10 Best Beach Vacations in the World

Where do you go when you want to swap out snow boots and winter coats for flip-flops and crop tops? Trippy user Samantha had that question and received advice from fellow Trippy users. She asked:

Beach vacation time! Where would you go?

Across the globe, there are many seaside spots offering soothing warm weather, pristine white sand, Instagram worthy sunsets, and all the fun activities related to sun, sand, and beach. We have chosen 10 but didn’t include the Caribbean islands as there will be too many amazing ones to list.

Are you ready to go?

1. El Nido, Palawan

The Philippines has over 7,000 islands. Two thousand of those are inhabited, and Palawan stands out as one of the islands with the most beautiful and untouched beaches. Puerto Princesa is the capital and gateway to the island. However, for powdery beaches, lagoons and coral reefs, you must go to El Nido.

Sabine from Amsterdam wrote:

The island of Palawan, for example, El Nido is BEAUTIFUL! You will feel like you are in a movie set. It is a bit like Koh Phi Phi, but then twice as breathtaking and 90% fewer tourists.

Patrick from the Philippines suggested the following when in Palawan:

Palawan - contains beautiful beaches, rock formations, and shows a little bit of the culture of Filipinos.

There are three main known towns in Palawan to go to; Puerto Princesa City where you can see the Underground River which is one of the wonders of the world. I'd recommend staying two days here; second is El Nido where there are tons of beaches and islands to go to. I'd suggest staying here for four days to get out the most of it; third is Coron I'd suggest staying here for three days.

2. Playa Conchal

Unlike Tamarindo, a surfer’s paradise, Playa Conchal in Guanacaste is suitable for swimming, snorkeling, jet-skiing and sunbathing. Expect warm waters and millions of tiny seashells at Playa Conchal. A Trippy user from Liberia Costa Rica had this to say:

I recommend looking into the Guanacaste area to stay - this province has MANY beaches all within driving distance. Some of my favorites are Playa Flamingo, Playa Grande, Playa Conchal, and Playa Tamarindo (this one has more of a nightlife as well if you want that). If I were you, I would search for deals online for a nice hotel in any of these places because you can easily drive from beach to beach as well =)

3. Hawaii

You really can’t go wrong if you choose any islands in Hawaii for a beach vacation. There are hundreds of gorgeous beaches in Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island, Lanai, and Molokai.

Sue from Daytona Beach said:

Hawaii is a fantastic place, too and living on the West Coast we are spoiled by having it basically at our doorstep. It can be done inexpensively, but there will be compromises. Maui is my favorite, but Hawaii (The Big Island) has me wanting to go back soon. There are some deals to be had there as they seem to be trying to draw people back to them.

Spencer from Los Angeles and Kylee from Japan agreed, and they wrote:

Spencer:

I LOVE Hawaii, especially the island of Maui, which I feel is the all-in-one island. However, it can be expensive. If hotels are out of your range, then there a number of great vacation rentals.

Kylee:

I lived in Hawaii for three years, and it is so worth the trip! Kaua'i is my favorite with some beautiful beaches. If you go to O'ahu stay clear of Waikiki most of the time (too touristy). Kailua and the North Shore Oahu Hawaii are way better.

If you have just a few days and can only make it to Honolulu, Trippy users suggested going to Lanikai Beach. Rick from Denver wrote:

Don't miss Lanikai Beach. It's a must-see. Nearby Kailua Bay is worth a visit too. The beach at Bellows Field Beach Park is probably my favorite on Oahu, but it's open to the public only on the weekend. Drive in as far as you can, past the bathrooms and camping, all the way to the military gate. That's the best spot on all of Waimanalo Bay. I sometimes spend the whole weekend here. Sandy Beach is a great place to spend some time with the locals. It's a little rough for swimming, but a great place to experience local beach culture. Same for Makapu'u. If you can kayak out to Mokulua Islands State Seabird SanctuaryMokulua Nui has a beautiful beach too (and a thrilling cliff-jump on the back side of the island). Kawela Bay used to be a best-kept secret, but the secret is quickly getting out.

