If you like hostelling, you can't get much better that this. The YHA hostel is a converted World War II outpost on a cliff overlooking the bay. The accommodation is clean, staff is very friendly, and the kitchen is large and well-equipped (you won't need to take ANY cooking utensils/plates with you).
A short walk down the cliff from the hostel is the beach. Perranporth Beach is stunning, with wide, flat expanses of sand and cliff outcrops jutting out of it, which become inaccessible at high tide. There is a bar on the beach called "The Watering Hole", which serves amazing seafood salads and has live music every Friday and Saturday. Honestly, you'll think you're in Australia!