Beach Vacations
Sand and surf never go out of style, but certain beach vacations are better suited to specific occasions, times of year and personalities. Our Beach Vacations Web Guide offers insight into many versions of paradise, including the best beach trips to remote islands and adventure beaches, as well as beach suggestions for different budgets. Look for links to tools for planning the perfect beach vacation, booking flights and hotels, and advice for managing pre-trip necessities, such as passports and vaccines.
Expand All Guide SectionsBeach Travel Basics
There are roughly 220,000 miles of coastline in the world ... read more »
Beach Vacations
Whether you want to laze in the sand with an icy drink, scale craggy peaks with ocean views, or get close to wildlife or ancient ruins, there are online resources to help. Use this section to find information on specific types of beach travel.
Dulcinea's Insight
- If you have a particular interest in mind, such as “beaches with horseback riding” or “beaches for singles,” try searching in an online forum. Often, travelers post their questions and get responses from others who have valuable experience. For example, take a look at this Lonely Planet Bluelist thread that reveals secluded beaches in Greece.
- Many Web searches for specific types of beach travel produce “best of” or “top 10” results. These can be helpful for pointing out destinations but are often short on practical details. To fill in the blanks, use our picks in the “Beach Travel Basics” section and the transportation and accommodation sections below.
Dulcinea's Picks
For secluded beaches …
ISLANDS
magazine revealed its choices for “The 30 Best Undiscovered Beaches,” based on visual appeal, “swimability,” and “low awareness index.” The list is straightforward, without photos, and organized by region. Find hidden gems in hot spots like the Caribbean and Hawaii. One particularly intriguing pick is “Secret Beach” in Palawan, Philippines, but you’ll have to snorkel through a crack in a limestone barrier to reach it.
For budget beach travel …
Travel + Leisure
is known for its coverage of the world’s most luxurious destinations, but it takes a different approach with this article on “25 (Affordable) Beach Resorts.” Each property is under $250 per night in the high season, and can be found everywhere from the Caribbean to Africa. Also find Travel + Leisure recommended lodges and daily activities.
Concierge.com
has meticulously scoured out 13 wallet-friendly beaches that have a “hippie hangout” vibe without the “yuppie yuck.” Get the scoop on hotels in each destination, and insight into where to look for flights. The content here is fun to read, with great descriptive blurbs that achieve a true sense of place.
For U.S. beaches …
Dr. Beach
is an expert on American beaches, and his yearly list of best beaches has been featured on the Today show and in The New York Times. In addition to rating beaches, he studies beach erosion and the impact of storms on beaches around the world. Don’t miss his “Beach Prescriptions,” which are beach recommendations for different U.S. regions.
For romantic beaches …
ForbesTraveler.com
lets readers in on the most “Romantic Lagoon Resorts” around the globe. Despite remote locations, these resorts have an air of luxury. Read an overview of the properties (think thatched huts on crystalline water), and view the irresistible photo slideshow that links to each resort’s Web site.
Coastal Living
runs down the “Top 10 Romantic Retreats.” Discover exotic locales like Hawaii’s Big Island and Princess Royal Island in British Columbia, plus under-the-radar sandy havens like Cumberland Island, Georgia (location of JFK Jr.’s wedding) and Whidbey Island, Washington.
For islands …
Travel + Leisure
lists the “Top 10 Islands Overall” as part of its 2007 “World’s Best Awards.” Each entry includes a combination of practical information (tourism providers and advice for how to get there) and accounts of what to expect. Among the more notable is the Galapagos Islands feature article, which details the author’s experience on a Lindblad Expedition, a tour company partnered with National Geographic.
Coastal Living
features an article on “Island Hikes.” Discover which island trek off of San Francisco Bay offers stunning views of five bridges, and find out where to see the relic of a shipwreck on an island on Lake Michigan.
For adventurous beach travel …
iExplore
is an adventure travel site with easy-to-use search tools to help you find adventurous beach tours, destination guides, traveler reviews, and photos of locations around the world. Beach locales are covered, but you’ll have to have an idea of where you’d like to go; there is no “beach” category. For example, click Australia/South Pacific on the map to link to the Cook Islands.
GORP
, a Web site geared toward outdoor enthusiasts, has an article called “Great American Beach Adventure” that takes readers from the Pacific Northwest, to the coast of Texas, to the Atlantic coast, and to the waters of Michigan. Look for opportunities to bike, kayak, surf, and hike, along with links to national parks and additional resources on the GORP site.
For family beaches …
ShermansTravel
has been finding and reviewing travel deals and publishing travel editorial on the Web for nearly six years. Read their article on the 10 best family-friendly beaches in the United States for highlights of the scenery and events for children, such as a yearly sandcastle contest at Oregon’s Cannon Beach. You’ll also find links to tourism Web sites for each destination.
Travel Channel
lists the “Best Beaches for Families” in both the United States and around the world. Take a look at exotic locales like St. Tropez, France, and familiar favorites like Cancun, Mexico. Each choice is thoroughly described with detailed insider tips and practical essentials.
Sandkidz
highlights 10 of the best New England beaches for families. The site also contains suggestions for kid-friendly beach games and crafts, as well as information about birds and shells that you might spot along the shore.
For beaches near ruins …
The New York Times
“Travel” section featured “Backcountry Belize,” an article about off-the-path Mayan ruins, caves, beach towns, and rain forests. Read this account of a family trip and learn how parents and kids can enjoy the Belize experience together and separately. Don’t miss the photo slideshow to see Belize’s divide between lush landscapes and prevalent “shanties and shacks.”
The Los Angeles Times
“Travel” section ventures beyond the typical tourist destination with a trek to Bacalar, Mexico, four hours from flashy Cancun and just 30 minutes from the Belize border. Visit this corner of the Yucatan Peninsula to find Mayan ruins at a resort that was eco-friendly before it became trendy, and Bacalar Lagoon, full of water lilies, old Spanish cannons, and Pirate’s Mouth, a waterway once used by pirates.
Beach Travel Safety and Requirements
Before you hit the beach, take care of a few pesky but essential stipulations. This section ... read more »
Getting to the Beach
All you want to do is lay in the sand, but first you’ve got to get there. Online search tools ... read more »
Beach Hotels
After a long day of swimming, exploring ancient ruins, or sunbathing, you’ll want a place to ... read more »
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