Asian Beach Guides

Vietnam has no nude beaches and no naturist resorts. What that means on Vietnamese beaches, where bikinis are fine and where to cover up, and the nearest legal alternatives.

Thailand has no nude beaches. Section 388 of the Criminal Code fines indecent exposure in public up to 5,000 baht. What that means on Thai beaches, and the nearest legal alternatives.

The Maldives has no nude beaches, and official UK advice says nudism and topless sunbathing are not allowed anywhere, including on resort islands. What you can wear where, and the alternatives.

India has no legal nude beaches. Public nudity falls under Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (formerly IPC 294), Goa's Arambol included, and the Maldives and Sri Lanka ban it too.

There are no legal nude beaches in South or Southeast Asia. Public nudity is an offence from India to the Philippines. The rules country by country, and the real alternatives.

Japanese beaches operate by different rules — designated swimming zones enforced by whistling lifeguards, beach house etiquette, tattoo considerations, and strict trash protocols. This guide covers the norms that make a Japanese beach day run smoothly.

Five beach destinations optimized for retirees and long-stay travelers, with monthly cost breakdowns, healthcare access details, visa requirements, and base town recommendations for the Algarve (Portugal), Penang (Malaysia), Crete (Greece), Hua Hin (Thailand), and Spain's Costa Blanca.

A guide to the best budget beach resorts in Thailand under $100 a night, covering Koh Lanta, Koh Phangan's quiet side, Krabi's mainland coast, Koh Chang, and Khao Lak, with specific resort recommendations, pricing, and booking strategies for high and low season.

Where to see bioluminescence: Mosquito Bay, Jamaica's Luminous Lagoon, Toyama Bay's firefly squid, the Maldives, Holbox and more, with swimming rules, seasons, moon timing and safety.

Okinawa's 160 islands offer Japan's best beaches — from the main island's resort-backed sand to the Kerama Islands' world-class snorkeling and Miyako-jima's electric turquoise water. This guide covers the standout beaches by island group with transport logistics, costs, and seasonal timing.

A guide to the world’s best beginner surfing beaches including Waikiki, Tamarindo, Muizenberg, Kuta, and more, with surf school prices, board rental costs, and practical tips for first-time surfers.

The cheapest places to get PADI certified without sacrificing quality: Koh Tao ($260), Utila ($280), and Dahab ($250) all put you on tropical reefs with turtles and reef sharks for your certification dives, at prices that make your local dive shop look like highway robbery.

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.

Where to spend Christmas and New Year on the beach: Barbados and St. Barts, Goa and Koh Samui, Mauritius and Zanzibar, and Tulum, with which are in their dry season in late December and how to book around peak pricing.

From Dubai's buzzing Kite Beach to Abu Dhabi's natural Saadiyat Island sand, the UAE delivers engineered beach luxury along the Persian Gulf. Here's where to go and what it costs during the November-to-March sweet spot.

The best beaches across Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan near Bali, including Kelingking, Atuh, Diamond Beach, Crystal Bay, Dream Beach, and Mushroom Bay. Covers access routes, swimming conditions, and where to stay on each island.

Taiwan's coast surprises with tropical reefs at Kenting, sea turtle snorkeling at Green Island, Pacific surf at Dulan, and offshore islands where the water clarity rivals the Philippines — all without the tourist markup of Southeast Asia's famous beach destinations.

Where it is reliably warm in December: Aruba, Turks and Caicos, Barbados, Riviera Maya, Costa Rica, Thailand's Andaman coast, Bali, the Maldives and Zanzibar.

Which overwater bungalows really cost under $500 a night (two lodges in Panama), what mid-range Maldives water villas cost once transfers and taxes are added, and why Sandals, Mexico's palafitos and Fiji's Likuliku usually run over $1,000.

Beach rules vary wildly across cultures — from topless norms in France to tattoo restrictions in Japan, sunbed wars in the Mediterranean, smoking bans in Thailand, and photography laws in Germany. This guide covers the unwritten rules that matter most by region.

A guide to the best beach hostels in Thailand, Bali, the Philippines, and the Gili Islands — from $6 dorms to boutique pods, with booking tips, safety advice, and the party-vs-chill breakdown.

A beach-by-beach guide to Phuket's best resorts, from Amanpuri on Pansea Bay to family-friendly Mai Khao and the local favorite at Nai Harn.

A guide to the world's best beach sunset spots — west-facing coastlines, golden hour timing by latitude, and the specific beaches where the evening light show is worth planning a trip around.

A beach-by-beach guide to Koh Samui, covering Chaweng's main strip, the quiet west coast, and everything in between, with prices, transport, and seasonal advice.