What Are The World's Best Beaches?

[phildwyer]

I love beaches. Where are the best beaches in the world? So far, the best I've visited have been:

1. Copacabana, Rio
2. South Beach, Miami
3. Kho Phagn Gan, Thailand
4. Negril, Jamaica
5. Vieste, Italy.

You?

[Johnny Canuck2]

The beach, that's the attraction. Three kilometres of some the finest white sand beaches in the world! Located less than one hour from Winnipeg, Grand Beach was once voted (by Playboy Magazine) one of the top ten beaches in the world - maybe even for the sand.

http://www.grand.beach.mb.ca/thebeach.html

[fela fan]

3. Kho Phagn Gan, Thailand


You are right there mate with no doubts at all. You could add Ko Tao, it's smaller cousin to the north.

And i also nominate mission and wongaling beaches in far north queensland, ozland.

But nothing beats the beaches thailand has to offer, especially when we consider the prices of things while sampling their delights.

[Johnny Canuck2]

That's in terms of inland beaches.

Ocean beaches:

Tofino, BC

http://www.carlos.cortes.com/trips/pacificrim/postals/tofino1.jpg

http://www.carlos.cortes.com/trips/pacificrim/postals/pacific-coast.jpg



Various on the Oregon coast:

http://www.williamjosephgallery.com/images/Image%20Portfolios/Black%20and%20White%20%20%20Western%20U.S.%20%20Oregon%20Coast.htm


Ocean Beach: San Diego

http://thebestoceanbeachhouse.com/ocean_beach.html

[janajane]

I love beaches. Where are the best beaches in the world? So far, the best I've visited have been:

1. Copacabana, Rio
2. South Beach, Miami
3. Kho Phagn Gan, Thailand
4. Negril, Jamaica
5. Vieste, Italy.

You?

Cathedral cove, Coromandel - best beach i've ever been to.

[janajane]

Oh, I forgot, lots of the beaches on Ko Chang are rather spiffing too. :)

[phildwyer]

You are right there mate with no doubts at all. You could add Ko Tao, it's smaller cousin to the north.

And i also nominate mission and wongaling beaches in far north queensland, ozland.

But nothing beats the beaches thailand has to offer, especially when we consider the prices of things while sampling their delights.

I suppose things like price, the local people, culture and general ambience would be included in the evaluation of the beach--a beach is more than just its natural qualities. Personally, I prefer quite loud, crowded beaches like Copacabana and Miami, where there's plenty of music on the beach and bars at the edge. I like the sound of Bondi Beach, anyone ever been there?

[Belushi]

Caswell Bay, The Gower.

[Billy Hunt]

I love beaches. Where are the best beaches in the world? So far, the best I've visited have been:

1. Copacabana, Rio
2. South Beach, Miami
3. Kho Phagn Gan, Thailand
4. Negril, Jamaica
5. Vieste, Italy.

You?

Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands :cool:

[DrRingDing]

Cable Beach Oz

Lonstrop Beach Denmark :eek:

And this mad beach on the Nigaloo Reef in north west oz :cool:

[harticus]

I went to Hat Ton Sai in Thailand, I spent about a week here on my 6months around Asia this year, a real Robinson Crusoe feel to it ....twas bloody Beautiful. :)

[A Dashing Blade]

Patara Beach on the Lycian coast of Turkey - miles of deserted sand with a ruined ancient greek town to wander around

Barbata Beach, costa del Luz, Spain - miles of deserted sand with a ruined er roman town to wander around

[wrysmile]

Whitehaven Beach, Whitsundays, Australia
Tulum, Mexico

[Poi E]

Jeffries Baai in SA if you want one of the world's longest shore breaks.

Australia. Take your pick.

[Minnie_the_Minx]

Only small, but very pretty

http://image03.webshots.com/3/7/89/76/12278976yIzXoQRQIs_ph.jpg

[phildwyer]

Caswell Bay, The Gower.

I think Rhossili Bay is the nicest beach on the Gower, but it really can't compete in the beach league because the weather makes it impossible to do any beach things there. But at least that, and the spectacular ineptitude of the Wales Tourist Board, keep it from being over-run with holidaymakers.

[deja_vu]

Southend Seafront :cool:

[Jangla]

Berck Sur Mer - 6km of the whitest, softest sand I've ever seen. Really wide too. Lovely:
http://www.digitalfortrees.com/gallery/roadtripone/largeimages/DSCN0791.jpg
Biarritz is nice too:
http://www.digitalfortrees.com/gallery/roadtriptwo/largeimages/DSCN0832.jpg
http://www.digitalfortrees.com/gallery/roadtriptwo/largeimages/DSCN0833.jpg

[Wess]

I like the sound of Bondi Beach, anyone ever been there?
It's not much really....just it's locale in the city.

Beach's along Northern NSW...I like Byron or Coolangatta for busy ones and there's literaly dozens of quiet ones....
Cable Beach Oz Yep...Broomes nice.

[D]

There are some pretty incredible beaches in the Eastern and Western Cape, South Africa as well as central Mozambique.

Tel Aviv/Netanya beaches are fun and Eilat is pretty as well.

I have fond childhood memories of nighttime on the Jersey (that's New Jersey!) shore and at Fire Island in NY.

[Techno303]

I think Rhossili Bay is the nicest beach on the Gower, but it really can't compete in the beach league because the weather makes it impossible to do any beach things there. But at least that, and the spectacular ineptitude of the Wales Tourist Board, keep it from being over-run with holidaymakers.

The beaches of the Gower, which some have already mentioned above. Here’s a recent Guardian article:
The Gower (http://travel.guardian.co.uk/saturdaysection/story/0,,1538744,00.html)

Rhossili is my favourite too.

[JWH]

Bondi Beach is nice if you're coming from the UK ... but it's not very cool, not very clean, not very quiet and not very quaint, either.

There are some really nice beaches in Lithuania and Latvia, you know.

[phildwyer]

The beaches of the Gower, which some have already mentioned above. Here’s a recent Guardian article:
The Gower (http://travel.guardian.co.uk/saturdaysection/story/0,,1538744,00.html)

Rhossili is my favourite too.

Yes, the Gower's lovely alright, but the water's never warm enough to swim. There's a few things you've got to be able to do on a beach, and for me swimming is definitely one of them. Barry Island's not bad at all on a hot day, mind, if you can survive the pubs, the funfair is definitely a plus.

[jer, Babylondon]

Was gonna say Brittas Bay but to be realistic, it has to be most beaches/coves/etc in Formentera... fucking paradise on toast.

You don't know Formentera? Good.

;)

[phildwyer]

The beach, that's the attraction. Three kilometres of some the finest white sand beaches in the world! Located less than one hour from Winnipeg, Grand Beach was once voted (by Playboy Magazine) one of the top ten beaches in the world - maybe even for the sand.

http://www.grand.beach.mb.ca/thebeach.html

If the standard is just the beach alone, rather than the people, culture, music, available refreshments and entertainment, I'd have to go for Siesta Key, off Sarasota, Florida. Its amazing, the sand is the colour of snow. Trouble is, its a retirement community for rich Americans, so not the most vibrant of places...

[Johnny Canuck2]

There are some pretty incredible beaches in the Eastern and Western Cape, South Africa as well as central Mozambique.

Tel Aviv/Netanya beaches are fun and Eilat is pretty as well.

I have fond childhood memories of nighttime on the Jersey (that's New Jersey!) shore and at Fire Island in NY.

For some reason, when I think of the Jersey shore, I think of Tony Soprano and the Gotti kids.

[Poi E]

The Albanian coastline between Vlora and Sarande has some stunning long white sand beaches. No tourists, just friendly locals.

