Travel Guide

The best beaches in Costa Rica for surfing and relaxation, covering Pacific coast favorites like Tamarindo, Santa Teresa, Nosara, Manuel Antonio, and Dominical plus Caribbean gems Puerto Viejo and Cahuita with wave conditions, wildlife, costs, and seasonal advice.

From Tahiti's dramatic black-sand surf beaches to Moorea's luminous white-sand lagoons, these two French Polynesian islands deliver beaches at every extreme. A guide to the best shores on both islands, with prices and practical advice.

The Maldives doesn't require a $1,000-per-night resort. Local island guesthouses on Maafushi, Thulusdhoo, and Dhigurah start at $40/night with the same turquoise water.

The best beaches across French Polynesia from Bora Bora's Matira Beach to Moorea's Temae and Tahiti's volcanic black sand coast, with real costs, getting-there logistics, and why Moorea offers the best value in the islands.

Getting scuba certified on vacation means warm water, clear visibility, and marine life that makes the skills practice feel like a bonus rather than the point. From Koh Tao’s budget dive factories to Cozumel’s drift-diving walls, this guide covers six destinations with ideal certification conditions.

Finding a quality all-inclusive resort under $200/night requires knowing where and when to book. This guide covers the best budget all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, and Turkey, with honest assessments of food quality, beach conditions, and hidden costs.

A zone-by-zone guide to Bali's best beach resorts, from $20 guesthouses in Kuta to cliff-top villas in Uluwatu.

How to plan a beach-focused gap year around the world for $12,000-$18,000, with a 12-month sample route that follows summer across hemispheres, real daily budgets by region, and strategies for accommodation, insurance, and packing.

The Maldives, Bora Bora, and Fiji each offer world-class overwater bungalows with distinct advantages. This comparison covers snorkeling quality, scenery, true costs (including transfers and meals), and which destination delivers the best value, best romance, and best marine life.

Costa Rica's best beach towns organized by what you're looking for: world-class surf at Santa Teresa and Pavones, family-friendly Tamarindo and Manuel Antonio, budget backpacking in Puerto Viejo, and luxury at Peninsula Papagayo. Real prices and transport details for each.

From Pacific surf towns to Caribbean lobster dinners for $8, a practical guide to Nicaragua's best beaches on both coasts and the remote Corn Islands.

The best beach walks and coastal hikes worldwide, from Portugal's Fishermen's Trail and Italy's Path of the Gods to Australia's Great Ocean Walk, California's Lost Coast, and Kauai's Kalalau Trail, with distances, difficulty levels, and practical advice for sun, tides, and footwear.

Finding a beach resort that works for teenagers and young kids is tough. These resorts in the Caribbean, Florida, and beyond actually deliver with real teen programming, quality beaches, and family-friendly pricing.

A guide to the best beach towns for vacation home purchases, covering ten locations across the US, Mexico, Europe, and Asia with current property prices, rental income potential, tax implications, and foreign ownership rules.

A guide to the beaches and diving of Honduras's Bay Islands, from West Bay Beach on Roatan to budget diving on Utila and the protected reefs of Cayos Cochinos.

A curated beach reading list of 20 books across fiction, suspense, nonfiction, and travel writing, from The Beach by Alex Garland to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, with notes on what makes each one work beside the ocean.

A coast-by-coast eating guide covering the dishes that define beach food around the world: $1 banh xeo in Da Nang, $3 grilled sardines in Essaouira, $6 lobster at Zanzibar's Forodhani Gardens, and the rule of following fishing boats to the best food.

Greek island hopping doesn't require a luxury budget. By targeting shoulder season, choosing affordable islands like Naxos and Paros over Mykonos, and mastering the ferry system, you can explore for €50-80 per day.