Beach Vacations
1. Cala Gonone, Sardinia (Italy)
Best Time to Visit: September
This is our finest new discovery and, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular coastal destinations in the entire world. Cala Gonone is a charming seaside town framed by towering limestone cliffs and waters that shift seamlessly between brilliant turquoise, rich emerald, and deep blue. We first spotted these beaches on the internet years ago but couldn't quite map out a seamless way to reach them until recently. A few of the hidden gems can only be accessed by boat, while the rest are reachable by car.
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Our first true obsession along this coast was Cala Luna, a beach framed by enormous sea caves and dramatic cliffs that look even more breathtaking in person than they do online. Every turn along this dramatic coastline feels like a postcard brought to life. At Cala Mariolu, the water is so crystal clear you will never want to leave it. While Cala Goloritzé is widely considered the crown jewel beach of the region, boats are legally barred from anchoring directly on the shore. To experience it, you must either embark on a scenic one-hour hike across the land or anchor your boat out in the deep water and swim in. Both paths are well worth the effort.
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The Insider Tip: You need several days to truly absorb the magic of this coast; we stayed for a full week. The town of Cala Gonone features its own beautiful beach just steps from our Airbnb, where we strolled along the promenade every evening after dinner. Combined with a vibrant culinary scene and incredibly reasonable prices, this is a destination we will absolutely return to.
2. Naousa & Paros (Greek Islands)
Best Time to Visit: Late May to Early June
Naousa is hands-down one of the prettiest whitewashed harbor towns we have ever visited in our world travels. It is a place where the local rhythm is lively, and the nightlife can easily lead to dancing on taverna chairs by the water. The beauty of Paros is how effortlessly accessible it is; flawless beaches are located just minutes apart.
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The Insider Tip: You don't need a car to explore this island. A reliable system of local boats and buses will transport you smoothly to all the top beaches and surrounding villages. When building your itinerary, make sure to visit our top four beaches: Kolymbithres, Golden Beach, Monastiri, and Santa Maria. For a beautiful side trip, catch the ferry for a quick few-minutes ride over to the adjacent island of Antiparos to enjoy its serene, quiet beaches.
3. The Windward Eastside of Oahu (Hawaii)
Best Time to Visit: May
While many travelers flock to Waikiki, the true magic of Hawaii lies on the windward eastside of Oahu. Lanikai Beach is our absolute favorite slice of paradise, and we try to return every single year. Because it faces east, every single morning sunrise paints a completely different, dramatic picture over the twin Moku Nui islands in the distance.
From the northeast coast all the way down toward the dramatic rock formations of Makapuu and the Halona Blowhole, you will find at least ten pristine beaches flanked by lush mountain cliffs. On the neighboring North Shore, winter brings the world’s most legendary fifteen-to-thirty-foot waves for elite surf competitions at Banzai Pipeline. We were lucky enough to witness a competition day firsthand when a massive thirty-foot swell hit. When a wave that size arrives, the entire town happily declares a holiday, closes shop, and calls it an official "Swell Day."
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The Insider Tip: Lanikai has strictly zero public parking lots or facilities, which keeps it beautifully preserved. Intrepid travelers simply park respectfully a bit further away in the residential neighborhoods and walk down the public access pathways. When exploring the coast, make sure your driving route includes stops at Waimea Bay, Pipeline, and Sunset Beach.
4. Rosemary Beach & Highway 30A (Florida)
Best Time to Visit: October
Located along Florida’s panhandle, Rosemary Beach is a spectacular domestic hidden gem. The town features stunning, European-inspired architecture nestled directly against pristine white sand and Caribbean-colored water. The area enforces a strict ban on high-rise buildings, beautifully preserving a luxurious, small-town coastal charm.
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The Insider Tip: If you make Rosemary Beach your base camp, make sure to visit the adjacent town of Alys Beach. It is another masterfully designed architectural wonder that will instantly remind you of Santorini, Greece. The town features striking, all-white courtyard buildings, and by local design law, no other colors are permitted. It is a photographer's dream.
5. Marbella & The Costa del Sol (Spain)
Best Time to Visit: September
We originally stumbled into Marbella entirely by accident during a cruise stop in the nearby historic port city of Málaga. Wanting to explore the surrounding coastline, we searched for nearby beaches and made the short drive down the Costa del Sol. We were instantly captivated. Marbella presents a beautiful dilemma for travelers: the historic old town is stunning, with every white building beautifully decorated with bright orange trees and cascading flowers, while the Mediterranean beach itself is spectacular.
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The Insider Tip: You will have a hard time choosing between exploring the historic streets and lounging by the sea. We recommend splitting your day evenly between the two. If you are taking a cruise through southern Spain, skipping the standard city tours to spend a day in Marbella is a wonderful alternative.
6. The Indian Ocean: Maldives & Seychelles
Best Time to Visit: January to February
The islands of the Indian Ocean represent the ultimate fairytale escapes. The Maldives is the unforgettable fantasy trip that many couples missed out on when they were young and could not afford an expensive honeymoon. Staying on an isolated coral atoll gives you an unparalleled feeling of privacy and tranquility. There are over fifty resort and local islands scattered across the water, with prices ranging anywhere from $100 to $5,000 a night. We chose to stay on Thulusdhoo Island for five days, treating it as the dream honeymoon we never had when we first married.
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The Seychelles offers an entirely different, dramatic twist on island paradise. While the Maldives is flat and intimate, the beaches of the Seychelles are world-famous for their massive, ancient granite boulders sculpted by time, resting right on the white sand and crashing waves.
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The Insider Tip: In the Maldives, you will land at the main island of Malé and must arrange a speedboat or a regional seaplane transfer out to your specific island. Keep in mind that you are here purely for the pristine beaches and marine life; there are no traditional towns or nightlife. For the Seychelles, we managed to explore over ten distinct boulder-lined beaches during a brief 2-day cruise stop segment while traveling from Europe to South Africa. If this paradise were located closer to our home airport, we would visit every single year.