25 Awesome Beachside Getaways Around the World

Are you an avid beach lover and travel enthusiast? If you have had the privilege of exploring some of the most amazing beaches and beachside getaways around the world, then you understand the pull of coastal breaks and tropical vacations. Discover tranquil sandy shores and vibrant coastal paradises to add to your beach bucket list.

If you experience winter snow and cold, you may be ready come December, January or February to trade in your puffy jackets and snow shovels for snorkel gear, swim shorts, and beach life. Whether you are looking for the best beaches for a family vacation or a romantic beach getaway for you and your sweetheart, you’ll be sure to find a beach or two that is perfect for an afternoon, day or week long adventure.

25 Beachside Getaways Around the World: Your Beach Bucket List

Chris and I became hooked on the beach lifestyle in 2023 when we spent time in an overwater bungalow in Tahiti. It was amazing to simply swim from our bungalow and explore the lagoon with our snorkel gear.

Do overwater bungalows make the perfect setting for romantic beach getaways? Yes! Yes, they do.

If you think you might have a hard time finding things to do at the beach, I compiled a list of 70 memorable things to do at the beach that are perfect for families with young kids or older teens and adults, for couples, and for you solo travelers out there.

Chris and I often seek out some of the best beaches for a family vacation, especially for Spring Break when we are tired of the Colorado snow. Whether your are planning for an empty nester getaway, a family Spring Break trip, or a solo trip to “find yourself”, here is my guide to the top 25 beachside getaways that have captured our hearts.

You may find that your favorite beaches, even popular beaches in the Maldives, Seychelles or Bora Bora, are NOT on this list. That’s just because we haven’t been there… YET!

Australia

1. Brighton Beach by Melbourne

Have you ever wanted to see brightly colored beach boxes on your beachside getaways? Take a little jaunt from Melbourne to Brighton Beach for one of my favorite Instagrammable places in Australia. The beach boxes are brightly painted with a personality all their own.

These beach boxes have survived since the 1860s, weathering heavy storms, disrepair and various attempts to have them removed by the Brighton council. Gasp! Not only are the beach boxes colorful, but they also face the open water along Brighton Beach perfect for a day of sunbathing, sand volleyball, or a dip in Port Phillip Bay.

Caribbean

2. Royalton Negril Resort, Jamaica

Fancy a romantic beach getaway to an adults only all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean? Spend your days relaxing at the beach surrounded by turquoise blue water that’s perfect for a little snorkeling and swimming. Claim your beach umbrella, order your favorite drink, and don’t forget to stick around for some amazing sunsets.

FYI * There are sections of this resort that are also for families.

3. Trunk Bay, St. John

Though snorkel equipment is available to rent at Trunk Bay, you may wish to bring your own. Since we hadn’t snorkeled before, Chris and I listened to the quick instructions on the fine art of snorkeling. We had the normal style of facemask at that time instead of the newer full face masks that are awesome.

The basic rule with standard facemasks is to forget about breathing through your nose and try to forget about the small amount of water that may gather around your nostrils. Breathe through your mouth! Certainly don’t breath that water in. Don’t smile or you’ll break the seal around your mouth. And don’t chew gum.

Note * If you plan to snorkel, I would definitely recommend purchasing a waterproof GoPro. It is so much fun to take pictures of the underwater life!

4. Maho Beach, St. Maarten

Our family arrived in St. Maarten while on a Caribbean cruise. We would highly recommend getting a bus or taxi right from the cruise port to take you to Maho Beach.

Maho Beach is a famous beach with an airport right next to it; the flight path for planes goes directly over the beach. It is one of the best beaches for a family vacation if you love the thrill of airplanes.

Beyond having a great sandy beach and brilliant blue water for swimming and snorkeling, you can enjoy watching a lot of planes—large and small—landing. 

Note * The beach is adjacent to a resort and the beach chairs and equipment are for the guests of the hotel.

5. Honeymoon Beach on Water Island

If you are making a stop during your Caribbean cruise to St. Thomas, try something different. Catch a taxi to the ferry and then take a 15-minute ferry ride to Water Island.

Honeymoon Beach on Water Island is one of the best beaches for a family vacation with stunning turquoise water. We brought our two snorkel masks and took turns using them. There weren’t a lot of fish, but we did spot some turtles and sucker fish that “looked” like baby sharks.

If you ever go to Honeymoon Beach, plan to order lunch from Dinghy’s restaurant. In fact, many of the ship excursions make a stop at the beach for an hour or so for their guests to enjoy the beach and get some lunch. 

6. Devil’s Bay & The Baths, Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands

I learned very quickly at Devil’s Bay that the instructions to spit out your gum when using a standard snorkel mask wasn’t just a whim of our instructor. I forgot to spit mine out, and it quickly attached itself to the mouthpiece of my snorkel!

If you have the option to choose between Devil’s Bay and The Baths for one of your beachside getaways, I would recommend Devil’s Bay. In my opinion, the snorkeling is so much better and the beach is nicer. And if you have one of the full face snorkel masks I highly recommend bringing it as well as your underwater GoPro.

