We often come across lists of the world’s best beaches but when all’s said and done, what good is the perfect beach if you have to be a fish to get there? It helps to have somewhere to stay too! So we have decided to compile our own list of top ten beach retreats.
A top ten is of course an entirely subjective affair, and while a gin-clear lagoon in Tahiti might be your idea of heaven on earth, for someone who dreams of nothing more than the wind in their hair and the gentle flap of sails, the sun-drenched white sand beaches of the British Virgin Islands will surely top the list.
However here at Turquoise we make no excuses for our passion for barefoot luxury, and we think that’s what you love too. So forgive our indulgence in putting together what we consider to be ten of our favourite beach hideaways in the world.
That’s said, our consultants love nothing better than travelling the world on a crusade to find the next best kept beach secret (it’s a tough job but someone has to do it). So perhaps we should keep our options open – let’s call this a work-in-progress!
This Indonesian island gem east of Bali is waiting to be discovered. We have only just stumbled across it, and now we have, we ain’t going anywhere fast! We are quietly hoping it will keep off most people’s radars, and fortunately the only place to stay is the delightfully rustic Nihiwatu Lodge. As wild beaches go, this tops the list.
It’s so well hidden in the Borneo jungle that the dreamy wide expanse of beach is all you can see as you take the 25 minute speed boat ride from Kota Kinbalu to this stunning coral reef island. What pleasures await!
3. Six Senses Yao Noi in Thailand
This narrowly pips Tubkaak in Krabi to the post for number three – just because the views from the island across to the iconic pinnacles of Phang Nga Bay are unbelievable.
Just for a little while you can pretend you have your very own desert island. Paradise, pure and simple.
The beach that rings this tiny heart-shaped atoll just off the coast of Zanzibar might have coined the phrase ‘barefoot luxury’.
Has to be on any top ten list of beaches and we think Soneva Fushi is an absolute winner. One hundred acres of powdery white sand as far from Malé as you can get in the archipelago.
7. Denis Island
Another Indian Ocean favourite comes in at number seven – Denis Island in the Seychelles. At £4000 for seven nights, this proves even paradise can be relatively affordable.
8. Petit St Vincent in The Grenadines
Affectionately known as PSV, is a 115 acre island of tropical Caribbean woodland surrounded by two miles of sand as soft as talcum powder. Dotted around this delicious beach are 22 cottages, and one might just have your names on it.
The newest five star island resort to open in Tahiti. It’s glitzy, it’s eco, it’s even named after the actor who fell in love with it – and we did too, because, in true Hollywood style, its beach is simply to die for.
10. One & Only Hayman Island, Australia
The most northerly of the Whitsunday Islands, One & Only Hayman offers a luxurious island escape where you can relax and be pampered in exceptional style. Having recently joined One&Only hotels group and closing for 6 months for a complete renovation, your luxury Hayman experience begins with a 60 minute cruise from neighbouring Hamilton Island aboard a sleek white cruiser – or you can opt for an exhilarating 15 minute seaplane flight.
