You may not be spending much time there, but choosing the right hotel for your travel destination is paramount to ensuring that your trip is a boon, not a bust – especially when your trip is of a beach-like nature. But with this list of sand-and-sea gems to help you in your quest, you’re guaranteed never to make a bunk reservation ever again.
Shade Hotel, Manhattan Beach, CA
If you want to visit the Los Angeles area but you’re not entirely keen on the overly touristy nature – and prices – of the Malibu/Santa Monica/Venice area, take a short jaunt south to cozy and charming Manhattan Beach and check into Shade Hotel. The area’s first boutique hotel, Shade offers every visitor a Tempur-Pedic bed with a pillow library, cyclone fireplaces, a Sanijet spa with chromatherapy mood lighting, and world-class dining options, whether you choose to hit the Zinc Lounge or partake in in-suite dining. Best yet? The beach is only a short walk away from the hotel’s front doors. No wonder Conde Nast put them on their 2007 Hot List.
Dolphin Bay, Pismo Beach, CA
It’s hard to say what the best part of Dolphin Bay is. Perched above dramatic bluffs along the ocean, Dolphin Bay has 61 rooms in one or two bedroom configurations that feature modern living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens featuring custom-made wood cabinetry and granite countertops. Bedrooms have walk-in closets, flat-panel televisions are accompanied by surround-sound systems and DVD players, and some suites even have jet tubs and fireplaces. But don’t forget the amenities, including La Bonne Vie, their luxury spa, and Lido Restaurant, which specializes in coastal wine country cuisine made with market-fresh ingredients. You’ll never want to go home again.
LifeTime Private Retreats, Australia
If “going to the outback” conjures up terrifying ideas of roughing it in the wilderness with dingoes and kangaroos, you obviously haven’t made reservations at LifeTime Private Retreats before. A brother and sister team set about creating the ultimate Down Under hideaway on South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, with an eye so firmply placed on seclusion and restoration that only 14 guests at a time can inhabit the Stone, Sky and Cliff houses on the property. The Stone House itself is only a three minute walk from the beach and boasts unprecedented beach views from the glass walled living area, three bedrooms with double shower en-suites and a private courtyard with native Australian flowers and birdlife. With unique dining opportunities and Vinyasa yoga classes, LifeTime will ensure your beachside experience will be unforgettable.
Four Seasons Great Exuma, Bahamas
If white sand beaches, crystal clear blue water, and near complete isolation is your goal, then the Four Seasons in Great Exuma is the place for you. Nestled right on the beach with a world-class golf course, the Four Seasons gives visitors the option of staying in the main hotel, or in your own bungalow steps away from your own umbrella and lounge chairs. Hammocks dot the island, on-site dining – both casual and dressy – will tantalize your tastebuds, but the best part is how quiet it is. Even when it’s sold out, you barely know anyone else is there. And isn’t that what vacation is all about?
Sagamore, Miami FL
Few hotels do beach the way the striking 93-suite Sagamore Hotel does. Guests have the option of one or two bedroom suites, unless they decide to splurge and take residence in one of 16 two-story Oceanside bungalows, or the three-bedroom Sagamore Suite with a private terrace the size of a two-bedroom home. Your feet will be tickled with porcelain and marble flooring, while your senses will be overloaded with state of the art in-room technology. And did we mention the whirlpool tub? It’ll come in handy when you can peel yourself out of the pillow-top king-sized mattress you’ll be sleeping on… that is, if you want to get out of bed! Conde Nast Traveler named them as “One of the Top 20 Hottest Beach Resorts in the World,” and so will you.
Half Moon, Jamaica
There are a million and one reasons to go to Jamaica, but we can name two of the most compelling for you right now. One, Cocktail was set there (come on, it’s a classic!) And two, if Half Moon is good enough for everyone from Jackie Kennedy and Audrey Hepburn to David Bowie and Iman, 50-Cent and Harry Connick Jr., it’s good enough for you. Half Moon boasts 34 three to seven-room villas with their own personal staff and pool. Then there's their 152 luxurious suites and 42 breathtaking rooms, all of which make you feel fabulous about being away from home. Play on their championship golf course or tennis courts, go swimming in their dolphin lagoon, eat at their six gourmet restaurants and unwind in their world-class spa… is it any wonder why they have such a fan following?
W, Honolulu, Hawaii
It may not be directly on the beach, but the W at Diamond Head is beach adjacent. In fact, it’s adjacent to two beaches, nestled right in between! Guests can also walk to the Honolulu Zoo, or surf spots in Waikiki or Oahu. When you’re in your luxurious room – complete with pillow-top mattress, feather bed and lush robes – don’t forget to take advantage of your private balcony to gaze out over the Pacific Ocean and count the stars in the sky. Heaven wishes it looked this good.
Barceló La Jolla de Mismaloya, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Mexico isn’t all about tequila and fabulously spicy food. Okay, so it’s mostly about that – but don’t you want an incredible hotel to experience it? Enter Barceló La Jolla de Mismaloya , an elegant, all-inclusive resort that boasts ocean, jungle, mountains and adventure galore. The hotel has 304 suites – which includes 16 presidential numbers – nestled amid a tropical jungle right on the waterfront. Enjoy snorkeling or jet skiing in the ocean, sunbathing by the pool, and don’t forget a good massage to ease those over-stressed muscles at the hotel spa… or that umbrella in your drink!
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, CA
Don’t be convinced that “beachside” has to equal “tropical” – one look at the Post Ranch Inn will prove that point. The resort sits atop rocky cliffs overlooking the ocean, encouraging visitors to explore the organic architecture of the venue and its surroundings… when they’re not partaking in a yoga class or spa treatment. If the solitude gets to be a little too much, hop in the car and head to Monterey or Carmel for some stimulation. But why immerse yourself in crowds and noise when you can relax in your rustic room as you gaze out onto the ocean? This place is the perfect explanation of how paradise doesn’t always equal palm trees.
Grand Hotel Miramare, Santa Margherita, Italy
Sure, Italy is known for its food and wine, but spend five minutes in the Grand Hotel Miramare, and you’ll start singing a different tune. The Grand is situated on Italy’s picturesque Riviera, on the Portofino coast between Frienze and Genova. The hotel has been a destination since 1945, featuring 75 rooms that look out onto the sea or Mediterranean park. In the fall there are cooking courses, in the summer there’s golf, and all year around there’s an incredible spa to help melt your cares away. Now that’s how you say “divine” in Italian!