Note * If you choose to visit The Baths as well, it will take you about fifteen minutes to climb through the rocks and narrow passageways to get to the beach. You’ll still find fun things to do at the beach there.

Costa Rica

7. Playas del Coco, Costa Rica

The beaches in Costa Rica should be added to your beach bucket list. Playas del Coco doesn’t disappoint.

Chris booked a sunset cruise and snorkel tour for the late afternoon from Playas del Coco. We stopped for lunch there at small cafe across the street from the beach—Soda Teresita. A soda is what the small cafes in Costa Rica are called.

Due to the shallowness of the bay, we took a tender (boat transport) to the catamaran we would be sailing on for the afternoon—the New Marlin. 

Europe

8. Cassis, France

For a fun afternoon from the beaches in Cassis in the South of France, I highly recommend a bout tour of the calanques. Note * IF you chose to sit up front on the boat in the open air, you may risk getting soaked by the waves. 

The tour visits five calanques, each nestled into quiet coves with beautiful beaches that would make for a romantic beach getaway for an afternoon. It is possible to hike along the calanques to reach the beaches.

9. Normandy Beaches, France

As you visit the beaches of Normandy today, you will see beautiful white sand stretching for miles, families enjoying the beautiful weather, children splashing in the water, and maybe even horses pulling chariots!

Today, the beaches in Normandy are beautiful seaside, summer destinations.  So different now. Tractors sit on the sand with boat trailers attached to make an easy way to launch and load up boats.  Paragliders float gracefully in the sky. 

10. Monterosso al Mare, Italy

Monterosso has the longest stretches of beaches of the five villages in Cinque Terre. Monterosso beach really is the best beach in Cinque Terre. These beaches are located in both the new part of the village as well as in the old town area.

Both sections offer traditional beaches where you can rent umbrellas and a lounging chair OR find a free section of beach where you can spread out with your own beach towel, chair and umbrella.

11. Marina Grande Beach in Positano, Italy

The main beach in Positano stretches along the coastline as the colorful village is nestled up the side of the mountain. Whether you choose to relax at the beach, play in the water, or wander through the boutique-filled historic center with cobblestone streets, Positano is a delight. It is a popular destination on the Amalfi Coast.

Mingle with the world’s celebrities, locals and tourists alike in the hub of Positano’s social scene. You can rent a beach umbrella and lounger or enjoy the free section of beach. If you are coming by boat tour or excursion, this is most likely where you will arrive and depart.

Tahiti

13. Hilton Moorea Resort and Spa Beach, Moorea

Relaxing at the beach has NOT always been our travel style. But I think it might be now, especially at a stay in the overwater bungalows of the Hilton Moorea Resort and Spa. When you have your own private deck to lounge on next to a pristine sandy beach, relaxing on beachside getaways is quite appealing.

If you want to access my FREE beach packing list, drop your email in the link below, and the list is yours!

The Philippines

14. White Beach, Boracay

White Beach in Boracay is one of the more popular beaches on the small island in the Philippines. People love White Beach for its beauty, pristine sand, swimming and access to hotels, restaurants, nightlife, and activities.

If you are looking for a few fun things to do at the beach for the day, White Beach is the perfect destination. And…if you happen to be a tall American guy, people may just ask to take a picture with you!

15. Puka Shell Beach, Boracay

Puka is Tagalog for “shell fragment”. Puka Shell Beach is composed of finely polished tiny pieces of shell mixed in with sand. For an interesting side note, if you happen to be visiting the beach at lunch time, there are a variety of small restaurants. We ordered a grilled snapper, some grilled chicken, and rice. Our girls were suitably freaked out when the snapper was served whole—teeth, eyeballs, and all. We were also served calamansi, which is a small lime-type fruit with a surprising amount of seeds, and the tiniest red peppers I had ever seen. Note * tiny equals HOT.

Puka Shell Beach is a beautiful beach with turquoise crystal clear waters and no crowds! Definitely worth visiting if you are looking for one of the best beaches for a family vacation in the Philippines on the island of Boracay.

United States

Check GuideAlong Audio Guided Tours (formerly known as GyPSy Guide) to see if they have audio tours for any of road trips to your beachside getaways.

16. Capitola, California

Even if you only have time for a quick stop to photograph the colorful beach houses, Capitola is worth the detour. The beach is small and surrounded by the Monterey Bay cliffs. Come for the Instagrammable photos or plan to kayak, surf, play a game of volleyball, relax, fish, or peruse the cool tourist shops.

Cool Idea * Visit during the summer months when local traditions include movie screenings, twilight concerts, and live music. The beach is just an extra perk.

17. Pier View North Beach in Oceanside, California

North of the Oceanside Pier, the beaches have much more sand than those to the south, which makes it one of the best beaches for a family vacation, walking along the shore, building sand castles, or lounging with a book.

Be sure to pick a vacation rental that is well stocked with beach chairs, sand toys, towels, and boogie boards.

