A beach in summer with a large amount of people

Beach Vacations

The beach holiday is the platonic ideal of vacations: what nearly every traveler, whether active or armchair, dreams of. Soft sand, shady palms, a cold drink, a warm surf—what more could you want? It's no wonder so many ad campaigns hang their hook (and their products) on this seaside ideal: brands of beer, lines of clothes, models of cars. Travel + Leisure writers and editors are no strangers to the allure of the shore, and so search the world for the best beach vacations it can offer.
Huatulco, a coastal area located in the state of Oaxaca (Mexico) where the foothills of the Sierra Madre del Sur mountains meet the Pacific Ocean.
This Underrated Mexico Destination Is Set Across 9 Bays — With Laid-back Beach Towns, Bioluminescent Waters, and Charming Hotels
Christmas stocking on palm tree at Crandon beach, Key Biscayne, Miami, Florida
9 Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Florida — From Disney Parties to Boat Parades
Four Seasons Enclave in Cabo, resort and estate renderings
These Mexico Vacation Homes on 50 Beachfront Acres Will Have All the Trappings of a Luxury Resort
Sailboat, Icacos Island, Puerto Rico
10 Best Beaches in Puerto Rico
Navagio beach in Zakynthos Greece
20 Best Beaches in Greece With the Bluest Water You've Ever Seen
Aerial view of Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
9 Best Beaches in Costa Rica for Surfing, Snorkeling, and Wildlife Spotting
Beach Access Boardwalk Over Sand Dunes Amelia Island Florida
Florida’s Amelia Island Has Pristine Beaches, Luxury Resorts, and a Small-town Feel
Park entrance of Katmandu Park
A New Theme Park Is Coming to the Caribbean — and We Got Exclusive Details About the Rides
Springtime in Providence, Rhode Island
25 Best Things to Do in Rhode Island — From Stunning Beaches to Historic Mansions
Victorian homes on beach in Cape May, New Jersey
How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Cape May on the Jersey Shore — Beautiful Beaches, Historic Victorian Homes, and Sophisticated Inns Included
Sunset panoramic view of Azenhas do Mar, in Sintra, Portugal.
This Coastal Town in Portugal Is a Hidden Gem — With Scenic Beaches, Beautiful Architecture, and Few Crowds
Two photos from Nantucket, one showing a Bronco car with a surfboard on top, and one showing a woman walking by beach dunes
Nantucket Still Has Small-town Charm — but These Sophisticated New Hotels Make It a Global Destination
Houses along the Cape Cod National Seashore
28 Best Beaches on the East Coast — From Maine to Florida
Myrtle Beach South Carolina Drone Skyline Aerial
15 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment State Park, Long Beach Peninsula
15 of the Most Beautiful Washington Beaches
Photo: Courtesy of Annie Archer
This Puerto Rico Resort Is Home to Stunning Villas, Chic Restaurants, and a Secluded Speakeasy
Big Sable Lighthouse in Ludington Michigan
12 Best Lake Michigan Beaches With White Sand, Rolling Dunes, and Stunning Views
Aerial view of Lake Tahoe
11 Best Lake Tahoe Beaches — With Sandy Shores and Mountain Views
View of a sailboat on the water from the dunes with a blue cloudy sky in Morehead City
This Small Town on North Carolina's 'Crystal Coast' Has Some of the Most Affordable Beach Houses in the U.S.
Asbury Park is a city in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, located on the Jersey Shore and part of the New York City Metropolitan Area
This East Coast Seaside Destination Is Home to Beautiful Beaches, a Great Music Scene, and Vintage Boutiques
sunset hawaii beach in wailea
12 Best Tropical Vacations in the U.S. for Stunning Islands, Charming Beach Towns, and Beautiful Resorts
Palawan
10 Affordable Beach Vacations Around the World
Aerial view of Ocracoke Island
This Beautiful Island in North Carolina Has the Best Beach in the U.S., According to Dr. Beach Himself
Cancun All Inclusive Resorts
13 All-inclusive Resorts in Cancun for Families, Couples, and Solo Travelers
Beaufort, North Carolina, waterfront with American Oystercatcher shorebirds in the foreground.
This North Carolina Destination Is Home to Charming Small Towns, Beautiful Sailing, and Retro-chic Hotels
Bahia Honda State Park - Calusa Beach, Florida Keys - tropical coast with paradise beaches - USA
10 Best Beaches in the Florida Keys
Two people walking at Sunset at Avila Beach
This Coastal California Town Has Unreal Whale Watching and Outdoor Hot Spring Tubs You Can Rent by the Hour
Mandarin Oriental on Canouan island
This Caribbean Island You've Never Heard Of Has Luxury Hotels, Stunning Blue Waters, and Some of the Best Snorkeling in the World
Aerial view of Siesta Key, Florida
This Florida Town Has One of the Best Beaches in the U.S. — Known for Its Incredible White-quartz Sand
Exterior view of Grand Velas Los Cabos
12 of the Best All-inclusive Resorts in Mexico, According to Hotels.com
Best Packable Sun Hats Tout
12 Packable Sun Hats That Are Stylish and Loved by Dermatologists
South Beach Lifeguard tower and beach, Miami, Florida at sunrise
The 14 Best Beaches in Florida — From Romantic Islands to Family-friendly Spots
Aerial view of city at sunset, New Smyrna Beach,Florida,United States,USA
This Beach Destination Is Florida's Most Underrated Seaside City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
The Most Affordable Destination to Buy a Beach House in the U.S.
LimeOut floating bar and restaurant in the US Virgin Islands
5 Floating Bars in the Caribbean for the Ultimate Tropical Cocktail
Two people ride bikes down the road in Sarasota, Florida
This Florida City Is One of the Best Places to Retire in the U.S. — Here's Why
Exterior view of Paradisus Los Cabos from the water
19 Los Cabos All-inclusive Resorts for a Sunny, Stress-free Getaway
Sunrise on Delray Beach, Florida
This Underrated Florida City Has Beautiful Beaches, Trendy Hotels, and Vibrant Street Art
Beach in Chatham, Cape Cod, MA
15 Best Things to Do on Cape Cod — Including Whale Watching, Beach Combing, and Wine Tasting
Overlooking the island of Nevis from Cockleshell Beach in St. Kitts
Where to Eat on Nevis, One of the Caribbean's Most Exciting Food Destinations
Lounge chairs and bar on the aerial beach at Bocas Bali
This Private Island Resort in Panama Has a Stunning New 'Aerial Beach' — and Overwater Villas With Plunge Pools
The beach at Three Cliffs Bay in Wales
18 Best Beaches in the U.K.
Family walks down Española Way, Miami Beach, Florida during the day
This Miami Street Feels Like a European Village — and It Just Got a Stylish New Hotel
Arerial view of a luxury hotel on a cliff above the Pacific Ocean, on the coast of California
This Laid-back California Beach Town Has a Stunning Luxury Hotel With Ocean Views
Beautiful sand dunes on the North Sea coast in Renessa, Zeeland, Holland
There's a Beach Destination in the Netherlands You've Never Heard Of — and It Has Charming Towns, Historic Castles, and Wild Horses
Looking toward Monte Circeo, or “Circe’s Mountain,” from the town of Sperlonga, in Italy
Italy's Pontine Coast Is Steeped in Ancient Myths and Small-town Charm
Dogs playing at Cannon Beach in Oregon during sunset
10 Best Dog-friendly Beaches in the U.S.
A view of a crashing wave from in the water, standing in the wave, facing the shoreline of a tropical beach.
This Laid-back Beach Town in Costa Rica Has Beautiful Beaches, World-class Surfing, and Stunning Sunsets
Beach Scene at Sunset-Hilton Head, South Carolina
13 Best Things to Do on Hilton Head Island — From Golfing to History Tours
Myrtle Beach South Carolina SC Skyline Aerial View at sunset
This Gorgeous South Carolina City Is One of the Most Affordable Places to Buy a Beach House in the U.S.
St. Simons Island, East Beach, Georgia
11 Best Beaches in Georgia
View of houses and the Pacific Ocean from a cliff in San Clemente, California
17 Delightful U.S. Beach Towns With Laid-back Vibes and Stunning Coastal Views
Sun-bakers at Scala dei Turchi, or Stairs of the Turks, at Realmonte, southern Sicily, Italy.
25 Most Beautiful Beaches in the World
People watch the sunset on the beach Key West Florida
15 Best Weekend Beach Getaways in the U.S.
BigIsle, Kaunaoa Bay, Mauna Kea Beach Resort, umbrellas along shoreline
The 18 Best Beaches in Hawaii
Greece, Crete, Harbour of Chania
Everything You Need to Know to Plan Your Perfect Greek Islands Vacation
People enjoying the golden sands of Carmel beach on a warm spring day, Carmel, California.
25 Best Beaches in the USA
Gili Trawangan
30 Secret Islands to Visit for the Ultimate Secluded Vacation
white sand beach navagio shipwreck zakynthos greece
15 Stunning White-sand Beaches Around the World
El Nido, Philippines
The 15 Best Beach Destinations to Visit in January
Kayakers and a sailboat offshore at Springer's Point on Ocracoke Island at sunset during summer.
16 Best Beaches in North Carolina
BAHAMAS - DATE UNSPECIFIED: ***EXCLUSIVE*** Nadine Umbscheiden snorkels with a pig, in the Bahamas. Nadine, a German underwater photographer was dubbed the "pig whisperer" for her ability to swim with the pigs. Swimming in the crystal clear waters off the
Everything You Need to Know About the Bahamas' Beach Pigs
Bungalows Key Largo, all-inclusive Florida resort
Inside the Only All-inclusive Resort in the Florida Keys, Where You Can Glass-bottom Kayak and Ride a Floating Tiki Bar (Video)