[easy g]

one of the most beautiful places I've been is the "Bay at the Back of the Ocean" on the west coast of Iona
http://www.rousette.org.uk/blog/images/iona_bay.jpg
http://www.uklandscape.net/features/mull7.jpg

looking forward to one day exploring Scotland's coast properly

[yinyang]

dominican republic has some lovely beaches but i visited the north coast when apparently the south coast is far more beautiful. i love to paddle in the water and see fish swim up next to you :)

[D]

For some reason, when I think of the Jersey shore, I think of Tony Soprano and the Gotti kids.

When I think of it, I remember being 12 and sitting on the pier at night; but I can understand the association. :)

[phildwyer]

dominican republic has some lovely beaches but i visited the north coast when apparently the south coast is far more beautiful. i love to paddle in the water and see fish swim up next to you :)

In Negril, the fish will "kiss" you, touching you lightly with their mouths. Its weird when lots of them do it at once, but they sort of get bored after a while and go away. I like the Dom Rep too, Sosua, on the north coast, is pretty nice.

[jer, Babylondon]

In Negril, the fish will "kiss" you, touching you lightly with their mouths. Its weird when lots of them do it at once, but they sort of get bored after a while and go away.

Yes but is it legal?

[cyberfairy]

wston-super-mare... :p

[Johnny Canuck2]

In Negril, the fish will "kiss" you, touching you lightly with their mouths.

I'm not sure I want a fish touching me with its mouth.

[MightyAphrodite]

Jost Van Dyke (http://www.b-v-i.com/JostVanDyke/default.htm)


http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/8795/jostvandyke6ob.jpg


:cool: :( :)


<sprints> :p

[chinchilla]

http://www.hkoutdoors.com/images/stories/saikung/taiwanbeach.jpg

Tai long Wan beach, only 30 minutes on the bus then a 2 hour hike, beautiful set of 3 beaches very untouched. a couple of restaurants serving cheap noodles and great camping for long weekends.

http://tailongwan.org/graphix/dan01_m.jpg

The hike to get there

The government or developers wanted to build a load of housing there but i think and hope those plans have been shelved.

photos from http://tailongwan.org/index_e.htm

[upsidedownwalrus]

I have to agree about Ko Pha Ngan.

I also saw some astounding beaches in the Andaman Islands, although they were somewhat more difficult to get to than those of Thailand!

Goa has the most overrated beaches. Nothing that special, I thought.

Beach place I most want to go to:

Bora Bora:

http://www.bigskycruiseandtour.com/images/land_bora-bora.jpg

[Stobart Stopper]

Best beach I have seen is at Punta Cana in Dominican Republic. After that, Fuerteventura, the nudist beach at on the north of the island, can't remember the name, but the beach was amazing, beautiful white sand.

[Barking_Mad]

Whitehaven Beach - Queensland, Australia. The sand is so fine it squeaks when you walk on it.

[purves grundy]

Before the tsunami, the beaches on Aceh's west coast were incredible. By far the best I've ever been to, and I've visited hundreds.

[fela fan]

Before the tsunami, the beaches on Aceh's west coast were incredible. By far the best I've ever been to, and I've visited hundreds.

But have they been damaged? Most, if not all, beaches in thailand look just as stunning as before the huge waves, if minus some buildings.

The conclusion i drew from thailand is that nature doesn't fuck with nature so much as with what man has done!!

[purves grundy]

But have they been damaged? Most, if not all, beaches in thailand look just as stunning as before the huge waves, if minus some buildings.

The conclusion i drew from thailand is that nature doesn't fuck with nature so much as with what man has done!!
Somehow, the tsunami changed a lot of the coastline of west Aceh. From the footage I've seen, the coast just seems to be mud now. Good before after pic here (http://www.blork.org/blog/imyjiz2/Aceh-before-and-after.jpg) Perhaps it's just temporary??

[chooch]

The Plage du lodo (http://www.corsica-imagebank.com/corse-ajaccio-corsica-fr/652-photo-de-agriates-plage-de-loto.html) on Corsica is very lovely- shallow shelving, clear water, hills, fish. The next one along the coast is also very lovely but somewhat spoilt by tourists shitting in the woods behind it. :)