18. Pacific Beach in San Diego, California

While you might find it a challenge to find a parking spot during your visit to Pacific Beach, it is definitely worth the effort. The beaches in California are a popular destination, so no doubt you will find lots of people at Pacific Beach in San Diego—locals and tourists—enjoying the water, building castles in the sand, sunbathing, or playing a game of volleyball.

You’ll find plenty of bathroom and shower facilities close to the pier by Garnet Avenue as well as by the lifeguard stand off of Grand Avenue.

Note * Lifeguards are on duty year-around from North Pacific Beach to Mission Beach.

19. Spanish Bay Beach, California

Capturing its name from the Spanish explorers who camped at Spanish Bay Beach in 1769 as they tried to find Monterey Bay, it is a wonder they ever chose to leave.

Within the private community of Pebble Beach, Spanish Bay Beach is simply pristine and welcoming with soft sand, picnic tables, and views that stretch on for miles. Stroll the wooden boardwalk above the snow-white beach of Spanish Bay going North or South, explore 17-Mile Drive, or play a round of golf at the famous Pebble Beach courses.

20. Bahia Honda, Florida

One of the best beaches for a family vacation for your Spring Break beachside getaways is on the remote island of Bahia Honda Key. Bahia Honda boasts beaches lined with palm trees and turquoise water. You’ll love the romantic beach sunsets all year round.

If you happen to be lucky like us, you’ll visit on one of those rare breeze-free days. Which makes it a perfect location to rent a kayak, swim, or book a snorkel excursion to the reef.

Note * Due to the popularity of Bahia Honda State Park, the park may close when it reaches maximum capacity. Your best bet is to arrive early in the day.

21. Cocoa Beach, Florida

Cocoa Beach was our girls’ first experience at a warm water beach. It was wonderful and should be added to your beach bucket list. We sprayed everyone with sunscreen and then came to the end of our bottle. Don’t be like us! Bring enough sunscreen or go and get more!

If you are visiting Florida and don’t have the luxury of bringing your beach gear, stop at a nearby dollar store to find boogie boards and sand toys. You won’t mind passing them on to another family when your day at the beach is done.

Note * Don’t forget goggles or a snorkel mask. Salt water in your eyes does not feel good!

22. Howes Street Beach, Massachusetts

Howes Street Beach close to Boston, Massachusetts, is a hidden gem of a beach that is often secluded and private. The water is great in the summer months and the sand is pristine. It is a totally awesome little spot lined with sand dunes and we wish we had found sooner as the girls enjoyed the tide pools and finding starfish. Don’t forget your camera!

23. Rockaway Beach, Oregon

Rockaway Beach boasts seven miles of wide open beach along the Oregon coast. Seven miles of beach that are simply waiting for you to explore. It is one of the best beaches for a family vacation if you love flying kites, beachcombing for shells, whale watching, walking along the shore, or relaxing.

If you are an early riser, Rockaway Beach is perfect for a morning walk.

24. Seaside, Oregon

If you have ever been to Seaside in Oregon before, you will recognize this turnaround spot. Traffic often backs up a bit while people pose for pictures, but drivers don’t seem to mind too much. You can spend a couple of hours at the beach playing frisbee, digging in the sand, flying kites, and searching for whole sand dollars.

While the wind almost always blows at Seaside, most don’t seem to mind because, well…, you’re at the beach!

25. Padre Island, Texas

Padre Island, the largest Texas barrier island AND the world’s longest barrier island, is located along the Texas coast of the Gulf of Mexico. It features white sandy beaches. Padre Island is located near Corpus Christi, but should not be confused with South Padre Island (a Spring Break hot spot) near Brownsville, TX.

Fun Things to Do at the Beach

 Here are a few ideas of fun things to do at the beach:

• Build a sandcastle
• Have a family photoshoot at the beach
• Have a BBQ
• Pack a picnic for the beach
• Build a fire and roast marshmallows at the beach
• Camp on the beach
• Be a beachcomber and collect seashells
• Relax and enjoy delicious smoothies or fruit drinks
• Sunbathe
• Daydream
• Meditate
• Fly a kite
• Walk along the beach at sunrise or sunset
• Try paddleboarding
• Take a windsurfing or surfing class
• Take underwater pictures as you snorkel
• Swim
• Rent a beach cabana
• Rent a jet ski
• Join a game of beach volleyball
• Explore the boardwalk
• Read a book

Things to Pack for Your Beach Bucket List

There are definitely some things you want to pack to make the most of your beachside getaway.

• Sunscreen
• After Sun Gel
• Bug Spray
• Beach Clothing & Gear
• Snorkel Gear
• Sunglasses
• Underwater Camera
• Beach Tote Bag

Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts on 25 Awesome Beachside Getaways Around the World

There are so many amazing beaches that I could add to the list of beachside getaways. If you are exploring the idea of a beach vacation this year, you are in good company—so are a lot of other families with young kids and teens. According to a 2023 survey from the Family Travel Association, 54% respondents plan to visit the beach for a vacation in the next year.

Looking for inspiration for a couple’s getaway? A beach vacation is ALWAYS a good idea. In fact, if you can combine the beach with overwater bungalows, you’re golden.

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