It’s no surprise that I love to travel. This is a travel blog, and I travel a lot. There are all sorts of travel experiences to be had, and there’s something out there to suit every type of explorer.

But then, there’s vacationing. You know, the proper vacation away from everything, including the hassle of travel. Those trips where even the most off-the-beaten-path of travellers want to book an all-inclusive holiday and get collected at the airport. Those proper vacations where you can just shut off, relax, recharge your batteries, and really enjoy yourself.

It’s only in recent years that I’ve started to try out what friends call ‘the beach vacation.’ In 2017 I visited Greece and Croatia for two weeks in May, where we had amazing weather, and got used to spending hours under umbrellas with a book (and sometimes wine). 

Next year I’ll have the chance to take an extended vacation from work, with the goal of recharging. I feel like a few beaches may need to be visited.. but which ones? There are so many amazing places to choose from, and it can be kind of overwhelming. With my future ‘beach vacation’ in mind, here are some ideas of the best beach destinations for your (and my!) next vacation.

Australia

Photo: Fezbot2000

Surprise surprise, it’s the land down under! As of hitting publish on this post, I have still never visited Australia, famed for having some of the most beautiful, pristine beaches in the world. Of course, the issue there is that a lot of the most famous beaches can end up massively crowded, which can suck a lot of the atmosphere out of them. I’m not sure I’d call that particularly relaxing. However, what you consider the best beach in Australia doesn’t necessarily have to be the most famous. It’s worth checking out some of the lesser-known beaches to try and find your own little corner of paradise. This one is high up on my list!

Greece

Mykonos is so beautiful, I’ve been twice! I couldn’t get over the amazing landscape in Greece. There are some unbelievable beaches in Mykonos and Santorini that I was excited to explore, and if you get bored you can eat the fresh food and sip the local wine. My favourite thing about vacationing around the Greek islands is the variety. In Santorini you can event visit black and red sand beaches! 

Thailand

Photo: Sittipong Haus

Thailand might not be the first place you think of when planning a relaxing beach vacation, especially if you’ve been before for a Full Moon Party, but it’s also home to some of the best beaches in the world. If you visit the south you’ll find gorgeous islands that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into a tropical paradise, complete with crystal blue water. Even some of the more popular beaches like Kata Beach are big enough that they never feel overly crowded, even when they’re pretty busy. There are also plenty of more obscure options if you’re looking for some serious peace and quiet.

Brazil

Photo: ckturistando

When I started thinking about beaches in Brazil, the first thing that came to mind was, obviously, the famous Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. It’s famous for a reason! However, Brazil is not only famous for the quality of its beaches but the diversity of them as well. There are so many coves, islands, pools, and stretches of perfect sand for as far as the eye can see. No matter what kind of mood you’re in on your do-absolutely-nothing-beachside-getaway, Brazil will have a spot for you.

There are so many incredible places, both (overly) famous and completely obscure, that we could spend our whole lives beach hopping without ever having to go back to the same place twice! 

What are your favourite ways to relax? Any beach recommendations for me?