Synopsis
One of the less-obvious advantages to many of the cheap flights available is that, even if it's a bit too hot for a city break, many of the cities' visitors can fly to quickly are beside wonderful Mediterranean coastlines like the French and Italian Rivieras, the Spanish costas, or islands where unspoilt coves are only half an hour away. So travelers get the best of city life--shopping and eating out in the warm dusk--combined with a real escape to the sea. There are also some surprises--in Larnaca is the house where Lazarus supposedly lived after Jesus resurrected him, and Malta has the world's oldest megalithic structures. Athens and the surrounding area have undergone major development for the 2004 Olympics, and now that Cyprus and Malta have joined the EU, visas are no longer necessary, making these stunning destination even more accessible.