is the cheapest?

Ravenna in Italy is the cheapest, with prices from €315 per week, followed by Sunsation Beach in Spain from €349.

Which camp is best for beginners?

Sunsation Beach and Ravenna are explicitly aimed at all levels, from complete beginners to tournament players, and train in small groups matched to your level.

How long is the flight to the camps?

From Frankfurt it's around an hour and 20 minutes to Bologna for Ravenna or Rimini, about two to two and a half hours to Valencia or Alicante for Sunsation Beach, and around three hours to Crete for Plakias.

Which camp is the smallest and most personal?

Plakias on Crete, with a maximum of 24 players per week, is the smallest and most intimate camp in the Volleytours programme.

Can I travel to a camp on my own?

Yes, all four camps are explicitly designed for solo travellers too – through training, tournaments and evenings together, new friendships form quickly.

When is the best time for a beach volleyball camp?

It depends on the location: Sunsation Beach and Ravenna offer spring and autumn weeks, the Rimini Beach Bash runs in September, and Plakias has just one week in May.

Conclusion: which camp is your match?

Want the big international stage with a long season? Then Sunsation Beach in Gandía is your camp. Looking for a quieter week close to nature between pine trees and the Adriatic at a fair price? Then Ravenna is waiting for you. Want beach volleyball by day and beach bar vibes into the night? Then the Rimini Beach Bash is made for you. And if you're looking for a small, authentic adventure with a family-like group, even if the journey takes longer? Then Plakias on Crete is your choice. Either way, the same promise applies at all four locations: come as a player, leave as a friend.

Curious? You'll find all camps and dates on volleytours.com/en/camps-events – come as a player, leave as a friend.