It’s time to head to the beach! As the weather gets warmer, people start dreaming about spending time on the sand and in the water. For some, well-known beach destinations are the best choice for a sun-filled getaway. These crowded places have great beach scenes that are ideal for people who want to socialize and people-watch during their vacation. For other travelers, the ideal beach holiday involves sitting back on a quiet stretch of sand and enjoying the scenery and ocean breezes without being interrupted by other tourists.
The best beach destinations offer a mix of beach scenes that make it possible for visitors to either socialize and party or spend their time relaxing and enjoying more natural surroundings. Finding a diverse destination like this for your next beach vacation is essential, especially if you are traveling far from home on your holiday.
Here are some great options.
Boracay
Photo: dr_tr / Flickr
Only about an hour’s flight from Manila, Boracay is the definition of a beach paradise. This Philippine island’s white sand beaches, palm trees and clear blue waters provide a postcard-like setting for holiday-makers. The main beach on Boracay, White Beach, is usually quite crowded and is ideal for people seeking a energetic and social beach scene. Nearby Puka Beach, on the other hand, is much quieter, though it also boasts palm-fringed white sands and clear blue water. Water-sports, cliff-diving, and plenty of nightlife options make Boracay a truly diverse destination with something for every traveler.
Phuket
Photo: Earth-Bound Misfit, I / Flickr
Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is a haven for holiday-makers from around the world. It’s most popular beaches, Karon, Kata, and Patong are beautiful, but usually quite crowded. If you want to try some water-sports, people-watch, socialize or indulge in some raucous nightlife, then these are certainly some of the best beaches you are likely to find in Southeast Asia. Phuket also has very isolated and quiet beaches. Nai Yang and Nai Thon beaches never seem to be very crowded, even though they are relatively easy to reach.
French Polynesia
Photo: jonrawlinson / Flickr
Tahiti and Bora Bora are well known Polynesian destinations. These francophone islands are considered two of the most beautiful tropical islands in the entire world. Great food and cultural attractions, along with plenty of water-sports options, give tourists visiting these two South Pacific superstars plenty to do. The neighboring island of Moorea, which is actually very easy to reach from Tahiti by ferry, is a sparsely inhabited, little-visited and naturally beautiful island that has stunning beaches, lush forests, and scenic mountains.
Hawaii
Photo: digitonin / Flickr
Oahu is the most populous of the islands that make up the US state of Hawaii. Waikiki Beach, which sits in the capitol city of Honolulu is usually very crowded. Resorts, restaurants, and nightlife options are very easy to come by here. Waikiki boasts a very social beach scene. On the other side of Oahu sits the famous North Shore. This is a popular spot for experienced surfers, but there are also some very attractive beaches, most of which are usually very quiet compared to Waikiki.
Puerto Rico
Photo: cogito ergo imago / Flickr
This Spanish-speaking Caribbean island is an autonomous territory belonging to the United States. It is a large island that has a lot of history and many diverse attractions. The beaches in cities like Rincon, Ponce and San Juan, the capitol, are lively and popular. (Rincon has one of the Caribbean’s best surfing destinations as well). Smaller, quieter stretches of sand are also easy to find for visitors to Puerto Rico. Seaside spots like Isabella and La Parguera (site of a beautiful bioluminescent bay) offer an alternative to the more-crowded, more-urban beaches.
Aruba
Photo: star5112 / Flickr
Aruba is a popular destination that is outside of the Caribbean’s so-called “Hurricane Alley,” so it is possible to visit year-round without having to worry about dangerous weather conditions. The unique climate provides Aruba visitors many sunny days. World class resorts, spas and casinos are also part of the mix here, though the highlight for most tourists is the unique Dutch-flavored culture that is found throughout the island, especially in the main city of Oranjestad, which has one of the Caribbean’s best boardwalk areas. If you don’t want to simply lounge on the beaches, you can indulge in lots of different activities, from horseback riding and trekking to scuba diving and even riding in a miniature submarine.
Where are you planning to go on your next beach vacation? Let us know what we should add to our list of the most diverse beach destinations in the comments section below.
