Trip Ideas Beach Vacations This Is the Best Beach Destination to Visit in July, According to Expedia The travel booking site ranked next month's most-searched beach destinations — and here's what took the No. 1 spot. By Dobrina Zhekova Dobrina Zhekova Facebook Instagram Twitter Website Dobrina Zhekova discovered her passion for travel at age 17 after spending four days in a bus traveling 2,500 miles from her home country of Bulgaria all the way to Lisbon (the bus broke down in the middle of the night in Serbia, but she still enjoyed the trip). She moved to New York City in 2010, and after completing her M.A. in Journalism, she started working at Elle.com. She is now a freelance writer based in Alexandria, VA, and her writing has appeared on InStyle.com, Vogue.com, Departures.com, Elle.com, and Sunset.com among many others. She covers travel, design, architecture, art, and weddings. When she is not learning a new language (her latest obsession is Icelandic), she daydreams about traveling to remote islands. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on June 10, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Marco Bottigelli/Getty Images With summer upon us and countries lifting travel restrictions, international beach destinations are once again gaining popularity. In fact, demand for sun-drenched beaches is now outpacing pre-pandemic levels in "double- sometimes triple-digit percentages," according to new data released by Expedia to Travel + Leisure. Most travelers plan on heading to the shores of the Dominican Republic in July, as the travel booking hub revealed that the most-searched beach destination for July is Punta Cana. Spanning 30 miles of pristine white sand beaches, this picture-perfect area on the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic is beloved for its numerous beaches that run the gamut from bustling tourist spots lined with resorts to more remote and undeveloped stretches of sand. danilovi/Getty Images The area's crown jewel is Bavaro Beach, a heavenly stretch of white sand where swaying palms and turquoise waters make for the dreamiest of landscapes. Nature enthusiasts will love Cabeza de Toro, a Blue Flag beach, home to a nature reserve and the serene Bavaro lagoon, where marine wildlife is thriving. It's the perfect spot to go deep-sea diving as tour operators here also offer exciting nurse shark and sting ray swimming excursions. And if you're into water sports like surfing, head to Macao Beach, a remote and underdeveloped stretch of sand where off-shore winds deliver consistent surf throughout the year and some of the best waves on the island. There's a surf school right on the beach, which means its suitable for both beginners and experienced wave-riders. Preto_perola/Getty Images Walk further north, and you'll find Uvero Alto Beach, a quiet, laid-back spot perfect for those who crave tranquility. Out-of-this-world beaches aside, there are plenty of other recreational activities in Punta Cana. Zip lining, water parks, horseback riding, and sailing are some of travelers' favorite activities here. The area's nightlife is also notorious. For a unique clubbing experience, head to Imagine, a nightclub with several rooms for dancing, all located in an underground cave that frequently holds live shows and theme parties. Expedia's list of the top three most-popular beach destinations for July also includes Cancun and Turks and Caicos. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit