FOR THE YOUNG FAMILY…
With little ones in tow, the perfect beach should be easily accessible and have soft sand and calm, clear, warm water. Tucked away at the foot of a valley with its own immaculate 2km long Blue Flag beach, Pissouri Bay in Cyprus boasts all of the above plus the excellent Columbia Beach Resort, which has great facilities for families.
The water here is so clean that turtles breed nearby and many hotel guests have encountered them while out swimming or kayaking. Rooms at the resort are arranged around a long central swimming pool and come with kitchenettes, equipment (cot – check, high chair – check, baby sitters on tap – check) and its low-rise layout makes it ideal for mothers pushing buggies. Junior suites from £150. columbia-hotels.com
FOR HEDONISTS…
Girlfriends searching for a glamorous sunshine break have been flocking to the beaches of Dubai for years. But the more discerning are now continuing onto Oman — specifically the sugar-white 1.6km beach at Zighy Bay (just an hour’s drive from Dubai) on the wild Musandam Peninsula.
For a guaranteed combination of partying and pampering, Six Senses Hideaway Zighy Bay ticks all the boxes. Expect an exquisite spa with a juice bar, several excellent restaurants, a deli for light lunches, the Chill-Mood Bar for icy cocktails and a brand new open-air yoga pavilion. Opening soon is Cinema Paradiso, an outdoor movie theatre showing cult classics. Pool Villas from £632 per night based on two sharing. sixsenses.com
THE GAP YEAR PENSIONERS…
With a beach for every day of the year, Antigua has much to offer those in search of a break in the sun. And if you’re a nature lover looking for a grown-up, low-key experience, the beach at Hermitage Bay could be just the thing.
A gloriously secluded arc of sand lapped by turquoise waters with lush, forest-smothered headlands at either end, this beach on Antigua’s west coast is a hidden gem. With just 25 elegant cottage suites, there is complete privacy for those who want it and lots on offer for those who don’t, including the hillside spa, cooking demonstrations, walking, live music several nights a week and a host of complimentary water sports. Beach Cottage Suites from £600. hermitagebay.com
FOR HONEYMOONERS…
If you can’t frolic on drop-dead gorgeous, Robinson Crusoe-esque beaches on your honeymoon, when can you? Located on one of the largest, deepest natural atolls in the world, the new Green Globe-certified Alila Villas Hadahaa in the Maldives is ringed by these heavenly soft beaches.
While they are all amazing, the very best and most private is the one on the south side (villas 6 to 37), which is furthest away from the main resort facilities. Expect exquisite timber villas, impeccable, friendly service, incredible diving, indulgent treatments for two at the Mandara Spa and the freshest seafood imaginable. Island Villas from £500. alilahotels.com/hadahaa
