8 Pristine Beach Destinations You Deserve a Getaway To
Sun-Soaked and Stress Free
Feeling sand between your toes, hearing waves break gently onto shore, and smelling fresh, salty air is one of the best ways to spend a holiday. After all, some of the best summer vacations involve doing absolutely nothing but staring out to sea and basking in the sun.
Beach vacations are always a good idea, and whether it be in a luxury resort or a quiet beachside shack, setting yourself up next to the ocean is a great way to unwind and relax. Plus packing for the beach is easy, giving you just another reason to head to the nearest body of water to make the most of your time off.
To inspire your next seaside vacation, here are some of the best beaches from around the world.
New Chum Beach, New Zealand
New Zealand has so many gorgeous beaches it’s hard to choose just one for a beach getaway. Some of the most pristine stretches of golden sand can be found on the Coromandel Peninsula.
If you’re brave enough to tackle the winding regional roads, this is the place to go to immerse yourself in beach vibes.
One of the best beaches is found at the northern end of the peninsula. New Chum Beach is an unspoiled curve of sand backed by iconic pohutukawa trees and shielded from all civilization by rocky hills at either end of the beach.
You can reach the beach from the tiny town of Whangapoua, a short walk away. This is the best place to base yourself for a few days, soaking up the quiet nature of a quintessential Kiwi beach village.
Alona Beach, Philippines
Beach vacations in the Philippines are most commonly associated with the perfect white sand at Boracay. This may well be one of the best beach vacation spots in the world, but on any trip there you will have to share the beach with thousands of other tourists.
To get a taste of the Philippines’s perfect beaches without the crowds, head to Panglao Island instead. This little offshoot of Bohol is a perfectly laid-back location, where motorcycles are the main form of transport and mango shakes and coconuts the main form of hydration.
There are plenty of resorts to choose from for accommodation, most opening straight out onto the long stretches of white sand. Here you can while away the days in a hammock strung between two coconut palms, broken up with the occasional dip in the warm blue water.
Beach getaways can’t get more heavenly than that.
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Kangaroo Island, Australia
Lying just off the coast of Southern Australia, Kangaroo Island is a beach destination with a wild side. In a country renowned for its wildlife, this is one of the best spots to see the famous fauna up close.
More than a third of the island is made up of nature reserves that provide sanctuary for wildlife such as koalas, diverse bird species and sea lions. Of course, with several hundred miles of coastlines, there’s no shortage of beaches either.
During your beach escape on Kangaroo Island, you can feast on artisan produce and fresh seafood, marvel at wild, rocky coastlines, and then retire to pristine beaches to lap up Aussie sunshine.
Corsica, France
Beach vacations always seem a little more romantic when you are escaping to an island, which makes Corsica the ideal beach destination in Europe. The rocky island off the coast of mainland France is an eclectic mix of French culture (hello, fresh croissants every morning) and glorious Mediterranean beaches.
You will encounter an intriguing blend of adventure and elegance on this exotic isle. Outside of picturesque French towns, wild beaches and glittering bays backed by mountains make this an unforgettable location, while the craggy interior, full of valleys and dense forests, beckons more adventurous visitors for day excursions.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Cabo San Lucas is a resort city that encapsulates everything a good beach getaway should be. There are miles of photogenic beaches, dozens of water-based activities to choose from, and after dark you can brush off your sandy feet and explore the upbeat nightlife.
If the thought of tequila-chugging tourists puts you off though, don’t worry — there is plenty more to Cabo San Lucas than just getting rowdy in bars. Natural wonders abound, both close to town and slightly further afield, and hiring a car is a great way to explore the desert landscapes and more secluded beaches.
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Rarotonga, Cook Islands
This Pacific island might be hard to get to, but it’s worth every hour of the flight. Rarotonga is the largest of the Cook Islands and home to some of the most peaceful and beautiful beaches in the whole region.
Drama and beauty combine on the mountainous island surrounded by fiery coral reef.
Despite the scenic location, there aren’t the number of ritzy resorts that populate other nearby islands — in most places, modest palm-thatched huts line the blue water. The simple nature of Rarotonga gives this beach vacation a refreshingly uncomplicated feel.
The Maldives
A tiny tropical nation in the Indian Ocean, the Maldives are a string of atolls ringed by lagoons, reefs, and of course, beaches. In terms of the best beaches, this is one of the more luxurious destinations you can choose from.
There are nearly 1,200 islands in the Maldives, and almost all of them have sand as soft and white as vanilla gelato, while the water surrounding the islands seems almost luminously blue. The bright colors and near perfection of each of the islands make these some of the best beaches on the planet.
To top things off, each luxury resort takes up its own exclusive island, so you will feel like you are in a completely private world.
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Turks and Caicos Islands
With 40 islands altogether, there are plenty of beaches to get away to in Turks and Caicos. The beaches are uncrowded, the reefs are brimming with marine life, and the water comes in several rich shades of turquoise, making this an ideal destination for diving and snorkeling, as well as sipping rum cocktails next to the beach.
Turks and Caicos are also ideal for travelers looking for a little serenity and luxury on their holiday. If that sounds like you, check out some of the exclusive resorts that line Grace Bay Beach. They provide plenty of rainy day options in case of less-than-ideal weather, too.
