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While resorts and hotels often tout private beaches to potential guests, plenty of countries (and states) don’t technically allow private ownership of their coastlines. Here are eight of our favorite destinations where there are no private beaches. Happy sunbathing!
While there’s nothing wrong with sunbathing in your birthday suit, do it on an average beach and you’re likely to cause a commotion. Despite what you may have heard, swimsuit-clad sunbathers are not in the minority on European beaches (yes, even in France). Fortunately, if you like a true all-over tan or simply appreciate the…
With nearly 6,000 miles of coastline, ranging from the rough waters of the Pacific Ocean to the tranquil turquoise seas of the Caribbean, Mexico has more than enough beaches to keep everyone happy. Chances are you already know the country’s most famous beach destinations: Cancun, Cabo, Cozumel, and Puerto Vallarta. And while we won’t argue…
To be honest, visiting Spain any time of year is a good idea. The country is blessed with a mostly mild climate, meaning that even during wintertime visits, you might not need a jacket during the day. Of course, there are plenty of factors to consider, and particular parts of the country are more hospitable…
Fall might not seem like prime beach-going time, but there’s more to the sea than just sunbathing. Seaside towns around the world are at their best during the season, when summer’s crowds have subsided, the weather is usually mild, and activities (marathons! whales! surfing!) are abundant. Check out our list below and plan your fall…
Forget swim-up bars, swim-out suites, and in-room pools. When it comes to tropical getaways, staying in a room with its very own private beach — as in swim-naked-if-you-want private — is the ultimate way to go. (Well, short of chartering an entire island.) These dreamy hotel rooms around the world feature secluded shoreline, hidden-away coves,…
Many of us have fond memories of summer vacations spent in tourist trap beach towns, and sometimes visiting those towns as adults can be a bit of a guilty pleasure. A few of these towns, however, actually have a lot more to offer — either through history or recent revitalization — than just bad fried…
Chances are, when you book an island vacation, you’re searching for a tranquil, escape-it-all setting. However, many popular paradises, like Hawaii and Santorini, will leave you literally rubbing shoulders with swarms of tourists. For a destination that’s truly untouched — and has all the traditional trimmings of a tropical getaway, including crystalline water, soft sand,…
Beach at the Montage Kapalua Bay/Oyster Even adults have to be extra cautious at Hawaii’s beaches, with the ocean’s notoriously nasty rip currents and undertow. Conditions can be wildly different at the same swimming spot depending on the time of year — from calm as a lake to swells with 20-foot waves. So where to…
More and more, travelers are associating Asia on the whole with dreamy beaches edged in powdery, white sand tapering off into azure waters — basically the perfect “Wish You Were Here” Instagram post. But some of Asia’s beachy spots, like Okinawa, are fairly pricey, and some, like Phuket, are less-than-pristine. The eight destinations we list…