Travel Guide

Matira Beach is Bora Bora's only public beach and it's free. Beyond that: Moorea's overwater bungalows at half the Bora Bora price, Tikehau's pink sand atoll, Rangiroa's world-class diving, and why French Polynesia's pension system is the key to affording any of it.

Everything you need to pack for a beach trip and nothing you don't. This guide covers reef-safe sunscreen brands, the bring-vs-rent decision for snorkel gear, beach-specific medications, and a condensed packing checklist for carry-on or checked bag travelers.

Maui's beaches range from the resort polish of Ka'anapali and Wailea to Big Beach's powerful shore break and Ho'okipa's afternoon turtle haul-out. Plus Molokini snorkeling, whale season timing, and what to know about Lahaina's post-fire recovery.

Which hotel loyalty program is best for beach vacationers, comparing Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Hyatt World of Hyatt, and IHG One Rewards on beach resort portfolios, point values, elite status benefits, credit card earning rates, and all-inclusive redemption options.

Where to spend Christmas and New Year on the beach: Caribbean classics (Barbados, St. Barts), Southeast Asian alternatives (Koh Samui, Goa), Indian Ocean options (Mauritius, Zanzibar), and Mexico. Includes peak-season pricing, booking strategies, and where to find holiday-period value.

Hvar delivers yacht-club energy and organized beach clubs at premium prices. Korcula offers a medieval old town, rare Grk wine, and sandy beaches at 30-40% less. This guide compares beaches, costs, and nightlife on both Croatian islands.

The Maldives atoll by atoll: whale sharks in South Ari, manta ray feeding in Baa's UNESCO biosphere, $50/night guesthouses on local islands, and the seaplane logistics that determine where you end up sleeping.

London is 90 minutes from the golden sand of Camber Sands, 2 hours from the Jurassic Coast's Lulworth Cove, and 3 hours from Woolacombe's Atlantic surf. This guide covers the best beaches by driving time, with parking, food, and the honest truth about English water temperature.

Mauritius wraps its beaches in a coral reef lagoon that keeps the water calm and the snorkeling close to shore. Le Morne's mountain backdrop, Flic en Flac's local energy, Blue Bay's marine park, and the case for visiting in September.

A guide to Raja Ampat's beaches and coastal landscapes, from Kabui Bay's karst formations and Misool's hidden lagoons to the lesser-known Banda Islands, Kei Islands, and Togean Islands of eastern Indonesia, with practical logistics for reaching one of the most remote beach destinations on Earth.

Working remotely from the beach requires more than a laptop and a good view. This guide ranks 8 coastal cities on practical nomad criteria: internet speed (50+ Mbps minimum), coworking spaces, digital nomad visa availability, cost of living, and actual beach quality.

Zanzibar's east coast disappears at low tide while the north coast stays swimmable all day. A beach-by-beach breakdown covering Nungwi, Kendwa, Paje's kitesurfing scene, Mnemba Atoll snorkeling, and $5 seafood dinners at Forodhani Night Market.

Madeira itself is volcanic cliffs, not sand. The real beach is Porto Santo (9-km golden crescent, 40 min by ferry). On Madeira proper: Seixal black sand, Calheta imported sand, Porto Moniz lava pools.

Japan has 18,000 miles of coastline and a beach culture that deserves far more attention than it gets. From the Kerama Blue waters of Okinawa to the seasonal beach houses of Kamakura and the art-island shores of the Seto Inland Sea, this guide covers a coastline most travelers overlook.

From the pine-shaded coves of Cala Mondragó to the 6-kilometer sweep of Playa de Muro, a beach-by-beach guide to Mallorca with parking details, restaurant recommendations, and the case for visiting in October or May instead of August.

A guide to Europe's best beach destinations accessible by train, covering routes from Paris to Nice, Madrid to Barcelona, Rome to Puglia, Lisbon to the Algarve, and Athens to the Pelion. Includes travel times, advance fare prices, and the beaches waiting at each station.

Everything you need to know about Menorca's beaches, including the famous south-coast coves, the wild north coast, the Cami de Cavalls trail, and practical advice on parking, food, and the best months to visit this UNESCO Biosphere island.

Beach festivals where the coastal setting is essential to the experience — electronic music on the Adriatic, all-night parties on Thai beaches, couscous competitions on Sicilian sand, big wave surfing on Oahu, and Carnival blocos along Copacabana. With dates, costs, and planning logistics.