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Beach getaways are certainly popular, especially in the warm spring and summer months. But this popularity comes with one big downside: the crowds that descend on the coast as soon as the sun comes out.

A trip to the Mediterranean may be a tried and tested holiday, it's also one that can be particularly busy, depending on what time of year you opt for. With this in mind, travel expert Simon Calder has revealed one underrated destination that he's labelled "just as good" as the Med, without the heaving crowds. While a beach getaway may not be exactly what you think about when it comes to Poland, Simon suggests that this may be a mistake.

Recommending Poland's Baltic coastline, Simon labelled the destination a "sea-bathing heaven" while writing inThe Independent. While the water may be a touch colder than the warm Mediterranean, the quieter beaches certainly make up for this.

Simon's must-visit part of the region is the 19th-century resort of Sopot, just a 20-minute train ride from Gdansk. Gdansk itself is a two-hour flight from the UK, with prices starting at as little as just £14 on WizzAir.

Taking to TripAdvisor, a recent visitor to Sopot beach wrote: "Beautiful beach with a colourful promenade with historic buildings, a great pier and a kind of beach spa, as seaside resorts had in the good old days. The beach itself scores with its width and beautiful fine sand."

While another said: "Very quiet town with a lovely wooden pier and spotlessly clean beach. The area is like stepping back in time how seaside used to be very calming. We got the train from gdansk only £3.50 return."

Another Polish spot recommended by Simon was Swinoujscie, located on the far-west of the Polish Riviera and right on the border of the German resort town of Ahlbeck.

Swinoujscie's white sands make for a wonderful day at the beach, and the beach's long length means that even on a particularly crowded day, you'll likely still be able to find your own quiet spot.

Reviewing the beach, one tourist said: "We really enjoyed and liked Swinoujscie Beach. It is quite long and wide, good for walking. Since it is wide, people sitting on the sand do not disturb each other."

Another dubbed it the "most beautiful beach in Poland", while a third added: "A beach that seems to go on forever.

"Broad, clean and sandy beach which on a sunny day in November was surprisingly busy but in a nice way with people just out to walk, enjoy the views and relax. I only hope that it doesn't get overdeveloped, as that will spoil it."