Which beaches resort is the best

What's special: Gorgeous hillside villas overlooking the Lombok Strait beyond a three-tiered pool complex. The surrounding area, Karangasem, is considered the most traditional on the island with an abundance of unspoiled countryside including the impressive stratovolcano Mount Agung and Bali Aga villages inhabited by descendants of the very first pre-Majapahit immigrants.

What's special: Jaw-dropping views of the island's iconic Pitons, the sea, and sky with a beach more than 1, feet below from rooms without a fourth wall.

Be prepared for a chorus of early morning bird song and nighttime tree frog croaking. Furniture is quirky and rustic, private plunge pools haven't much wiggle-room, but the overall ambience is incredibly romantic and secluded.

Adults-only, the resort includes an inland marina and Greg Norman-designed golf course. Activities, theme nights, water sports, food, drink, and in-room mini-bars re-stocked daily are all included in the the room rate introductory Scuba lessons and tennis clinics too.

What's special: A acre resort on an unspoiled beach fronting the famed Marble Mountains along Vietnam's central coast 15 minutes from the international airport. Cool, modern rooms all have balconies, most with sea views over low-rise rooftops.

What's special: Full of character, Thursday nights feature "Mexicanisimo"—an extravaganza of food from different regions of Mexico, live music, a marketplace, and fireworks. Daily painting lessons, tequila tastings with a Master Tequilero, and learning how to drive an open-wheel car in the Baja desert adds extra spice to staying here. What's special: What's not to love? An authentic Caribbean plantation on 30 beachside acres along the north coast of this most atypical island quiet and laid-back.

A large number of overwater bungalows and beachfront villas have two bedrooms each perfect for family vacations—children age 5 to 12 will love the Tamarii Club.

An inner lagoon on the grounds of the resort is fascinating to explore with complimentary guided snorkelling tours. What's special: Spread across 44 acres of Motu Ome, the resort has two long strands of oversized, overwater bungalows and more than a smattering of luxury beachfront villas.

You'll soon come to appreciate the resort's golf carts and complimentary bicycles to get around this divine retreat. What's special: Genuinely all-inclusive Cuban cigars, rare wines, and spa treatments aside , there's hardly a better escape to be found in the Leeward Islands. Set atop a promontory between tranquil Carlisle Bay and white-capped Morris, it's the perfect getaway for families looking for lots of activities and fun. What's special: A acre private island in the Grenadines, with room for less than guests.

Five beaches, three hiking trails, and scores of hammocks strung between some of the 2, palms planted here in the s. South of St. Vincent and north of Grenada, surrounding waters are crystal clear and a thousand shades of blue.

Hop on board the resort's Pink Lady sloop for a day trip of snorkeling in the Tobago Cays. The Four Seasons is perfectly placed to explore it all, from mangrove safaris to guided bicycle tours to tiny villages. Take a jungle trek to spot flying squirrels or go hands-on padi planting at the island's unique Rice Museum. What's special: One of a very few privately owned pieces of paradise in the British Virgin Islands, this resort remains blissfully remote and peaceful there are never more than 30 guests to share it with, no marina, and no day trippers.

Cottages and villas, some with private pools, one with a private beach, are far enough apart to make anyone feel they have the entire place to themselves. Although welcoming to families with young kids, there are rules to abide by and no TVs or video games to distract. Regis excels at keeping golfers, kids, and romantics alike all happy. The style is bold, modern, and colorfully Mexico-meets-the-Mediterranean.

What's special: Gigantic in-room pools in enormous rooms looking south to the Piton peaks and across the Caribbean. Once there, you'll have Wi-Fi, but no TV or telephone as it's all about a disconnect in one of these one-of-a-kind aeries. What's special: It's insanely romantic for starters for those 16 and up only, please , and although easy to get to with direct flights to Hamilton Island from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, this place feels about as remote as it gets.

Rooms here are called pavilions, and have an open treehouse air to them, plus private pool. The food is sublime try the Moreton Bay "bugs," aka local lobsters and its well worth splurging on a helicopter tour over the 74 idyllic islands that make up the Whitsundays. What's special: Personalized seclusion. Care for a soap butler? How about a Mayan-inspired massage? Rooms feel more like private apartments, with lounging terraces opening to very private pools and glimpses of the beach beyond. This editor-curated list of standout U.

As you plan your summer travel or even your fall and winter travel — never dismiss the healing power of a cold-weather beach trip , here are 15 of the best beach resorts in the U. Montage Laguna Beach aims for an experience you might find in Positano, with exceptional service, unbeatable views, and the smell of the surf. On a acre bluff with degree views of the Pacific, this resort looks good from all angles. Of the rooms, the best are the Ocean Surf View rooms, located on the upper floors and offering great vistas of the Pacific.

To book: hotels. Landscape architects transplanted mature live oaks for the resort's entrance avenue, and Kiawah's beach glows pink at sunset — that's the setting you're walking into on Kiawah Island. The Sanctuary , which is just 21 miles from Charleston and boasts spectacular guest rooms, is an enclave of five-star service, with pools overlooking the coastal Carolina landscape and authentic Southern charm.

This genteel lodge has 58 country-style rooms and on-site access to a legendary golf course. The rooms, suites, and cottages range from to 4, square feet and have water or golf course views, plus hour butler service.

Grab a complimentary bicycle for a spin around the property. To book: seaisland. Northern California and Nevada might not be the first destinations that come to mind when considering the best beach resorts in the U. Edgewood is the only luxury South Lake Tahoe resort set right on the beach, and from sipping your coffee on an Adirondack chair on the beach to soaking in their lakeview pool, it is an out-of-the-ordinary and luxurious escape.

Unsurpassed in terms of luxury when oil tycoon Henry Flagler built it in , The Breakers outdid itself in a renovation modeled after Italian Renaissance palaces. Still, the room resort, set on beachfront acres, is pure drama, its palm-lined drive leading up to the twin-spired behemoth.

The modern day intervenes in breezily tropical rooms, designed with white and sand tones, and in the private poolside cabanas with flat-screens and concierge service. Speaking of the water, the waves at the beach are mild, the white sand is teeming with shells, and chances are good that you'll see dolphins and manatees offshore at least once during your trip. In fact, this acre resort, more than half of which is preserved, is a nature lover's paradise.

The Tiva Kids Club for children 4 and older takes every advantage of the setting, with trips to the on-property nature center and visits from the resort's own naturalist.

Guided evening beach walks and daytime tide-pool excursions are also available. Club Med's imaginative circus school teaches kids 4 and up how to juggle, ride a unicycle, walk a tightrope, swing on a trapeze, and learn magic tricks. This and the property's numerous other supervised children's programs, meals, and sports activities are included in the price. While the kids are having the time of their lives, you can enjoy the coconut tree-lined beach, sailing, snorkeling, windsurfing, and fitness classes.

Club rooms the least expensive type are comfortable, and families with infants automatically receive a changing table, baby bathtub , and bottle warmer in their room as part of the resort's "Baby Welcome" program. Club Med's only U. Two hours from the hustle and bustle of the Orlando theme parks , Disney offers a family experience that's easier on your feet and your wallet. Although Vero Beach is part of the Disney Vacation Club line, you don't need to buy into a time-share to stay there; a one-bedroom with a full kitchen and washer-dryer starts at runs a couple hundred per night for nonmembers.

Free activities—including sing-alongs, a campfire with s'mores, family beach walks with a nature expert, a craft hour especially for toddlers, and an "unbirthday" party with cupcakes, games, and a pinata—center on old-fashioned family fun rather than on meeting Disney characters.

In fact, only Goofy makes a regular appearance at the resort and that's at special breakfasts on Wednesdays and Saturdays. A Mickey Mouse-shaped swimming pool plus a splash area for preschoolers round out the fun—and, yes, life jackets and pool toys are free. Set on what's arguably the best beach on the island, Beaches Negril is all about giving parents and kids an amazing vacation. While you take advantage of tennis, kayaking, windsurfing, the "Lazy River"—or simply collapse on the white sand—your kids can join a supervised program.

Babies hang out with trained counselors in a comfortable nursery setting while toddlers and preschoolers absolutely love Sesame Street -themed activities, as well as shell collecting, face-painting, and magic shows. Since all your meals, most activities, and the kids' club are included in the price, you really need to take advantage of everything to get your money's worth.

So this resort and others like it are best for parents who are looking to spend a couple of hours alone every day. This family favorite spreads across 22 acres on Oahu, the easiest and usually cheapest Hawaiian island to get to from the States. The hotel's four pools, including a specially designated one for children, are the hub of the action here: There is free snorkeling instruction for kids who know how to swim , plus lei-making classes and hula lessons for the whole family on the deck.

Other no-cost activities include Friday-night fireworks, lawn bowling, and ukulele lessons. The resort is home to about 60 wildlife species such as flamingos, turtles, and koi fish. Camp Penguin for kids offers field trips to the nearby Honolulu Zoo, Bishop's Museum, or Waikiki Aquarium as well as fun activities around the resort. Just be sure to bring along your child's birth certificate or passport; Hawaiian law requires proof of age for admittance into the club.

At this affordable resort on Cape Cod , you'll find scavenger hunts, beach fires with s'mores, baseball and soccer on the front lawn. On weekdays, kids can do cool craft projects, like making kites and tie-dyeing shirts, for a small additional price.

Two of this resort's lifeguard-staffed outdoor pools are ideal for young children—as is the beach, with water that tends to be a little warmer and milder than on the other side of the Cape.

And if the weather doesn't cooperate, the resort is the only property on our ten-best list that has an indoor pool; in fact it's got two of them. A short walk or shuttle ride from quiet Silver Strand Beach, this resort offers so many family activities daily—from cooking your own pizza to animal presentations to family movies shown poolside—that it has a separate kids' activity desk to help keep you informed.

The conveniences are as abundant as the activities. Every family who requests a crib also gets a baby swing and a lullaby CD. Rooms can be childproofed in advance; request it when making your reservation. If you have a toddler or preschooler, you're welcome to borrow a step stool, potty seat, stroller, and toys.

Other thoughtful features include children's menus that offer old favorites and adventurous options like squash ravioli; free use of pool toys and sand buckets; and hourly-rate options for the children's program unlike most resorts, which require a half- or full-day session. Aloe-soaked towels and fresh fruit are the kind of greeting you'd expect at one of those resorts where one night costs more than your monthly mortgage payment.

Another cost-saver: You don't need a passport to get to Puerto Rico.