Kick back this summer on an urban beach

With summer on the horizon, it’s nearly time to dust off those flip-flops, put away the jumpers and make the most of the balmy evenings. But for city-dwellers enduring sticky commutes and a lack of air conditioning, urban summer living is often an anti-climax.

However, some city inhabitants have an escape – a specially created urban beach. In Paris, sand is brought in to create a two-mile stretch of beach; in Miami, beach life is pretty much 24/7; and in Sydney, Bondi Beach is always within easy reach.

Flight Centre’s travel experts have put together six deals for those travellers who want to mix the urban life with a beach escape. To book any of these holidays, visit Flightcentre.co.uk.

Paris – 3 nights from £188
This July and August will once again see a two-mile stretch of the River Seine turned into a beach, complete with white sand, palm trees, sun beds and parasols so that residents and visitors alike can make believe they are on the Cote d’Azur. The River Seine is not suitable for swimming but you can still enjoy relaxing on the sand in this busy metropolis. Flight Centre has a three-night package to Paris from £188 per person, including return travel on the Eurostar and bed and breakfast accommodation at the 3* Malesherbes Hotel. This deal is valid for travel between 9th July and 27th July and is bookable until 31st May.

Rio de Janeiro – 4 nights from £699
Rio has two of the world’s most famous beaches to have been immortalized in songs, Copacabana and Ipanema. Both are beautiful stretches of beach where the stunning people of Rio hang out and are great venues for people watching. Copacabana is more than 3kms long and has a fantastic walkway to stroll along. Ipanema is the more sedate and less crowded. Flight Centre has a four-night package to Rio from £699 per person, including return flights and bed and breakfast at the 3* Rio Presidente Hotel. This deal is valid for travel from now until 1st July and is bookable until 31st May.

Hong Kong – 4 nights from £665
Hong Kong is not known for its beach culture but it has around 40 beaches and a big sun bathing scene. Some of the best are off the Hong Kong islands and can be easily reached by taking the Hong Kong ferry. They are a welcome relief during the summer months when the city can become extremely humid. Flight Centre has a four-night package to Hong Kong from £665 per person including return flights and accommodation at the 4* Lan Kwai Fong Hong Hotel. This deal is valid for travel between 1st May and 14th July and is bookable until 30th June.

Dubai – 5 nights from £589
The main beaches in Dubai run along Jumeira Road and are divided up by hotels and private clubs. They have soft white sand and enjoy the shallow warm waters of the Arabian Gulf. Flight Centre has a five-night package to Dubai from £589 per person including return flights and accommodation at the 5* Habtoor Grand Resort and Spa. This deal is valid for travel between 1st June and 30th September and is bookable until 30th June.

Sydney – 4 nights from £799
In Sydney you are never far from the beach and the office culture here is to head to the beach rather than the bar straight after work. Bondi Beach is arguably one of the most famous beaches in the world and Manly Beach, which you can reach from Sydney Harbour by a short ferry ride, is one of the city’s longest and most beautiful. Flight Centre has a four-night break to Sydney from £799 per person including return flights and accommodation at the 4* Vibe Hotel. This deal is valid for travel between 1st May and 30th June and is bookable until 15th June.

Miami – 4 nights from £579
South Beach is the best-known beach in Miami, backing onto Ocean Drive and with many of the colourful art deco hotels behind it. It thrives with activity 24 hours a day and is one of the best places in the world to people watch – either from the beach or the many trendy pavement cafes and restaurants. Flight Centre has a four-night package to Miami from £579 per person including return flights and accommodation at the 4* Royal Palm Hotel. This deal is valid for travel between 1st June and 30th June and is bookable until 15th June.