Maldives
Resorts on their own coral islands, many with a house reef you can swim to straight from the beach.
Warm water, soft sand and a room close to both, matched to the month you can travel and the way you like to rest
Beaches: Beach escapes
Beach escapes, planned properly
Beaches are not interchangeable. Some are for swimming and some are for looking at. Some have a reef you can snorkel from the shore, and some face the wind for half the year. The right beach for you depends on the month, the length of the flight and what you want to do between swims.
We start with when you can travel. The Caribbean is at its best in the northern winter, the Indian Ocean has different seasons on different coasts, and the Mediterranean is warm from June to September. Then we find the stretch of sand, and the room, that fits.
What this means with us
It means choosing a beach by what is in the water as much as by the sand. The Maldives and the Seychelles are for snorkelling, the Turks and Caicos for clear shallows, and Barbados for calm swimming on the west coast. We will tell you where seaweed, wind or rain can spoil a particular month.
It also means paying attention to the room. A villa steps from the sea, a quiet bay rather than the main strip, and a short transfer from the airport make more difference to a week at the beach than almost anything else.
Where it works best
Our shortlist, and the reason each one earns its place.
Seychelles
Granite-framed bays such as Anse Lazio on Praslin, with easy ferry hops to quieter islands.
Mauritius
A reef-protected lagoon around most of the island, so the water is calm and shallow for swimming.
Turks and Caicos
Grace Bay on Providenciales, a long curve of pale sand with clear shallows and reefs just offshore.
Barbados
Calm, clear water on the west coast between Holetown and Speightstown, with good restaurants a short walk away.
Antigua
Beaches on every side of the island, from Half Moon Bay to the coves near English Harbour.
Bahamas
Sandbars and turquoise channels in the Exuma Cays, best explored by boat from island to island.
Fiji
Small island resorts in the Mamanuca and Yasawa groups, with reefs, village visits and very few people.
Greece
Clear, warm water and pebble coves in the Cyclades and the Ionian, a short flight from the UK.
Beach escapes journeys
Sample routes to start from. Every one can be changed.
Athens and the Peloponnese coast: ten nights with the family
Three nights in Athens for the Acropolis and the museums, then a drive west via the Corinth Canal to seven nights on the Messinia coast, where a kids club, an aqua park and ancient Olympia keep every age busy.
Athens, Santorini and Mykonos in nine nights
Two nights in central Athens below the Acropolis, four on the caldera cliff at Oia, and three at Megali Ammos, close enough to walk into Mykonos town for dinner. Island hops by ferry, with a Delos day included.
Barbados with children: ten nights on the calm west coast
One base, no transfers: ten nights at a family hotel on the calm west coast near Holetown, with turtles off the beach, a catamaran day, Harrison's Cave and the wild Atlantic side at Bathsheba. A direct flight from London.
Places to stay that suit it
&Beyond Phinda Vlei Lodge
Six suites between sand forest and a wetland in Zululand, with rhino tracking, the Indian Ocean coast and turtle nesting within reach.
Amankila
Stilted pavilions on a hillside above the Lombok Strait, below Mount Agung, with a three-tier pool and a private black-sand beach.
Amanzoe
Stone pavilions on a Peloponnese hilltop, each with its own pool, and a beach club ten minutes down the hill.
Amilla Maldives
A big, independently run Baa Atoll island with roomy pool villas, family residences and a relaxed, unfussy style that suits all ages.
Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort
A Thai-styled resort on the Palm with swim-out lagoon rooms and the only overwater villas in the UAE, at a gentler price than its neighbours.
Bill & Coo Mykonos
Sea-view suites with plunge pools and jetted tubs at Megali Ammos, a short stroll from Mykonos Town but out of its noise.
Questions about beach escapes
Where is warm for a beach holiday in winter?
The Caribbean is the classic choice from December to April, with dry weather and warm seas. The Maldives and Mauritius are also good through much of the northern winter, and the Seychelles works most of the year. Closer to home, the Canary Islands stay mild in winter, though the sea is cooler. Tell us your dates and we will suggest what fits.
Which beach destination is best for snorkelling?
The Maldives is hard to beat, because many resorts have a reef you can reach from the shore or your villa. The Seychelles, Mauritius and the Turks and Caicos all have good reefs too, often by boat. The Bahamas is excellent around the Exuma Cays. We can point you to hotels where the snorkelling starts right from the beach.
Should we pick a villa or a hotel room?
It depends on how much privacy and space you want. A villa with its own pool gives you room to spread out and quiet time away from other guests. A room in a smaller hotel keeps you close to the restaurants, the beach bar and the staff. For families, a villa or connected rooms often works best.
Plan your beach escapes
Tell us who is travelling and roughly when. A specialist will reply with places that fit and a price.