4. Rottnest Island, Western Australia

Rottnest Island in Western Australia has over 63 secluded beaches and 20 bays that are made for swimming, fishing, diving, and surfing. The island is around 11 miles off the coast of Perth.

The Basin is the most popular beach on the island. It has shallow waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling. Little Parakeet Bay, Little Salmon Bay, and Geordie Bay are highly recommended by Rottnest Island’s official website.

5. Carrizalillo beach in Puerto Escondido, Mexico

Trippy user Tiffany highly recommended the beaches in Puerto Escondido. She said:

Puerto Escondido in the province of Oaxaca. Oaxaca is a wonderful inland town to explore as well, but the beaches are gorgeous and not as touristy as some of the resort towns.

Claus loved it there and wrote:

I second Puerto Escondido. Great beach with a young vibe and not a family place full of screaming children in resort hotels.

Really cool place for young people who like a bohemian vibe.

Puerto Escondido, located in southern Mexico on the Oaxacan coast is not overbuilt or over-commercialized. Carrizalillo Beach is one of the top beaches in the region. You’ll have to take over 150 steps to get to the beach.

6. Praia do Forte, Bahia, Brazil

No mention of beach destinations is complete without listing at least one from Brazil. Brazil’s state of Bahia has over 700 miles of coastline. Trippy users recommended Praia do Forte when visiting Salvador, Bahia. Claus wrote:

And if you want another day trip out of the city you could head up to Praia do Forte where you have a really nice beach with an interesting sea turtle project.

Mauricio added:

As Claus said, Praia do Forteis a good place; there you can visit Projeto Tamar, enjoy excellent food, good beaches, and even do a little shopping. Another Good beach in Salvador Bahia is Praia do Porto da Barra, but only in the weekdays if you want to avoid the crowd. Look for local band shows, like Timbalada, Harmonia do Samba, Olodum, and Carlinhos Brown. If you like fancy restaurants go to Bahia Marina, it's incredible. I don't know how long you'll stay, but if you have time there so many places in Bahia you can go like Barra Grande, Morro de Sao Paulo, Itacaré, Porto Seguro and Trancoso, so difficult to choose.

7. El Matador Beach, LA

Trippy users Randy from Scottsdale, Breanna from LA and Val from LA love El Matador Beach. Here’s what Breanna wrote:

El Matador State Beach is definitely one of those beaches that locals like to keep secret for themselves! (Shh, don't tell them I told you:) Don't forget your camera. This spot was made for pictures/impromptu photo shoots.

Be prepared to climb stairs and wear sturdy shoes. Enjoy the spectacular rock formations, beach and sunset views.

8. Canal d’Amour (Channel of Love) in Corfu

Located in the island of Corfu Greece is Canal d’Amour or Channel of Love you’ll find blue-green waters, caves, white sculpted rocks, and beaches. According to legend, if you swim the length of the canal, you’ll meet your perfect partner. Canal d’Amour is close to Sidari golden sand and calm beaches - an ideal spot to enjoy the sunshine after swimming across the Channel of Love.

Garry from Germany wrote:

Corfu is a great place to relax, especially after a few days in Athens. The island offers beautiful beaches, magnificent landscapes and a lot of great places to visit.

9. Emerald Coast, Florida

Amy from Florida said:

Destin has beautiful white sand beaches and, because it's on the Gulf of Mexico, the water is warm. There is also pretty good nightlife and lots of shopping and restaurants.

I honestly think the best beaches are on the "Emerald Coast" (anything on the Gulf of Mexico). I've traveled to many beaches, but these are the best simply because they're so blindingly white, the water is warm, and the people are laidback and friendly. It also doesn't get nearly as crowded as, say, beaches in the Miami area.

10. Nha Trang, Vietnam

Located on the south central coast of Vietnam, Nha Trang offers white sandy beaches, snorkeling and diving opportunities, exciting nightlife and a variety of restaurants.

Hoang from Hanoi suggested:

Vietnam beaches are gorgeous and famous too. You can choose some beaches in Nha Trang, or Mui Ne or Phu Quoc island. I do believe that you would love there. Phu Quoc island seems to be very suitable for your order.