World's top 10 beach resorts

There’s just something about feeling sand between your toes, a cold drink in your hand and a warm, salty breeze on your face that simply can’t be replicated at a lake house or pool. Sometimes, only a beach resort will do. Forbes Travel Guide editors scoured the globe for 10 of the best beach resorts. Luxury amenities, just the right activities and guest-centered services were at the top of the list when they made their choices. By Natalie Wearstler | Forbes Travel Guide




Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea puts guests as close as possible to the lapping waves of the Pacific — thanks to the brilliant U-shaped building, most guest rooms offer full ocean views. This Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star resort may be one of the world’s best places to be active. You can work on your fitness (and your tan) in the outdoor cardio room, rent a kayak to explore the Pacific (and maybe even spot a whale or two), or learn to hang ten in a private surf lesson. 


(Photo: Four Seasons)


The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Calif.

Guests at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel enjoy sweeping panoramic ocean views from the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel’s location atop a 150-foot bluff in Orange County. Down below, the sands of Salt Creek Beach stand ready for you and your beach butler, who will assist with setting up your chair, plying you with drinks and snacks, and helping the kids build a sandcastle. Surfing should be on your to-do list: Book a one-on-one, two-hour surf experience to see why being one with the waves is a way of life in Dana Point.

(Photo: The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company)


Ocean House, Watch Hill, R.I.

Today Ocean House, in Watch Hill, R.I., is a replica of the original hotel that lured discerning travelers when it first opened in 1868. Modern technology updates have brought the hotel up to 21st century standards — but with the stunning coastal Rhode Island seascapes just outside, we don’t suspect you’ll have much need for them. Guest rooms in the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star are light and airy, and most feature private balconies with stunning ocean views.

(Photo: The Ocean House)


Montage Laguna Beach

Orange County has long been considered a haven where the world’s most beautiful people go to relax, but you don’t have to buy a house in Newport Beach to live the good life. It's hard to beat relaxing poolside at the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Montage Laguna Beach, especially considering the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean below.

(Photo: Montage Laguna Beach)


WaterColor Inn & Resort, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.

The Sunshine State is home to a bevy of beach resorts. WaterColor Inn & Resort in Santa Rosa Beach on Florida’s Gulf Coast stands out from the rest thanks to the relaxing guest rooms, which exude coastal charm with big windows and blue accents. Pull up a chair —the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort reserves the best poolside seats for its guests. This perk extends to the resort's beachfront real estate, where guests may rent a “beach set-up” (which consists of two chairs and one umbrella) for a small daily fee.

(Photo: Noble House Hotels and Resorts)


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